Suite Holders VIP Lounge - New

[memoak]

39 minutes ago, Guardsy said:

Got a call back from Princess. Sounds like this is all legit and this is the first weekend they are starting a soft rollout of it.  Not being done at the pier as they cannot control food and beverage service there.  Will report more after we try it on Saturday.

Then how do they manage coffee and pastries at the elite waiting area. Makes no sense

[milolii]

The food and beverage service may be more than coffee and pastries.  The quality may be better as well. Who knows?   Thanks @Guardsy for your efforts. 

[jwattle]

Hoping they have this roll out in more ports, sounds wonderful! 💕

[travelers07]

On Sky now. Got the same call 2 days before we sailed from Ft Lauderdale. I was suspicious too so did not attend.

 

Shame on me! Reports from fellow suite guests said it was fantastic. There were several management staff and Sky crew there. The food was very fancy and tasty. They checked bags, booked onboard stuff, and had a great time. When they were ready, they were transported in a high end van straight to the terminal. They were then  escorted through security and up to the gangway. Said they felt very special.

 

Call was from a Princess number that I had stored on my phone. Was told it was a soft open and they are trying it out. People who attended confirmed this info. And the building where it is held has a large Princess logo out front. 

[milolii]

17 minutes ago, travelers07 said:

On Sky now. Got the same call 2 days before we sailed from Ft Lauderdale. I was suspicious too so did not attend.

 

Shame on me! Reports from fellow suite guests said it was fantastic. There were several management staff and Sky crew there. The food was very fancy and tasty. They checked bags, booked onboard stuff, and had a great time. When they were ready, they were transported in a high end van straight to the terminal. They were then  escorted through security and up to the gangway. Said they felt very special.

 

Call was from a Princess number that I had stored on my phone. Was told it was a soft open and they are trying it out. People who attended confirmed this info. And the building where it is held has a large Princess logo out front. 

Awesome! 

[c-boy]

32 minutes ago, travelers07 said:

On Sky now. Got the same call 2 days before we sailed from Ft Lauderdale. I was suspicious too so did not attend.

 

Shame on me! Reports from fellow suite guests said it was fantastic. There were several management staff and Sky crew there. The food was very fancy and tasty. They checked bags, booked onboard stuff, and had a great time. When they were ready, they were transported in a high end van straight to the terminal. They were then  escorted through security and up to the gangway. Said they felt very special.

 

Call was from a Princess number that I had stored on my phone. Was told it was a soft open and they are trying it out. People who attended confirmed this info. And the building where it is held has a large Princess logo out front. 

hawt damn, things are lookin' up 

[VibeGuy]

Like, there’s a literal reason (APHIS rules) that they can bring out danish, but not tea sandwiches.   Off-site check-in gives Princess a lot more control over the situation.  I might actually be feeling unattractive pangs of *envy*.   Heaven forfend. 
 

Princess is lousy at identifying and coddling high-value customers before boarding - not just relative to peers, but relative to the travel industry as a whole.  There wasn’t a single port where suites or Elite status does anything meaningful between the kerb and immediately prior to the gangway.
 

 If you’re really dropping coin, even the big airlines are taking better care of you at their major hubs.  See also Flasgship First check-in which is about the most civilized travel process available.  Or how an increasing number of luxury properties are doing away with check-in desks.  Princess isn’t under a government mandate to screen prior to boarding so there’s no reason they can’t move this into the offsite facility if it takes off.  
 

At the per diem of suites these days and the relentless increase in the number of Elite customers entitled to a boarding lounge, it’s the same thing the airlines face - they’ve had to build something nicer than the membership lounge for the really top tier business.  
 

As Orwell said, some animals are just more equal than others, and I’m all for coddling the stuffing out of the animals paying for full suites.  

