A PEV suite disembarking perk coming soon

[Royal2464]

Thanks for the info. I have never been lucky with Customs. We have a 9 hour drive so that timeframe is perfect for us. Was the luggage close to the customs line or farther away as reported earlier in the thread ?

 

The suites/pinnacle luggage area was about 75 to 100 feet from the customs area.

[chfenton]

Has anyone come back from the Oasis recently that can comment if it is in effect at the Oasis/allure pier.

 

Off Oasis on 7/11. Can confirm with special suite tags, luggage was in designated area once back on land. Once luggage retrieved, special lane to Customs with no wait. Also even better was the escort down from suite lounge on 17. Essentially concierge takes you all the way to your luggage, bypassing waiting in any lines (to get off ship, go down escalator in port, etc.). I timed it, it was 17 minutes from leaving the suite lounge until we were in a taxi and that included about 5 minutes looking for one wayward bag. Concierge does twice 7:45 and 8:30.

[RocketMan275]

In my instance we met in the suites lounge at 8:30 a.m., so a lot of self carry walk offs were gone already. But we definitely beat a lot of those folks doing self carry who did not get in line early. I think self carry starts around 7:30 and it is very, very popular.

 

Our last cruise was Regal and we were already in our car and driving by 0715. We were waiting in the assembly area around 0615. Guess we will do self.

[John&LaLa]

Spend 15 grand in the gift shop and you'll get a private lane to customs. We were off in 20 minutes.

[A&L_Ont]

Off Oasis on 7/11. Can confirm with special suite tags, luggage was in designated area once back on land. Once luggage retrieved, special lane to Customs with no wait. Also even better was the escort down from suite lounge on 17. Essentially concierge takes you all the way to your luggage, bypassing waiting in any lines (to get off ship, go down escalator in port, etc.). I timed it, it was 17 minutes from leaving the suite lounge until we were in a taxi and that included about 5 minutes looking for one wayward bag. Concierge does twice 7:45 and 8:30.

 

Chfenton, thanks for the info for Oasis. I think Allure will be the same when she arrives in the fall from the Med.

 

We are on Indy in October and she will be using pier 18. Has anyone experienced the suite walk off on Indy? We usually use luggage valet but the rest of this process will speed up our disembarking.

[eileen226]

My daughter and I had them too on Enchantment and we are D and D+. We were not directed to any special custom line that I was aware of,but the regular line moved quickly.

[Daisy May]

Our experience was at Port Liberty NJ at the new terminal when we disembarked Liberty. I believe your experience was in Galveston.

 

Yes it was. Hopefully they keep it up.

 

Sherry

[CaribSailor]

I'm sorry but I don't see this as a "perk" when you can walk off first thing in the morning. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get off the ship and the customs lines are nil.

[John&LaLa]

I'm sorry but I don't see this as a "perk" when you can walk off first thing in the morning. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get off the ship and the customs lines are nil.

 

Not everyone has the ability or desire to do self debarking.

[Sea_Salt_Sailor]

On Indy is the same... luggage is separate in luggage floor and special line for CBP. Be careful if you traveling with others that not stayed in a suite, agents will not allow them to use the line as is only for suites and pinnacle member. They advise that if the group want to stay all together that must continue to the regular line. I asked one of the CBP just for curiosity and they confirmed that is true that only suites and pinnacle can utilize the line. I guess they are very strict enforcing the special line. Also they finally have Global Entry in the terminal, not the machine but another separate line for Global Entry members.

[orville99]

I'm sorry but I don't see this as a "perk" when you can walk off first thing in the morning. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get off the ship and the customs lines are nil.

 

 

We were two hours late getting into Port Canaveral yesterday due to mechanical issues on EN, and the regular line to go through customs was horrendous (snaked all the way back to the ramp). Our bags were right next to the separate CBP station, and we were able to breeze through customs in a few minutes. I see that as a definite "perk" ;)

[cruisenfever]

I'm sorry but I don't see this as a "perk" when you can walk off first thing in the morning. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get off the ship and the customs lines are nil.

Not everyone can carry their own luggage off the ship.

[CaribSailor]

Not everyone has the ability or desire to do self debarking.

 

 

That is why I said "I" meaning for us and how it impacts my family. I don't really care what it means for others as I am not them ;). Just my opinion.. We pay thousands of dollars to cruise in suites and being walked off a ship is not a suite perk to us.

Edited July 28, 2015 by CaribSailor

[A&L_Ont]

On Indy is the same... luggage is separate in luggage floor and special line for CBP. Be careful if you traveling with others that not stayed in a suite, agents will not allow them to use the line as is only for suites and pinnacle member. They advise that if the group want to stay all together that must continue to the regular line. I asked one of the CBP just for curiosity and they confirmed that is true that only suites and pinnacle can utilize the line. I guess they are very strict enforcing the special line. Also they finally have Global Entry in the terminal, not the machine but another separate line for Global Entry members.

 

Thanks Sea Salt Sailor for the Indy information. This perk would give us a chance to catch an earlier flight home. I'd pass the ability to use luggage valet to be home by 3pm and not 5:30pm.

 

It is also nice to hear about Global Entery. We have applied for Nexus and are waiting to have our interviews set up. If there are only two set walk offs with the concereige Global would give us a bit longer on the ship, prior to our 11:30 flight home. We could still use luggage valet in that instance.

