Suite Check-in at Southampton - query

[techwatcher]

Hi all,

 

We are about to take our first Princess cruise, on Enchanted Princess out of Southampton next week and we have booked a full suite..

 

Princess' suite benefits includes 'VIP priority embarkation...at beginning and end of cruise'.

 

Does this mean there is a dedicated suite-only check-in at Southampton?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[wowzz]

5 minutes ago, pward123 said:

Hi all,

 

We are about to take our first Princess cruise, on Enchanted Princess out of Southampton next week and we have booked a full suite..

 

Princess' suite benefits includes 'VIP priority embarkation...at beginning and end of cruise'.

 

Does this mean there is a dedicated suite-only check-in at Southampton?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I have never seen one.

These days it just seems to be a general first come first served situation. 

[amajaa]

13 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I have never seen one.

These days it just seems to be a general first come first served situation. 

It’s the same with the Platinum and Elite priority boarding , it seems to have gone out the window now. 

[caribill]

Not sure what they are referring to, but note the following:

 

When checking in for the cruise, there will usually be a line for those with Elite status (those with 150 days or 15 cruises on Princess) and full suites.

 

Once checked in, if boarding has started, you may go directly to the ship. If boarding has not yet started you will go to a waiting area which is dedicated to full suite and Elite passengers. That group will be the first general passengers to board when boarding starts.

 

There have been posts that for some ships/ports full suite passengers are personally escorted onto the ship and to their cabin. I have no idea if this would apply to your ship or embarkation port.

[CambsCruiser82]

Last time we embarked from Southampton in a full suite there was a separate security / check in line for suite/elites but because it wasn't busy they didn't use it. To be fair it's just exciting to get on so I wouldn't be overly concerned about the port side 'features' 🙂

[Alcairns]

16 minutes ago, caribill said:

Not sure what they are referring to, but note the following:

 

When checking in for the cruise, there will usually be a line for those with Elite status (those with 150 days or 15 cruises on Princess) and full suites.

 

Once checked in, if boarding has started, you may go directly to the ship. If boarding has not yet started you will go to a waiting area which is dedicated to full suite and Elite passengers. That group will be the first general passengers to board when boarding starts.

 

There have been posts that for some ships/ports full suite passengers are personally escorted onto the ship and to their cabin. I have no idea if this would apply to your ship or embarkation port.

I am sorry to disagree but their are no priority lines at Southampton. We have been on two cruises as full suite Elite passengers in the last six months and boarding has been a free for all first come first served basis. Once clear of check in and you have your medallions you may get some priority treatment at security. 

[techwatcher]

Thanks all.

 

A bit disappointing if Princess are not delivering this advertised Suite Benefit.

[CambsCruiser82]

3 minutes ago, pward123 said:

Thanks all.

 

A bit disappointing if Princess are not delivering this advertised Suite Benefit.

I really wouldn't worry! You'll be on in no time! I've never had to wait around in Southampton to get on board. The only queue I ever have had is security and that's understandable. You'll have a wonderful time!

[toofewcruises]

6 hours ago, pward123 said:

Thanks all.

 

A bit disappointing if Princess are not delivering this advertised Suite Benefit.

It really is not a big deal.  Is getting on the ship five minutes before anyone else that important?

[techwatcher]

1 hour ago, toofewcruises said:

It really is not a big deal.  Is getting on the ship five minutes before anyone else that important?

Getting on the ship five minutes before anyone else isn't at all important.

 

I am more concerned with the possibility of facing significant queues at check in if the 'VIP priority embarkation' is not provided. 

[wowzz]

5 minutes ago, pward123 said:

Getting on the ship five minutes before anyone else isn't at all important.

 

I am more concerned with the possibility of facing significant queues at check in if the 'VIP priority embarkation' is not provided. 

The Princess boarding process in Southampton is pretty slick, especially now that no one

has to wait for their covid test results. You are basically processed in a continuous stream, with really no queuing at all.

Now, Barcelona,  that's a different story altogether!

[techwatcher]

1 minute ago, wowzz said:

The Princess boarding process in Southampton is pretty slick, especially now that no one

has to wait for their covid test results. You are basically processed in a continuous stream, with really no queuing at all.

Now, Barcelona,  that's a different story altogether!

