Platinum priority check-in

[SpainAlien]

I apologise if this has been asked before but this is my first cruise as Platinum. I checked in weeks ago online and got the 9.30-10am slot.   This week I won my upgrade bid and my cabin changed but so did my check in status. The app made me check in again only now the earliest slot I can get is 11.30-12 noon.  My question is can I just turn up at my first booked check in time or do I have to go for the new slot I have been allocated? This is my first time as Platinum so do I get to just go whenever I like?

 

Many thanks

 

[hallux]

The "priority check-in" is simply another line within the terminal.  That said - they generally haven't been going by the check-in time you selected, though for crowd control and traffic flow they would certainly prefer if people do.

[JGmf]

Probably depends on the port, but for all the US ports I've embarked from, none have verified my check-in time. Hence, you can probably go when you like....and sit and wait until they start boarding. 

[MCMC100]

In multiple sailings from several US ports I’ve never had a port employee look at my eDocs for my check-in time. I’m not certain they even know NCL allots times. Go whenever. 
 

Platinum and above priority check-in is a separate line at the terminal where you have 15 people ahead of you waiting to go thru security screening instead of 350 people. 

[JGmf]

15 minutes ago, MCMC100 said:

Platinum and above priority check-in is a separate line at the terminal where you have 15 people ahead of you waiting to go thru security screening instead of 350 people. 

 

Where do you sail from that security screening is BEFORE check-in?  Just curious.

[ChiefMateJRK]

14 minutes ago, MCMC100 said:

Platinum and above priority check-in is a separate line at the terminal where you have 15 people ahead of you waiting to go thru security screening instead of 350 people. 

Which port did you have security after check-in?  I've always had it before, which means it's before any priority Latitudes lines.  The only folks I've seen given any kind of priority prior to security is Haven and disabled.

[MCMC100]

I can’t think of a port where I went thru security after I checked in for my sailing. My two most recent ports were NY and Seattle.  I definitely went thru security before I checked-in. Fairly certain I did in Miami as well, but my memory is not what it once was. 
Are there ports where you check-in and then go thru security?  

13 minutes ago, JGmf said:

 

Where do you sail from that security screening is BEFORE check-in?  

[scooter6139]

50 minutes ago, JGmf said:

Probably depends on the port, but for all the US ports I've embarked from, none have verified my check-in time. Hence, you can probably go when you like....and sit and wait until they start boarding. 

Last May in Vancouver they were very adamant about check-in times for Princess.  They were kicking people out of the line when they saw they were not scheduled in that queue at that time.  Lots of "Karens" and "Chads" voiced their disapproval that day.  🙄

[mattvqa]

4 hours ago, MCMC100 said:

Platinum and above priority check-in is a separate line at the terminal where you have 15 people ahead of you waiting to go thru security screening instead of 350 people. 

 

I had believed this, but on my last three NCL sailings (as Platinum), that line was just for Haven & Suites (but *not* club balcony suites). When I asked about Platinum priority boarding, they said it was 'earlier in the day'.

 

Have others recently been able to use the separate line as Platinum?

Edited May 24, 2023 by mattvqa

[ChiefMateJRK]

6 minutes ago, mattvqa said:

 

I had believed this, but on my last three NCL sailings (as Platinum), that line was just for Haven & Suites (but *not* club balcony suites). When I asked about Platinum priority boarding, they said it was 'earlier in the day'.

 

Have others recently been able to use the separate line as Platinum?

Are you talking about:

a) the line to show your passport and eDocs just prior to security

b) the line after security leading to the checkin desks or

c) the "line" to get to the gangway in order to board the ship

[mattvqa]

18 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Are you talking about:

a) the line to show your passport and eDocs just prior to security

b) the line after security leading to the checkin desks or

c) the "line" to get to the gangway in order to board the ship

 

er... yes? I dunno: I guess I mean where they are holding up a "Suites and Haven" sign in front of a separate, shorter line... so maybe "B"?

 

I just want to know: has anyone recently got into a shorter check-on line due to their Platinum status?

Edited May 24, 2023 by mattvqa

[ChiefMateJRK]

2 minutes ago, mattvqa said:

 

er... yes? I dunno: I guess where they are holding up a "Suites and Haven" sign in front of a separate, shorter line saying... so maybe "B"?

