Princess allows non-cruisers onboard for embarkation day

[Cruise Gypsy]

Princess may take measures to insure there is no risk. When we were invited to have lunch when the Crown launched in NYC - we had to sign up ahead of time and give all kinds of info including our passports. The passports were collected before boarding and then returned after lunch.

 

 

We had the same experience with Sapphire when it was launched from Seattle. What a great experience and the two friends that we were able to bring onboard got very excited about taking a Princess Cruise. I like the idea an I have faith in Princess' ability to manage it.:)

[caber]

We had lunch on Crown Princess in Greenock last year.

 

We had to provide passport details and were checked out before we were given permission to go onboard. This was done several days in advance. Even on the day the security was quite rigid.

[frankathy]

I have been with large groups invited on board for lunch and a self-guided tour.

They take your drivers license and they give you a card that you swipe on and off with.

They have been doing this for years with travel agents and guests

[Iamcruzin]

I don't like it at all! With today's terrorist threats I don't need anyone having even a slight chance of someone planting anything in a hidden corner. I'm sure some will argue that even a passenger could do that, but why ask for more chances of trouble? We've had family who lives near ports join us for pre-sail parties in the mid '70's, but that was a much different time.

 

The 70's were much safer times. Remember the Manson murders, Son of Sam (David Berkowitz) and let’s not forget all of the plane hijackings of the 70's. Now from what my parents tell me, the 50's were the safest decade.

[FLACRUISER99]

I have been with large groups invited on board for lunch and a self-guided tour.

They take your drivers license and they give you a card that you swipe on and off with.

They have been doing this for years with travel agents and guests

But not for $39

[aaerobear]

Again, this is NOT unique to Princess (except, for the now, charging $39.00) as there have always been travel agent tours and VIP tours as well as weddings. The wedding party is charged a set amount for each invited guest to cover the cost of the reception.

 

SilverSea (which is at the very top of the Luxury cruise lines) does not allow passengers to board until 3pm on sailing day EXCEPT if you pay $100 you can board at noon and enjoy a very nice reception and buffet and are allowed non-sailing guests that must have been registered 6 days before hand and have a letter from Silversea to prove it.

 

I just cannot see how this would impact any of the sailing guests as the paying visitors would not be in the check-in lines but go directly to the security line and on-board. I think it is mostly sour-grapes on the part of those opposing it.

[ibfern]

Maybe Charro will be a stowaway!;)

 

Mike

 

I just saw this episode on the Ruby last month, this was just what I was thinking when I read this press release! LOL:)

[frankathy]

You are correct. It was for FREE.

But I like the idea of allowing them to apply it to a future cruise.

Great marketing idea.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Lol, wait until they get to the dining room and are told that they are only serving lunch in the buffet

LOL, that was closely related to my first thought: At least they can't claim the dining room isn't open for lunch any longer!

 

Okay, all jokes aside, Princess has found another way to make money, period.

Exactly, and good for them. I can't foresee ever taking advantage of this, but if I lived in a port city, I might.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Maybe Charro will be a stowaway!;)

OMG...three Princess cruises in a row, and we saw bits and pieces of that episode at least 10 times. I think I'm Love Boat-ed out at this point!

[chechebean]

I am doing the Happy Dance as my husband and my daughter will join my Mom and I for an exciting Bon Voyage celebration. My Mom and I are the "cruisers" of the family. This opportunity to expose other family non-cruisers is just fantastic. Very affordable and what a nice way to say "Thank You" for driving us to the port. I can verify that they are safe to all of those posters worried!! A few details: The booking is non refundable & non-transferable, but the FCC of $ 39.00 for the GUEST is created and available for three months after the embarkation date. We were the first to book for our May 18 cruise out of NY. Yes, only 50 additional guests will be permitted, OOPS! only 48 now.;)

 

Happy Cruising to all!!

