Platinum Questions

[CaribbeanJen]

Hi

We are sailing in January on the Regal and it's our first time as Platinum.  I have a couple questions:

 

• We are traveling with two couples.  Can they board with us in the priority line? 
• What are the best perks?
• I've heard there is a lounge with discounted drinks-- is that correct?  
• Anything else? 

 

Thanks in advance!  

Jen

[neverbeenhere]

Complimentary Cruise Atlas^
Every year you will automatically receive a copy of our Princess Cruise Atlas. It includes details on all itineraries and sailings for that year, making it easy for you to plan ahead.

Priority Check-In
When you arrive at the port, don’t wait in line. You, along with your family or guests that are traveling with you in the same stateroom will be invited to use the Priority Check-In desk to help expedite your embarkation.

Platinum Disembarkation Lounge
In recognition of your loyalty, and to make your last morning with us more enjoyable, we invite Platinum Members to use the Platinum Disembarkation Lounge, offering light refreshments and peace while you await disembarkation.

Complimentary Internet Credit
Each Platinum Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle member will receive a complimentary Internet credit to be used either on the computers in our Internet Cafés or wireless Internet on the passenger’s personal wireless device. The amount of complimentary Internet is determined by the length of the sailing.

• Voyages 7 days or less, 150 minutes
• Voyages 8-20 days, 250 minutes
• Voyages 21+ days, 500 minutes

As a Platinum Captain’s Circle Member you will be recognized as such when you initially log on to the Internet onboard. Upon the initial log on you will see a screen which shows you how many complimentary minutes you are eligible to receive. In addition, you will have the opportunity to select more minutes at the available rates. This offer is only available at the time of the initial log on.

Only usage exceeding the allotted amounts will be charged to your onboard folio. The Internet activation fee of $3.95 is waived for Platinum and Elite Princess Captain’s Circle Members.

 

[neverbeenhere]

If the couples are also platinum then yes they can board with you. You can always board with them instead. 

 

Best perk... to each their own

 

platinum lounge- yes there is one of these. A card in your stateroom will explain hours and other details. 

 

Other things- Don’t take any wooden nickels. 

[karabear15]

People in my party have always been able to board with me, even if they aren't in my stateroom.  It just depends on the person checking boarding passes.

 

Worth a shot, or you can always just wait in the general line/waiting area with them and board like normal.  

[Thrak]

I enjoy the Platinum disembarkation lounge. When we got off after 28 days last October there were about a zillion people waiting in the hallway by Explorer's and the photo area. They were sitting on the floor and stacked up everywhere. The casino was crowded with people waiting to disembark. We went to Club Fusion. There weren't a lot of folks there. They had free coffee, water, and OJ. I had the beverage package and the day before had snagged two little bottles of champagne. I used the free OJ to make us a couple of Mimosas each that we enjoyed while sitting at a nice table waiting to disembark. We always appreciate not being stuffed into some venue with a bazillion people waiting uncomfortably to disembark. The free Internet minutes are appreciated as well.

[geoherb]

The discount on drinks isn't that great. They're $6.50 plus the 15 percent gratuity. They are Boulevardiar, Mayan Mule, Port Lemonade, Mint Lemon Drop, Limon Mojito, Floradora, Cherry Blossom Garden, and Deep Sea Martini. There's a special dish each day--shrimp, sushi, steak tartare, stilton, chips and salsa. They always have veggies and cheese and crackers.

 

The internet minutes are my favorite perk. 

Edited November 6, 2018 by geoherb

[neverbeenhere]

Oh ya

 

you get a new pin, probably in your stateroom or go see the captain’s circle person during their office hours. Wear it with pride. 

 

You might get a little something-something, if you didn’t get it at an earlier graduation in level.  Then again, you might not. 

 

Enjoy the cruise. 

 

Don’t look back - Boston 

[CaribbeanJen]

THANK YOU for your help!

[elliair]

Do go to the Captains party for Elites, Platinum and Suite passengers.  You get free drinks and sometimes snacks.  The last time we got nice hor-douveres, but lately just jars of rice crackers.  I think the crackers are somewhat "tacky" to be serving for passengers who have spent a lot of money cruising on Princess.  The drinks are watered down foo-foo drinks, but, you can ask for whatever you like and they will bring it to you.  We always ask for white wine and ask for a specific brand.  They bring it to us every time.  It's basically an info-commercial for Princess with their latest ships and itineraries.  You are given an invitation for the party in your cabin.  Take the invitation with you and they take it from you at the door.  At the end of the party, they have 3 drawings for 3 bottles of champagne.  We won a bottle one time.  Took it to the dining room and shared it with our table mates.

Edited November 6, 2018 by elliair

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, elliair said:

Do go to the Captains party for Elites, Platinum and Suite passengers.  You get free drinks and sometimes snacks.  The last time we got nice hor-douveres, but lately just jars of rice crackers.  I think the crackers are somewhat "tacky" to be serving for passengers who have spent a lot of money cruising on Princess.  The drinks are watered down foo-foo drinks, but, you can ask for whatever you like and they will bring it to you.  We always ask for white wine and ask for a specific brand.  They bring it to us every time.  It's basically an info-commercial for Princess with their latest ships and itineraries.  You are given an invitation for the party in your cabin.  Take the invitation with you and they take it from you at the door.  At the end of the party, they have 3 drawings for 3 bottles of champagne.  We won a bottle one time.  Took it to the dining room and shared it with our table mates.

