Sox Fan Cruiser

So, we arrived at the Go Lounge around 10:15. It is outside of Port Everglades on 17th Street two buildings before the famous Walgreens. The door is not facing the street so if traveling by foot walk down the driveway and you will see the entrance on the back. We walked in and they took our luggage and gave us a tour of the small place. There were probably 15-20 people already there with couches and chairs to sit on. A nice spread of food was in the middle including fruits, cheeses, meats, little sandwiches and desserts. I think the spread was better than Celebrity’s pre-embarkation lounge at FLL. The host came over and took our passports to process and was back within a couple of minutes. They she asked if we wanted to make any reservations for the specialty dinning, spa or Sanctuary. We said yes we would like 3 people for the Sanctuary, all day, for all three sea days. We were worried about asking for 3 of us together and she said no problem and her biggest challenge yet was a group of 10 asking to sit together. She said that our request shouldn’t be a problem. She typed our request into her handheld device and said “done, anything else?” We also asked to move one of our specialty restaurant reservations to a different day and add one more. All for seating at 8(ish). Since we didn’t want to eat Crown Grill and Sabatinis on consecutive nights we had plane B if they couldn’t move our one current reservation. She stopped us and said that we will put this in implying that it wouldn’t be a problem and consider it done. From there we enjoyed the quiet relaxing lounge away from all the hustle and bustle of the cruise terminal. We snacked on some food, had some alcohol free drinks and began a nice conversation about the coming week. Very quiet and relaxing atmosphere. About 10:50, the host approached a group of four and told them that they were ready to take them to the terminal. It was a nice black coach van that sat roughly 10 people comfortably, I think. The host then approached a second group and said they were next once the van came back. That they don’t like to crowd the van for everyone’s comfort. The turnaround time was probably 10 minutes and the next group went. The turn around time kept getting longer and longer. We were the 5th group to go and were on the shuttle at 11:45. They should have more people go at once or have two vans alternating like the tenders to Princess Cays. Note: One couple did come after us but that was it for those using the lounge. And they didn’t take our group of three and the couple at the same time. Again, just one party at a time. And it was (I assume) in the order that you arrived). When we got to terminal 2 we could see why the shuttle took longer and longer. The shuttle was in the same traffic as everyone else showing up including that big circle around the parking lot where the shuttles sit on disembarkation. So we waited. They should have allowed us to park in that shuttle lot or diverted us somewhere to avoid the traffic. Anyway, once we made the big loop we immediately pulled to the right and was parked right in front of the steps (that are roped off) in front of the entrance. (People dropping off luggage passed us and pulled farther ahead). There was someone waiting for us there and they escorted us up the steps (or ramp right there if we needed it) and right past everyone. Think of the “Disney line” roped path that makes you walk back and forth. We walked right the front of the line and they opened the rope for us to go through. (None of the lines were super long but it was still nice to skip them). That escort then handed us off to the next person always making sure that there we 3 of us and we were sticking together. Now we were in the building and time for security. While every walked straight ahead to the end of the (small) room to then turn right and get in a security line, we took an immediate right (again moving the ropes for us and us only) and went to the closest luggage scanner. There was only one person ahead of us in line. She met us on the other side and walk us to the processing area with blue lane folks to the left and green lane folks to the right. Before we got to those lines and the folks with the little check in pads, we again took and immediately right, she moved the rope and we were standing in front of the domed arch that is the way to the ship. We heard “Have a great cruise!” And walked on the ship (up the escalator and gangway) and were onboard. (Not sure what would have happened if they hadn’t started boarding yet.). We were on board by 12:10 with the longest time spent waiting in the traffic. We would totally do it again! (I think I already explained the Sanctuary debacle and trying to put that out of my head! But don’t count on getting any benefit to Sanctuary access through the Go Lounge or stress that they need to call the actual place and not just relay your desire to the Suite Concierge.)

Okay, so the lounger just came. I take that part back.

