Terrible Check-in So Far for the Edge

[CruzC2C]

3 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Well, unimpressive to say the least.  We arrived at 12 for a 12:30 check-in for a suite.  We were directed to a suite line outside...a Disney-like line that winds and winds and moves incrementally.

 

We joined the line at 12 noon.  We are still in line at 12:28.  My husband estimates that there are still about 75 people ahead of us.  THE longest wait we have EVER experienced and certainly not what others have posted who have sailed before us.  Adding that there is no water available and no seating for those with canes and walkers.  
 

Not a great start to this long awaited cruise!  Things can only improve, right?

Agree, we found the same problem when we arrived for our check-in today.  We also waited in a long suite line, which moved extremely slow.  A lot of suite guests were having a tough time standing that long. 
What I did find interesting from talking with people around me in line, was not all of them were suite guests while others had later times but came early to sit and wait outside but we’re told to get in line.  
Everyone was nice and excited about getting onboard.  But did expect something a little better than what we encountered today.  

[grandgeezer]

2 hours ago, maggie.1008 said:

I feel for her also. Not up to Celebrity standards for suite passengers.

why are the not stopping all the people that show up before their assigned time ? 

Easy answer, they haven't got the guts to enforce most of their procedures, they are afraid to upset their passengers for fear of mot getting extra tips, or tips at all. People know it, how many times have people asked the question on these boards, "How closely do they enforce things such as saving seats, minimum age for the different kids groups, number of cards for the number of drinks, etc., etc.

[bEwAbG]

I would like to understand better how people coming at 10am created the issue.  These were all suite guests?  Was it just a line of suite guests caused by a late opening?  If everyone has priority then no one has priority.

[Oville]

At FFL terminal 25 there used to be two different entrances, one for suites only and one for all others.  There entrances were not close to each, what happened?

[Silkroad]

19 minutes ago, Oville said:

At FFL terminal 25 there used to be two different entrances, one for suites only and one for all others.  There entrances were not close to each, what happened?

I'm wondering about this too. The only time I sailed in a suite from FLL (December 2019), a nice man tried to direct me to the doorway to the right that others were streaming through. I told him we were sailing in a suite, and he immediately walked us to a doorway to the left and handed us off the an employee within. Granted, there were no assigned arrival times for suites pre-covid, but we arrived around 11:00 (boarding began at 10:30) and encountered no line. As you said, those two doors were not at all close to one another. I wonder if some suite guests were directed to the wrong line.

Edited July 17, 2021 by Silkroad
clarification

[keesar]

1 hour ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

good grief.  Ranting?  reporting the facts, trying to help future passengers.  I think I will save my internet minutes.  This is not worth the hassle.

 

There are plans that have unlimited internet minutes.  Worth checking out.  

[ItsADryHumor]

2 hours ago, DCPIV said:

 

Yeah, probably, but I wonder. Edge has a lot of suites, but geez. Anyhow, what in the world possesses someone to show up at 10 when everything indicates that Fort Lauderdale does not currently open the doors until at our near noon? The ship is giving away lunch, not gold bars. 

Because the rules do not apply to them in their heads, I suppose. 

[Ken the cruiser]

6 minutes ago, Silkroad said:

I'm wondering about this too. The only time I sailed in a suite from FLL (December 2019), a nice man tried to direct me to the doorway to the right that others were streaming through. I told him we were sailing in a suite, and he immediately walked us to a doorway to the left and handed us off the an employee within. Granted, there were no assigned arrival times for suites pre-covid, but we arrived around 11:00 and encountered no line. As you said, those two doors were not at all close to one another. I wonder if some suite guests were directed to the wrong line.

I remember that door! We booked our first suite on the Equinox, which happened to be her last sailing in March before COVID shut everything down. Check-in was definitely a breeze that's for sure. Well, almost.