[meh56]

Do only the visitors pay the fee and the passenger is free? Also, Do you think that the dining room will be closed except for people paying for this lunch? I don't see Princess as filling the dining room and giving free wine to everyone on board.

[Cruise Gypsy]

OMG...three Princess cruises in a row, and we saw bits and pieces of that episode at least 10 times. I think I'm Love Boat-ed out at this point!

 

 

LOL......what is about being on a Princess ship that makes me want to watch the old love boat episodes. It is pretty embarrassing.

[chechebean]

Do only the visitors pay the fee and the passenger is free? Also, Do you think that the dining room will be closed except for people paying for this lunch? I don't see Princess as filling the dining room and giving free wine to everyone on board.

 

The $ 39 charge is for the guest only. It is a four course lunch in the MDR, free glass of wine, a photo and tour. A total of four hours, also priority embarkation. I am just so happy we have this affordable option to change someone's mind!!

[Mary Ellen1]

I love this idea, and think it is great marketing by Princess. At first, I thought the $39 was kind of high, but the guest gets there money back when they book a future cruise. What's not to love???

 

My cousin lives 6 blocks from Port Everglades, and we get together every time DH & I go on a Princess cruise. This would be really fun to do together.

 

Mary Ellen

[Ruste]

While our DD was around NZ we went on the ship quite regularly and the security level is high. There is a list and if you are not on it then security won't let you on the ship. Details had to be provided and the same photo ID produced. The ID is left with security and you are given a temporary card. We are scanned on the same as a normal passenger and still go through the xray machine. When you leave you the ship they swap the temporary card for your ID. They can tell who is left on the ship by the ID's security still hold.

 

At Christmas I was nearly stopped going on the ship as I put my married name on the forms and produced ID in a different name. I was lucky my future SIL was CD so they let me on but otherwise it would have been a no go.

 

It can only make more people want to cruise, which must be good for Princess.

[solsticeking]

I think it is high tide, er time! My Holiday cruise to Aloha would have been infinitely more interesting if I could have had friends from the BIG ISLAND visit onboard for a Holiday luncheon - even if it is wonderful pizza poolside. As I cruised across the Pacific I reminisced about "The Old Days" and visiting friends aboard as they hit port on their way to adventure

LOL, that was closely related to my first thought: At least they can't claim the dining room isn't open for lunch any longer!

 

 

Exactly, and good for them. I can't foresee ever taking advantage of this, but if I lived in a port city, I might.

[sassyredhat]

I like it ! :)

 

I can't fly, and DH won't, so if I get a chance to see ANY ship, it's a good day !!!

 

Pat

[SAN]

I like the idea! I hope other cruise lines start thinking about inviting guests on board. I remember going on board for Bon voyage parties for my parents. It was a lot of fun and we took our children too. It made cruisers out of all of us.

 

As for security, it would be the same security for the guests as it is for cruisers. I would think they would have specific boarding time for those invited guests. I remember we needed to be on board at a specific time for my parents bon voyages or forget getting on board. We also carried cards permitting us to board.

 

I will be anxious to hear how this works out for Princess. Maybe other cruise lines will do this too.

 

Just my two cents.

[Cuizer2]

I like it ! :)

 

I can't fly ...

 

Pat

 

I don't think anyone can fly. That is why there are airplanes.

[5:00_Somewhere]

Princess already does this with their weddings on board. There are always a lot of guests that attend the wedding and the reception and then leave the ship. They have to be registered at least 6 days before and their id's/passports are kept by security personnel at the entrance to the terminal and returned when they get off the ship. Has been going on for years and there have been little or no problems.

 

*from a later post*

 

Again, this is NOT unique to Princess (except, for the now, charging $39.00) as there have always been travel agent tours and VIP tours as well as weddings. The wedding party is charged a set amount for each invited guest to cover the cost of the reception.

