Dawn Boarding issues in Tampa

[che5904]

It has to improve. 3 years in Tampa and 90% of the time everyone cleared and VIP boarding started before noon.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

 

It'll be perfect for ours Jim, I'm bringing my lucky rabbit's foot. ;)

[Grego]

If you have some way of knowing that the departure will be held up, you can certainly wait somewhere on the ship. I don't know if they will open the bars or not during that time, but you typically don't have to get off until 10 am and if the line is really long by that time, I don't think that they will bodily force you to stand in that line.

 

It's not likely they will open any bars or service areas for purchases since they need to close the books and restock area because each voyage is a standalone accounting issue. Even cash sales are suspect due to inventory control.

[Sparkygirl]

I posted on the NCL FB page, NCL replied that it is a temporary problem with customs. We shall see if it improves.

 

I would post the link, but CC doesn't allow any FB links.

 

Welcome to sequestration. Government agencies are dealing with across the board cuts and this is one of the results. If you are unhappy or concerned about your experience contact your federal representatives and express your concerns.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tspeck63]

I will be boarding the Dawn out of Tampa on 1/12/14 and because I have a suite I'm told I have "priority" boarding. Is this true and does it really make a difference to have that? will I have "Priority" getting off the ship as well?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but I have never cruised before.

[time2cruise1]

I will be boarding the Dawn out of Tampa on 1/12/14 and because I have a suite I'm told I have "priority" boarding. Is this true and does it really make a difference to have that? will I have "Priority" getting off the ship as well?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but I have never cruised before.

 

 

You will gave both. Once you clear security with everyone else there will be a VIP checkin line and waiting area. VIP guests will be escorted onboard before general boarding starts.

 

The concierge will arrange your disembarkation and get you to the front of the line on the ship. Once in the terminal you will join the lines with everyone else to clear Customs and Immigration.

[DCP]

This is our first time being a **VIP** and I was wondering how that all worked. The lines are to get IN to the customs area, not once you're cleared, correct? (I apologize, I am just trying to get it all straight before we get there on the 8th) This is also our first time out of Tampa - just want to make sure we make the situation as easy as we can. (we got the call to not show up before 1 pm also, but that was before we were upgraded to the suite)

[DGP1111]

A few pictures from onboard Norwegian Dawn during the November 24 debarkation . . .

 

 

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[che5904]

A few pictures from onboard Norwegian Dawn during the November 24 debarkation . . .

 

 

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Thanks Don, so these massive lines start on the ship? That's good because it then gives choices (if you don't have a flight to catch). If I see a line up like above, I can just go back and relax by the pool until it's closer to the "you must be off the ship" time.

 

I'll just make sure my travel mug is filled with coffee, since everything onboard will be closed.

 

I will be doing my fellow passengers that must get off at a certain time a favor, since that will be 2 less people in front of them. ;) I always do easy walk off anyway, so my bags will be with me.

 

Looks like I will be on the wrong side of the ship to see this from the comfort of my little balcony, until cabin kick out time :(

Edited December 4, 2013 by che5904

[time2cruise1]

VIP they escort you from Ginza thru mid ship doors to the front of the lines onboard. You still need to deal with the line in the terminal.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

[DGP1111]

VIP they escort you from Ginza thru mid ship doors to the front of the lines onboard. You still need to deal with the line in the terminal.

 

Jim: although that is the plan . . . for this particular sailing (pictured), that process didn't follow "the plan". Priority Peeps had quite an onboard wait as well.

 

But it was (for me) a very enjoyable cruise, so my attitude that morning was, "Hey, I don't have a flight to catch, so it's all good" :)

[Laszlo]

Looks like the same angry group we were in. You guys are lucky, you have the warning. Nobody on our cruise knew what was going on until we were "Off" the ship.

 

They broke us down into two lines, one for the elevator and one for the escalator. With the escalator you needed to have at least one hand free to use it. Most of the people including us were doing "Easy" walk off carrying everything. The building did not seem to have stairs, or at least no one was using them. The elevator held 6-8 people, compared to NYC which holds a good 20-25

[jackparts]

I'm rather curious. I know in your other thread you state that you arrived at the terminal at 10:30am. But what time were you told to be there?

 

I thought on my past cruises that NCL's recommendation was no earlier than noon. Since the passengers on the ship that are disembarking don't have to actually be off the ship until about 10 or 10:30 and would still have to go through customs.

 

I do know that you are told to be there after 11:30. I also know that noon is not 3pm. I think 95 % of cruisers cannot be patient enough to arrive at 11:30 or noon. Do not believe me? Look at every cruiseport and see how many people get there before 1 pm.