That's good to hear - thanks!

[wowzz]

3 minutes ago, pward123 said:

That's good to hear - thanks!

Sods Law says that when you come to travel, there will be a queue !

But our experience, and that of people on other SM sites does seem to reflect a generally speedy process.

Just to add that, if arriving by car, there may be a delay at peak times in handing over the keys etc, but that is outside of Princess's remit.

Edited July 14, 2022 by wowzz

[dides]

10 hours ago, amajaa said:

It’s the same with the Platinum and Elite priority boarding , it seems to have gone out the window now. 

Well that is strange, on at least 2 occasions when we were embarking as Suite Elites in Southampton in the last year (and last time in May) they called out for Suite passengers to board first followed quickly by Elite and then Platinum guests. This was at the Mayflower terminal where there was also a waiting area with drinks etc. for Suite guests.

[amajaa]

13 hours ago, dides said:

Well that is strange, on at least 2 occasions when we were embarking as Suite Elites in Southampton in the last year (and last time in May) they called out for Suite passengers to board first followed quickly by Elite and then Platinum guests. This was at the Mayflower terminal where there was also a waiting area with drinks etc. for Suite guests.

I was actually going to mention that , we have left from Ocean and I asked about an Elite Lounge and they said not here. The reason I asked was because I was following a blog on here where the lady said they were put in an Elite Lounge and I think she left from Mayflower. 

 

 

 

[marne-c]

5 hours ago, amajaa said:

I was actually going to mention that , we have left from Ocean and I asked about an Elite Lounge and they said not here. The reason I asked was because I was following a blog on here where the lady said they were put in an Elite Lounge and I think she left from Mayflower. 

 

 

Thanks for your observation, @amajaa.  I too noticed the reference to Mayflower and wondered how things would be at our embarkation from the Ocean terminal next week.

 

And, @wowzz, I full expect Sods Law to be in operation at the terminal, although us (ex-) Yanks might use different terminology.

 

 

--Marne

Edited July 15, 2022 by marne-c

[Feebarn]

Our last embarkation at Southampton in a full Suite was from Ocean terminal and I can't tell you how peeved my husband was that Elites got to go in front of him! 😉  We are lowly platinums who like a full suite on occasion and our experience in every other port we've embarked from we've been all but the first on the ship and generally sat in a quieter I guess slightly exclusive waiting area.  I don't know why they can't manage it in Southampton.  We've even asked the staff where Suite guests go (as my husband could see the Elites heading somewhere else) which increased his annoyance and my amusement 😛

 

I take it back... i remember on our very first cruise from Vancouver it was a bit of a mess and we didn't realise there was the option of a full suites guest area - we sat in a very very crowded area for more than 3 hours waiting to get on. 

 

 

[marne-c]

4 hours ago, Feebarn said:

Our last embarkation at Southampton in a full Suite was from Ocean terminal…(Snip)

 

 

@Feebarn  I’m curious — When was this?

 

—Marne 

[Feebarn]

On 7/16/2022 at 9:29 PM, marne-c said:

@Feebarn  I’m curious — When was this?

 

—Marne 

Last September. 

[gerig]

On 7/14/2022 at 3:24 AM, techwatcher said:

Hi all,

 

We are about to take our first Princess cruise, on Enchanted Princess out of Southampton next week and we have booked a full suite..

 

Princess' suite benefits includes 'VIP priority embarkation...at beginning and end of cruise'.

 

Does this mean there is a dedicated suite-only check-in at Southampton?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

On 7/14/2022 at 3:24 AM, techwatcher said:

Hi all,

 

We are about to take our first Princess cruise, on Enchanted Princess out of Southampton next week and we have booked a full suite..

 

Princess' suite benefits includes 'VIP priority embarkation...at beginning and end of cruise'.

 

Does this mean there is a dedicated suite-only check-in at Southampton?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I will be in a penthouse on the Royal in September departing from Whittier alaska and don't believe there is even a terminal (but not sure)

[marne-c]

For our embarkation from Ocean terminal last Tuesday, post checkin all early arrivals were seated in a large room.  When boarding commenced at 11am, Elite passengers were called.  Shortly after that Full Suite pax were called.  Then, few minutes later still, Platinum.

 

—Marne