 

I also remember wearing a baseball hat outside that day, as we walked from the parking garage to the terminal entrance, and it was hot! So hot that when I took my hat off at the terminal entrance to get my body temperature checked, another first, the gauge they used on my forehead went off twice before my head cooled down enough for it to register as normal. Whew!! One more time, and off to the medical station for me. Lesson learned: don't wear a baseball hat outside if you know you're going to have your temp taken when you enter the terminal! 😎 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

3 hours ago, CAicruiser said:

Ask for money back. Tell them you are in a suite.You are VIP.

I think is Zeniths that have your Check In spots.

Lest you think we are normally suite people, this is the second time in 33 cruises that we have had a suite.  It is not our norm and I don’t have any VIP expectations.  I simply am comparing my experience to previous cruises post Covid.  If I came across as entitled that was not my intent nor my expectation.

[39august]

Peaches, I hope you are well on board and enjoying. Please don't let these critics keep you from posting your experiences during your cruise. 

[mafig]

Peaches, thanks for letting us know what you experienced.  I appreciate it.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[TMLAalum]

1 hour ago, grandgeezer said:

Easy answer, they haven't got the guts to enforce most of their procedures, they are afraid to upset their passengers for fear of mot getting extra tips, or tips at all. People know it, how many times have people asked the question on these boards, "How closely do they enforce things such as saving seats, minimum age for the different kids groups, number of cards for the number of drinks, etc., etc.

 

Never heard of tipping the people who check us in, but maybe you are on to a way to jump the queue!

[Ken the cruiser]

28 minutes ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Lest you think we are normally suite people, this is the second time in 33 cruises that we have had a suite.  It is not our norm and I don’t have any VIP expectations.  I simply am comparing my experience to previous cruises post Covid.  If I came across as entitled that was not my intent nor my expectation.

I do have a question as we will be in a sky suite on the Edge in 3 weeks. From my recollection as a suite passenger on a prior cruise, the suite folks go into the terminal, turn left, then left again and then go up to the glass-enclosed room you see in the picture. The non-suite folks go straight ahead once they enter the terminal.

 

Based on this one would think there would be two separate lines going into the terminal, one for suite guests and one for everyone else; all of whom have to get their temps checked before entering. But from this picture there only seems to be one line, similar to what you initially described. Was there actually a separate suite line outside the terminal doors (which we should check for when we arrive in 3 weeks) or did everyone line up in the same line prior to entering the terminal like it appears they are in the picture, get their temps checked and then subsequently go their separate ways?

[hcat]

My  initial post got lost and was not restored. Making this one short and to the point.

Checking in for Edge  is always horrible,  they wasted money on the facility upgrades  and suite area but did not solve any  problems resulting from poor location, parking disconnect, clueless staff and  other logistics!

 

Just need to chill til you finally get on the ship,..which is amazing!

[paulajj]

59 minutes ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Lest you think we are normally suite people, this is the second time in 33 cruises that we have had a suite.  It is not our norm and I don’t have any VIP expectations.  I simply am comparing my experience to previous cruises post Covid.  If I came across as entitled that was not my intent nor my expectation.

Sometimes the things we post come across quite different than intended. 
enjoy your cruise and have a martini for me! 

[TeaBag]

Wondering why y'all are not moving?  it's 6:30 your time now.  Waiting for some late arrivals? 

[Silkroad]

3 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

Wondering why y'all are not moving?  it's 6:30 your time now.  Waiting for some late arrivals? 

Wondering the same. Just heard something about "vaccinated, unvaccinated" on the port webcam radio.

[IWillGoAnywhere26]

3 hours ago, cangelmd said:

 

 

Brings up another thought, ha anyone come later than their assigned time, and what happened?

On July 10th we arrived a few minutes after our scheduled check in time because of the bomb threat at the airport. The lines were very long. So I  approached one of the Celebrity reps and told him what check in time we had. He immediately put me in line with the suite guests. After waiting 10 minutes we were escorted into the building.  I really appreciated it since we had waited a long time at the airport after it reopened just to get a cab.

[TeaBag]

Well, she's on her way after a little over an hour wait.  Hope all will have a great time.  I wish I were with them.