 

Absolutely correct. There was a wedding party on the CB in NYC on embarkation day of our repo cruise last October. In addition, family and friends of crew members are permitted to come on in ports. We've done it, ourselves, as guests of a crew member. So, it's not like they don't know what they're doing and how to handle the safety and security and timely disembarkation issues.

 

I don't know if I like this idea very much, as if embarkation day didn't already have enough going on. Lol, wait until they get to the dining room and are told that they are only serving lunch in the buffet :rolleyes: Okay, all jokes aside, Princess has found another way to make money, period.

 

I never understand why people have a problem with the idea that a for-profit corporation (which Carnival is, by the way) tries to find ways to make money, especially if it's an option that you do not have to pay for if you don't want to. There are those for whom this will be a benefit worth paying for. So, why not let them? If it's not of interest to you, don't do it. It's that simple. As I said above, it may help defray some of the other costs or help delay cost increases for the paying passengers. Who knows?

[Norwaylin]

On my first cruise, my aunt and uncle were able to come onboard the Norway with my friend and me. That was in 1983 and we stayed in the pool area with DOD (drink of the day) and looked out over the railings. There was no tour of the ship, but they were excited to see the ship. I live in Cleveland, but they were living in Miami at the time. My uncle worked at Miami International Airport. The funny thing I remember is my aunt saying, "Look at that big blue building!" It was the Norway!"

 

Now that I have friends in Bradenton and they have heard my cruise stories, I would love to have them experience cruising. They have a friend in Fort Lauderdale and would probably check out a ship if given the opportunity. I guess I'll start watching for Princess cruises out of FLL.

 

Another suggestion would be to have another option at a lower cost. Maybe a buffet lunch without wine and a tour of the ship for $20-25.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Back in 2006, I found out through another cruise site that there was an opportunity to tour one of the Celebrity ships as part of a TA tour. When someone dropped out of one TA's allotment, I sent him an email asking to join up (I lived about an hours drive from the port). I needed to provide info about myself including passport info, drivers license info, date of birth, address, ahead of time. We were sent info on how to dress (no jeans), when to arrive at the berth, what ID to bring.

 

The TA collected our passports and we were given a list of cabins in different categories that we can tour. Our TA took us around and then we waited in a lounge until lunchtime. Then we had an hour or two free time to explore further before the time to return to retrieve our passports and leave.

 

Just as we were leaving, boarding passengers were greeted at the door and offered a glass of champagne before being escorted to their cabins.

 

It was free for us, other than the $12 for parking. I showed my photos to my hubby along with the brochure I was given in the TA's package. The cabins looked luxurious, especially the owner's suite (wow). The food was probably spectacular, but I'm not a foodie, so not my style. The rest of the ship wasn't any "more" than any Princess ship, but a major difference, no self-service laundry room, is a dealbreaker for us (not going to spend a ton to have the ship wash our clothes, especially when one member of my family is allergic to normal detergent).

 

I know that this TA had also offered tours on Royal Caribbean and Crystal so this isn't a revolutionary idea. But from a marketing standpoint, if it can interest people in taking a Princess cruise, all the logistics for the cruiseline could be worth it. And the $39 is probably just to eliminate many people who would just do it for a free meal. With just 50 slots, it probably will not delay boarding for regular customers, but it would be interesting if we get feedback from members when the program starts.

[MiamiSpartan]

We have a friend that is scared to get on a large ship, and we just know that if she is able to tour one for a few hours, she will be hooked!

[Cuizer2]

Back in 2006' date=' I found out through another cruise site that there was an opportunity to tour one of the Celebrity ships as part of a TA tour. When someone dropped out of one TA's allotment, I sent him an email asking to join up (I lived about an hours drive from the port). I needed to provide info about myself including passport info, drivers license info, date of birth, address, ahead of time. We were sent info on how to dress (no jeans), when to arrive at the berth, what ID to bring. [/quote']

 

Wait a minute. What do you mean no jeans. Isn't that your name? As I recall, you were allowed on the ship.