Question for recent cruisers

[Jo and Rob]

I know that the official time for boarding is 1pm-4pm but how early can you actually get on the ship? We keen to board as early as possible but don't want to hang around for hours if they don't board until 1pm. Recent experiences please.

[cherylandtk]

I know that the official time for boarding is 1pm-4pm but how early can you actually get on the ship? We keen to board as early as possible but don't want to hang around for hours if they don't board until 1pm. Recent experiences please.

Many people arrive early and wait for actual boarding, which often starts right around noon. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later.

[Square]

I was just on the Sapphire Jan 16th - Jan 23. We got to the port in San Pedro early. We were there about 10:30 and flew threw the check in paperwork. We were handed a number 1 ticket and sat in the terminal like area waiting to board. Unfortunately the ship came in about an hour later than normal so they did not allow embarkation until about 12-12:20 (can't remember exact time). The people doing back to back cruises and the people with "early embarkation perk" were already boarding by 10:45. So I've read quite a few people say that you can usually get on the ship around 11:30 or so but we had to wait a while longer because the ship didn't make it to port exactly on time.

[Stevesan]

I know that the official time for boarding is 1pm-4pm but how early can you actually get on the ship? We keen to board as early as possible but don't want to hang around for hours if they don't board until 1pm. Recent experiences please.

 

 

Barring an unusual delay, boarding at Port Everglades is usually between 11AM and 12N.

 

BTW - That's a great itinerary for water sports. Grand Cayman, Roatan and Cozumel all offer first rate diving and snorkeling. There are a lot of excellent independent operators at all three. Good luck and enjoy the cruise.

[dfields1814]

In Sydney on Jan 4th, we left our hotel at noon arrived at the ship at 12:10 and were in our cabin by 12:30. They said not to arrive before 1:00 for a 9:00 pm departure.

[diane.in.ny]

We have a 10 PM departure and was told boarding would start at 1 PM. We'll be at the port around 12:30

[kywildcatfanone]

I know that the official time for boarding is 1pm-4pm but how early can you actually get on the ship? We keen to board as early as possible but don't want to hang around for hours if they don't board until 1pm. Recent experiences please.

 

Typically at FLL, boarding begins between 11:30-12. If you want to board as early as possible, you should probably be there around 11am.

 

Mike

[Puckhog]

At, FLL what would be the quickest time to get on the ship if I didn't need to be one of the first on board.....when do the lines die down?

[Pia1913]

I know that the official time for boarding is 1pm-4pm but how early can you actually get on the ship? We keen to board as early as possible but don't want to hang around for hours if they don't board until 1pm. Recent experiences please.

 

We were in our cabin before noon. Crown; January 23rd. Yes, we had priority boarding, but the early arrivals started boarding the same time we did, just through another door.

[billet]

At, FLL what would be the quickest time to get on the ship if I didn't need to be one of the first on board.....when do the lines die down?

On a normal embarkation things get pretty peaceful after 2:30 in Fort Lauderdale.

[Cruise Gypsy]

We have been onboard and to our cabin before noon about 3 times - most of the time we board between noon and 1pm.

 

And then there the nightmare boarding in Vancouver - didn't get onboard until 7pm and we were scheduled to leave port at 4pm, clearly that didn't happened. Now we gauge a good or bad embarkation experience based on that experience.:D

[bjs323x]

We were on the Crown last week. We boarded at 11:45 am

[Pia1913]

We have been onboard and to our cabin before noon about 3 times - most of the time we board between noon and 1pm.

 

And then there the nightmare boarding in Vancouver - didn't get onboard until 7pm and we were scheduled to leave port at 4pm, clearly that didn't happened. Now we gauge a good or bad embarkation experience based on that experience.:D

 

Interesting that you mentioned Vancouver, since we were there in September and in transit. We spent a great day in town, but had quite a hassle trying to get back on to the ship. We will be there again this September too, and have no intention of getting off.

[napunani]

November 2009 in LA we arrived at the cruise terminal at 11am, but the check-in counters were closed, but opened at 1130am. The crowd was thin and we were checked-in and onto the ship prior to noon.

[caribill]

Interesting that you mentioned Vancouver, since we were there in September and in transit. We spent a great day in town, but had quite a hassle trying to get back on to the ship. We will be there again this September too, and have no intention of getting off.

 

What sort of hassle? Obviously you should have been able to reboard anytime after boarding started. What happened?

[chasetf]

I was just on the Sapphire Jan 16th - Jan 23. We got to the port in San Pedro early. We were there about 10:30 and flew threw the check in paperwork. We were handed a number 1 ticket and sat in the terminal like area waiting to board. Unfortunately the ship came in about an hour later than normal so they did not allow embarkation until about 12-12:20 (can't remember exact time). The people doing back to back cruises and the people with "early embarkation perk" were already boarding by 10:45. So I've read quite a few people say that you can usually get on the ship around 11:30 or so but we had to wait a while longer because the ship didn't make it to port exactly on time.

We did the 2 Jan Sapphire. We arrived about 11:30, got right through registration.... then were escorted into a holding room for Platium / Elite and were in the first group. It was past noon before we got aboard. There were not too many of us, so I imagine the gold and blue cards were right behind us.