?What time does boarding start for a 5:00 sail on Grandeur OTS out of Tampa?

[lifesabeachbum]

Is there a "non peak" time to board that's not too early and not too late? How late is too late?

 

Thanks, in advance! :(

[referee]

We were onboard by about 11:30 am, and there were many people already on the ship. I believe that the latest time to board is 3:30 pm

[wmjrdn]

On February 6, my wife and I arrived at the port at 11:21, dropped our car off with the valet. The porter took our bags and we walked to the checkin. The checkin process was less than 2 minutes and we boarded the ship at 11:32 -- 11 minutes total from turning left into the port from channelside.

[andrzej5914]

We arrived at 10:45, checked in, had a juice and cookie downstairs, walked upstairs and just as were getting close to the jetway or shipway :) they announced the start of boarding. We were the first ones on the ship. I thought we would get a welcoming bottle of wine for being first but no such luck. ;)

Anyways we got to the pool bar and had our first drink at ~11:15.

[andrzej5914]

There is more to the story.

 

They do lock all the hallway doors until 1pm.

 

But as I was walking around the deck, I stumbled upon opened door that had stairs going down. Curious only because it was in the back of the ship, I walked down to eight deck and came out just about 3 doors from where our aft cabin was located. Looked around, nobody there, I tried the key and sure enough the door unlocked. Walked in and made sure it was prepped for us. It was, and included a bottle of wine in a bucket of ice from our TA. Walked back upstairs, grabbed my SO and few minutes later we were enjoying a glass of chilled Chard on our balcony. It was probably ~noon.

 

Not saying that this will happen again but I think it's a cute little story.