platinum, diamond check in

[gramgill]

do all ports of departure offer priority check in for platinum, diamond, diamond and plus members as well as a seperate lounge to relax in whilst waiting for boarding. If not which ports do have these options and does it actually save time or are there that many members?

[GMoney]

My experience is that the check-in process is pretty effective now (with the advent of sign n sail), that the priority line is generally no faster than the regular line. Same thing with priority departure; Travel Lite has supplanted my need for that. However, I always carry on, so I'm sure many folks still appreciate the priority departure.

 

I did have an occasion to sit in the lounge in MIA in Jan when Navigator was very late to board due to many non US citizens on the previous cruise; but you're right - it gets very crowded very fast. Priority embarkation in that scenario is very helpful.

 

I know MIA, FLL and Bayonne all have "lounge" areas, but I use that word loosely. They are very basic in accommodations.

[39august]

Unlike Miami, neither Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) nor LA (San Pedro) offer a separte lounge, but a cordoned off area for suite pax, Diamond and Platinum members. And they all offer the priority boarding. As far as priority check in, we just go to the shortest line in Miami. Ft. Lauderdale had a specific Priority check in clearly marked. I'm not sure, but in think in LA we just went to the shortest line.

[Murphy]

Unlike Miami, neither Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) nor LA (San Pedro) offer a separte lounge, but a cordoned off area for suite pax, Diamond and Platinum members. And they all offer the priority boarding. As far as priority check in, we just go to the shortest line in Miami. Ft. Lauderdale had a specific Priority check in clearly marked. I'm not sure, but in think in LA we just went to the shortest line.

 

Port Everglades may have changed things, but last time I sailed out of there (Oct 2004) we did have a separate lounge and check in area. As we enter the building, an agent directed us immediately to an escalator area. I think we ran our carryons thru X-ray first, then went up the escalator and the lounge/checkin area was on this second level. The only thing that happens with this set up is that you by-pass the cruise photographer, which is FINE with me!!! But maybe people complained so they changed this since I sailed out of this port. Anyone else???

[critterchick]

Unlike Miami, neither Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) nor LA (San Pedro) offer a separte lounge, but a cordoned off area for suite pax, Diamond and Platinum members. And they all offer the priority boarding. As far as priority check in, we just go to the shortest line in Miami. Ft. Lauderdale had a specific Priority check in clearly marked. I'm not sure, but in think in LA we just went to the shortest line.

 

There is a small room that is sometimes reserved for Platinum/Diamond in San Pedro. We made good use of it when our boarding was delayed until 5:00, although they did put out food & drink for all passengers on that occasion. If there is any kind of delay in LA, the priority check-in can be a godsend - we boarded Vision last month and they were still passing out numbers at 3:00 - we just went to the priority line & were through in minutes.

 

As for a departure lounge, once you're Diamond you have priority disembarkation, so you can leave as soon as they call those passengers. We're usually not in a hurry to leave, but there really isn't anything to do that morning - dining venues are closed by 8:30 - so unless we have a late flight and nothing else to do, we just leave. Otherwise we may stay in the special lounge if it's comfy or find a spot on the pool deck if it's nice and wait until last call.

[39august]

Murphy- We sailed our of Port Everglades Feb. 11. There was no lounge. We were directed to a roped off area in front of the luggage scanners. Right next to us were the "rest" off the passengers.

[Murphy]

Murphy- We sailed our of Port Everglades Feb. 11. There was no lounge. We were directed to a roped off area in front of the luggage scanners. Right next to us were the "rest" off the passengers.

 

Good to know. I wonder if it matters what time you arrive at the port. We were there really early, but even then by the time we got up the escalator, they were ready to check us in and we didn't have to wait in the set area. Maybe with the Set Sail Pass checkin things move along quickly enough not to warrant it... I guess I'll find out for sure come November!!!!

[raytownlady]

What happens if all of the members of your party are not Platinum or Diamond C & A members?

We will be travelling with relatives that are Gold members in October will they be able to join us in the prioityboarding lounge in Miami?

[39august]

That probably depends on how many non-Platinum or Diamond members are in your party. We were allowed to bring our daugher and sil with us when they were on their first cruise. But I don't imagine Rci will allow a large group who do not qualify for priority boarding on their own.

[gramgill]

thank you all for your comments. What about Baltimore does this have a seperate lounge. also is this a big, busy port and an easy to get to

[Straughn]

On our last cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, we had the same experience as Murphy-separate area, up the escalator. However, we arrived about 45 minutes before the ship was ready for boarding, so this was basically a waiting area. I doubt that they had the lounge area open once people started boarding. Yes, we, too, loved bi-passing the ships photographers!!

