suite stuff

[shaver]

we are traveling on the zuiderdam next saturday in a category s a suite.

we invited a friend to join us and she booked an inside. this will be her first cruise and she is excited and nervous.

 

when we embark will she be able to check in with us, or should we forget about the priority suite check in and check in with her? the same question goes for priority tendering. thanks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Your friend will not be able to check in with you. He/she will have to go to their appropriate checkin line - they are separated according to decks and room numbers. Suite passengers have their own check in line. You will be able to board the ship any time once you have completed everything at the check in line. Your friend will be given a number as he/she enters the terminal (you are also given a number but it will be exchanged when you check in). If you want to wait with your friend in the terminal until their number is called, you can do that.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Tenders

 

Your ship ID card will be gold - you just show it to the people when you are ready to get on the tender - you do not have to go to any lounge to get a tender ticket. Your friend's ship ID card will be blue. He/she will have to go to a lounge (the lounge will be posted in the program and over the PA system) to get a tender ticket. If you all want to be on the same tender, then you can go to that lounge with them and wait for their number to be called and then go down to the tenders together.

 

If you all are taking a HAL excursion for that tender port, then all of you will have to report to the appropraite lounge and wait for your tour to be called.

[sail7seas]

In addition to the information KK has shared, I'd add that your friend will not have use of the Neptune Lounge. That is only for "S" and"PS" passengers. Very often there are large family groups and they think that if one or two of them have Suites, then the whole group can use the Lounge but that isn't possible. It isn't large enough to handle any more than the number of passengers that would be in the Suite cabins.

 

During your entire cruise, there will be a few instances where there will be things you may be doing that your friend would not be included. It should not be a problem. After a short while onboard, you are sure to meet other people and perhaps your friend can occupy themselves with new friends if you are at a Suite cocktail or whatever.

[WindyCity]

My BIL & his wife will be cruising with us (their first cruise) in December of 06. We have an S cabin and they are booked in the J directly across from us. We have explained to them, ahead of time, all the "perks" of an S ahead of time and that they will not have the same - They are fine with it, since they will still have our "verandah" and still pay so much less than we are. They don't care that there is a "suite passenger reception" that does not include them, or that they will have none of the other Suite perks. They are just happy to be cruising at a very reasonable price with someone they know.

At embarkation time, we plan to wait for them to get checked in before we board the ship and,in ports, during disembarkation or tendering, we plan to join their line. If we get separated into different tenders, whoever gets ashore first will just wait for the other. All things can be worked out....

Have a great cruise!

[TidePrideGA]

Your friend will not be able to check in with you. He/she will have to go to their appropriate checkin line - they are separated according to decks and room numbers. Suite passengers have their own check in line. You will be able to board the ship any time once you have completed everything at the check in line. Your friend will be given a number as he/she enters the terminal (you are also given a number but it will be exchanged when you check in). If you want to wait with your friend in the terminal until their number is called, you can do that.

 

Interesting. This does not sound at all like the process of embarkation we experienced in FLL earlier this month. There were only two "regular" lines, one for internet and one for not. You went to the next available window when you reached the head of the line (no mention of what deck you were on), there was no number given out. I'm sure there *was* a suite passenger line, but I didn't notice it. The whole process took about 10 minutes, so it didn't seem that big a deal.

[sail7seas]

Every time we have checked in at every port, we have always been directed to a Suite Check-In Line. You may not have been aware of it but it would be sooooo very unusual for a checkin at Port Everglades to not have a Suite Check-In. If you personally do not see it and you are in an "S", the person at the line directing passengers to go ahead to a checkin line will direct a Suite passenger to that line.

 

[kryos]

At embarkation time, we plan to wait for them to get checked in before we board the ship and,in ports, during disembarkation or tendering, we plan to join their line. If we get separated into different tenders, whoever gets ashore first will just wait for the other. All things can be worked out.

