Boarding Neptune and balcony

[gizmodog]

Me my husband and grandson are in a Neptune suite, my daughter her husband and my grandaughter are in a VA balcony. Can they board when I board so we can all stay together? This is in Seattle on the Westerdam.

[CruiserBruce]

Technically, no. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but, sorry, it is set aside for Neptune Suites.

 

And, no, they can't use the Neptune Lounge, either.

[SeaSharp]

You can always ask at the terminal. Worse they can say is no.  

[oceanmom]

Back in pre-Covid days, my husband and I would be in a Neptune and two adult (30's) daughters in a balcony cabin. The reservations were linked together and, since it was combined Christmas birthday presents for the girls, all on one credit card. We never had any trouble checking in together on any of our five or six cruises--and we had a great time on each cruise..

Edited April 22, 2023 by oceanmom

[Petunia1950]

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

And, no, they can't use the Neptune Lounge, either.

And even though they can't use the Neptune Lounge, you are more than welcome to bring food / snacks back to your suite to share with them.  Or ask the Neptune suite concierge to deliver pre-dinner snacks or other meals.  They are more than welcome to join you in your suite, of course, at any time and with any food.

[YourWorldWithBill]

I agree that you should all definitely try to board together. Probably depends  on the person checking, but it seems like a pretty small thing. And @Petunia1950's comments about use of the Neptune suite were prefect.

[gizmodog]

I understand about the Neptune lounge and we get a special menu they do not but all I’m really concerned about is boarding. This is a present  from us to my grandson for his high school graduation. I would just like to board together, after that I know I get some perks that my daughter doesn’t. 
Since there is no suite dining room on this ship I am hoping the 6 of us can dine together and they are fine with not getting the suite menu, I just hope it can be done when we are on board. I would have reserved a table for 6 but early dining is filled and no waiting list.

[Florida_gal_50]

22 minutes ago, gizmodog said:

I understand about the Neptune lounge and we get a special menu they do not but all I’m really concerned about is boarding. This is a present  from us to my grandson for his high school graduation. I would just like to board together, after that I know I get some perks that my daughter doesn’t. 
Since there is no suite dining room on this ship I am hoping the 6 of us can dine together and they are fine with not getting the suite menu, I just hope it can be done when we are on board. I would have reserved a table for 6 but early dining is filled and no waiting list.

There is really only one extra entree not a different menu per se.

[Cruise NH]

Of course you can always board when THEY board and that would resolve the problem.  😜

[gizmodog]

That’s what I will do if boarding with me is not permitted. I just wondered if anyone has ever been in a Neptune and done this before. My first time.

thank you for all your reply’s 

[Petunia1950]

59 minutes ago, gizmodog said:

I would have reserved a table for 6 but early dining is filled and no waiting list

When you first board the ship, go to the dining room and talk to the dining room manager on site to repeat your request for early dining.  Early dining is difficult to come by, but it's possible that you will be able to change to early dining once on board the ship.  

[oaktreerb]

In a Neptune Suite you should receive priority (Club Orange status) in the dining room.  Ask the maitre’d if he could please assign you and your family a table for 6 at early dining each evening.  He can assign that table in either dining room.  

[Moriah]

I highly doubt it will be a problem.  You'll have priority boarding and can just say these people are with me.  The worst that can happen is they will say only those with actual boarding passes that say "priority" on them can board right away, but right after those people board they will start regular boarding and you can all just get on together. 

[alwaysfrantic]

Suite entree in the dining room?  This is new, I guess, from my last pre Covid cruise.  Do we get a special menu at dinner? 

[CruiserBruce]

21 minutes ago, alwaysfrantic said:

Suite entree in the dining room?  This is new, I guess, from my last pre Covid cruise.  Do we get a special menu at dinner? 

You might get the Club Orange "extra item" menu. Otherwise, no, there isn't a special suite menu.

[kazu]

I’ve been in your situation a couple of times with friends and yes, they were allowed to board with me.  When we had the PS - they were escorted along with us on board.

 

It probably depends on whom you get but normally most people are pretty reasonable and if it’s not a large group, I don’t think there is cause for concern.

[gizmodog]

Thank you everyone, at least I know I can try, if not I will board with them.

[DaveOKC]

13 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

In a Neptune Suite you should receive priority (Club Orange status) in the dining room.  Ask the maitre’d if he could please assign you and your family a table for 6 at early dining each evening.  He can assign that table in either dining room.  

We have brought non-Club Orange people with us to dinner several times on ships that lack a separate CO dining room.

[Torquer]

3 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

You might get the Club Orange "extra item" menu. Otherwise, no, there isn't a special suite menu.

Well, technically it is a different menu in a white color book instead of the traditional color.  But the only difference in content is the one extra item for CO.  We sometimes get that item but usually not.  There is nothing special about that extra item, just an additional choice for you.

[CruiserBruce]

49 minutes ago, Torquer said:

Well, technically it is a different menu in a white color book instead of the traditional color.  But the only difference in content is the one extra item for CO.  We sometimes get that item but usually not.  There is nothing special about that extra item, just an additional choice for you.

Are you talking about the menu in the room? I am not aware they still do that. As far as I know, the menus placed on the tables are the same for everyone, except the Club Orange issue.

[oaktreerb]

2 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Are you talking about the menu in the room? I am not aware they still do that. As far as I know, the menus placed on the tables are the same for everyone, except the Club Orange issue.

Before Covid the CO menu was in a white cover vs black for others.  Even in Club Orange post Covid the server just tells you what the additional entree is.  No separate menu.  There is a separate CO room service order form in the stateroom.  At breakfast you can order fresh squeezed orange juice.

[hhoope01]

Have you looked into paying for Club Orange for your daughter and her family?  If that is within the budget, that should solve most of your concerns (except Neptune Lounge won't come with it.)  

 

I'm new to Holland America (and cruising in general), but if you haven't fully paid for the rooms, maybe you could downgrade their room, then purchase Club Orange to get the upgrade back to the VA balcony.  Pricewise it might end up being about the same either way, except your whole family gets the Club Orange benefits.   

[gizmodog]

That was a good idea but trip is fully paid for.

 

[Torquer]

21 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Are you talking about the menu in the room? I am not aware they still do that. As far as I know, the menus placed on the tables are the same for everyone, except the Club Orange issue.

On our last cruise on Noordam in March, in the MDR the CO people got white menu books that had the additional CO entree printed on the paper, so a different paper menu.  Everyone else got the, black (or gray) books without the extra entree.  I think that is also how it worked on Oosterdam last August, but I can't be 100% sure of that.

[YourWorldWithBill]

21 hours ago, gizmodog said:

That was a good idea but trip is fully paid for.

 

I think you could still add Club Orange if you wanted to.