Crown Princess-"Elite Lounge" experiences?

[mef623]

Hi all,

 

We're looking into booking the Crown Princess and I noticed that one of the suite perks is the "Exclusive Elite Lounge." I read through the more general thread and it looks like my hopes for anything resembling the concierge lounge on Holland have been dashed.

 

Does anyone have any recent experiences on Crown's "elite lounge?"

 

Thanks,

Mike

[dorisis]

Hi all,

 

We're looking into booking the Crown Princess and I noticed that one of the suite perks is the "Exclusive Elite Lounge." I read through the more general thread and it looks like my hopes for anything resembling the concierge lounge on Holland have been dashed.

 

Does anyone have any recent experiences on Crown's "elite lounge?"

 

Thanks,

Mike

 

It is a lounge that holds a "Happy Hour" experience for Platinum, Elite and Suite passengers. It is generally a corner of one of the larger lounges. There is a 'Drink of the Day with canapes in the same theme. Drinks of the day are $1 off and others are regular price. You will find a card in your cabin with all the information.

 

Nothing like concierge lounges as it is only open for a few hours prior to dinner. The other suite perks are very nice. And our favorite is breakfast in Sabatin'is.

[mef623]

Thanks! That's kinda what I figured.

 

BTW, totally agree with you about the breakfast at S. It worked great when our kids were toddlers and, as soon as they saw us, there would be bowls of rice krispies on the table. They'll be six when we take this cruise, so hopefully they'll be able to appreciate it.

 

Mike

[partybarbie]

The Crown Elite/Suite/Platinum lounge is held in Skywalkers Nightclub, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. On our cruise the entire lounge was used, not just a corner of it. On the second half of our TA cruise, there were so many eligible passengers, it was moved to Club Fusion. Again, this was the entire lounge, not just a corner of it.

 

The only ships that don't have a special place for the Elite/Suite/Platinum lounge are the Island and the Coral. On those, it is a section of the Explorer's lounge.

 

Although the drinks aren't free, there's a specialty drink available at a reduced price, and appetizers are served free of charge. IMHO, it's a great way to have a chat and a cocktail before dinner. Also the drinks are more that just $1.00 the regular price. We were served the $8.95 cocktails, i.e., the Chairman of the Board, Magaritas, and Mojitos for $5.00, plus 15% gratuity.

Edited July 21, 2014 by partybarbie

[CruiserBruce]

Any idea where the Elite Lounge might be on Dawn Princess?

[partybarbie]

I was only on the Dawn Princess once, for a seven-day Mexico cruise in 2007. If I had to guess, I would say most likely in the Vista Lounge. Hopefully one of the recent Aussie cruisers will come answer this one for you.:)

[OCruisers]

Princess leaves a card in your cabin saying what sort of munchies they'll be having each night and also the drink special.

We never go because we enjoy being at our favorite bar. :)

LuLu

[skynight]

When they have the Elite happy hour in Skywalker's it is nice a nice location, but it isn't an exclusive experience, about half the ship qualifies to go. Anyone with 5 cruise credits is invited plus full suite passengers. When they have to move it to Club Fusion because of crowds isn't so nice. We go if we like the munchies.

 

There are lots of other nice full suite perks, and a really good one is breakfast at Sabatini's.

[geoherb]

I guess the cruises we've been on haven't been as popular with Platinum and Elite passengers. There have always been a ton more Gold, Ruby, and first-timers. We've never seen a huge crowd at the event--always plenty of food with little to no waiting and plenty of seats around. It's a great late-afternoon snack for us. We always have second seating for dinner.

[rkmw]

Any idea where the Elite Lounge might be on Dawn Princess?

 

on the aussie princess ships ....Dawn,Sun & Sea they dont give us an elite lounge or happy hours and no anytime dining

[Kruznkat]

We're going on the Crown in three weeks. I am Elite but was wondering if my travel companions will be allowed to come with us?

[shredie]

We're going on the Crown in three weeks. I am Elite but was wondering if my travel companions will be allowed to come with us?

 

Sometimes they check cards at the door. Sometimes they don't.

[crochetcruise]

The Crown Elite/Suite/Platinum lounge is held in Skywalkers Nightclub, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. On our cruise the entire lounge was used, not just a corner of it. On the second half of our TA cruise, there were so many eligible passengers, it was moved to Club Fusion. Again, this was the entire lounge, not just a corner of it.

 

The only ships that don't have a special place for the Elite/Suite/Platinum lounge are the Island and the Coral. On those, it is a section of the Explorer's lounge.

 

Although the drinks aren't free, there's a specialty drink available at a reduced price, and appetizers are served free of charge. IMHO, it's a great way to have a chat and a cocktail before dinner. Also the drinks are more that just $1.00 the regular price. We were served the $8.95 cocktails, i.e., the Chairman of the Board, Magaritas, and Mojitos for $5.00, plus 15% gratuity.

 

THANK YOU! I've just managed to find out the Australian price of a Cocktail-AUD$14 so "guesstimating" $9.00 for the Elite/Suite/Platinum "do." At present, the All-Inclusive-Beverage-Package is only available for cruises of 8 nights or more so I am budgeting $14 per Cocktail and will gift myself On Board Credit so I have the Cocktails, Speciality Dining, Souvenirs, Photography and Internet fully covered to the best of my knowledge. I will also gift myself Casino Credit so I have a back up in case of finding more souvenirs or enjoying more Cocktails than I'd originally planned. Have had great help from my cousins-they want mugs, and a friend who's sending money with me for a sweatshirt/tshirt, whichever I can get. Am hoping for both, as I'd intended that as her gift, she pre-empted me by asking to send the money so I wasn't out of pocket on the cruise!

