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Do "Sea Class" cabins get priority check-in and embarkation?


Marc

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(I posted this on Cruise Critic and was surprised to see that no one at all has posted a reply there, not even certain individuals who seem to reply to every thread with incorrect information.)

For those of you who have had the opportunity to sail on Symphony of the Seas, do you know whether "Sea Class" cabins (i.e., junior suites) get access to the private suite embarkation lounge in the terminal? Everything I've seen from Royal Caribbean doesn't mention that as a benefit for "Sea Class", but it is included for "Sky Class" and "Star Class".

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Thanks! I'm glad to hear it.

In all honesty, it was a photo of the suite/Pinnacle area the terminal that sparked my interest in upgrading. I'm probably spending way too much to upgrade just for that and for access to Coastal Kitchen, but after having been in suites on my most recent cruises, I'm not sure I feel right going back to a regular old balcony cabin. ?

I also just found indications that junior suites also get complimentary WOW bands. That's a nice added bonus.

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24 minutes ago, Marc said:

spending way too much to upgrade just for that and for access to Coastal Kitchen

Warning...There have been rumblings lately that CK access for JS guests is based on availability and some have had issues getting in every night. At the moment, we have a JS booked on SY in July. I am desperately trying to upgrade for this very reason.

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Just now, Marc said:

Thanks for the warning! Fortunately, we have the Ultimate Dining Package (which is no longer being offered in the Cruise Planner for our sailing next month), so it'll only be once, maybe twice, that'll we'll want to eat at Coastal Kitchen.

Ha! You and I think alike! I grabbed the UDP for $152pp over Black Friday just in case we cannot upgrade.

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7 hours ago, CGTLH said:

 However getting off you'll be part of the masses, nothing special.

I had stayed in a junior suite on Oasis in December and I was able to bypass the huge line of passengers in the customs line because there was an employee standing there directing people where to go and I said that I stayed in a suite and that is how I was able to bypass the huge mass of people in line at customs. Yes that information is correct I did have priority boarding and departure in a junior suite. When choosing your suite stateroom under more details for each of the suites RC’s website it says that JS has priority boarding and priority departure.

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@Jess, I think Royal Caribbean may have changed their info.

When looking at a Junior Suite on Liberty of the Seas (so not "Royal Suite Class"), here's what the details say:

1496163584_ScreenShot2019-02-05at7_08_41AM.thumb.png.a4bbe86a510e99222df07197dedf53ea.png

Note that there is no mention of any suite-esque perks.

However, the Grand Suite says:

2103553943_ScreenShot2019-02-05at7_09_16AM.thumb.png.a74dbb3567bda18b5f40086987751812.png

Here, it does explicitly call out the suite benefits including priority check-in.

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Now, here's where it gets a bit interesting.

In the "What are the benefits of the Royal Caribbean Suites program?" FAQ page, it does say:

Quote

All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to a dedicated check-in line for boarding, in-suite Mr. Coffee/Tea service, personalized service from a suite attendant, and a luxurious Cappuccino Pillow Top mattress. Our Junior Suites, Grand Suites, Ocean View/ Panoramic (No Balcony) Suites, and Owner’s Suites all receive priority boarding, and our Royal Suite and Villa Suite guests are escorted onboard by an officer.

The Royal Suite Class FAQ page, however, omits mention of any special boarding amenity for Sea class cabins.

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@tiny260, it may simply be that you've not sailed in a Royal Suite Class cabin (only Oasis and Quantum class ships) since that program was implemented. Also, I would expect that the existing ships at the current embarkation terminals would continue doing what they've done in the past. With Symphony of the Seas being at a brand new terminal in Miami, they might enforce the rules differently there.

We all know how consistency is for Royal Caribbean.

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You cannot go by those pics above from Liberty.  I have noticed those descriptions all vary.  Sometimes for GS and above, they don't show the benefits.  I just assume that it's wonky Royal IT.  I'm going to go with JS having priority check in.  We have always noticed at the terminals that the signs for Suites point to JS and above.  More recently, on Anthem, we were in a JS and we were allowed into the suites entrance.

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I cruised exclusively in Junior suits 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Oasis and Freedom class) and I have to go with @Lovetocruise2002 I was never turned away when I went to Suites entrance.

I just cruised out of Terminal A in Miami, January 13th in Star Class and had some acquaintances in a Junior Suite and they didn't have any issues. Maybe it's whomever the door greeter is, whether you get turned away.

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4 hours ago, kontraxed said:

I always sail in a junior suite. Typically, I have embarked with the suites and disembarked, very slowly, with the herd. For my next cruise on the Symphony in 97 days (!) I purchased "The Key" which indicates escorted priority disembarking. We'll see!

I was personally escorted off the ship at disembarkation on Friday with The Key. You just have to find a staff member monitoring the line.  

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Just to call out the subtleties of the English language based on my experiences on board and what has been written in this thread...

There is a difference between: Suite access to priority boarding/disembarking.   AND    Suite access to priority boarding/disembarking lounge.

One statement deals with how you get through a line and the other deals with things you can do after the line (while waiting to get on the ship if you are too early to board) or before the line (waiting to get off).

Have a great sailing!

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That's very true, @dodgestang. Of course, those of us who have cruised a few times recognize how difficult it would be for Royal Caribbean to try manage two separate suite areas (one lounge, one in the regular boarding seating area) for priority boarding.

On a related point, we were in an Owner's Suite on Harmony of the Seas in October. There (Terminal 18 at Port Everglades), they had actually separated the suite part of the boarding area into Star Class and Sky & Sea Classes. The Star Class suites had comfy chairs and had a table set up with some basic refreshments (I remember bottles of water, but there may also have been some cans of soda), and we were told that we, in our Sky Class suite sitting on the regular boarding area chairs, were not entitled to them. (I may or may not have sneaked a bottle of water for myself from there.) The Star Class section did board ahead of the Sky/Sea Class passengers.

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2 hours ago, Marc said:

they had actually separated the suite part of the boarding area into Star Class and Sky & Sea Classes.

The new Terminal A in Miami has a completely separate boarding area for Star Class, they have their own Porters, elevator and seating embarkation area.

It was nice experiencing my 1st Star Class cruise this way.

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