Elite Benefits with Tendering

[wadswatcher]

I understand that you receive priority tendering when you reach elite status. If you have elite status, can you and your traveling non-elite friends both receive priority tendering if you are disembarking to take a private tour?

[Pam in CA]

I understand that you receive priority tendering when you reach elite status. If you have elite status, can you and your traveling non-elite friends both receive priority tendering if you are disembarking to take a private tour?

No. If you are elite and your non-adult children are traveling with you, it would be OK. But Elite perks do not include friends. Your black card will be checked as that is your Elite priority tender ticket. FYI, the Elite priority tendering is only for disembarking the ship, not for the tender going back to the ship.

[Toto2Kansas]

If they are checking cruise cards, you need a black card to go directly to the tender deck. This is an Elite perk and does not apply to friends you are traveling with who are not Elite. I would suggest friends that are not Elite get to the lounge early to receive tickets for an early tender.

[paul929207]

As Pam & Toto said, the benefit does not apply to people on a tour with you.

[janina]

On our last cruise on the Star, we were allowed to bring our 2 friends with us to catch our private tour.

[wadswatcher]

Thanks for the information. I will take your advice and have my friends go early to get their tickets for the tenders.

[Toto2Kansas]

On our last cruise on the Star, we were allowed to bring our 2 friends with us to catch our private tour.

 

I know the dirty looks we receive even when we both hold an Elite card when we go directly to the tender deck. I have even had passengers stop me and tell me loudly to "GO BACK AND GET A TENDER TICKET". I would hate to see the reaction from others taking 'guests' for priority tendering, as that is one of the Elite perks that is supposed to be for those with Elite status only. Imagine if everyone brought a couple of guests.............what a mess that would be.

Planning and having guests get in line early to embark on an early tender would be the best way to handle this.

Occasionally, it might be allowed taking a friend each, but even then I think it isn't allowed very often.

[Pam in CA]

I know the dirty looks we receive even when we both hold an Elite card when we go directly to the tender deck. I have even had passengers stop me and tell me loudly to "GO BACK AND GET A TENDER TICKET". I would hate to see the reaction from others taking 'guests' for priority tendering, as that is one of the Elite perks that is supposed to be for those with Elite status only. Imagine if everyone brought a couple of guests.............what a mess that would be.

Planning and having guests get in line early to embark on an early tender would be the best way to handle this.

Occasionally, it might be allowed taking a friend each, but even then I think it isn't allowed very often.

I agree. The perk is for those who have earned the privilege by being loyal Princess cruisers and is not applicable to friends any more than the laundry perk is.

 

People who bring friends and abuse this perk could have a long-term effect, perhaps even prompting Princess to eliminate the perk. That's what happens. A few people can ruin it for everyone.

[vjmatty]

I agree. The perk is for those who have earned the privilege by being loyal Princess cruisers and is not applicable to friends any more than the laundry perk is.

 

I thought the laundry perk was by stateroom.... they don't ask for a first name on the bag so even when the clothes are DH's, who is not elite, they don't charge us because I am. Should I be specifying? What about if we have a combined load of laundry?

 

Our stateroom tag outside our door is black only, not black for me and gold for him... could that be why?

[Toto2Kansas]

I thought the laundry perk was by stateroom.... they don't ask for a first name on the bag so even when the clothes are DH's, who is not elite, they don't charge us because I am. Should I be specifying? What about if we have a combined load of laundry?

 

Our stateroom tag outside our door is black only, not black for me and gold for him... could that be why?

 

Actually, if the non Elite member in the stateroom signs the laundry slip with their first and last names, you will usually see a charge added to your shipboard account for laundry (I stood behind in line at the customers service desk speaking with a passenger also waiting who signed the laundry slip and only his wife was Elite, so he was charged for his laundry sent in). I think what the deal is here is that if one Elite member is in the stateroom, they usually sign the slip, so there is no charge. It would be difficult to monitor this perk for one Elite and one non Ellite member in the same stateroom, so they just let it slide. But by all rights, the Elite member is the only one that is supposed to have the unlimited complimentary laundry perk associated with the Elite status, from my understanding.