What we didn’t realize was that the Go people sent a message to the Suite Concierge. We checked in with the Suite Concierge later to see if they received a confirmation from the Sanctuary and they told me they were going to call the Sanctuary “later” to put in the reservations. By then the Sanctuary was, of course, sold out. Same with specialty dinning reservations. As of this morning they STILL hadn’t sent the reservation requests. Sorry but the Suite Concierge is useless. Still waiting for the extra lounger that they said they would put there. She just keeps asking me if the lounger is there yet. Shouldn’t you confirm your request was completed or not? We have decided to lower our expectations about what the suite concierge can do and just have a great cruise.

Do NOT count on ANY benefit to getting the Sanctuary from the Go Lounge. Or ANY reservations for that matter. I’ll explain tomorrow as we are off to Princess Cays. I’ll explain everything during our sea day tomorrow. Go lounge is still an awesome experience. VERY relaxing.

And for me, it’s mostly to get ahead of everyone else for the Sanctuary

Agreed. Celebrity also does a great job with getting suite passengers away from the crowds and a separate way to get on the ship. But notice that this lounge opens at 8am. No way would any cruise line be ready to engage with embarking passengers that early. We will still sit in the same traffic my Uber does to get to the terminal. If they had a private driveway directly to the ship, now THAT would be worth it! 🤪

The difference with this service is that we don’t even enter The Port Authority. This lounge is on 17th street. I’ll add to the experience after Saturday.

I just got my invite today for Saturday’s cruise on the Sky. And I plan to book the Sanctuary and one specialty restaurant that we couldn’t do on line (sold out?!) so I’ll let you know. So excited!!

I didn't realize they got away from the Elite/Platinum express line. Do suites have a separate line (if you aren't invited to the GO lounge)? Or is it really just green lane and blue lane now?

Thanks for the advice to contact my PVP. I wrote to her today and she is checking for me as I haven’t gotten an invite yet.

They had to. All the other lines are doing it. One of the reasons why we look at Celebrity before Princess. Still concerned if Princess can bring the level of service that should come with it. Will the Signature dinning room be a level above the main dinning room.

Just watched you leave! We love the webcam. Watched the Sky Princess leave yesterday. Next time she goes out the channel we will be on!! 🤪

Celebrity is not complicated at all. What is your cabin designation on the Sun. We can help explain. And this concept is new for Princess other than “club class” and suites which wasn’t much of a difference anyway.

I was just thinking the same thing about the Suite area of the Sanctuary. It’s the same thing about the Retreat on the non Edge class ships on Celebrity. Still doesn’t deter me from booking a suite on either line. Looking forward to the separate dinning room! Let’s see if Princess gets it right.

I’m still waiting to see what is aft on deck 17 as that will be right outside my cabin.

yes

When I read the OP's question my initial reaction was "NO WAY!!". I'm really glad that Princess is able to accommodate this. Enjoy!

Booked the TA on the Ascent for Oct 31st 2025 on Thursday when they were available and got one of the last Sunset Sky Suites.

As an employee of a billion dollar company, if a single customer wanted to talk to the president of that company, I would do everything in my power to not make that happen. I think that my president has WAY more important things to do than talk to you! There are other channels than writing to the president.

We tend to sail Aqua class on non revolutionized ships and not retreat. But we are getting more spoiled and still like Retreat without the retreat deck. We avoid the main pool and still go up to that area to get away from the noise even though it’s not reserved for us alone. We still get Luminae and the lounge. But the price jump for Retreat does make us think.

So jealous! What ship? We will be doing the same thing in 2 weeks on the Sky!

There are two cabins on decks 10-14 that are aft facing but they are set way in. I don't even see them enjoying the wake. The balcony on the two last Penthouse suites on Deck 17, extend to the back so they have a aft view but probably only wide enough for one person to stand on the railing. At least that's what it looks like in the deck plans. I'll let you know after April 8th! 🙂 They really screwed up with no aft facing cabins on this ship. The best place to be!

Wait, I can get a second bar set up for being Elite and in a suite? I didn't know that! I've never thought to ask before. Guess what I'm doing on day 2 of my cruise in two weeks!

Where does the band play? We are on in 2 weeks and love listening to music in Take 5. Do they play there or in the other lounges? What else is playing in Take 5 right now? And do a lot of bands leave after a TA and the ship starts with new people?

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