Embarkation Process at different Ports for Different Loyalty Levels??

[euroguy]

It would be great to hear what the difference is at different ports for Embarkation at different loyalty levels. I'm certain it will be valuable information for everyone.

I've traveled through primarily Long Beach and Seattle and once years ago through Miami (don't remember Miamis)

LONG BEACH - Ive been through the system both in lower levels and Platinum. Drop off location with porters is spit and polished, super easy. loyalty level Blue, Red and Gold line up outside according to there boarding time assigned, no shade or covering. Depending on time of year can be pretty hot or raining. Once your boarding time arrives the process to get inside of building is pretty fast. Platinum and Diamond get to walk straight into building and the literally takes about 5 minutes to get checked in and get a VIP lounge to wait in. Then they call each group to take a bit of a walk to get facial scanned to board

SEATTLE - luggage drop off is disorganized and fend for yourself. Check in process...from what I saw.. Blue, Red and Gold line up outside regardless of boarding time, then once you get inside bldg you have different lines for your boarding times. There was hard cover areas outside to prove shade and protect from rain. Platinum and Diamond walk straight into bldg and get check in right away, then all loyalty levels go up stairs to have carry on  baggage scanned and escorted to your assigned seating area. Platinum and Diamond we had a roped off area near the exterior door to walk to the gangway and had priority boarding.

MIAMI was yeas ago and can't remember anything about it.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy As someone who is very accustomed to embarking on basic or lower-level loyalty status, I'm used to long lines and very simple treatment. I have yet to be treated like a VIP customer, and I'm fine with that. Since I'm usually all over the board with my cruises, I don't particularly expect any priority services. Soon enough I will likely enjoy all of the perks you are mentioning above just by cruising more and more each year.  I didn't realize how different the embarkation process is per port based on your loyalty status. I assumed that each port offered a relatively equal experience. I almost always check my bags by the drop-off area so I don't have to lug them around. The stateroom luggage drop-off system is amazing. It saves so much hassle and is worth every penny to tip the attendants well too. 

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas yep each port certainly has its own flare. I too check my luggage with the dock porter and just carry a small backpack on the ship which I do get to drop off at my cabin right away, and if i want to change clothes as well, another vip perk. 

I thi.k once you get a taste of some of the vip treatment you will think how did I ever manage before. It's really does make the cruise nicer. Hopefully soon you will get the perks

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy All of your VIFP perks make me jealous! I have actually considered booking with CCL for a 2026 itinerary. I was looking into some transatlantic options but they haven't been released that far in advanced. By the middle to end of this year I should see those transatlantic options open up and I will check back again. Unfortunately in 2025 I'm not sure I will get a cruise in because of other on-land travels I have booked. It would be so sad to skip an entire year of cruising, but unless I can squeeze it in the budget, I may just have to save up for an unforgettable itinerary for 2026. 

Apparently I'm only at the red loyalty level and I need a few more sea days to achieve the next one up. I'm a long ways away from reaching your status level! I need to consider investing further into CCL because the loyalty benefits are basically unbeatable. 

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas well you are in the right area to be able to squeeze in a quick cruise on the cheap as Florida's is the cruise capital. Yeah you do have a ways to go but I have to say from what I've seen CCL does a have a really great perk package compared to other brands. In my opinion if you're going to cruise be brand loyal and reap the rewards. One thing that is great though is a lot of the brands are starting to do loyalty matching, I think CCL does that as well but only once so you would want to be at an upper level from another brand prior to matching. If you did that you could start seeing of CCL perks faster.

A transatlantic cruise sounds amazing and certainly once retired I will do one. Do you have one in mind?

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy I wish CCL did loyalty matching! When I called I asked it the line would match and I was told no. I was under the impression most cruise lines offered a status match program. Maybe CCL doesn't need to offer that because it's attractive enough on its own without that benefit. The prices are surely attractive enough. I was hooping the representative I spoke to just didn't know any better, but I have proven that information to be correct. I do have a few options in mind for a transatlantic sailing! I would like to cruise Florida to Europe. I would love a Spain disembarkation to stay longer and visit family I have there. Once CCL comes out with those 2026 itineraries I will do a price comparison with other lines and see which option makes the most sense for our family. I'm hoping to book a 12 to 14-day itinerary. 

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas hmmm i thought CCL did loyalty matching. But I've been wrong before .... once in 1984 🤣 

14.day voyage across the pond to Spain sounds amazing. You would have a lot of sea days to recharge, which is one thing I had on my cruises. Typically 2 sea days on front end and 1 sea day on back end. Wish had it reversed as after running around like a mad man for 3 ports back to back it would be nice to have 2 sea days before coming home to fully unwind and chill before debarkation vs. 1 sea day. 

What part of Spain is your family from? 

I have family in Germany , Brussels, and Sweden unfortunately cruise ships don't reach those  areas 😕.

I've looked at some of the cruises that travel to Spain, Italy and few other countries and they all look so wondwrful but I know I would be sad as they have so many great things to visit and see and I wouldn't be able to see everything I would want to. 

 taking a 14 day cruise on CCL would be a huge step for your loyalty points as you get 1 point for each day.

No matter which line you go on I'm certain you will have a wonderful.trip

I have really been eyeing some of the repositioning cruises that go from east to west or west to east through the Panama canal ... that trip has some really great stops and also get several sea days and get to go through the locks which would be cool.

Have you ever done a repositioning cruise?

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy I could always try again! You never know what another representative may know. 

I have family in Madrid right now. If I were to cruise out of Barcelona I would take a train to Madrid and spend extra time there before going back to the US. I would presumably jump to the next loyalty status if I took a 14-day CCL cruise actually. I would jump to the next loyalty status even quicker if I could get a status match! I have not, but I would very interested in trying a repositioning cruise. Are there any repositioning CCL cruise routes out for 2026 yet? I would be intrigued to try a cruise like that. I would imagine those itineraries would range about the same timeframe, ten to fourteen days in duration. The idea of only purchasing one international plane ticket sounds so much better, or cheaper!

[Old Cruiser]

On 1/30/2024 at 11:08 PM, euroguy said:

@Kendall James-Vargas well you are in the right area to be able to squeeze in a quick cruise on the cheap as Florida's is the cruise capital. Yeah you do have a ways to go but I have to say from what I've seen CCL does a have a really great perk package compared to other brands. In my opinion if you're going to cruise be brand loyal and reap the rewards. One thing that is great though is a lot of the brands are starting to do loyalty matching, I think CCL does that as well but only once so you would want to be at an upper level from another brand prior to matching. If you did that you could start seeing of CCL perks faster.

A transatlantic cruise sounds amazing and certainly once retired I will do one. Do you have one in mind?

I don’t think Carnival does any status matching. AFAIK MSC is the only line status matching. Been cruising with them since 98 and have been Platinum since 2011. The more people that become Platinum and up on Carnival the more they cut the benefits. 

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@Old Cruiser Thanks for confirming that for me. The status match perk is a really great perk. If I knew MSC Cruises was the only line that offered it, I would have racked up a higher loyalty status with another line and then have it matched by the line after the fact. What were some perks you have enjoyed a a Platinum member that are no longer? Which CCL loyalty perks would you like to see return? I wish other cruise lines offered the status match incentive. I don't think CCL needs to offer that perk. It seems if anything the line has an influx of loyalty guests, likely a surplus. More high-up loyalty guests wouldn't be of value for the line.