 

I just want to know: has anyone recently got into a shorter check-on line due to their Platinum status?

Yes for "b".  Same for "c", but it's not really a line.  You just get to board before all the assigned boarding groups.  You are probably talking about "a."

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, MCMC100 said:

In multiple sailings from several US ports I’ve never had a port employee look at my eDocs for my check-in time. I’m not certain they even know NCL allots times. Go whenever. 
 

Platinum and above priority check-in is a separate line at the terminal where you have 15 people ahead of you waiting to go thru security screening instead of 350 people. 

I don’t know of any port where platinum gives you a different line for security. 

[KDebreuil]

I sailed out of New Orleans in March.  There was a priority check-in line for platinum and above that was combined with Haven.  Others in the general queue were given "boarding group numbers", and waited for the group number to be called.  We just walked up and showed our platinum card and were allowed to board immediately.

 

In Vancouver in July 2022 they were verifying check-in times when we went on the Jewel.  I don't remember if they had a platinum line as I was traveling with a larger group, and many were not platinum.  I will be sailing out of Vancouver again in July, does anyone know if they are still checking check-in times, and if there is a platinum priority line?

[insidecabin]

The OP would have boarded at Horizon Southampton if this was the cruise they are currently on.

 

Maybe they will report back what they did do for other to reference.

 

NCL have not been checking times.

 

At this terminal security is first and there is a tiny wait area so once the snake is full you get held outside, there is a canopy so unless the line gets very long you are in the dry(unless wind is blowing the rain).

 

The trick tends to be get there early before the UK coaches/drivers and US same day flights.

 

9:30-10:10 is quite early, the earliest we have had security open is 10am for MSC.

 

Once through security and upstairs NCL(for ours) had suite area, then 3 lanes(priority,disabled,regular).to the check in.

 

There is a large waiting/holding area if the ship is not ready to take passengers.

 

The air bridge at Horizon is a long one, when no lines at security and check in  that is the longest interval  from terminal door to ship.

Of the 5 terminals at Southampton  Ocean has security after check in

(unlikely to be used by NCL)  

 

 

if ever thinking bout a Southampton cruise bookmark the live schedule as this tends to get any changes before the passenger get told by cruise lines.

 

https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

 

[jennjess]

3 hours ago, insidecabin said:

The OP would have boarded at Horizon Southampton if this was the cruise they are currently on.

 

Maybe they will report back what they did do for other to reference.

 

NCL have not been checking times.

 

At this terminal security is first and there is a tiny wait area so once the snake is full you get held outside, there is a canopy so unless the line gets very long you are in the dry(unless wind is blowing the rain).

 

The trick tends to be get there early before the UK coaches/drivers and US same day flights.

 

9:30-10:10 is quite early, the earliest we have had security open is 10am for MSC.

 

Once through security and upstairs NCL(for ours) had suite area, then 3 lanes(priority,disabled,regular).to the check in.

 

There is a large waiting/holding area if the ship is not ready to take passengers.

 

The air bridge at Horizon is a long one, when no lines at security and check in  that is the longest interval  from terminal door to ship.

Of the 5 terminals at Southampton  Ocean has security after check in

(unlikely to be used by NCL)  

 

 

if ever thinking bout a Southampton cruise bookmark the live schedule as this tends to get any changes before the passenger get told by cruise lines.

 

https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

 

I found the whole check-in process at Southampton quite chaotic.  Arrived about midday and the security line was long and the wait was long.  Then upstairs another long line to get to actual check-in.  Loads of seats upstairs to sit in but you needed to stand in line rather than be seen by number or group.

[insidecabin]

3 minutes ago, jennjess said:

I found the whole check-in process at Southampton quite chaotic.  Arrived about midday and the security line was long and the wait was long.  Then upstairs another long line to get to actual check-in.  Loads of seats upstairs to sit in but you needed to stand in line rather than be seen by number or group.

Been through Horizon a lot.

 

We always turn up early to bag drop, most times it is quiet, go park up walk back to start the process hoping security has opened.