[memoak]

3 minutes ago, VibeGuy said:

Like, there’s a literal reason (APHIS rules) that they can bring out danish, but not tea sandwiches.   Off-site check-in gives Princess a lot more control over the situation.  I might actually be feeling unattractive pangs of *envy*.   Heaven forfend. 
 

Princess is lousy at identifying and coddling high-value customers before boarding - not just relative to peers, but relative to the travel industry as a whole.  There wasn’t a single port where suites or Elite status does anything meaningful between the kerb and immediately prior to the gangway.
 

 If you’re really dropping coin, even the big airlines are taking better care of you at their major hubs.  See also Flasgship First check-in which is about the most civilized travel process available.  Or how an increasing number of luxury properties are doing away with check-in desks.  Princess isn’t under a government mandate to screen prior to boarding so there’s no reason they can’t move this into the offsite facility if it takes off.  
 

At the per diem of suites these days and the relentless increase in the number of Elite customers entitled to a boarding lounge, it’s the same thing the airlines face - they’ve had to build something nicer than the membership lounge for the really top tier business.  
 

As Orwell said, some animals are just more equal than others, and I’m all for coddling the stuffing out of the animals paying for full suites.  

Most airlines do not give free access to first class domestic flyers in their lounges anymore (Delta and Alaska for example). I fly first class on those airlines and still have to haul around my bags

[JimmyVWine]

3 hours ago, travelers07 said:

They checked bags, booked onboard stuff,

Sanctuary??

 

43 minutes ago, memoak said:

I’ve been sailing for well over a tray now

 

I have no idea what this means. 

[VibeGuy]

Oh, not just *F* - premium transcon and intercontinental F.  The separate-check-in-lobby stuff.   See also the usual Arabian Peninsula suspects.  Separate check-in lobby with seating, private security screening lane that dumps you directly in the lounge.  Not *frequent* fliers necessarily - high-profitability segments.  When they were giving it away on the domestic Flagship transcons I got spoiled.  I’d even fly out of MIA.  *shiver*
 

I’m salty about Alaska restricting lounge access to paid F with at least a 2100nm same-day segment length. 

I’m merely pointing out that some travel companies are back to systematically putting on the dog for high-transaction-value customers and I think it behooves Princess to get out in front of this as they improve all aspects of the full suite experience.  

[rhobbkf]

4 hours ago, travelers07 said:

On Sky now. Got the same call 2 days before we sailed from Ft Lauderdale. I was suspicious too so did not attend.

 

Shame on me! Reports from fellow suite guests said it was fantastic. There were several management staff and Sky crew there. The food was very fancy and tasty. They checked bags, booked onboard stuff, and had a great time. When they were ready, they were transported in a high end van straight to the terminal. They were then  escorted through security and up to the gangway. Said they felt very special.

 

Call was from a Princess number that I had stored on my phone. Was told it was a soft open and they are trying it out. People who attended confirmed this info. And the building where it is held has a large Princess logo out front. 

Do you know if there is a similar upgraded process for suite disembarkation?  Might be easier to grab a cab/Uber from this area than the craziness out front. 

[milolii]

@rhobbkfgood question.  @travelers07will be disembarking in Southampton so probably not set up there.  But @Guardsymay be able to report when they return.

[travelers07]

Yes, disembarking in SH.

 

However, we are arriving SH a day early due to bad weather and will be in port tomorrow and overnight with disembarkation Saturday. Passport control(?) coming onboard early tomorrow to Vista Lounge. Suite guests will meet in our lounge and be escorted off ship. We will see how it works but they have been trying to add more events onboard. Sangria night tonight! 

[memoak]

12 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Sanctuary??

 

 

I have no idea what this means. 

Year not tray. 

 

[JimmyVWine]

16 hours ago, travelers07 said:

Call was from a Princess number that I had stored on my phone. Was told it was a soft open and they are trying it out. People who attended confirmed this info. And the building where it is held has a large Princess logo out front. 

