Staggered Boarding??

[judyjudy56]

We boarded the Sapphire Princess on March 24th in San Pedro. There was no evidence that they were enforcing the staggered boarding. We arrived at about 11:00. We were checked in and on the ship by 12:15. They normally start boarding at about 11:15 or so but this time they didn't start until closer to 11:45. We are platinum and were on Caribe but nobody asked us at the front of the building about anything. I imagine some folks went by their scheduled time but there were lots of people ready to board early and I can't imagine they were on Caribe deck.

[4cats4me]

All the talk about assigning boarding times to people and has anyone actually been turned away if they arrived before their appointed time? It's doubtful.

 

 

YES, IN SAN FRANCISCO AT PIER 35 THEY DID ENFORCE STAGGERED BOARDING. PAM IN CA WAS ON THE STAR PRINCESS AND DISEMARKATION WAS A MESS, AND THEN ON THE SAME DAY WITH THE NEW ARRIVALS, STAGGERED BOARDING WAS ENFORCED, LEAVING SOME STANDING OUT ON THE SIDEWALK FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

Staggered boarding on 3/19 was not merely a suggestion; it was mandatory according to those who were/are still on that sailing.

 

 

We boarded the Sapphire Princess on March 24th in San Pedro. There was no evidence that they were enforcing the staggered boarding. We arrived at about 11:00. We were checked in and on the ship by 12:15. They normally start boarding at about 11:15 or so but this time they didn't start until closer to 11:45. We are platinum and were on Caribe but nobody asked us at the front of the building about anything. I imagine some folks went by their scheduled time but there were lots of people ready to board early and I can't imagine they were on Caribe deck.

 

 

WE TOO IGNORED THE SUGGESTED STAGGERED BOARDING IN San Pedro, as do most people, and boarding takes place without incident whenever we go through San Pedro. That's a big terminal, though.

[1 HappyCruiser]

All the talk about assigning boarding times to people and has anyone actually been turned away if they arrived before their appointed time? It's doubtful.

 

 

 

YES, IN SAN FRANCISCO AT PIER 35 THEY DID ENFORCE STAGGERED BOARDING. PAM IN CA WAS ON THE STAR PRINCESS AND DISEMARKATION WAS A MESS, AND THEN ON THE SAME DAY WITH THE NEW ARRIVALS, STAGGERED BOARDING WAS ENFORCED, LEAVING SOME STANDING OUT ON THE SIDEWALK FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

Staggered boarding on 3/19 was not merely a suggestion; it was mandatory according to those who were/are still on that sailing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE TOO IGNORED THE SUGGESTED STAGGERED BOARDING IN San Pedro, as do most people, and boarding takes place without incident whenever we go through San Pedro. That's a big terminal, though.

 

I'm thinking that Princess is the cause of much of the problem with people now standing around waiting. The public (myself included) isn't going to pay attention to the recommendation to arrive later & it only creates more of a problem then letting them board when they get there. Thankfully they haven't started this in Florida yet.

[Kamloops50]

We are transfering directly from the Airport to the Ship on the April 14 .

 

Haven't heard of any staggered boarding time . One time in LA we had

 

staggered boarding time because there where three ships on a turn

 

around day and another on a port day. So port area was very congested

 

and Princess staggered the boarding time for both the Golden and Sapphire.

[Psychedout]

I received confirmation form our Princess TA that Princess is using staggered boarding. those that do not like this should write to Princess.

[pris993]

After 20 cruises with Princess, I see no reason for staggered boarding times. We will do as we have always done.

 

Princess is causing the problem, never seen a problem in the past. My advise is to ignore the whole thing.

[Cruise Raider]

All the talk about assigning boarding times to people and has anyone actually been turned away if they arrived before their appointed time? It's doubtful.

I realize what Princess is trying to do by alleviating the congestion but I have serious doubts if they would tell someone they couldn't board if they were there earlier. The scare tactic is their only hope of getting people to arrive at a later time.

 

We arrived at the pier in SF at 11:30 as that was when we could get a ride to the pier. Not meaning to beat a dead horse, but we were kicked out of line at 12:45 and didn't get to our room until 5 PM. Others were allowed to board beginning a little after 1 PM. Worst embarkation ever. And in answer to your question, yes, they tell people they cannot board. I will not fall for it twice, though. I am writing down the names and positions of anyone who tries that again and filing a formal complaint with the port authority.

[4cats4me]

We arrived at the pier in SF at 11:30 as that was when we could get a ride to the pier. Not meaning to beat a dead horse, but we were kicked out of line at 12:45 and didn't get to our room until 5 PM. Others were allowed to board beginning a little after 1 PM. Worst embarkation ever. And in answer to your question, yes, they tell people they cannot board. I will not fall for it twice, though. I am writing down the names and positions of anyone who tries that again and filing a formal complaint with the port authority.

 

Am I to understand that Elites and Platinums were denied priority boarding while OUTSIDE the actual terminal? From the sounds of it, it sounds like the key was making it INSIDE the terminal and then from there everyone was good to go. It sounded like complete chaos, but now I am understanding it better -- Disembarking passengers were still disembarking quite late, which understandably, created a backup for those who usually arrive early for embarkation. Therefore, it sounds as if a long line had formed by 12:45 or no? It sounds as if some representative of Princess should have personally walked the length of the line to whisk those with priority passes out of that line and escort them to the front of the terminal line. We were in the wrong line in Ft. Lauderdale, since it wasn't readily apparent where the priority check-in was, and after waiting in the wrong line for at least 25 minutes, a representative came along asking everyone to show their boarding passes,and he noticed our boarding passes and some other passengers' boarding passes were priority, so he escorted us out of line right to the front of the line. Well, whatever the case, it sounds like it was just a fluke that this happened since the 4/3 people had no problems embarking whatsover.

