Southampton Staggered boarding

[newport dave]

It's just been posted on an independent Princess Facebook page by a member of the Check in staff at Southampton, that from this season 2014, they WILL be implementing the staggered boarding process. This is in readiness for next year 2015 when they start to have P&O Britannia, Royal Princess, Anthem if the Seas & NCL Epic regularly docking in Southampton at the same time. They were told to start turning away passengers who arrived earlier than their allocated time. You will still be able to drop of your luggage early, just not check in. Even Platinum & Elites have to abide by the allocated times, they will just be given priority check in and boarding at their allocated times.<br />

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[Pink-belle]

Yes, I also read that report about the pre season meeting with interest. There are a couple of things about it that don't sound quite right, but we obviously do not have all the details.

 

One of the reasons given was to ease traffic into the port, which I took to mean a more consistent flow, but if you are still allowed to drop off your luggage and park your car how would that work? If they are, as was reported, then going to ask you to leave and head back to Southampton city centre and West Quay, there would be a need for taxis to be at the port, passengers coming and going twice would increase the traffic.

 

I understand why they might want to implement staggered boarding, but for it to have any chance of succeeding they would have to make boarding early less attractive, so those with later boarding times don't feel they are missing out.

 

It will be interesting to read peoples experiences over the summer. Bad news could be even more people after the Caribe deck balconies!

[Kinkacruiser]

Yes, I also read that report about the pre season meeting with interest. There are a couple of things about it that don't sound quite right, but we obviously do not have all the details.

 

One of the reasons given was to ease traffic into the port, which I took to mean a more consistent flow, but if you are still allowed to drop off your luggage and park your car how would that work? If they are, as was reported, then going to ask you to leave and head back to Southampton city centre and West Quay, there would be a need for taxis to be at the port, passengers coming and going twice would increase the traffic.

 

I understand why they might want to implement staggered boarding, but for it to have any chance of succeeding they would have to make boarding early less attractive, so those with later boarding times don't feel they are missing out.

 

It will be interesting to read peoples experiences over the summer. Bad news could be even more people after the Caribe deck balconies!

 

Do you have any pre-kowledge of the boarding sequence, Pink-belle? You mention C deck balconies ....?

[Bogof1]

Last year cruises out of southampton were using the boarding plan. 12:00 caribe and Dolphin decks, 1:00 lido and riviera, 2:00 A and B decks, 2:30 emerald and plaza decks. I do not know if this will happen 2015 but likely. The problem at the moment in southampton is that they are doing major road works around the dock area especially near the QE2 terminal. This is due to finish within the next 6 to 9 months

[timetravler]

This summer I am taking what is called a cruise bus from London to Southampton. I think it arrives around 1:30pm or so. Princess would not know I'm taking this bus. So how would that work out? I figure on getting on the ship immediately after the bus drops us off.

[CruisinMinnie]

I wonder how this will work for those taking the Princess shuttle?

[Pink-belle]

Do you have any pre-kowledge of the boarding sequence, Pink-belle? You mention C deck balconies ....?

 

Not really, I read the information on another forum, I will copy the information I read below.

 

"RCI, Celebrity & Princess are now checking in pax by deck no so for example Emerald Princess

12pm deck C & D

1pm deck L & R

2pm deck A & B

2.30pm deck E & R

Priority pax must also stick to allocated check in time but will join the fast track line when they arrive.

This decision has been made jointly by the cruise lines, the port authority & Southampton city council."

[leavingocalaagain]

This summer I am taking what is called a cruise bus from London to Southampton. I think it arrives around 1:30pm or so. Princess would not know I'm taking this bus. So how would that work out? I figure on getting on the ship immediately after the bus drops us off.

 

 

The staggered boarding does seem almost counter productive since a large number of people really have no control at when they arrive at the pier!

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[Renmar]

I have the following suggestion (as posted on our roll call) for boarding in Southampton for our cruise in August when we arrive aboard the Princess transfer bus from Heathrow.

 

12pm deck C & D

1pm deck L & R

2pm deck A & B

2.30pm deck E & R

 

Transfer bus arrives at terminal at 11:30am.

On board the bus are passengers for each deck.

 

Caribe & Dolphin decks are boarding right away. (Incl. Platinum & Elite for these decks only) All others are offered free lunch & drinks in local pub to kill the time. :)

 

1:00pm.

Lido & Riviera people are paraded to the ship to board. (Others stay in Pub and have an other wee pint :D)

 

2:00pm.

Aloha & Baja people are dragged from the Pub. (the rest still stay in Pub for an other round :D:D)

 

2:30pm. give or take (We have to finish our drink you know).

The rest is escorted to the ship kicking and screaming (except Platinum & Elite because they have "preferred" boarding and they "prefer" to stay in the Pub until the last moment.;))

 

4:00pm. Platinum & Elite are crawling up the gangplank just before they pull it in

 

We are so lucky, we are platinum and are on the Emerald deck (last one to board)

 

Theo

[DrivesLikeMario]

It makes sailing out of Dover more attractive! I assume they don't have the same problem there?