I guess the question on everyone's mind is: "While they were enjoying the space, did anyone try to give them a pressured sales pitch or sell them a future package?"  Seems that if the answer to that question is "No", then there should be no worries.  Don't know if you have any way of finding out.

[travelers07]

35 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

I guess the question on everyone's mind is: "While they were enjoying the space, did anyone try to give them a pressured sales pitch or sell them a future package?"  Seems that if the answer to that question is "No", then there should be no worries.  Don't know if you have any way of finding out.

No. There was a future cruise consultant present but only for chatting and answering general questions. No booking possibilities.

[JimmyVWine]

6 minutes ago, travelers07 said:

No. There was a future cruise consultant present but only for chatting and answering general questions. No booking possibilities.

Thanks.  That would seem to end the debate regarding "fraud", "scams" and the like.  The conspiracy theorists can direct their attention elsewhere. 

[c-boy]

5 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Thanks.  That would seem to end the debate regarding "fraud", "scams" and the like.  The conspiracy theorists can direct their attention elsewhere. 

😆 ...

[Happiest when cruising]

16 hours ago, memoak said:

Most airlines do not give free access to first class domestic flyers in their lounges anymore (Delta and Alaska for example). I fly first class on those airlines and still have to haul around my bags

Could there be a charge coming for this after the soft opening? Get everyone hooked on it and then bam… no longer included in the price of the suite. 
It might turn out to be just like how some airlines charge for their lounges. 

[Guardsy]

I also received an email back today from my PVP who confirmed that this is indeed legit.  In her words, Princess is inviting a select few suite passengers for now to see how the program is received.  How we made the invite list I don't know, but I am happy to attend and give them our feedback.  I love cruising on Princess!

[jwattle]

2 hours ago, Happiest when cruising said:

Could there be a charge coming for this after the soft opening? Get everyone hooked on it and then bam… no longer included in the price of the suite. 
It might turn out to be just like how some airlines charge for their lounges. 

Maybe Princess has realized that their suite game is a bit behind the curve and is fixing that 💕

[VibeGuy]

I feel for the people who scream “SCAM” about every new thing that comes up - Princess Promotions, the Payee-Managed disbursement portal for ANZ refunds, the resumed move-over offers.  Hell of a way to live.  
 

 

[Guardsy]

To add a bit more, even though it is repetitive, Jan Schwartz personal assistant just emailed me back from a day ago.  She confirmed everything my Princess planner assured me of and encouraged us to enjoy the benefits of the new lounge, and the speedy shuttle directly to the gangway.  

This is the 3-4 time I have messaged Ms. Schwartz, and I get a reply every time.  Needless to say, I will also send her a personal review of the new lounge and process when we return, especially if it is wonderful!

 

I get the feeling this might become a Suite Holder / Elite benefit in the future if it is well received, depending on the numbers for individual cruises.  But, maybe it will remain only a suite holder benefit and this may be the only time we get to enjoy it.  Come on, Saturday......!

[Happiest when cruising]

2 hours ago, jwattle said:

Maybe Princess has realized that their suite game is a bit behind the curve and is fixing that 💕

I hope that’s all it is, at least for now. 

[AZjohn]

On 3/30/2023 at 1:34 PM, Guardsy said:

To add a bit more, even though it is repetitive, Jan Schwartz personal assistant just emailed me back from a day ago.  She confirmed everything my Princess planner assured me of and encouraged us to enjoy the benefits of the new lounge, and the speedy shuttle directly to the gangway.  

This is the 3-4 time I have messaged Ms. Schwartz, and I get a reply every time.  Needless to say, I will also send her a personal review of the new lounge and process when we return, especially if it is wonderful!

 

I get the feeling this might become a Suite Holder / Elite benefit in the future if it is well received, depending on the numbers for individual cruises.  But, maybe it will remain only a suite holder benefit and this may be the only time we get to enjoy it.  Come on, Saturday......!

We are looking forward to hearing all about your visit there today 🙂