[vjmatty]

Actually, if the non Elite member in the stateroom signs the laundry slip with their first and last names, you will usually see a charge added to your shipboard account. I think what the deal is here is that if one Elite member is in the stateroom, they usually sign the slip, so there is no charge. It would be difficult to monitor this perk for one Elite and one non Ellite member in the same stateroom, so they just let it slide. But by all rights, the Elite member is the only one that is supposed to have the unlimited complimentary laundry perk associated with the Elite status, from my understanding.

 

Well I am the one who fills out the slip but my signature is not the kind where the name is legible :o DH doesn't put in much laundry anyway, just his tuxedo shirts, but now that I know I'll make a point to separate our laundry.

 

It never crossed my mind to get him a priority tender ticket, we never try to be the first ones off the ship anyway.... I usually wait until the mad rush is over so we can disembark at a leisurely pace.

[Pam in CA]

But by all rights, the Elite member is the only one that is supposed to have the unlimited complimentary laundry perk associated with the Elite status, from my understanding.

Correct. It's called an Elite perk for Elite passengers; not Elite perks for all passengers in a cabin. It's a loyalty program given to those who have sailed on Princess and earned the perk. If a passenger hasn't earned Elite, then they don't qualify for the perks, whether they are in the same cabin or not.

[rkmw]

Well I am the one who fills out the slip but my signature is not the kind where the name is legible :o DH doesn't put in much laundry anyway, just his tuxedo shirts, but now that I know I'll make a point to separate our laundry.

 

It never crossed my mind to get him a priority tender ticket, we never try to be the first ones off the ship anyway.... I usually wait until the mad rush is over so we can disembark at a leisurely pace.

 

they dont give out priority tender tickets anymore you just show your card so i dont know how he will go, he may have to get a ticket from the vista lounge

 

on our last cruise this couple got their tender tickets and sneaked down and waited at the gate to go down to get the tender and they said to us that we had to get our tickets from the vista lounge and we said we dont need any tickets as we had our elite cards....the princess bloke wasnt doing his job properly as he should have told them to wait in the vista lounge with the other passengers

[vickie_bernie]

Toto and Pam are correct, and I too am always surprised by the comments of other passengers when we go down to the tender and get on rigth away. also the comments from people when lining up in the "elite/suite" line at the pursers desk.

 

One time In Panama we had a private tour planned with our CC group, and since very few of us had elite status but needed to get off early; however a quick visit to the Circle host they provided all of us with priority ticket numbers and were able to meet along with all the other princess tours and we were escorted off after the tours but before all the other passengers. But please note that this was a special perk and not to be expected all on every cruise. It didn't hurt that we invited the host to our meet and greet on the first sea day.

[Astro Flyer]

I quickly read through the posts & if it was already mentioned, I must apologize. The reason I'm putting this into my post is that on our recent cruise there was an Elite passenger who was abusing this benefit.

 

Simply proceed to the tender embarkation area & present your Elite Cruise Card to the cruise staff. You will be directed to join any remaining passengers & board the next available tender as soon as it is clear to embark. If you are booked on a shore excursions, it is imperative that you meet your tour group in the designated area.

The reason I'm mentioning this was the embarrassing way an Elite passenger acted. They thought it was a magic wand entitling them to go to the front of the line & made a big fuss when told otherwise. I have to give Princess credit for escorting this out of control passenger from the tendering area.

 

There are many nice Elite perks & everyone needs to read the letter in our cabins at embarkation (or online) to know them.

[BigGuy25]

Slightly different question ... but in the same area. It seemed that on the Sapphire (the weekend before Christmas) Platinum and Elite passengers were bringing non-qualifying traveling companions (not family and not in the same stateroom) to the special evening cocktail/appetizer reception. It didn't create any problems ... I was just wondering if its within the "rules" ... or were the rules not being enforced?