 

Every time I come on Cruise Critic I learn something new and useful! :D;);)

[crochetcruise]

Princess leaves a card in your cabin saying what sort of munchies they'll be having each night and also the drink special.

We never go because we enjoy being at our favorite bar. :)

LuLu

 

THANK YOU! Am planning to go to my Suite, ring the Dine Line and book the Specialty Restaurant, and ask about Crab Shack, then collect the assorted paperwork, and go to the MDR for Embarkation Lunch. I have noted to look out for that card-plan to write down EVERYTHING I receive as it's all completely new to me, and I don't want to lose anything important-have accidently thrown out a vital letter, so now very cautious with my eyesight sometimes causing problems. Ah well, at least I can learn from my mistakes ;)

[JimmyVWine]

I guess the cruises we've been on haven't been as popular with Platinum and Elite passengers. There have always been a ton more Gold, Ruby, and first-timers. We've never seen a huge crowd at the event--always plenty of food with little to no waiting and plenty of seats around. It's a great late-afternoon snack for us. We always have second seating for dinner.

On our most recent cruise, we experienced the same thing. They blocked off all of Skywalkers so that about a dozen to twenty people could have a private cocktail hour during prime sailaway time. It was a terrible allocation of space. The Elite Lounge could easily have been held on one side of the venue leaving the other half for all of the people who were being turned away at the door. Frankly, Princess left a lot of money on the table by shooing away people who were ready to buy drinks. Some of them probably found other places to spend their money but I am sure others didn't.

[Pam in CA]

BTW, totally agree with you about the breakfast at S. It worked great when our kids were toddlers and, as soon as they saw us, there would be bowls of rice krispies on the table. They'll be six when we take this cruise, so hopefully they'll be able to appreciate it.

Keep in mind that breakfast in Sabatini's is available only to people actually booked in the full suite. :)

[shredie]

Frankly, Princess left a lot of money on the table by shooing away people who were ready to buy drinks. Some of them probably found other places to spend their money but I am sure others didn't.

 

That is never a problem on Princess! :)

Edited July 25, 2015 by shredie

[Colo Cruiser]

We're going on the Crown in three weeks. I am Elite but was wondering if my travel companions will be allowed to come with us?

 

It is for Platinum/Elite/Suite guests only.

Its already can be a crowded venue, especially the last few times we have cruised. :(

[pablo222]

on the aussie princess ships ....Dawn,Sun & Sea they dont give us an elite lounge or happy hours and no anytime dining

 

It will be interesting to see what happens when Emerald starts sailing

from Australia. They don't have enough seats to not do anytime...

[timetravler]

When they have the Elite happy hour in Skywalker's it is nice a nice location, but it isn't an exclusive experience, about half the ship qualifies to go. Anyone with 5 cruise credits is invited plus full suite passengers. When they have to move it to Club Fusion because of crowds isn't so nice. We go if we like the munchies.

 

There are lots of other nice full suite perks, and a really good one is breakfast at Sabatini's.

The elite/platinum lounge is ONLY for those folks and suite passangers. It is not for someone with 5 cruise credits. Now I have seen others who are not elite/platinum go to the elite lounge, but if they ordered drinks, the bartender would know right away that they weren't elite/platinum by their cruise card. I would think the bartenders would not serve them, or at least I would hope so. As others have said, sometimes they check cards when you enter, and sometimes they don't.

[PescadoAmarillo]

The elite/platinum lounge is ONLY for those folks and suite passangers. It is not for someone with 5 cruise credits. Now I have seen others who are not elite/platinum go to the elite lounge, but if they ordered drinks, the bartender would know right away that they weren't elite/platinum by their cruise card. I would think the bartenders would not serve them, or at least I would hope so. As others have said, sometimes they check cards when you enter, and sometimes they don't.

 

I thought someone with 5 cruise credits WAS platinum??

 

The bar waiters won't say a word about card color; they just want the tips.The bar supervisor who mans the door usually checks cards the first couple of days but once they know you there is no issue.

[timetravler]

I thought someone with 5 cruise credits WAS platinum??

 

The bar waiters won't say a word about card color; they just want the tips.The bar supervisor who mans the door usually checks cards the first couple of days but once they know you there is no issue.

Oh my, you are right. I haven't been platinum for a long time and did not realize that only 5 cruises makes you platinum. Sorry about that. I've been elite for years now.

[junglejane]

On our recent Baltic cruise on the Caribbean Princess, they used Skywalkers for the Platinum, Elite and Suite reception. Most of the time Skywalkers was totally empty except for a few people using it for a quiet place to read during the day. Anyway one day my DD18 was up there reading her Kindle, wearing gym shorts, a tank top and flip flops. As 5 pm approached, one of the waiters approached her and basically told her to leave for a "private function." DD18 knew it was the Platinum, Elite & Suite reception. She is Platinum (got her Platinum card in December on her first cruise as an 18 year old). But she also knew it was formal night so she decided it was time to head to her cabin and glam up. Anyway, it goes to show they do use some "enforcement."

Edited July 25, 2015 by junglejane

[beckntom]

I am Platinum. My two adult daughters sailing with me in the same cabin are not. Will they be allowed to accompany me to the platinum/elite/suite lounge? I would certainly hope so, since we are in the same cabin.

[Colo Cruiser]

I am Platinum. My two adult daughters sailing with me in the same cabin are not. Will they be allowed to accompany me to the platinum/elite/suite lounge? I would certainly hope so, since we are in the same cabin.

 

 

Technically no. They are adults and they have their own CC status now.

When they were children they sailed under you number. When they turned 18 they are under their own CC membership numbers.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Colo Cruiser