 

Thanks again.

[nbsjcruiser]

I have to admit that all this special treatment for suite guests is starting to turn me off RCI. We'll be Diamond in November which means we've spent a pile of money in the last 11 years on RCI and I feel like we're in steerage class as far as RCI is concerned.

 

When I look at out first cruise on the EOS in 2004 I was blown away by the cruise. The service was incredible and the food in the MDR was knock your socks off good. I remember someone telling us to try Chops but I saw no reason to. Lobster in the MDR, great steaks - it was friggin awesome. Our last cruise on the Indy? We were served cold food in the MDR twice, had to wait for 45 minutes for our table, Chops was disappointing. RCI is nowhere near the cruise line it once was. They want to try and believe they offer an upscale experience to the suite guests while the rest of us are an afterthought.

 

Even though I'm Diamond in November, RCI is no longer my immediate go-to cruise line. Will I still cruise on RCI? Of course I will. There will be good deals that I'll take (our 9 day on the NOS in 2017 was a good price) but now when I research, NCL and Princess get equal consideration, something they never used to get.

[ltjn]

A&L_Ont,

 

NEXUS and GLOBAL Entry are outstanding systems. We use our NEXUS for entering your fine Country at least twice a week. We have belonged to these programs for at least 10 years. When we applied for NEXUS many years ago, GLOBAL Entry was an added benefit at no cost. I don't know if that is still available, but during your personal interview they will inform you of available options if being offered.

 

As a side note NEXUS & GLOBAL Entry qualify you for TSA Pre-check Trusted Traveler Program. It was the best system for flying out of Vancouver and Pearson (Toronto).

[spookwife]

They did it on the Navigator in May. Ricardo gathered the flock and escorted us down to the luggage and into the Customs line. It was great.

 

Sherry

 

Ricardo was a gem. wonder if the Liberty Concierge will be as good?

[Clarea]

Ricardo was a gem. wonder if the Liberty Concierge will be as good?

Carlos on Liberty was also excellent, especially during disembarkation.

[ARCruisinNana]

Ricardo was a gem. wonder if the Liberty Concierge will be as good?

 

 

Wouldn't it be nice if Ricardo and Nadja transferred to Liberty?!?!?

[A&L_Ont]

A&L_Ont,

 

NEXUS and GLOBAL Entry are outstanding systems. We use our NEXUS for entering your fine Country at least twice a week. We have belonged to these programs for at least 10 years. When we applied for NEXUS many years ago, GLOBAL Entry was an added benefit at no cost. I don't know if that is still available, but during your personal interview they will inform you of available options if being offered.

 

As a side note NEXUS & GLOBAL Entry qualify you for TSA Pre-check Trusted Traveler Program. It was the best system for flying out of Vancouver and Pearson (Toronto).

 

Yes, we read that about the TSA pre-check traveler program. We usually cross by car at Port Huron. However, we do fly out of Toronto on a somewhat regular frequency and no matter where we use Nexus we really look forward to using it.

[George C]

They did it on the Navigator in May. Ricardo gathered the flock and escorted us down to the luggage and into the Customs line. It was great.

 

Sherry

 

We also did Navigator and we were off by 9am Ricardo did same last year also, it was great plenty of porters to help and no line.

[foflocruiser]

those that have (CBP) GLOBAL ENTRY cards get front of the line privileges.

 

If one person has a GLOBAL Entry membership they may take the persons that would be on the same customs declaration form to the front of the line with them.

[cruisenfever]

those that have (CBP) GLOBAL ENTRY cards get front of the line privileges.

 

If one person has a GLOBAL Entry membership they may take the persons that would be on the same customs declaration form to the front of the line with them.

Actually, that is not correct since you do not have to go through TSA when disembarking a ship. Global Entry is currently only designed to be used at airports that have the necessary kiosks. There are currently no Global Entry kiosks within any of the cruise port terminals.

Edited July 29, 2015 by cruisenfever

[A&L_Ont]

Actually, that is not correct since you do not have to go through TSA when disembarking a ship. Global Entry is currently only designed to be used at airports that have the necessary kiosks. There are currently no Global Entry kiosks within any of the cruise port terminals.

 

On Indy is the same... luggage is separate in luggage floor and special line for CBP. Be careful if you traveling with others that not stayed in a suite, agents will not allow them to use the line as is only for suites and pinnacle member. They advise that if the group want to stay all together that must continue to the regular line. I asked one of the CBP just for curiosity and they confirmed that is true that only suites and pinnacle can utilize the line. I guess they are very strict enforcing the special line. Also they finally have Global Entry in the terminal, not the machine but another separate line for Global Entry members.

 

It sounds like at terminal 18 in FLL they have a separate line for Global Entery just not the machine. I will be there in October and find out then first hand.

[cruisenfever]

It sounds like at terminal 18 in FLL they have a separate line for Global Entery just not the machine. I will be there in October and find out then first hand.

Thanks. As long as their is a "separate line" for those with the GE Cards it should make things easier. I just don't want folks to think that they can just blow by everyone in line where there is no separate line just becaue they have a GE card in hand when disembarking.

Edited July 29, 2015 by cruisenfever