As far as what I expected, IF NCL did pickup extra passengers as their staff indicated, they should have called, messaged me or texted. They asked for my phone number and address and I don't think I am getting a Christmas card from NCL. This is not the first cruise for NCL so someone should have figured out over the two day sailing that the line would be living he.. time wise and notified us. Or they gave me a line of BS.

[DGP1111]

. . . They broke us down into two lines, one for the elevator and one for the escalator. With the escalator you needed to have at least one hand free to use it. . .

 

Which created one very interesting scenario while I was in the building, waiting for the escalator.

 

The escalator lead to a waiting queue for the passport checker peeps, and when that backed up, so did the escalator - - Literally.

 

People could not get off, so that had to start back-stepping (yes, with their luggage) up the down escalator. That is until the one person fell, and took out several others. :eek:

 

Suddenly we got the directive, "No more escalator. Either take the stairs or wait for the elevator".

 

Considered taking a picture, but that would've been a big NoNo. :o

 

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[Sir_Randy]

Just looked at the Tampa webcam, and it appears that as soon as someone gets in line they move forward. Hope they have the disembarking issue resolved and will be able to board early.

[gaylemh]

Just looked at the Tampa webcam, and it appears that as soon as someone gets in line they move forward. Hope they have the disembarking issue resolved and will be able to board early.

 

Could you give me the link for the webcam? I tried to find it but couldn't.

Thanks

[time2cruise1]

Could you give me the link for the webcam? I tried to find it but couldn't.

Thanks

 

It is in post 3 of this thread ;)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

[Sir_Randy]

WOW! Just checked the port cam and the Dawn is still sitting there!!!

[debnjoe1438]

WOW! Just checked the port cam and the Dawn is still sitting there!!!

 

She's moving:)

[bakerintn]

Which created one very interesting scenario while I was in the building, waiting for the escalator.

 

The escalator lead to a waiting queue for the passport checker peeps, and when that backed up, so did the escalator - - Literally.

 

People could not get off, so that had to start back-stepping (yes, with their luggage) up the down escalator. That is until the one person fell, and took out several others. :eek:

 

Suddenly we got the directive, "No more escalator. Either take the stairs or wait for the elevator".

 

Considered taking a picture, but that would've been a big NoNo. :o

 

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When we disembarked using the escalator, their was a person at the top of the escalator that controlled access to it until there was space at the bottom for the next group of 10. Sounds like they did not do that this time, and caused even more problems. These are port terminal workers that are working for a contractor for the various cruise lines, not NCL direct employees. (Just like those who check you in).

[DGP1111]

I wish I could recall the actual dates (which might have already passed - - I can't remember from that earlier online chatter), but a similar situation could potentially happen for the Norwegian Breakaway sailing(s) that originate in New York, but pick up a few passengers to begin their own 7-nt cruise starting from Port Canaveral.

 

Aaack! I'd hate to see that debarkation challenge happening on that ship . . . and in New York. Yowza! :eek:

 

Or, perhaps, it actually wouldn't matter since both embarkation/debarkation stops are in the US. Makes my head start to hurt a bit.

 

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[Laszlo]

I wish I could recall the actual dates (which might have already passed - - I can't remember from that earlier online chatter), but a similar situation could potentially happen for the Norwegian Breakaway sailing(s) that originate in New York, but pick up a few passengers to begin their own 7-nt cruise starting from Port Canaveral.

 

Aaack! I'd hate to see that debarkation challenge happening on that ship . . . and in New York. Yowza! :eek:

 

Or, perhaps, it actually wouldn't matter since both embarkation/debarkation stops are in the US. Makes my head start to hurt a bit.

 

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But at least in NYC they have about a dozen customs people

[DGP1111]

But at least in NYC they have about a dozen customs people

 

Yep, probably true dat! ;) . ;)

 

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[Sir_Randy]

Looks like they may have resolved the dressmaking issues, not hope the boarding goes well?

Checked the web cam at around 9 and saw a steady stream of peeps walking away from the building.

This was a post by a cruiser from this AM:

"We were priority and were off the ship by 8 am. I think they have the issues taken care of. They are now making all non us citizens go to the stardust theater to clear them so it wont back up the lines at customs."

[Sir_Randy]

Looks like they may have resolved the dressmaking issues, not hope the boarding goes well?

Checked the web cam at around 9 and saw a steady stream of peeps walking away from the building.

This was a post by a cruiser from this AM:

"We were priority and were off the ship by 8 am. I think they have the issues taken care of. They are now making all non us citizens go to the stardust theater to clear them so it wont back up the lines at customs."

Spell check got me: .....the dressmaking issues... should be the disembarking issues...

[Sir_Randy]

Just checked the web cam, and it looks like peeps walking around the deck pulling luggage, sweet!