Bon Voyage Experience

[mzwaag]

Has anyone heard heard of anyone that has gone on the Bon Vonage Experience or been on it themselves? Princess lets friends and family join them for 4 hours on board before the ship leaves for $39.95 per person. Just wondering how it works?

 

Thanks:)

[2little time]

Has anyone heard heard of anyone that has gone on the Bon Vonage Experience or been on it themselves? Princess lets friends and family join them for 4 hours on board before the ship leaves for $39.95 per person. Just wondering how it works?

 

Thanks:)

I have heard it is very nice. There is a short tour of the ship and then they have lunch in the MDR.

[tvaud]

Has anyone heard heard of anyone that has gone on the Bon Vonage Experience or been on it themselves? Princess lets friends and family join them for 4 hours on board before the ship leaves for $39.95 per person. Just wondering how it works?

 

Thanks:)

 

We purchased this for my best friend, who wanted to see what the ship was like, on our last cruise. I arranged it through my TA. She printed her boarding pass, just as any regular passenger would. She sat with us prior to boarding. Checked in with us. She was given an oval tag to wear that said "Bon Voyage" on it, so the crew could identify her. She had lunch in the dining room with us. Since she was the only "Bon Voyage Experience" guest that day, there was no organized tour for her. No problem, though, as I gave her the grand tour. We hung out by the pool for a while...she sampled the pizza and drinks. We cooled off in the piazza near the International Cafe, where we got her some gelato. She had a blue key card, but that was only for her to check on and off the ship. It had no charging privileges, so we treated her using our cards. She loved the ship and wants to sail with us as soon as she can. When it was time for her to go, I excorted her to the gangway and hugged her goodbye. She "dinged" out and left the ship. She was able to keep the key card as a souvenir.

 

Any other questions?

[kathe]

We did it with my best friend and her partner on the 28day Sapphire cruise in Oct.They could charge on their blue cards and were given a 8x10 photo plus some sort of a cruise credit.The food was extremely good.Better than the rest of the cruise!Kathe

[tvaud]

We did it with my best friend and her partner on the 28day Sapphire cruise in Oct.They could charge on their blue cards and were given a 8x10 photo plus some sort of a cruise credit.The food was extremely good.Better than the rest of the cruise!Kathe

 

Oh, I forgot about the photo. We had to get it for her during the cruise. The photographers didn't notice it prior to me finding the photo, or they would have pulled it...or so they said. They are supposed to look for that "Bon Voyage" tag in the photos. I remember her having the option to use a credit card for charges on her key card, but said "no" because we wanted to treat her.:)

[cruznliz]

The $39 can be used towards a new cruise booking if the person books within like 90 days. In any event, we did it last March on the Sapphire out of Los Angeles and it was great. The luncheon was delicious and there was free wine with the meal. ;) The 8 x 10 photo was great and they printed one for us as well as our guest. The photo was ready before they disembarked. :D

 

All in all it a very good program. I hope the price stays where it is.:eek:

[FireFighter115]

We are cruising on the 1/15 Ruby sailing tomorrow and we are going to have my parents sister and brother in law with us for the Bon voyage exp.

 

Give me a week to get back and I will share the latest.

[KevintheIrishDJ]

Has anyone heard heard of anyone that has gone on the Bon Vonage Experience or been on it themselves? Princess lets friends and family join them for 4 hours on board before the ship leaves for $39.95 per person. Just wondering how it works?

 

Thanks:)

 

We had our adult children. Great food, several glasses of wine:p, pictures and priority boarding.

 

Pax et bonum,

Kevin

[caribill]

We purchased this for my best friend, who wanted to see what the ship was like, on our last cruise. I arranged it through my TA. She printed her boarding pass, just as any regular passenger would. She sat with us prior to boarding. Checked in with us. She was given an oval tag to wear that said "Bon Voyage" on it, so the crew could identify her.

 

Also need to fill out the personalizer and present ID as if going on the cruise.

[MTJSR]

I did the BVE in San Francisco on the Sea Princess this last summer. I would recommend it for anyone interested. The lunch in the MDR was very good and it was fun to wonder a ship, I have not yet sailed on. I was a little surprised when we were handed a limited choice menu at lunch. There were only two entree items available and a couple choices each of salad and appetizer. I guess I have not eaten in the MDR on embarkation day before, as some claim this is normal. Either way, it was well worth the money to share in the first day onboard experience, if only for a short period of time.

