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vip checkin on conquest?

CentralTexasTraveler

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robtx100

robtx100

Posted
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The suites are great if you want the extra cabin space and slightly larger balcony. VIP check in is great at Galveston if you get there between 11-2. You get to pass the large group waiting to board. However, if you get there after 2, there isn't much of a wait for nonVIP. If you want the larger balcony, I like the aft balconies. They are cheaper than a suite.

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Cindy

Cindy

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We had an OS (Cat. 11) on the Conquest and Splendor. We like the layout and the space...the storage is awesome, and I love the separate dressing area with an extra electrical outlet.

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Cindy

Cindy

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The Conquest only has two JS cabins. If you look on the deck plans, they're all the way forward on Deck 9. In March, we noticed that people on the public deck space above the bridge can stand out there and look directly into those balconies/cabins.:eek: I prefer the Deck 7 location of the OS cabins.

I believe the square footage of the Junior Suites is about the same as the Ocean Suites, but configured a bit differently. The balcony in the JS is more than "slightly" smaller...it's the size of a regular balcony instead of a suite balcony.

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okgirl

okgirl

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Unfortunately VIP boarding doesn't start until you get into the terminal building and up to the top of the escalator where they check off your funpass.

 

If you try to go to the head of the line after you have dropped off your luggage they will turn you back.

 

And I also don't think they handle the security line any better. After they check your funpass they escort you to the VIP line to go through the xray, but when you get to the front of the line, it's up to you to butt in line in front of all the non-VIP people waiting to be xrayed.

 

Someone pointed this out to John Heald on his blog and he said he was going to look into it but I don't expect it will have changed when I get there in 64 days.

 

The other problem is that they typically only have 1 and rarely 2 people to check in the increasing number of Platinum guests.

 

I like the way they do it in PC now. There is a separate que for VIP and they have someone at the head of both que's. If you are in the VIP que you are directed to the next available agent.

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*Mach*

*Mach*

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Unfortunately VIP boarding doesn't start until you get into the terminal building and up to the top of the escalator where they check off your funpass.

 

If you try to go to the head of the line after you have dropped off your luggage they will turn you back.

 

And I also don't think they handle the security line any better. After they check your funpass they escort you to the VIP line to go through the xray, but when you get to the front of the line, it's up to you to butt in line in front of all the non-VIP people waiting to be xrayed.

 

Someone pointed this out to John Heald on his blog and he said he was going to look into it but I don't expect it will have changed when I get there in 64 days.

 

The other problem is that they typically only have 1 and rarely 2 people to check in the increasing number of Platinum guests.

 

I like the way they do it in PC now. There is a separate que for VIP and they have someone at the head of both que's. If you are in the VIP que you are directed to the next available agent.

 

 

I've been assured that there have been some significant changes in the VIP boarding.

I've got a member sailing Sunday who is Platinum and has promised me a report...

:)

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okgirl

okgirl

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I've been assured that there have been some significant changes in the VIP boarding.

 

I've got a member sailing Sunday who is Platinum and has promised me a report...

 

:)

 

Mach......that's good to hear.........I love the Conquest and I love Galveston, but it's rapidly becoming my least favorite embarkation port because of this very issue.

John seemed genuinely surprized to hear that not all ports handle VIP very effectively.

Port Canaveral is my favorite, followed by Miami then Galveston then NOLA.

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Cindy

Cindy

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I booked today for Feb 27th suite 7329. My contact at Carnival pretty much reflected exactly what you just wrote. Thanks for the response I appreciate it!!!

 

Hey! That was our cabin in March! You made a great choice...the location is very convenient to the elevators and stairs, and it's an easy 2 decks up or down to the action. Enjoy!

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  • 3 weeks later...
KenNBarbie

KenNBarbie

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I've been assured that there have been some significant changes in the VIP boarding.

 

I've got a member sailing Sunday who is Platinum and has promised me a report...

 

:)

 

Mach, have you heard anything??? We sail in 2 wks (8/29), so if nothing else, I'll report back. Host Randy is sailing with us.

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jensing317

jensing317

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Last year, we also enjoyed priority DE-barkation that came with our suite. We got to wait in a room with chairs, we were walked off of the ship and had our choice of porters waiting on us. We got through the customs line in practically no time and were in our car entirely too soon!!! :) Not a perk that many want to think about, but it was nice all the same.

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*Mach*

*Mach*

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Mach, have you heard anything??? We sail in 2 wks (8/29), so if nothing else, I'll report back. Host Randy is sailing with us.

 

 

Yeah, I did...

I heard from a Platinum cruiser who sailed a few weeks ago and there was no change. John wasn't pleased to hear this and made a number of calls.

I'm not sure if there have been changes since...

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*Mach*

*Mach*

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As a follow up... I asked John Heald if there had been any additional change and he told me that he had been assured that there were.

He was going to email the Hotel Director on the Conquest for additional information and get back to me when he hears...

:)

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KenNBarbie

KenNBarbie

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As a follow up... I asked John Heald if there had been any additional change and he told me that he had been assured that there were.

 

He was going to email the Hotel Director on the Conquest for additional information and get back to me when he hears...

 

:)

 

 

Thanks again Mach, appreciate you monitoring this. I'll go with low expectations in 2 weeks, and "maybe" be surprised! <knock on wood>

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EastTex

EastTex

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As a follow up... I asked John Heald if there had been any additional change and he told me that he had been assured that there were.

 

He was going to email the Hotel Director on the Conquest for additional information and get back to me when he hears...

 

:)

 

 

My wife and I have 14 sailings with Carnival. A little off track and VIP boarding aside, one of the less heralded side benefits of cruising is the ability to restock our bar with quality liquors at low prices. Over the years, I've avoided using Galveston to sail from simply because as a Texan I'm limited to bringing in no more than one quart of Liquor when returning to the US. I stopped using Galveston when we were pulled aside by a Texas revenue agent at disembarkation and asked if we were Texans and were we bringing any liquor ashore. Only when sailing with non-Texas friends who the law didn't apply to and could carry off what the federal laws allowed have we used Galveston since.

 

Thought I'd share this tidbit in case there are other Texans reading this thread and will be using Galveston. Even if changes are made to VIP boarding there will still be issues out of Carnival's control with the port for me.

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