sailorgirl Posted January 15, 2013 #1 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Experienced cruiser here but a newby on Oceania. Sailing 23 Jan on Riviera. We're in a Penthouse and I notice that our documents show a 12 pm boarding time. The brochures all indicate that suites have priority boarding at 11 am and early baggage delivery as well. What is your experience with this, and need I call T/A or Oceania? Thanks for input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted January 15, 2013 #2 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Experienced cruiser here but a newby on Oceania. Sailing 23 Jan on Riviera. We're in a Penthouse and I notice that our documents show a 12 pm boarding time. The brochures all indicate that suites have priority boarding at 11 am and early baggage delivery as well. What is your experience with this, and need I call T/A or Oceania? Thanks for input. As an experienced cruiser, you will know that it all depends on where the ship is coming from and how quickly she gets through Customs, debarks her passengers and gets cleaned up for your cruise. Once all of that is accomplished the Suites are embarked first, but the exact timing is NEVER written in stone, because the cruise line does not control all of the elements. The pier building is air conditioned and there is seating available near the gangway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted January 15, 2013 #3 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Jim is right (as always) but I have to say that we are almost always in a PH, and the time we've been given has almost always been 11 (but sometimes 1pm). And when we get there at 11, we've had no problems. (We've also had no problems if we don't get there until 4, but that is to be expected. Of course, if we didn't have lunch we are unhappy until dinner!) I'm not sure what your question is, though. Do you have an early morning arrival and want to board as soon as possible? As Jim says, boarding time can be affected by what time the ship was actually cleared, got rid of the departing passengers, and is ready to board the new passengers. Our experience is that whether we arrive at 11am or sometime after noon, our room will NOT be ready. Suites are indeed ready first, but you may well have to wait. If you have things you would want to do in town on that morning (assuming you came in early), then I would suggest that's a good idea. If you are arriving on an early morning flight, well I would just go to the ship and see. The odds are you will board early, be sent to Terrace Cafe for lunch, and they will call you when your suite is ready. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorgirl Posted January 15, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted January 15, 2013 JimandStan - I appreciate your comments and, because I've been lurking on this board recently, I know that you offer expert advice on Oceania. I guess I was actually wondering if there was no point in my showing up for an 11 am embarkation since my docs indicate 12 pm even if things are running on schedule. Do your documents normally show 12 pm departing out of Miami? Also want to thank you for the many great photos you post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorgirl Posted January 15, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Thank you also, Mura. We're North Florida residents, spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale and then parking the car at one of the nearby garages. We have no problem waiting but I'm just excited and can't wait to get on the ship. As simple as that! We love to board early, have lunch and explore the ship, unpack and feel all settled in by departure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted January 15, 2013 #6 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Then I would say just go to the ship as soon as you can. We have never had a problem doing so ... and she is a lovely ship (although we haven't been on her yet -- we've been on Marina once and have two more booked, but no Riviera as yet). I happen to enjoy getting on board early and going to Terrace for lunch until our room is ready. And if you finish lunch early, pile your hand luggage in the corner (as many do) and take a tour of the ship. On our first Renaissance cruise on the R2 (now Regatta) we boarded relatively early and they gave us an option of an official tour of the ship, which took us into lots of areas we normally don't see. I particularly remember the kitchens. (This was back in October 1999.) Later on these tours were discontinued but I do wish they'd return! Get on board early if that's what you want to do. The odds are there won't be a problem. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted January 15, 2013 #7 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Are you in a PH suite or one of the upper suites? Maybe they stagger the boarding so not all the PH suite people show up at once In any case have a nice breakfast & a leisurely drive to the port maybe split the difference & come at 11:30pm Enjoy Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorgirl Posted January 15, 2013 Author #8 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Penthouse. I was just going by what was published in the brochures. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durante Posted January 16, 2013 #9 Share Posted January 16, 2013 We had a PH suite on Riviera on the Jan 3 cruise and our brochure also stated boarding time 12pm. We showed up at 11 and boarded nearly straight away. The PH suites were all ready to access at 1pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorgirl Posted January 16, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Thanks, Durante. That's good to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted January 16, 2013 #11 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Thank you also, Mura. We're North Florida residents, spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale and then parking the car at one of the nearby garages. We have no problem waiting but I'm just excited and can't wait to get on the ship. As simple as that! We love to board early, have lunch and explore the ship, unpack and feel all settled in by departure. Im concerned as to why you are spending the night in FLL when the ship leaves from Port of Miami..?? Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonid Posted January 16, 2013 #12 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Im concerned as to why you are spending the night in FLL when the ship leaves from Port of Miami..??Jancruz1 We do the same thing when we fly into FLL instead of MIA. Much prefer the Embassy Suites in Ft. Lauderdale. We get a limo to take us to the ship and back to FLL for the flight home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marebear Posted January 16, 2013 #13 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Im concerned as to why you are spending the night in FLL when the ship leaves from Port of Miami..??Jancruz1 Jan, I've spent the morning trying to find a hotel in Miami for the March 4th cruise. We are arriving in Miami on the 2nd and all of the nearby hotels with the exception of the Marriott are sold out. Shari gave me the info on the Marriott and we are now booked with them!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted January 16, 2013 #14 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Jan, I've spent the morning trying to find a hotel in Miami for the March 4th cruise. We are arriving in Miami on the 2nd and all of the nearby hotels with the exception of the Marriott are sold out. Shari gave me the info on the Marriott and we are now booked with them!!! Nice hotel, I have stayed there!! Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted January 16, 2013 #15 Share Posted January 16, 2013 We do the same thing when we fly into FLL instead of MIA. Much prefer the Embassy Suites in Ft. Lauderdale. We get a limo to take us to the ship and back to FLL for the flight home. Leonoid, I completely understand but the way sailorgirl worded her post, I was concerned she thought the ship left from FLL Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorgirl Posted January 16, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Just visiting friends in that area that evening. And we'll have plenty of time to make the drive down to Miami the next morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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