[Ethel5]

The reason I'm mentioning this was the embarrassing way an Elite passenger acted. They thought it was a magic wand entitling them to go to the front of the line & made a big fuss when told otherwise. I have to give Princess credit for escorting this out of control passenger from the tendering area.

 

There are many nice Elite perks & everyone needs to read the letter in our cabins at embarkation (or online) to know them.

 

Similar thing happened to us-there was this wacky woman screaming that she was to get to the head of the line and waving her black card in everyone's face.

 

There was also a post on here not too long ago about an Elite person going from room to room passing out laundry on hangars. She must have put friend's laundry in with hers. It's stuff like this that will ruin it for the rest of us...remember when the internet was totally unrestricted for Platinum/Elite passengers?

[1 HappyCruiser]

Slightly different question ... but in the same area. It seemed that on the Sapphire (the weekend before Christmas) Platinum and Elite passengers were bringing non-qualifying traveling companions (not family and not in the same stateroom) to the special evening cocktail/appetizer reception. It didn't create any problems ... I was just wondering if its within the "rules" ... or were the rules not being enforced?

 

Probably not enforced since the area is under used to begin with and they like the extra business unlike the tenders which are always filled to capacity at the start.

[cruiseron36]

I understand that you receive priority tendering when you reach elite status. If you have elite status, can you and your traveling non-elite friends both receive priority tendering if you are disembarking to take a private tour?

 

If you pay a visit to the Captains Circle Host the day or two prior to the event and explain the situation she will most likely give you extra boarding tickets. We had a similar situation a few years ago withen our son was traveling with us and they did give us an extra ticket.

[TM]

So exactly how does the elite tender process work? I now we don;t need to go get a tender ticket. Do we just go straight to the front of the line or do we wait in the tender line like everyone else, just without a ticket? Our next cruise will be our first one as elite so don;t want to do the wrong thing.

[Toto2Kansas]

So exactly how does the elite tender process work? I now we don;t need to go get a tender ticket. Do we just go straight to the front of the line or do we wait in the tender line like everyone else, just without a ticket? Our next cruise will be our first one as elite so don;t want to do the wrong thing.

Elite tendering you do not have to go to the lounge for a ticket, you just go directly to the tender deck with your black cruise card and get AT THE END OF THE LINE there for the next available tender. This perk is for going from ship to shore, and is not good for returning to the ship.

[cruiseron36]

So exactly how does the elite tender process work? I now we don;t need to go get a tender ticket. Do we just go straight to the front of the line or do we wait in the tender line like everyone else, just without a ticket? Our next cruise will be our first one as elite so don;t want to do the wrong thing.

 

I would not advise pushing to the front of the line waving your black card. It mmight be hazardous to your health. Go down to deck 4 or 3 where they are tendering and show your blackn card to one of the Princess people. They will either escort you to the front of the line, allow you to break into a line or place you at the end of the group boarding or the first for the next boarding.

[gooch47]

Just get in line. You don't need a tender ticket, but you don't have priority over those already in line to board the tender.

[Natabelle]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to piggie-back a question onto this just as a clarification for myself.

 

We had to skip cruising last year due to being overly pregnant and then having a newbord. (overly pregnant, ha!). Anyway, I am Elite and DH is not. Last time we cruised, there were priority tender tickets in our cabin. For each tender, there were three tickets. We were traveling with our daughter at the time, so I just assumed the tickets were for all of us.

 

Has that changed now? Am I going to have to choose between doing priority tender on my own with our two children or waiting with DH to get a tender ticket in the lounge?

[Pam in CA]

Has that changed now? Am I going to have to choose between doing priority tender on my own with our two children or waiting with DH to get a tender ticket in the lounge?

Yes. It's changed to no more priority tender tickets. Your black Elite card is your "tender ticket." most Princess ships have switched to this. I should think that your DH and small children will be allowed to go with you. That's different IMHO than friends going with you. Your DH is there to assist you with the children.