Anyone use the new "Priority Access" yet?

[akdgfd1976]

Following.  Sure can't wait to see how this works out.

[Matco]

Just added this last week for our 7 day Alaska sailing on the Bliss, worth 179? That's still to be determined but hoping its helps ease the embarkation and debarkation stress. Who here is going to be the first to try it out and report back to us?

[Kwakwa630]

15 minutes ago, Matco said:

Just added this last week for our 7 day Alaska sailing on the Bliss, worth 179? That's still to be determined but hoping its helps ease the embarkation and debarkation stress. Who here is going to be the first to try it out and report back to us?

Somebody earlier in the thread said they were embarking in 2 weeks. I embark in 3 weeks with Priority Access, so I can report back then!

[danak13]

1 minute ago, Kwakwa630 said:

Somebody earlier in the thread said they were embarking in 2 weeks. I embark in 3 weeks with Priority Access, so I can report back then!

Ironically, as the thread starter hoping to learn more about this, it seems I am the one who will be boarding first and seeing how it all works out! I am on the Breakaway in 9 days 🙂

[Matco]

Nice well hope everyone enjoys their cruises and hopefully the priority access turns out to be worth it, we look forward to your reviews when you return 

[FLAHAM]

5 hours ago, dshefter said:

There is also a $50 spa credit for port days. My wife and daughter will definitely use that.

On my recent cruises, the spa offered all a discount on port days.  As I recall, it was a percentage that typically amounted to about $25. 

 

[phissy]

7 hours ago, Matco said:

Just added this last week for our 7 day Alaska sailing on the Bliss, worth 179? That's still to be determined but hoping its helps ease the embarkation and debarkation stress. Who here is going to be the first to try it out and report back to us?

Seattle is one of the easiest ports for NCL. We have never had issue with embarkation and being Plat Plus, still have not seen a  Priority area there. When we have been in Suites, we were escorted to Suites Lounge before embarkation.  

None of the ports are tendered so, again, perhaps a concierge will escort you off ship at ports.   Enjoy Alaska, we have been on Bliss twice to Alaska and enjoyed each time.

[Double Jack]

Just off the Getaway out of New Orleans and had friends that purchased "priority access" for the express purpose of getting Vibe passes.  The personnel at the port had no idea what "priority access" was.  They basically told them "That's nice.....you're Boarding Group ."

 

They ended up getting Vibe passes with us but they were pursuing a refund.

[All-ready2cruise]

Double Jack, it's unfortunate that your friends purchased the priority access promo but, while I hope they do get a refund, I doubt they will.  Reading the Terms & Conditions... it's unlikely.  I hope they enjoyed the cruise.

I enjoyed reading your review; I"m cruising on the GA next December so it's given me some nice input. 

Have a nice evening. 

Edited November 22, 2019 by All-ready2cruise

[Smong]

our friend traveling alone just purchased this for our cruise leaving this sunday.  we are in a suite so he is hoping to be able to board with us. i will let everyone know how it goes!

[NoobCroozer]

11 hours ago, All-ready2cruise said:

 Reading the Terms & Conditions... it's unlikely. 

All-ready, could you fill me in on what the T/C is please? I was going to purchase this today for the sole purpose of embarking in NYC....if that isn't going to be honored (priority boarding), forget it.

Edited November 22, 2019 by NoobCroozer

[Peachypooh]

20 minutes ago, NoobCroozer said:

All-ready, could you fill me in on what the T/C is please? I was going to purchase this today for the sole purpose of embarking in NYC....if that isn't going to be honored (priority boarding), forget it.

Have you embarked in NYC before? We did twice. The second time we were Haven and our daughter and her

family were in a regular balcony cabin with no latitudes status. We had lunch in Cagney's and texted them to

see if they had boarded yet. They were already eating in the buffet and had signed the kids up for the

kids club. Just one experience. Doesn't seem to be worth it if their experience was typical.

[All-ready2cruise]

21 minutes ago, NoobCroozer said:

All-ready, could you fill me in on what the T/C is please? I was going to purchase this today for the sole purpose of embarking in NYC....if that isn't going to be honored (priority boarding), forget it.

I'm not saying the offer won't be honored, however, priority boarding already exists for: Suite/Haven guests, Physically Challenged,  Platinum/Plat. Plus/ Ambassador, also Casino at sea pax too, I think.