[don'tleavewithoutme]

Took 4 family members for the Bon Voyage Experience this past winter on the Ruby in FLL. They were the only ones, had an excellent tour by the future cruise specialist - I saw places on the ship I hadn't been before.

 

Dinner was good - in all, we had a wonderful time. The photos were ready before they left the ship, and there were enough copies for everyone.

 

My mother couldn't find her blue card when it was time to leave, but my brother vouched for her identity and they had to let her get off the ship.....

[argenta01]

Another great perk of the BVE is the ability to buy FCC's while onboard. All you need to do is fill out the paperwork and put it in the drop box. Under cabin# put BVE. You will get a confirmation email probably before you even get home. We have done this several times. The $39 will be deducted from the price of a cruise if you book within 90 days of the BVE. You can then book with the FCC you just bought! :D You can use the blue cruise card to buy anything onboard. It will be charged to the credit card on file as you will need to fill out the personalizer just as if you were going on a cruise. It is lots of fun and I highly recommend it. It must be book at least 7 days in advance and can be done by calling 1-800-PRINCESS

[denims]

How does a person go about signing up for this? Does the cruiser do it. or the guest?

[Working 2 Cruise]

I have done this twice, and both times were great! I may do it with some friends again in March if they are willing to do the 2-hour drive (round-trip)! Lunch in the dining room is included and is excellent. Don't just settle for the pizza!

[mzwaag]

Thank you very much for all your replies!!!! Do you have priority boarding or do they wait with you until you board? We have my FIL signed up for our cruise in March. Never heard about this until my BIL told us about it. Sounds like it will be a nice day for him, he is looking forward to it.

Thanks again!!!!! My BIL called our TA and booked it for him.:)

[KevintheIrishDJ]

Thank you very much for all your replies!!!! Do you have priority boarding or do they wait with you until you board? We have my FIL signed up for our cruise in March. Never heard about this until my BIL told us about it. Sounds like it will be a nice day for him, he is looking forward to it.

Thanks again!!!!! My BIL called our TA and booked it for him.:)

 

You get priority bording with your guests.

 

Pax et bonum,

Kevin

[caribill]

How does a person go about signing up for this? Does the cruiser do it. or the guest?

 

Call Princess or your travel agent and ask for the BVE.

[capriccio]

You get priority bording with your guests.

 

 

You will be the absolute first passengers to board - before elite/platinum/suites so make sure you show up a few minutes before the designated time. My brother and sister-in-law were the only Bon Voyage guests on our Emerald Princess cruise in October 2010 -- we received a private tour (not a sales pitch) with the future cruise consultant. They were so impressed we're all going on an Alaska cruise this summer!

[2pbears]

Just wondering if you have to be a guest of one of the cruisers or could we just do this on our own?

[jrzebird]

Just wondering if you have to be a guest of one of the cruisers or could we just do this on our own?

 

I don't know from first hand experience, but I understand that you CAN do this on your own. Just contact Princess and ask.

 

I treated my daughter to the BVE in August. She enjoyed it, and I enjoyed having her there even more! I felt a bit teary when I walked her to the gangway to say good bye to her. :(

 

I plan to find someone to bring me to the pier again in October and treat them. Really is a lovely afternoon.

[generichandle]

Sadly, hard to do this from Cincinnati. Those close to embarkation port get a lot of benefit. Envy you.

 

 

Doug

[argenta01]

How does a person go about signing up for this? Does the cruiser do it. or the guest?

 

 

You sign up by calling 1-800-PRINCESS. You don't need to know anyone on the sailing you can do it yourselves. We live close to Brooklyn and have gone a couple of times just to do the BVE for the day.

[poncho1965]

I think it will work out great! Have heard nothing but positive about this. The only hitch I can think of is if the ship is doing extensive cleaning for Noro outbreaks, then they might cancel the BVE.

[pppiglet]

What about parking at the port for the guest? (We'll be leaving out of San Pedro?) Do they pay a day charge?

[cruznliz]

The parking fee at San Pedro is $1 per hour, $12 maximum per day. So for the BVE it would be about $4 or $5 for parking between 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM approximately. When our daughter came with us for lunch in March she drove us down and then took the car home for the week and picked us up a week later. Better than paying $12 a day for a 7-day cruise!;)