Dawn Boarding Process

[janetz]

First on NCL from Boston. What time do they start boarding and are we allowed to go right to our cabin? Thanks ahead. :)

[ninkb]

. . . available at 2pm, according to literature I received from NCL today. Someone else suggested 11am for check in. From past cruises, experience teaches that FLEXIBILITY is the key word during embarkation. So much depends upon pier conditions/customs clearing /disembarking guests . . .etc.

[janetz]

Yes, most say 2 but it is always a few hours earlier. ;) The earliest we have gotten on a ship was on the Oasis. 11am

[VideoTech]

First on NCL from Boston. What time do they start boarding and are we allowed to go right to our cabin? Thanks ahead. :)

 

Can't give you specifics for Boston, but the process at most ports is the same. I have never known the cabins to be available much before 1:00 pm, more generally it is around 2pm. You are not encouraged to go to your cabin before then, but we have gone and dropped our carry-on's in the room, then gone to lunch. If you do that, it's a good idea to make sure the cabin attendants know what you're doing, so they don't think the bags have been left behind by the previous occupants.

 

Here's the official word from the NCL website:

Arrival at the Cruise Terminal:

For your comfort and convenience, we recommend that guests who have not completed their Online Check-In arrive at the cruise terminal no later than two (2) hours prior to the scheduled embarkation time printed on your cruise documents. Guests who have completed their Online Check-In should arrive at the terminal no later than one (1) hour prior to the scheduled embarkation time printed on your cruise documents. We STRONGLY recommend guests complete their Online Check-In at least four (4) days prior to sailing.

 

Final Boarding Time:

In order to facilitate the embarkation process and the processing of your eDocs, and to comply with new government regulations governing departure manifest, all guests are required to complete Online Check-In at least one day prior to sailing and must complete check-in at the cruise terminal and be onboard the ship no later than one hour prior to the departure time noted on their cruise documents or they will not be permitted to sail. Please note guests who have not filled out their Online Check-In must arrive at port two (2) hours prior to sailing.

[signora]

We have gotten on soon after 11--had lunch, relaxed--got the cruise going! Who needs to be in the room?

[janetz]

Dropping off a carryon is the reason I ask about the cabin. Of course I don't want to be in my cabin. :)

[cruiser1955a]

We sailed the Spirit out of Boston last September. We arrived at 11:00, checked in immediately (no big crowd yet). Went to Windows restaurant for a nice sit-down lunch (avoiding the rush to the buffet, where they try to steer you). After lunch, we walked the ship to get our bearings. By 1:30 they announced that rooms were ready. Carry on bags could be dropped off in the casino, if you didn't want to lug them around while you waited for room (not sure if they offer this on Dawn). We never felt as though we were "waiting" for the room to be ready, because the sit-down lunch and tour of the ship filled that time perfectly. If it was any longer, we would have just stopped for a cocktail to pass some more time.

 

I'm sure the timing varies on each cruise, but remember to go to whatever sit-down restaurant is open. You'll get a nice peaceful lunch, in a mostly empty restaurant, and it helps pass more time than going to the "welcome aboard buffet". You can check out the buffet on your tour after lunch.

 

Relax and enjoy !

[janetz]

We sailed the Spirit out of Boston last September. We arrived at 11:00, checked in immediately (no big crowd yet). Went to Windows restaurant for a nice sit-down lunch (avoiding the rush to the buffet, where they try to steer you). After lunch, we walked the ship to get our bearings. By 1:30 they announced that rooms were ready. Carry on bags could be dropped off in the casino, if you didn't want to lug them around while you waited for room (not sure if they offer this on Dawn). We never felt as though we were "waiting" for the room to be ready, because the sit-down lunch and tour of the ship filled that time perfectly. If it was any longer, we would have just stopped for a cocktail to pass some more time.

 

I'm sure the timing varies on each cruise, but remember to go to whatever sit-down restaurant is open. You'll get a nice peaceful lunch, in a mostly empty restaurant, and it helps pass more time than going to the "welcome aboard buffet". You can check out the buffet on your tour after lunch.

 

Relax and enjoy !

 

 

Thank you. :) We usually skip the buffet anyways.

[gail-s]

We'll be leaving on the Dawn out of Boston this summer. Since we're not flying, is there a place where we drop off our luggage at the dock to have it delivered to the room later?

[cruiser1955a]

We'll be leaving on the Dawn out of Boston this summer. Since we're not flying, is there a place where we drop off our luggage at the dock to have it delivered to the room later?

 

You can check your bags just inside the terminal, just a few feet from the curb. It will be dropped off outside your cabin door between 2-4pm. You don't need to carry any bags on, unless you want to bring some things in a carry-on that you'll need before your luggage arrives.

[Capecruisemate]

They generally need time to turn the cabins around. The prior cruisers in the cabin do not have to disembark until 9 or 10- they really need the time to clean and prep 25 cabins or so. We generally check in with a carry on bag. We get on the ship, get our bearings and head up to the buffet. The early bird catches the worm, is my motto. Once onboard...we ARE on vacation. We go to the cabin after they make the announcement (about 1/2 hour afterwards)- there is usually a mad dash to get into the cabins. We just keep relaxing, and stroll to the cabin later. Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise. We used to live in the Berkshires, back in the 80's.