 

So, where do they put those who have purchased Priority Access promotion? Probably after the loyalty groups. Not sure since there's been no feedback yet. I've rarely had to wait more than 30 mins to board but, I've never sailed out of NYC. 

 

I hope the PA meets your expectations. Have a great cruise. 

 

[NoobCroozer]

31 minutes ago, Peachypooh said:

Have you embarked in NYC before? We did twice.

Yes, once with Carnival......was pretty long wait......think at least 2.5 hours. Maybe that was just a bad out-of-ordinary day....was 10 years ago so maybe there were multiple ships in port etc.

Edited November 22, 2019 by NoobCroozer

[NoobCroozer]

13 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

I'm not saying the offer won't be honored, however, priority boarding already exists for: Suite/Haven guests, Physically Challenged,  Platinum/Plat. Plus/ Ambassador, also Casino at sea pax too, I think.

 

So, where do they put those who have purchased Priority Access promotion? Probably after the loyalty groups. Not sure since there's been no feedback yet. I've rarely had to wait more than 30 mins to board but, I've never sailed out of NYC. 

 

I hope the PA meets your expectations. Have a great cruise. 

 

I understand there are a plethora of NCL Royalty which get first dibs (facetious hat off >.<), from what Ive heard, the priority access is given sparingly to a limited number of folks. As mentioned in another post, my one other NYC embark was about 2.5 hours.

[All-ready2cruise]

So, even considering the loyal royals, this would still work well for you. 

Not sure I've ever waited over 2 hours to board, sounds agonizingly boring.

Enjoy. 

[NoobCroozer]

40 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

So, even considering the loyal royals, this would still work well for you. 

Not sure I've ever waited over 2 hours to board, sounds agonizingly boring.

Enjoy. 

Was probably an out of the ordinary experience, everywhere else I've encountered 30 min like yourself.

But I would cough up $179 to slice off 2 hours if that is the norm in NYC.

 

And thank you!

Edited November 22, 2019 by NoobCroozer

[Matco]

1 hour ago, All-ready2cruise said:

I'm not saying the offer won't be honored, however, priority boarding already exists for: Suite/Haven guests, Physically Challenged,  Platinum/Plat. Plus/ Ambassador, also Casino at sea pax too, I think.

 

 

 

Can any one confirm this? I originally booked on the website before I found about the relationship between Total Rewards and NCL, I am Diamond with total reward/Caesars entertainment, so I called and they changed my booking to be booked thru the casino and under my diamond card which saved me the 20% off my cruise fare. If that allows us priority boarding I might try and cancel my priority access pass 

Edited November 22, 2019 by Matco

[drumming cruisers]

Not offered on my cruise reservation  out of NOLA on Getaway in January. Have looked a couple of times. I am plat plus . so doesn't really matter to me, but am curious what it offers. 

[All-ready2cruise]

Priority Access is not offered to those of us who are Plat. and above. 

[Gershep]

Following to see how it works.

[Shidah]

On 11/22/2019 at 11:45 AM, Matco said:

Can any one confirm this? I originally booked on the website before I found about the relationship between Total Rewards and NCL, I am Diamond with total reward/Caesars entertainment, so I called and they changed my booking to be booked thru the casino and under my diamond card which saved me the 20% off my cruise fare. If that allows us priority boarding I might try and cancel my priority access pass 

This seems to only help in NY.  But it does help a lot there.

[NoobCroozer]

On 11/22/2019 at 8:17 AM, Smong said:

our friend traveling alone just purchased this for our cruise leaving this sunday.  we are in a suite so he is hoping to be able to board with us. i will let everyone know how it goes!

Any update on Priority Access Smong?

[Smong]

10 minutes ago, NoobCroozer said:

Any update on Priority Access Smong?

We were in a suite so our friend just checked in with us. Tampa was a disaster!! I’m not sure what would have happened if he tried to use it by himself. Sorry. Didn’t see any signs pertaining to priority access. 

[NoobCroozer]

1 minute ago, Smong said:

We were in a suite so our friend just checked in with us. Tampa was a disaster!! I’m not sure what would have happened if he tried to use it by himself. Sorry. Didn’t see any signs pertaining to priority access. 

Ugh.....priority embarking is all I'm really interested in in NYC, and combing around online been reading either NCL staff had no idea what priority access was in port, or no marked locations, lines, announcements, etc (although I did see a pic somewhere with a lounge equipped solely for priority access, not sure where it was but def wasn't NYC, which is what I am concerned about). Hope you had a good trip! And thank you!