New to Elite Status - Any hints?

Hello all! We are new to Elite status and are able to see the updated perks but I'm a bit confused about embarkation and debarkation. We're trying to put together our pre and post cruise travel. Any wisdom about when Elite members can board and depart? Thank you all so much!

There is a special queue for Elite, as there is for Concierge Class, for Aqua Class, for Suites. Sometimes the Elite line is longer than the others. Tgere’s No special time for a Elites to board, just the designated queue.

Thanks! I think I might be better off using the Aqua status rather than Elite! Thank you for your input!

We are newly Elite too and enjoyed our status for the first time on board Constellation last week. Our favourite perk was breakfast in Tuscan Grill just for Elite people with delicious fresh fruit, smoked salmon, ham, cheese. Lovely and peaceful too! Can’t wait for our next cruise in September now

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We have never had a problem putting our "free" laundry in two bags rather than trying to get everything into 1 bag...

We generally go to the elite cocktail event around 6 because many folks leave to go to early dining and finding seats is much easier....

elite drinks are supposedly only those on the special menu...which doesn't include a bloody mary (although you can get a free bloody mary at the elite breakfast). You can usually get a bloody mary at the evening event if you smile and ask nicely :)

depending on where you have breakfast, the coffee at the elite breakfast is usually better....

As far as lines when checking in....check to see which is shortest. Sometimes the "unwashed" line is the shortest :) All the agents can check in anyone.

Don't forget about the free pressing of 2 items & 1 dry cleaning per member.

OR

Internet - free 90 minutes or 30% off packages.

We are newly Elite too and enjoyed our status for the first time on board Constellation last week. Our favourite perk was breakfast in Tuscan Grill just for Elite people with delicious fresh fruit, smoked salmon, ham, cheese. Lovely and peaceful too! Can’t wait for our next cruise in September now

 

 

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I didn't know this! Awesome. Thanks!

Thanks! I think I might be better off using the Aqua status rather than Elite! Thank you for your input!

They are only separate lines, sometimes the lines for regular cabins are shorter. The only real advantage to boarding is if you are in a suite of if there is a delay in boarding.

On our first cruise as Elite we did not plan to do the breakfast because we enjoy a sit down, hot breakfast. On day two of our cruise we got to the MDR and found a long long line for seating so we set off to find the Elite breakfast. It was in the Tuscan Grill, it was great. Yes, it is a lighter fare but plenty to eat, nice quiet meal, peaceful and we never went back to the MDR for breakfast. The cocktail hour in the sky lounge was never crowded on our cruise, again, pleasant, relaxing and we often had senior staff dropping by to say hello. Since we are both Elite we got two bags of laundry and 180 internet minutes to share so our cost for internet and laundry for 10 days was zero :).

Hello all! We are new to Elite status and are able to see the updated perks but I'm a bit confused about embarkation and debarkation. We're trying to put together our pre and post cruise travel. Any wisdom about when Elite members can board and depart? Thank you all so much!

Along those same thoughts whenever we've had a port that had to use a tender, elites and above were given priority when tendering from the ship. We all met as a group at a specific time and place and were escorted by the Captains Club host to the tenders and boarded first.

You will receive a letter in your stateroom which will explain times and places of all the elite events. The evening and morning events are very nice with free drinks and some food. They also serve as a very nice way to meet other people.

Be sure to read the terms and conditions on the back of the Elite benefits letter in your stateroom. For example, the free bag of laundry can't be used on the last two days of the trip (or something like that).

Along those same thoughts whenever we've had a port that had to use a tender, elites and above were given priority when tendering from the ship. We all met as a group at a specific time and place and were escorted by the Captains Club host to the tenders and boarded first.

On our recent TA on the Eclipse to Dublin there were so many Elites and above that we did not have that benefit available. It was first come first serve.