  

Sometimes there are issues delays etc. it get very busy we just go into town and come back later. there have been times when access to the terminal by car is totally blocked  by 9:30

 

Last time(Star) 10:45  drop OH and bags,  was very quiet,  when I returned(11:10)  I joined the line inside (11:10) for security.

The outside line had started and was growing quite quickly

 

Took 18-20 mins to get through to the escalator up to check in.

 

Never seen all the security channels in use which can cause back ups, just needs 2 coaches to turn up and that 80-100 people in line on top of those arriving by car walking and taxis..

 

I think the cruise lines prefer that so the security they pay for are kept busy.

If they put more on they would have periods when there were no people in line. 

 

Up the stairs there were already quite a few checked in and waiting, they were calling numbers, Priority line was 1 in front of us, from hitting the bottom of the escalator to starting the walk to the ship was 5mins(no number just walk on with priority).

 

There was a back up on the air bridge 4 mins, 8min in total from finishing check in to walking on.  

 

There are loads(over 1k) of seating they could use that if the check in snake got too long to reduce standing times, might need more people to organizes as with cruise passenger you need herding cats skills.

 

They could have more desks they were only using half the spaces for our trip.

 

The check in window is quite short as the NCL ships leave early, for the Star scheduled is 4pm  start at 11am and use the 2hr deadline that's 3hrs over 10 a minute. 

 

Remember the Star and Dawn are around 2k pax  this terminal deals with Virtuosa in the summer with 6k. 

 

[jennjess]

7 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

Been through Horizon a lot.

 

We always turn up early to bag drop, most times it is quiet, go park up walk back to start the process hoping security has opened.

  

Sometimes there are issues delays etc. it get very busy we just go into town and come back later. there have been times when access to the terminal by car is totally blocked  by 9:30

 

Last time(Star) 10:45  drop OH and bags,  was very quiet,  when I returned(11:10)  I joined the line inside (11:10) for security.

The outside line had started and was growing quite quickly

 

Took 18-20 mins to get through to the escalator up to check in.

 

Never seen all the security channels in use which can cause back ups, just needs 2 coaches to turn up and that 80-100 people in line on top of those arriving by car walking and taxis..

 

I think the cruise lines prefer that so the security they pay for are kept busy.

If they put more on they would have periods when there were no people in line. 

 

Up the stairs there were already quite a few checked in and waiting, they were calling numbers, Priority line was 1 in front of us, from hitting the bottom of the escalator to starting the walk to the ship was 5mins(no number just walk on with priority).

 

There was a back up on the air bridge 4 mins, 8min in total from finishing check in to walking on.  

 

There are loads(over 1k) of seating they could use that if the check in snake got too long to reduce standing times, might need more people to organizes as with cruise passenger you need herding cats skills.

 

They could have more desks they were only using half the spaces for our trip.

 

The check in window is quite short as the NCL ships leave early, for the Star scheduled is 4pm  start at 11am and use the 2hr deadline that's 3hrs over 10 a minute. 

 

Remember the Star and Dawn are around 2k pax  this terminal deals with Virtuosa in the summer with 6k. 

 

My experience with check-in at Athens was that they give you a colour as you walk in the door and you can sit and wait until your colour is called.  Far preferable to having to stand in a queue for a length of time.

[sebas030]

I am platinum but on my next cruise I will bring the kids ( 14 and 17 ) for their first cruise.

 

We can all use the platinum line, right ?

 

Thank you in advance,

[KeithJenner]

19 minutes ago, sebas030 said:

I am platinum but on my next cruise I will bring the kids ( 14 and 17 ) for their first cruise.

 

We can all use the platinum line, right ?

 

Thank you in advance,

In our experience, yes.

[GLYNAGP]

I had  the most amazing experience departing from Athens a few months ago, as we left the taxi at Piraeus Port one of the NCL staff came rushing over and checked my cabin number, noted I was Platinum Status, immediately took mine and my friends luggage from us, took it to the baggage deposit area, came back and put a small sticker on both of us, escorted us though a side door of the terminal, by passed all the Check in lines to the front if the queue, passed use over to a check in agent who immediately checked us in and we boarded immediately. The whole process took less than 10 minutes. I departed from Southampton a few weeks ago, it wasn't quite so good but I was prioritised and processed ahead of other