 

I don't get drink the foo foo drinks they offer either except for the last time they had one I didn't recognize. I asked what it was and they said it was a Pimms Cup. I'd heard of it but never tried it before so I took the one on the tray. It was unusual but not at all bad. I had the beverage package and was going to have a Chairman of the board (love that drink) but went with the different drink to try it out. Normally (when I don't have the beverage package) I just ask for a Gin and Tonic.

 

On one Alaska cruise there were so many blue cards that they combined the Platinum/Elite thing with the most traveled passengers party. I won a bottle of (actually drinkable!) champagne. It was rather sad though that the captain was there and they asked if anybody wanted a picture with him because nobody took him up on the offer.

[skynight]

10 hours ago, CaribbeanJen said:

Hi

We are sailing in January on the Regal and it's our first time as Platinum.  I have a couple questions:

 

• We are traveling with two couples.  Can they board with us in the priority line? 
• What are the best perks?
• I've heard there is a lounge with discounted drinks-- is that correct?  
• Anything else? 

 

Thanks in advance!  

Jen

Best perk are the free internet minutes. On a 7 day cruise that's 150mins. Each Platinum level passenger will get the free mins. You will not receive the unlimited internet packages, but believe you will be able to change to one of them for a reduced cost once on board.

At Ft. Lauderdale, pier 2,  boarding is very quick for all. Not much of a benefit if your friend can or can not board together. 

There is a happy hour most evenings where some drinks are around $6.50. Details will be on a card in your cabin.

There is a disembarkation lounge for platinum, elite, full suite passengers and maybe even club class. It's very crowded. We normally just go to the regular waiting area, less crowded.

[Pam in CA]

CThere are so many Platinum and Elite passengers these days on many cruises that the pre-boarding lounges are packed and there isn’t enough room for those with Priority boarding. Adding guests makes it even worse. 

 

Its not unusual to have over 1,000 passengers with Priority boarding on a cruise. Imagine if even 10% of them bring guests. 

 

If your friends are adults snd able to manage on their own, they should use general boarding. If you really want or need to board with them, you can certainly also use general boarding. 

[Micahs Grandad]

11 hours ago, elliair said:

Do go to the Captains party for Elites, Platinum and Suite passengers.  You get free drinks and sometimes snacks.  The last time we got nice hor-douveres, but lately just jars of rice crackers.  I think the crackers are somewhat "tacky" to be serving for passengers who have spent a lot of money cruising on Princess.  The drinks are watered down foo-foo drinks, but, you can ask for whatever you like and they will bring it to you.  We always ask for white wine and ask for a specific brand.  They bring it to us every time.  It's basically an info-commercial for Princess with their latest ships and itineraries.  You are given an invitation for the party in your cabin.  Take the invitation with you and they take it from you at the door.  At the end of the party, they have 3 drawings for 3 bottles of champagne.  We won a bottle one time.  Took it to the dining room and shared it with our table mates.

Have noticed lately the drinks are very watered down. Best to ask for a specific drink and hope it is not too watered down.

 

Might go with wine next time, do not think they would do anything to that 

[elliair]

4 minutes ago, Micah's Grandad said:

Have noticed lately the drinks are very watered down. Best to ask for a specific drink and hope it is not too watered down.

 

Might go with wine next time, do not think they would do anything to that 

 

That's right, you can tell if they mess with wine, which they haven't.  We always get Noblio Sauvignon Blanc.  They gave us some really nasty stuff once - tasted like that stuff we drank as teenagers - Bali Hai, Thunderbird, Ripple.  I mean scraping the bottom of the barrel!

[CaribbeanJen]

You guys are awesome!!  Thank you for all the great answers.  I appreciate the comments about boarding with our friends and that is likely what we will do.  Also- thanks for the tip about the wine.  I love Sauvignon Blanc!  

 

 

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, Micah's Grandad said:

Have noticed lately the drinks are very watered down. Best to ask for a specific drink and hope it is not too watered down.

 

Might go with wine next time, do not think they would do anything to that 

 

My wife asked for Grand Marnier straight up and they brought it.

[FSU Girl]

Can the internet minutes go on a phone of a person not platinum, but in the platinum room? I'm platinum and my Fiance has never sailed before, but he would actually use the internet minutes and I wouldn't. 

[Thrak]

6 minutes ago, FSU Girl said:

Can the internet minutes go on a phone of a person not platinum, but in the platinum room? I'm platinum and my Fiance has never sailed before, but he would actually use the internet minutes and I wouldn't. 

 

The minutes will be in your name. Create the account and then let your Fiance log in with your credentials. There is no way to know who is using the minutes. You can't both be logged in at the same time but the minutes are available on multiple devices using the account login credentials. Enjoy your cruise.

[FSU Girl]

1 minute ago, Thrak said:

 

The minutes will be in your name. Create the account and then let your Fiance log in with your credentials. There is no way to know who is using the minutes. You can't both be logged in at the same time but the minutes are available on multiple devices using the account login credentials. Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks!

[julie3fan]

8 minutes ago, FSU Girl said:

Can the internet minutes go on a phone of a person not platinum, but in the platinum room? I'm platinum and my Fiance has never sailed before, but he would actually use the internet minutes and I wouldn't. 

 

Yes, he'll just have to sign in with your info.