We did a back to back from Singapore earlier this year and were given priority disembarkation at tendering ports which was useful. We also go along to the cocktail party if we don’t have a complimentary drinks package as well as using laundry bags. Other than that we think the elite “perks” are a bit pointless. It was cheaper to buy an internet package before we set off than to just have the 90 minutes and we thought the free ice cream each was a bit pointless.

We have not always had our own queue for boarding or the separate cocktail party - I think it depends on how many elite passengers are on board.

Just enjoy your new perks and work toward Elite+ where you'll receive even more perks.

We never need more than the 90 mins each so the internet is a nice perk for us (only time we came close to using it up was during Fantasy Football season when my husband had to change his players all the time (or whatever it was he had to do).

And I'll never turn down free gelato.

The laundry bags are a great perk - we have to pack much less since we know we can wash halfway through.

We don't get beverage packages so the cocktail hour and discounts on wine were very helpful.

We've also used the casino match plays (to no successful end, but that's not their fault)

I really have no complaints and am very grateful for all the freebies.

If you are both Elite do you each get a free bag of laundry? Or is it 1 bag per cabin?

If you are both Elite do you each get a free bag of laundry? Or is it 1 bag per cabin?

Each Elite member gets the Elite benefits, all of them

If you are both Elite do you each get a free bag of laundry? Or is it 1 bag per cabin?

It's not a bag -- it's 30 items each Elite person. Sometimes it may take two bags to put your items in, especially if you have jeans/sweats. For shorter cruises, it's 20 items each.

It's not a bag -- it's 30 items each Elite person. Sometimes it may take two bags to put your items in, especially if you have jeans/sweats. For shorter cruises, it's 20 items each.

That's great. It's also are first time being Elite also.

Kathy

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On our recent TA on the Eclipse to Dublin there were so many Elites and above that we did not have that benefit available. It was first come first serve.

Bummer for you. Not our experiences.

That's great. It's also are first time being Elite also.

 

Kathy

We always put darks in one bag and whites in the other bag. Undies and socks.

It's not a bag -- it's 30 items each Elite person. Sometimes it may take two bags to put your items in, especially if you have jeans/sweats. For shorter cruises, it's 20 items each.

Good point! Some of the previous posts could be misleading, implying that that the limit is on the number of bags, when in fact the limit is on the number of items, not the number of bags.

A pair of socks, or a pair of pajamas, counts as one item.

For dry cleaning or pressing, a suit counts as one item.

To help avoid confusion in case the bags should become separated, when sending more than one bag at a time we label them, e.g., Bag 1 of 2, Bag 2 of 2.

There is a duplicate part laundry slip to fill out and enclose with each order. If you mark the items you are sending, then tear off and save your copy, it is easy to check and make sure you have everything when the laundry comes back.

Just in case you notice a problem with any laundry or dry cleaning item when it comes back, or if something is missing, let your stateroom attendant (or butler) know about it.

They will contact the Assistant Chief Housekeeper (yes, that is the person's actual job title), who will take care of getting the problem resolved to your satisfaction.

We always put darks in one bag and whites in the other bag. Undies and socks.

...and then they get tagged with your cabin number and thrown in with a few hundred other pieces...:-)

I think the laundry visit is my favorite part of the "back stage" tour--forget the bridge, the cool stuff are those sheet and towel folding machines!!

We never need more than the 90 mins each so the internet is a nice perk for us (only time we came close to using it up was during Fantasy Football season when my husband had to change his players all the time (or whatever it was he had to do).

 

And I'll never turn down free gelato.

 

The laundry bags are a great perk - we have to pack much less since we know we can wash halfway through.

 

We don't get beverage packages so the cocktail hour mnd discounts on wine were very helpful.

 

We've also used the casino match plays (to no successful end, but that's not their fault)

 

I really have no complaints and am very grateful for all the freebies.

I'm with you - nothing pointless to me about these. 90 minutes each is plenty for my wife and I. Like the laundry, gelato, etc. Nice benefits for me not doing anything extra.