[Psychedout]

We arrived at the pier in SF at 11:30 as that was when we could get a ride to the pier. Not meaning to beat a dead horse, but we were kicked out of line at 12:45 and didn't get to our room until 5 PM. Others were allowed to board beginning a little after 1 PM. Worst embarkation ever. And in answer to your question, yes, they tell people they cannot board. I will not fall for it twice, though. I am writing down the names and positions of anyone who tries that again and filing a formal complaint with the port authority.

 

Wow that's awful!

[1 HappyCruiser]

We were in the wrong line in Ft. Lauderdale, since it wasn't readily apparent where the priority check-in was, and after waiting in the wrong line for at least 25 minutes, a representative came along asking everyone to show their boarding passes,and he noticed our boarding passes and some other passengers' boarding passes were priority, so he escorted us out of line right to the front of the line. Well, whatever the case, it sounds like it was just a fluke that this happened since the 4/3 people had no problems embarking whatsover.

 

We waited on line similar to that once in Florida but it was only for a few minutes when they pushed us to the front to enter. At the time the door in the front of terminal 2 wasn't used for priority boarding, which it is no longer either. People either have to know to proceed ahead or have to be within hearing distance of the staff which can be difficult to hear when the line gets long.

[siskokid]

This system has been used in the UK for P&O UK.

 

Does it work no as P&O use shuttel buses to bring in people from all over the UK which crowded the terminal. Its a mess so many people waiting to get on board.

 

We had a long wait, then they noticed we were not from the UK so we were directed to another line and strait on board. But its not the best system.

[GrandmaHofmann]

We were scheduled to board at 2. We went there at 11:30 and were on the second bus to the ship. We were eating lunch on board at 12:30 and in our room. Our luggage arrived before we could walk out the door. Some people did not board til 4, however. There was a real mess. If you are platinum or higher, make that clear. We would have gotten on much later had we not done so, and we were not asked! When we asked if there were a different place to sit for platinum, we were told no. Then we noticed that there was indeed a different place and went over there. Had that not happened, we would have been on bus one.

[CruisinMinnie]

I've had DH wait in the long line outside (this was in San Francisco) while I walked up to the door to the terminal and asked where Priority boarding was, then I waved DH forward. Some people behind him in line were Priority also, and just followed him on up to the front. There was no sign that I could see, and no Princess representative near the back of the line to ask.

[FritzG]

All of this is making us rethink a Hawaii cruise out of SF in November.

 

It seems like there are more complaints about SF than other ports. Are there fewer problems with staggered boarding in San Pedro?

 

Also has Princess addressed the issue of late boarding and signing up for things like Captain's Table?

[Captain Canuck]

got notice of staggered boarding late after we booked our shuttle

showed up around 1030 or so and were checked in right away..sat in the platinum lounge for an hour or two then boarded..were with a really nice couple so the time went fast..

so no real issues but still pissed off with Princess...was on the Allure with 6500 pax and no issues...Princess should try reacting to normal passenger flows and not try and regulate this...some people like us like to be early..others like to wait til the last minute...Princess could plan around this rather than try and force us to accomodate them

only things you get for being platinum are priority boarding and some free internet. their internet is a joke so the benefits are not that great

they did not think this thing through

[Pia1913]

got notice of staggered boarding late after we booked our shuttle

showed up around 1030 or so and were checked in right away..sat in the platinum lounge for an hour or two then boarded..were with a really nice couple so the time went fast..

so no real issues but still pissed off with Princess...was on the Allure with 6500 pax and no issues...Princess should try reacting to normal passenger flows and not try and regulate this...some people like us like to be early..others like to wait til the last minute...Princess could plan around this rather than try and force us to accomodate them

only things you get for being platinum are priority boarding and some free internet. their internet is a joke so the benefits are not that great

they did not think this thing through

 

You didn't disembark the Allure in SF.

[Captain Canuck]

?

nothing to do with my point...am I missing something

[Pia1913]

?

nothing to do with my point...am I missing something

 

My point is that you cannot compare SF with FLL.

[Pam in CA]

My point is that you cannot compare SF with FLL.

Pia is correct. SF is very different from FL.

[Amuse Bouche]

got notice of staggered boarding late after we booked our shuttle

showed up around 1030 or so and were checked in right away..sat in the platinum lounge for an hour or two then boarded..were with a really nice couple so the time went fast..

so no real issues but still pissed off with Princess...was on the Allure with 6500 pax and no issues...Princess should try reacting to normal passenger flows and not try and regulate this...some people like us like to be early..others like to wait til the last minute...Princess could plan around this rather than try and force us to accomodate them

only things you get for being platinum are priority boarding and some free internet. their internet is a joke so the benefits are not that great

they did not think this thing through

 

I think this was pretty pertinent. This point doesn't apply to the ship or the port. And I completely agree with it.

[LARGIN]

Perhaps Princess should separate Preferred Boarding into two classes... Platinum's can board ahead of everyone in their assigned staggered boarding schedule, Elites can board anytime... :D:D

[Pia1913]

Perhaps Princess should separate Preferred Boarding into two classes... Platinum's can board ahead of everyone in their assigned staggered boarding schedule, Elites can board anytime... :D:D

 

Yeh! Right on! :p

[Amuse Bouche]

You know, as long as they let me board before the ship leaves...I don't really care :p

[Pamster]

You know, as long as they let me board before the ship leaves...I don't really care :p

 

LOL - I'm with you there. But if there's anyway I can avoid standing in line forever to check in, I'll do that. Whether it means I get on board at noon or 3:30, I don't care that much. My personal "priority" is to avoid long lines.

[Bobed1927]

I need a wheelchair. How do they accommodate the disabled waiting outside the terminal?