And ... know that the priority tendering is only applicable during the early part of the day ... when everyone is trying to get off the boat and onshore at a port. And, it only applies to people not taking a HAL-sponsored shore excursion. As someone else said, if you are on a shore excursion, everyone will be asked to meet at a certain time in the lounge so that everyone can be loaded aboard a tender at the same time.

 

Also, even if you are going ashore without a HAL-sponsored shore excursion, the priority tendering would only apply during the "rush" period at the beginning of the day. At that time, your friends will have to first visit the lounge to get a tender ticket, while you as a suite passenger will be able to proceed directly to the tender area. The color of your card will grant you admittance to the tender, while your friends will need a tender ticket in order to get onboard. They will get that in the lounge. However, once the initial crowd is ashore, they will make an announcement that tender tickets are no longer required and you and your friends can then take the tenders together.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[TidePrideGA]

Every time we have checked in at every port, we have always been directed to a Suite Check-In Line. You may not have been aware of it but it would be sooooo very unusual for a checkin at Port Everglades to not have a Suite Check-In. If you personally do not see it and you are in an "S", the person at the line directing passengers to go ahead to a checkin line will direct a Suite passenger to that line.

 

 

As I said, I'm sure there *was* a Suite line - I just didn't notice it, or don't remember it. I was really commenting more to there not being lines for us grunts according to deck, and no embarkation number was given out. We just got in line for the "Internet" (wish we'd gotten in the non-Internet - it was considerably shorter) and stepped to the next available counter when we got the front - then from there straight through security and on to the ship (after 3 passes through the security scanner of DH's carry-on).

[IggleDoer]

:confused: We will be cruising in S class shortly. We also booked our son and daughter, both single and in their 20s, into separate inside rooms at our expense. We could have had them bunk with us and then they would have been entitled to suite privileges. Instead, we chose to pay more and they aren't entitled to the same amenities. Doesn't seem quite right!

[sail7seas]

There are always a number of guests on the ships who have done similar as you. They book a Suite for themselves and another cateogry for their children or friends or other relatives. If it were only 2 people, it wouldn't be such a big deal to let them partake of the Suite amenities. But, it is always many more than two people. Those who have booked and paid for Suites are the guests who have bought and paid for those extras. If the Neptune Lounge were mobbed with all the friends and relatives who were not staying in Suites, it wouldn't seem quite right if the Suite passengers could not get near the coffee machine etc

 

I know what you are saying and think I know how you feel, but do support the rule of....either you are staying in a Suite or are not.

 

I don't seriously think it will negatively either your enjoyment or your son and daughter's enjoyment. If it does, then the next time you may choose to all share the Suite.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

[Candy]

Interesting. This does not sound at all like the process of embarkation we experienced in FLL earlier this month. There were only two "regular" lines, one for internet and one for not. You went to the next available window when you reached the head of the line (no mention of what deck you were on), there was no number given out. I'm sure there *was* a suite passenger line, but I didn't notice it. The whole process took about 10 minutes, so it didn't seem that big a deal.

There's a sign in the middle of the check-in area listing all the cabin numbers that may use the Priority (Suite S and PS) line. You can see the sign near the center of this photo. If you're on the list, the little kiosk is to the left.

 

Candy <-- not booked, and not happy

[rubrrick]

 

Candy..............I have loved your site. You certainly have the proper lists for anyone wanting to know more about cruising, from what to bring or to leave home.

What do you mean you are without a cruise????

 

Rick

[Candy]

Candy..............I have loved your site. You certainly have the proper lists for anyone wanting to know more about cruising, from what to bring or to leave home. What do you mean you are without a cruise???? Rick

Well, we have a busy business season coming up and a grandbabygirl due in April, so May is the earliest we can cruise. The Zuiderdam is our first choice, and she won't be in the Carib after April :mad: so we need to choose a different non-Alaska cruise for spring/summer. Our friends are still thinking about fall, so we have nothing booked. It'll be hard to do 3 if we don't book any.

 

Candy <-- will make the first one a 10-dayer