 

In Baltimore, when we cruised last September, there was no separate lounge. You were assigned a number for boarding. Passengers with specific numbers (suites and diamond/platinum C &A) were seated in a separate section, very close to the boarding area. This area was monitored by a RCCL employee and you had to have one of the "right numbers" to get in there. I did notice that they told a large group (6-8 folks) who wanted to sit together, that only passengers with certain numbers could sit in this section. Appparently some members of that group qualified and some did not. I believe they all chose to sit together elsewhere.

 

As for getting to the Port of Baltimore, ease depends on how you get there. Are you driving or taking a taxi? We live a little over an hour from the port and always drive. It is easy for us, but we know the area. If you are taking a cab from BWI airport, I think it is about 30 minutes with normal traffic.

[raytownlady]

thanks,

I would imagine that for my Brother and his GF they would allow them to board along with us. Hopefully that is anyway!

[Murphy]

Since it had been awhile since I sailed out of Port Everglades and some people seemed to have a lounge and other's didn't, I decided to ask the C & A desk directly. Here's their response:

 

Thank you for your e-mail. We apologize for the delay in responding.

The will be a designated priority check in line for Diamond members at

the pier. We no longer have a lounge area for our Diamond members. We

regret any inconvenience.

 

Ms. Rayfield, we look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon. Get

out there (sm).

 

Sincerely,

 

Cheryl Kirschbaum

Crown & Anchor Society

 

FYI, I wrote them back and told them they should probably take the "departure lounge" benefit off their C & A benefits list! :)

[critterchick]

Since it had been awhile since I sailed out of Port Everglades and some people seemed to have a lounge and other's didn't, I decided to ask the C & A desk directly. Here's their response:

 

Thank you for your e-mail. We apologize for the delay in responding.

The will be a designated priority check in line for Diamond members at

the pier. We no longer have a lounge area for our Diamond members. We

regret any inconvenience.

 

Ms. Rayfield, we look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon. Get

out there (sm).

 

Sincerely,

 

Cheryl Kirschbaum

Crown & Anchor Society

 

FYI, I wrote them back and told them they should probably take the "departure lounge" benefit off their C & A benefits list! :)

 

I think the "departure lounge" refers to the area that P&D members can wait in during disembarkation. It's usually one of the restaurants or lounges, and they serve a continental breakfast while you wait.

[Murphy]

I think the "departure lounge" refers to the area that P&D members can wait in during disembarkation. It's usually one of the restaurants or lounges, and they serve a continental breakfast while you wait.

 

Actually the priority disembarkation benefit was listed seperately as a different benefit and the departure lounge. But it really doesn't matter, it's no longer available. Just the first of many benefits that will probably disappear...

[Petert]

On our last cruise out of San Pedro (Feb 5,'06), we went directly to the Platinum/Diamond check in lounge. There were two check in stations in the seperate area, adequate seating and coffee. Check in was very quick, and the wife didn't even have to stand in line. As soon as the ship was cleared, we were led to the screening station, and were on board in just a few minutes. They are very well organized, and we have always had good experiences here, but it is now even better. The platinum/diamond departure lounge was located on the upper level of the dining room for the Vision, and we had comfortable seating and coffee, and an escort to the gangway. Very nice.

 

Petert

[mikeblum]

last march we were on the VOS with our kids and 2 other families and their children and all of our were allowed in the crown and anchor priority area before embarkation in miami...my wife and i are the only memeber that have reached the plat level...we are actually diamond level...no major thing ...sit in a smallish room with chairs and they offer ice water and coffee and basic cookies...one major advantage is that they let you board first...while veryone else is waiting to board they let the folks in the crown and anchor room to go past the long line and let the picture taking commence...up the gang way and the vacation bells and whistles go off...

[skypilotks]

We just got home from GoS cruise yesterday, and even with the Set Sail done online, we still bypassed about a 2hour line and got on in about 10mins. Boarding time in the book said 2pm, we got there at 1:15 and saw that people were already on the ship. After the security area, there was a huge line for check-in. We followed the sign for C&A Platinum/Diamond members, was questioned by one rep, but when told him we were platinum members he said "Welcome back" and let us continue. Our son is a Gold Member (always a chuckle in our family when that is said) he just turned 18, and daughter is 13, so she dosn't have a membership yet. (the rate she is going, she'll be a platinum member when she does turn 18)

As for departure lounge they do still have the continential breakfast in the members louge which was the Crown Viking Lounge, but what was missing was the loyalty ambassador, or any rep to escort down to depart

[Murphy]

That's good to know since our next cruise sails out of Tampa! Thanks

[MGoBlue2]

Actually the priority disembarkation benefit was listed seperately as a different benefit and the departure lounge. But it really doesn't matter, it's no longer available. Just the first of many benefits that will probably disappear...

On the website it's still listed as a benefit for Diamond members - I don't recall it ever being a benefit for Platinum members.