Casino VIP Priority Embarkation Question

[fkfad]

We are booked on the January 16, 2022, Eurodam cruise (Panama Canal Sunfarer out of Fort Lauderdale).  I just got access to our Boarding Pass which shows a boarding time of 1:40 PM (Group F).  We are supposed to have VIP Boarding (which put us in Group 1 last time).  I just called HAL about this, and was told that everyone gets an assigned boarding time (gee, thanks), which didn't answer my question.  Can we show up at any time to board, or are we found to the assigned boarding time?  FWIW, we will show up at any time anyway, I'm just curious about what to expect.  Given HAL's lack of information, I'm certain I'll get good insight from all of you!  Thanks!

[trixiee]

I don't understand why people would question this. Assigned boarding times are to allow for social distancing, from my understanding.  

[DaveOKC]

HAL has gotten so liberal with the VIP Boarding passes (now 4/5 Stars, Neptunes, Club Oranges, VIP Casino, plus ???) that it seems to be overwhelming the system.  Plus, the new Covid rules and procedures come into play.  Thus your later than expected boarding time.

 

You can try to board earlier, but no one seems to know yet how this will work - it seems to vary by port and perhaps even ship.

 

[fkfad]

16 minutes ago, trixiee said:

I don't understand why people would question this. Assigned boarding times are to allow for social distancing, from my understanding.  

Thanks for your very helpful response!  FYI - The last time we arrived at the port for VIP casino check-in, they put us in a group to board approximately 1.5 hours after boarding started.  When I pointed out the VIP casino status, they quickly changed us to board after the standard VIP groups.

[NCTribeFan]

I was on the 11/14 sailing (first from the US).  I didn't have casino VIP but I had purchased Club Orange, which included Priority boarding.  Our boarding may not be typical since there were no disembarking passengers (she'd been in quarantine for two days).

 

I just posted this in another thread.

 

My hard copy of the boarding pass had Priority in the top right corner.  I don't recall that my Navigator boarding pass had anything except the time (1:20, Group B, I think).

 

I was at the port at 12:15 and in my cabin by 12:35.  Being there early, and the fact that we had only about 800 pax, there were virtually no lines anywhere except entering the terminal building. 

 

When I walked up to the Priority line, I showed my boarding pass (that had Priority on it) and was asked if I was 4 or 5*.  I said I was not but that I had Priority boarding.  She again asked the same question.  I said, "No. I'll just get in the other line" and started to walk away when she said "Do you have Club Orange?"  "Yes, I do."  "OK, go this way."  Yep, right to the Priority check in.

 

One would think that they would list all the various Priority types on their sign and ensure that the port people are aware of who gets Priority and in what order they board.

 

So, be sure to tell the person what type of Priority boarding you should have.  And if Priority doesn't show on your Navigator boarding pass, I recommend printing that page.

[fkfad]

Thank you!  This is exactly the information I was hoping to find!

[Schooner-ca]

I am not sure what the problem is? Boarding doesn’t start until 1:00. 40 minutes seem a short wait. I am trying to be polite but really?

[Laminator]

16 minutes ago, Schooner-ca said:

I am not sure what the problem is? Boarding doesn’t start until 1:00. 40 minutes seem a short wait. I am trying to be polite but really?

Boarding started at 11:30am on my Rotterdam cruise on 11/10. Although we had priority boarding at 1pm we were able to board much earlier. The agents did check to make sure you did have priority boarding though. I am not sure someone without priority boarding and a later check in time would have been allowed thru.