Suites traveling with non-suite

[iampegasus]

I have looked high and low and all around to find the answer to this question. I even googled it. We have three couples traveling together a cruise on the Dawn (out of NOLA). Two are in suites and one is in a balcony just outside of my suite. The question is this: will we all be able to board together (escorted, etc) or will the couple of the suite have to board separately?

[Demonyte]

Depends on the concierge and/or other staff handling suite passengers - nobody here can give you a definitive answer, you can ask about that in the terminal.

 

The ones in balcony will need to check-in separately at least.

Edited September 12, 2015 by Demonyte

[SeaShark]

Depends on the concierge and/or other staff handling suite passengers - nobody here can give you a definitive answer, you can ask about that in the terminal.

 

The ones in balcony will need to check-in separately at least.

"Together" does not have to mean granting suite privileges to the balcony guests (which NCL will not do). If they simply want to be "together", there is nothing preventing the suite guests from entering the regular line with their friends.

[SuiteCruiser]

End of August we checked into the Dawn, the Platinum and Gold lines were together, so we checked in together. Our friend in a non-suite cabin got his key, the 2 of us in the suite had to go to the suite area to get our keycards, so we all went there, chatted with the Concierge, asked if it was okay that our friend was with us, no problem, she said he couldn't come to Cagney's for breakfast and lunch, which we already knew, and then we were escorted to our suite.

 

If it's the same concierge, it should play out similarly, though one can never be sure :)

[cruzsnooze]

The suite guests will need to go with the balcony guests to the regular line and then you will board together.

[SuiteCruiser]

The suite guests will need to go with the balcony guests to the regular line and then you will board together.

 

Suite guests need to go to the suite area, that's where the keycards are and they are handed out when the Concierge decides to hand them out. Ours happened very quickly.

[mjkacmom]

This is really dependent on the staff. We boarded with suite passengers once when we were in a balcony (total strangers that we shared a cab with to the pier). Some make it seem like it's definitely not possible, but is is possible.

[SuiteCruiser]

This is really dependent on the staff. We boarded with suite passengers once when we were in a balcony (total strangers that we shared a cab with to the pier). Some make it seem like it's definitely not possible, but is is possible.

 

It's definitely possible. Of the perks one gets with a suite, it's the one that most concierges agree to easily.

[jpcdds6]

This is really dependent on the staff. We boarded with suite passengers once when we were in a balcony (total strangers that we shared a cab with to the pier). Some make it seem like it's definitely not possible, but is is possible.

 

Slip the concierge a twenty, before you ask. Done.:p

[FitchburgWIFamily]

Traveled in March out of NOLA. We were booked as 6 in a suite and one in an interior. We all checked in together in the suite line, and the non suite person was handed their key card at the desk. All of us were escorted to the suite waiting area where the suite passengers picked up their key cards. All of us boarded together. After boarding, Suite passengers went up to Cagney's for lunch, non suite passenger stayed behind.

 

Our experience could be different than yours though since we were multi-generational: Suite passengers were my 85 yr old mother, my husband, my 20 something niece, her 20 something friend, and my 15 year old son and my 14 year old daughter. I was the non-suite passenger, but I was the one holding all the paperwork and shepherding the herd through the lines.

 

First thing I said when I got every one up to the counter was: :"I am checking in this group, and then I am getting back in line to check myself in" to which the person at the counter said "There is no need to do that, we can get everyone checked in right here"

[Eeyoregon]

I have looked high and low and all around to find the answer to this question. I even googled it. We have three couples traveling together a cruise on the Dawn (out of NOLA). Two are in suites and one is in a balcony just outside of my suite. The question is this: will we all be able to board together (escorted, etc) or will the couple of the suite have to board separately?

 

Cruise line policy says that only the guests in the suite will receive suite amenities. That being said, it's ultimately up to the port staff the day of embarkation.

 

Happy sailing.

[iampegasus]

Thanks for the info folks. I'm hoping they will see reason in allowing our friends to tag along when we are "escorted" to our suites, since their cabin is right by mine. I guess I'll just wing it. It won't make or break my happy cruise either way. :cool:

[NayRN]

Thanks for the info folks. I'm hoping they will see reason in allowing our friends to tag along when we are "escorted" to our suites, since their cabin is right by mine. I guess I'll just wing it. It won't make or break my happy cruise either way. :cool:

 

To be honest, this is my 8th time sailing in a suite and the only time I was ever "escorted" directly to my suite was when we were in the Garden Villa on the Jewel. Every other time we were taken to Cagney's (or its equilivent). They won't take your friend with you to Cagney's, but they will probably let her/him board the ship with you....and then go in their merry way!! ;)

 

Like you said, it won't make or break your cruise...and that's a great attitude! Have a fantabulous sailing!! :cool:

[rbrugler]

My goodness. How many times does this question need to be answered?

[TSUmom]

As others have said it is really up to the concierge and staff. We had three of us in a 2 bedroom suite and an elderly gentleman (80 and his first cruise) in a regular balcony. I asked this question a few months before my cruise and a great many of the responses were "no, he did not pay for it" That being said we just checked in the 3 of us at the suite check in and then went and stood in line with him and went through with the non suite passengers, took time for the welcome aboard picture and then went up to the haven (unescorted), with him in tow. We got our haven tour, then we went and ate lunch at the buffet. The only time we included him in a haven activity was my birthday dinner in the haven. I guess I let others on these boards make me feel bad for wanting to include him and I am sure if I would have asked Monika we could have taken advantage of priority tenders or disembarkation but we chose not too.

[tymike]

I sailed in July on the BA with one suite (myself and bf) and two adjacent/adjoining balconies for grown children and their friends. Once through security we inquired about the non-suite guests waiting with us in the Haven waiting area and boarding with us and we were absolutely told 'no'. In fact, the concierge was nowhere within the pier. The non-Haven guests were escorted to a counter for a check in which seemed seriously expedited though...toward the rear of the pier.

 

There were three staff members at the entrance to the Haven waiting area checking everyone's paperwork before they were allowed access so there was no way to just take everyone with us (not that I was planning to do that anyway).

 

What was super nice though, is that the Haven area staff allowed the non-suite guests in my party to wait in the adjacent area that ended up with the overflow Haven guests so my 'people' actually boarded just after us. Maybe the staff knew the Haven room fills up to over capacity so they really don't want anyone who doesn't have 'rights' to the food/beverages/first boarding privileges to enter that room.

 

Please know that I knew that anything was possible when we arrived at the pier, had no expectations, and made no promises, so I was very pleased that even though we technically had to wait in separate areas, we really boarded almost simultaneously with our party.

 

 

Upon disembarkment, the concierge did allow everyone in my sailing party to leave the ship with us from the Haven and under staff 'escort'. Much appreciated!