[vswan]

Sounds to me like there are several issues here. If the OP purchased the transfers through the cruise line, the cruise line should have anticipated time of arrival and had the entire group scheduled for check in at the time the transfer arrived at port. Someone should have met the transfer and escorted them to a check in line, and being sure suite guests were in the appropriate line. They paid extra for the transfer and should have been treated accordingly.

 

A group of travelers who had later check in times decided to come to the port at 10 a.m. knowing their check in time wasn't until later in the day. The cruise line wasn't doing any check in's until 11:30 or later. That was not very wise or considerate of the passengers to show up that early. I would probably show up a half hour early too, but not hours early. Just puts a kink in everything.

 

There should have been some type of seating/shade outside for those that needed that and also some type of water. Hopefully that will be taken care of for future sailings.

 

Signage was not clear or missing all together. OP was probably sent to a regular check in line, not a suite line. Some of this is growing pains and will work itself out, but it is frustrating to those on these first several cruises.

 

[weregoingcruising]

After the boarding frustration I hope the rest of your  perks for the  suite  turn out sweet. Have a great cruise and safe trip.

[crimsonbird]

2 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Lest you think we are normally suite people, this is the second time in 33 cruises that we have had a suite.  It is not our norm and I don’t have any VIP expectations.  I simply am comparing my experience to previous cruises post Covid.  If I came across as entitled that was not my intent nor my expectation.

Thank you so much for your honest info.  We have a saying..."ya pays your money and ya gets tortured".  Suites or not...no one should be subjected to standing in the hot florida sun waiting to go on vacation.  It's almost impossible to show up on the dot when people are flying or driving to the port.  It's obvious that celebrity is short of personnel.  Thanks again.  

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

the suite folks go into the terminal, turn left, then left again and then go up to the

When we arrived everyone was lined up against the wall like in your photo. I dropped DW off at the second concrete pillar on the right curb with luggage to be tagged by awaiting porter. The head of the line stopped just feet before the glass doors to the left, but the non suite passengers from this line in the photo were beckoned to enter through the glass doors to the right. Unvaccinated had a separate entrance for testing at the other end of the building which I passed by while walking from the parking garage to rejoin my DW at that second pillar. Being (entitled) suite  guests DW headed straight for the sliding glass doors to the right, was stopped and redirected to the glass door farthest to the left just feet from the head of that long line of passengers in your photo. Had our passports and vaccination cards photographed, wrist ribbons attached, took an elevator up to lounge, again showed passports and vaccination cards, asked if we wanted to be seated and have refreshment, but opted to get right on board (seeing others ahead of us heading out the door to the gangway).  Yes, there was a carry on screening and metal detector (one) on the second floor. And yes the doors separating suite from non suite entrance were only 10 feet apart.

Edited July 18, 2021 by morpheusofthesea
additional info

[Ken the cruiser]

3 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

When we arrived everyone was lined up against the wall like in your photo. I dropped DW off at the second concrete pillar on the right curb with luggage to be tagged by awaiting porter. The head of the line stopped just feet before the glass doors to the left, but the non suite passengers from this line in the photo were beckoned to enter through the glass doors to the right. Unvaccinated had a separate entrance for testing at the other end of the building which I passed by while walking from the parking garage to rejoin my DW at that second pillar. Being (entitled) suite  guests DW headed straight for the sliding glass doors to the right, was stopped and redirected to the glass door farthest to the left just feet from the head of that long line of passengers in your photo. Had our passports and vaccination cards photographed, wrist ribbons attached, took an elevator up to lounge, again showed passports and vaccination cards, asked if we wanted to be seated and have refreshment, but opted to get right on board (seeing others ahead of us heading out the door to the gangway).

Thanks for sharing your experience and hopefully it will be similar when it's our turn! 😎

[ItsADryHumor]

2 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Lest you think we are normally suite people, this is the second time in 33 cruises that we have had a suite.  It is not our norm and I don’t have any VIP expectations.  I simply am comparing my experience to previous cruises post Covid.  If I came across as entitled that was not my intent nor my expectation.

My comment wasn’t about you- it was about the folks who showed up in whatever class who thought their check in time didn’t apply.