VIP/Early check-in on Pride

[dlopez5011]

My fiance and I are booked in a Cat 11 cabin on the Pride for the week of Thanksgiving. We have received our docs, and they indicate that we've qualified for the VIP check-in. I've since been reading alot of posts on here that talk about VIP check-in, and alot of them also talk about early check-in. My question is are the VIP's still doing early check-in, and then being directed to the VIP area to wait to board the ship? Or are they skipping the early check-in process altogether, proceeding directly to the VIP area, and still getting on the ship ahead of everyone else?

 

We're going to be driving up from San Diego on the day of the cruise, so I'm trying to figure out what time we should leave/arrive in order to avoid long lines at the dock. Any helpful information would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[cathyz]

My fiance and I are booked in a Cat 11 cabin on the Pride for the week of Thanksgiving. We have received our docs, and they indicate that we've qualified for the VIP check-in. I've since been reading alot of posts on here that talk about VIP check-in, and alot of them also talk about early check-in. My question is are the VIP's still doing early check-in, and then being directed to the VIP area to wait to board the ship? Or are they skipping the early check-in process altogether, proceeding directly to the VIP area, and still getting on the ship ahead of everyone else?

 

We're going to be driving up from San Diego on the day of the cruise, so I'm trying to figure out what time we should leave/arrive in order to avoid long lines at the dock. Any helpful information would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

My husband and I were just on the Paradise earlier this month and didn't do VIP check-in, but I can tell you that they do have a VIP line at the early check-in desk on the Queen Mary (open 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.). And then there is a VIP waiting area in front of the dome and a special security line for the VIP, handicapped, and wedding folks waiting in line. So doing early check-in would help you get on board just a few minutes faster probably, but then it all depends on how many are waiting in front of you.

[Wennfred]

From San Diego, you will want to leave around 8am, to arrive around 10:30am and do an earily check in at the Queen Mary. The VIP line is the one closest to the entrance of the Dome on the extreme right. You will see a sign.

 

If you can wing it, I would drive up a day before and Stay at The Coast Hotel, you can leave you car there the whole week. The package also includes Breakfast and shuttle to and from the terminal. While at The Coast you can take a water taxi over to Long Beach seaport its right across and enjoy a nice dinner at any of the fine resturants there including Bubba Gump Shimp Co.

 

Good Luck and have fun.

 

Fred

[Cruzman]

VIP checkin/early checkin? Allow me to approach this question this way. Everyone checks in the same way on Carnival with one exception. There will be a line for those who have filled out their funpass, and another for those that have not; end of that story. The exception is the VIP line. This line is for passengers that are booked in cat 11 or 12 suites, and Platinum guests. Everyone that qualifies for VIP checkin will be in the same line and will proceed to the same checkin/waiting area. In some cases, handicapped passengers will be escorted around the "normal"checkin line.

[Wennfred]

This line is for passengers that are booked in cat 11 or 12 suites, and Platinum guests. Everyone that qualifies for VIP checkin will be in the same line and will proceed to the same checkin/waiting area. In some cases, handicapped passengers will be escorted around the "normal"checkin line.

 

Also CVC Members stand in this VIP line. The VIP Line will be split into 2 lines, First line is for earily bird check in, people that already checked in at the Queen Mary and also have their Sail and Sign Card. Second Vip Line are for those that did not check in with the Queen Mary and do not have their Sail and Sign card.

 

If you do the Earily Check in on the Queen Mary, then all that is left is going through the Xray Machine and heading right to the ship.

 

The Order of boarding is Wedding party first then Handicap, Wheelchairs and elderly then VIP.

 

 

Fred

[Cruzman]

Also CVC Members stand in this VIP line. The VIP Line will be split into 2 lines, First line is for earily bird check in, people that already checked in at the Queen Mary and also have their Sail and Sign Card. Second Vip Line are for those that did not check in with the Queen Mary and do not have their Sail and Sign card.

 

If you do the Earily Check in on the Queen Mary, then all that is left is going through the Xray Machine and heading right to the ship.

 

The Order of boarding is Wedding party first then Handicap, Wheelchairs and elderly then VIP.

 

 

Fred

I thought the OP was talking about checkin for the Pride. Dunno how the Queen Mary got into the mix. Guess I'm just confused; it is Halloween 'ya know!

[SmooCruise]

I thought the OP was talking about checkin for the Pride. Dunno how the Queen Mary got into the mix. Guess I'm just confused; it is Halloween 'ya know!

 

Because you do the "early check-in" ON the Queen Mary. She sits right next to The Pride. You have to get there before 11 am though. Drop your luggage off with the porter....go to the Queen Mary (there are people along the way to direct you), check in, then go back to the dome to stand in either the Zone 1 line (pax that have done early check-in but aren't VIP's), or the VIP line if you qualify. We weren't VIP, but we did the early check in at 10:30. We were sitting on the Lido deck having lunch at 12:15. Very easy process.

 

Hi Fred!!! *waving* Long time no talk to! I am sure enjoying getting to know your wife. She is a SWEETHEART! Someday we want to cruise together! We'll let you know when we get it all planned out! *LOL* :D

[dlopez5011]

Ok, so as I understand it, I should leave around 8am, to arrive at the dock by 10:30am. Then we'll proceed immediately to the Early Check-in on the Queen Mary. After that, we will go stand in the VIP area to wait for boarding time. Does this sound about right? ;)

 

Thanks again for the input!

[SmooCruise]

Ok, so as I understand it, I should leave around 8am, to arrive at the dock by 10:30am. Then we'll proceed immediately to the Early Check-in on the Queen Mary. After that, we will go stand in the VIP area to wait for boarding time. Does this sound about right? ;)

 

Thanks again for the input!

 

Not sure where you're coming from....leave yourself enough time to deal with traffic. But other than that...yup! Sure beats the regular line! That one was horrible! :eek:

[RaiderFaninNM]

SMoo, that line was not that terrible as we did not arrive at our expected time, 9am, due to Southwest delays...:rolleyes: We arrived at the dome about 1:30 and was on the ship about 2:30, not bad at all, IMHO as I have stood in LONGER lines and for longer times at Disney.....:eek:

[SmooCruise]

SMoo, that line was not that terrible as we did not arrive at our expected time, 9am, due to Southwest delays...:rolleyes: We arrived at the dome about 1:30 and was on the ship about 2:30, not bad at all, IMHO as I have stood in LONGER lines and for longer times at Disney.....:eek:

 

That's good to hear. Maybe by 1:30 it gets better. At 12:00 it was really long!