Clarify Platinum boarding

We are not platinum (but hope to be, one day) and feel your pain with the mob at the door! We were in boarding group 2 and still had to fight our way through and we don't have any perks. So I can only empathize with those of you who have earned that perk who either have to fight through the wall of people--who should be well away from those ears when their ticket says, I don't know...10? And especially if you show up "late", you should be escorted up to the front, just as 1st/business class is allowed to board ahead of economy when they miss their boarding call.
 
I find they call the numbers too quickly which causes the chaos. I generally get a #2 and by the time I get through the crowd they have already called 3 and on one cruise they called 2&3 at the same time. Going on my 10th in October so platinum after that.....so it seems the procedure is as clear as mud!
 
Seems like a good suggestion would be to have a seating/waiting area for Platinum and then when they are ready for group #1/Platinum they could motion the area where Platinum is waiting to go through sort of bypassing a crowd or at least guided in that direction. I'm thinking Carnival does a waiting area for certain levels then they board like that, right?

Heather
 
Seems like a good suggestion would be to have a seating/waiting area for Platinum and then when they are ready for group #1/Platinum they could motion the area where Platinum is waiting to go through sort of bypassing a crowd or at least guided in that direction. I'm thinking Carnival does a waiting area for certain levels then they board like that, right?

Heather
They wouldn't really need a separate seating area. They could just utilize the Concierge doors, once the Concierge people have boarded.
 


They wouldn't really need a separate seating area. They could just utilize the Concierge doors, once the Concierge people have boarded.
True! I guess I was thinking about other locations where it's not as new and shiny as PC. I'm happy to add my suggestions on my comment card so I encourage others to do the same. Seems people really do get frustrated over the mob standing around blocking the entrance and some are there because they have low numbers and have nowhere else to really stand (and should be standing ready to go) but others like #10 and up just really block it up.

Heather
 


I've often heard them making announcements for everyone to please hang back until their boarding group is called in order to not block the entrance, but people tend to ignore those instructions the same way many ignore their assigned port arrival time and enter the terminal way before their PAT, causing increased crowding. I guess it's the "It's my vacation!" syndrome. :(
 
They wouldn't really need a separate seating area. They could just utilize the Concierge doors, once the Concierge people have boarded.

Except that when you have a cruise with a metric ton of Platinum cruisers then they would clog up the Concierge lounge, as Platinum people would think they can wait in the Concierge lounge prior to their boarding time. Either that or they'll mill around in the Concierge/Platinum check-in area, outside the lounge, while waiting, turning that whole area into a zoo too. Best to keep them out in the main crowd, or designate a Platinum lounge area, to be honest.

I like the idea of a separate line, actually. Kind of like Elite/Diamond/etc. on airlines.
 
Except that when you have a cruise with a metric ton of Platinum cruisers then they would clog up the Concierge lounge, as Platinum people would think they can wait in the Concierge lounge prior to their boarding time. Either that or they'll mill around in the Concierge/Platinum check-in area, outside the lounge, while waiting, turning that whole area into a zoo too. Best to keep them out in the main crowd, or designate a Platinum lounge area, to be honest.
I'm not talking about using the Concierge Lounge, only the Concierge door, once the lounge has been cleared and it's still before the regular boarding numbers being called.
 
I'm not talking about using the Concierge Lounge, only the Concierge door, once the lounge has been cleared and it's still before the regular boarding numbers being called.

But you know how the average American/Disney guest thinks, don't you? They'll hear "Concierge doors" and will try and go into the Concierge lounge ahead of time, and Disney being Disney, nobody will tell them to leave. Or they'll mill around just outside the entrance to the Concierge lounge just like they do at the main lines when they have boarding #245 and #2 is just being called.
 
But you know how the average American/Disney guest thinks, don't you? They'll hear "Concierge doors" and will try and go into the Concierge lounge ahead of time, and Disney being Disney, nobody will tell them to leave. Or they'll mill around just outside the entrance to the Concierge lounge just like they do at the main lines when they have boarding #245 and #2 is just being called.
Yeah, but I like to hope that people will "play by the rules" (please no lectures!!!).

Maybe they can just say "We'll call you when it's time to board and at the boarding call announcement direct the Platinum (#1) cruisers to the "other" door.
 
That's a great idea to use the side doors, and this should ago be extended to Gold and Silver Castaway Club cruisers as a perk for sailing again.
Yeah, uh...., No. One of the perks (few though they may be) for Platinum is
"Priority Check-In at Cruise Terminal
Enjoy concierge priority check-in at the cruise terminal. Then, receive priority boarding following concierge Guests."

Gotta earn those perks.
 
Yeah, uh...., No. One of the perks (few though they may be) for Platinum is
"Priority Check-In at Cruise Terminal
Enjoy concierge priority check-in at the cruise terminal. Then, receive priority boarding following concierge Guests."

Gotta earn those perks.

You are correct, Platinum Cruisers can check-in at the Concierge Check-in stations. We have sailed 19 times as Platinum Cruisers and we check-in at Concierge.
 
They could move the general boarding ropes back and make a roped off area at the start of the boarding line. You have to show your Boarding Group # 1 to enter the Platinum waiting area. I think that could work.
 
i think they could just move the mob with a space in between the ears for people whose numbers have been called or Platinum to come up. The mob drool and hiss waiting to be called.

(I have to say being escorted through to get our pics and then to an empty elevator up to the concierge lounge is quite nice. I havent seen the mob in a few cruises.)

Is there the ability to walk around the mongrels and up to the cast member with your #1 Boarding Group? I cant see them telling you to get back in line with the animals
 
Is there the ability to walk around the mongrels and up to the cast member with your #1 Boarding Group? I cant see them telling you to get back in line with the animals
As the actual "line" between the ropes is only about 3 rows deep, and the mob "waiting for their number to be called" is sitting right at the entrance to that line, all you can do is, basically, elbow your way through chanting your new mantra "I have #1".
 
They could move the general boarding ropes back and make a roped off area at the start of the boarding line. You have to show your Boarding Group # 1 to enter the Platinum waiting area. I think that could work.

I like this idea. That and little more enforcement by CMs. If they see higher numbers near the entrance, they need to "inspire" the passengers to move farther back in the terminal. I'm afraid that unless DCL designates railed or roped off areas that boarding groups are required to wait in prior to their number being called, the problem will continue.
 
We have had the same experience as everyone else with the mob hanging out by the entrance. We also had a bad experience in Miami this past January with boarding in group #1 trying to get through the crowd. We tend to arrive later now if we are not sailing concierge.
 

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