How early should we go to port in Tampa

[FarmerJen]

If the time to embark in Tampa is 1:00, what time should my family arrive for processing? Thanks.

[aliaschief]

On our December MS Ryndam cruise we arrived at the port at 11:00 AM and was on-board at 11:30. Our rooms were ready upon boarding.

 

Have a great cruise.

[jtl513]

We walked into the terminal around 10:45, and checked in right away, but it was 11:55 when we stepped on board. All rooms were ready on boarding. That may be a determining factor now for when boarding starts.

[FarmerJen]

Thanks. One more question then. What time did your boarding passes say to embark? Did you actually show up several hours early?

[aliaschief]

Thanks. One more question then. What time did your boarding passes say to embark? Did you actually show up several hours early?

 

We always disregard the arrival time that is stated on our boarding documents. On every one of our cruises we have arrived at 11:00 and in all cases have been on-board within an hour of arrival.

[Krazy Kruizers]

For our Ryndam cruises we got to the terminal at 10:50 -- got in line -- doors opened at 11 AM.

Got on the ship about 11:40 -- cabins were not ready until nearly 1:30.

[KirkNC]

We have found an 11:00 arrival to work best. We are usually on board by noon, sometime sooner. The documents always say sometime later.

 

Kirk

[RetiredMustang]

For our Ryndam cruises we got to the terminal at 10:50 -- got in line -- doors opened at 11 AM.

 

Got on the ship about 11:40 -- cabins were not ready until nearly 1:30.

 

But you can go to the Lido deck for lunch, or some of the public spaces which are open before the cabins are ready to relax and have a drink, etc. ... you are not stuck from 11:40 to 1:30 in a huge waiting area; you just can't drop your stuff in your cabin until they are ready.

 

(Sorry KK, but OP may not know that you can go around the public areas of the ship until the cabins are ready; just thought I would clarify.)

 

Dave

[FarmerJen]

Thank you all. This will be our third HAL cruise and we are very excited. I know we showed up early for the other two but can't remember exactly how early. I just found on the HAL website that early embarkation is at 11:30. We will try to be there by 11. :)