[AndyTheK]

Has anyone seen anything official from Princess in this regard? We're due to embark on 31 May. I've scrutinized my Personalizer for the cruise, and find:

 

1.We purchased Princess Shuttle transfers from LHR to Southampton (paid dearly for the convenience but worth it to us). The information on the Personalizer specifies meeting the Shuttle at Heathrow "between 9:30 and 10:00 AM" - this implies arrival at the pier in the vicinity of noon.

 

2. Green bar at the top of my boarding pass indicates "PREFERRED BOARDING". Yes, I read the note abouve about Platinum and Elite in the posting above.

 

3. DW uses a Princess-supplied wheelchair with pusher for embarkation. Do you think these nice folk will stand around until 2 PM - our time on the Aloha deck - if there is nobody for one of the "earlier decks" needing the service?

 

4. In truth, we don't need to be first n the ship, since we don't need to reserve Sanctuary space, Chef's Table, or see the maître-d'hotel for anything.

 

Let's see what will actually happen.

 

Shalom, Andy.

[CCFC]

I'm on the same cruise as Newport Dave and Andy and my eTicket just says Check in 12:00pm-3:00pm, no mention of staggered boarding on there or the travel summary.

[newport dave]

I'm on the same cruise as Newport Dave and Andy and my eTicket just says Check in 12:00pm-3:00pm, no mention of staggered boarding on there or the travel summary.

 

I think we may get another email nearer the time with all relevant details. I'm sure we've had them before, but no one ever took any notice.

[Bogof1]

Renmar.....If you really think you can while away the hours in a pub think again. They too far from cruise terminal. Lol . They will only turn you away if there is no waiting room at terminal and that depends on which terminal you travel from. Some have more room than others. If u arrive on princess transport I would imagine whatever deck u on there will not be a problem. As I said in my last post due to the road works taking place southampton has come to a standstill and many cruises have been delayed in leaving due to not being able to get to the terminals. Hope you cruise leaves on a day when only one ship in and not five!

[newport dave]

Five in port on our day 31 May.

[Renmar]

Renmar.....If you really think you can while away the hours in a pub think again. They too far from cruise terminal. Lol . They will only turn you away if there is no waiting room at terminal and that depends on which terminal you travel from. Some have more room than others. If u arrive on princess transport I would imagine whatever deck u on there will not be a problem. As I said in my last post due to the road works taking place southampton has come to a standstill and many cruises have been delayed in leaving due to not being able to get to the terminals. Hope you cruise leaves on a day when only one ship in and not five!

 

I hope you realize that my comment was not mend to be serious. (As a matter of fact not very many people take me serious :rolleyes:)

 

Thanks for the heads up on the port problems. (edit) Ruby is the only one on August 27.

 

Theo

Edited April 26, 2014 by Renmar

[Esprit]

There are 4 ships departing 26 July when we board Emerald so knowing there may be staggered boarding is worth knowing.

 

If it's correct then I'll be very happy with our Caribe deck embarkation time.

[timetravler]

Only one other ship in port the day we embark on the Ruby. It's a Cunard ship. At this point I am not going to worry about it. I am a bit concerned about construction in Southampton. That does not sound good.

[Lynnwood]

Interesting and disturbing discussion! Here’s a few of my thoughts to add into the mix. It’s going to be difficult for people to gauge their arrival time to coincide with the time slots allotted. Allowances must be made for the waterfront traffic disruption caused by the additional roadwork and the normal cruise traffic.

 

We are not really convinced that boarding will be significantly improved? In our experience passengers are allowed to arrive anytime up to the desks closing, this includes the early deck boarding passengers. Most cruise lines don’t open the staterooms before 13:30 and 14:00 hours which is the reason why a great deal of returning passengers decide to arrive after this time. So unless a “boarding time slot” is issued and adhered to, then they are simply moving the problem further back in time, probably until the coaches start to arrive. No one I believe will leave the terminals once they have arrived by car, to do so will mean going back into the waterfront traffic-NOT AN OPTION.

 

Cruise lines and Port authorities, please reconsider and be realistic! Most passengers are not local and are travelling great distances to use your port and have to negotiate many hundreds of miles of motorway, making allowances for traffic along the way, only to be confronted with local waterfront traffic problems and then told by the cruise line to wait around to be boarded. Most of the terminals do not have any facilities to hold waiting passengers prior to check in other than the wait lines themselves. Big problems I feel, Bring on Liverpool!

[tjwa]

Well said.

[seacrystal]

Caribe & Dolphin decks are boarding right away. (Incl. Platinum & Elite for these decks only) All others are offered free lunch & drinks in local pub to kill the time. :)

 

1:00pm.

Lido & Riviera people are paraded to the ship to board. (Others stay in Pub and have an other wee pint :D)

 

2:00pm.

Aloha & Baja people are dragged from the Pub. (the rest still stay in Pub for an other round :D:D)

 

2:30pm. give or take (We have to finish our drink you know).

The rest is escorted to the ship kicking and screaming (except Platinum & Elite because they have "preferred" boarding and they "prefer" to stay in the Pub until the last moment.;))

 

4:00pm. Platinum & Elite are crawling up the gangplank just before they pull it in

 

We are so lucky, we are platinum and are on the Emerald deck (last one to board)

 

Theo

 

 

Love it!!!! Great sense of humor. I hope all this gets straightened out before our cruise in August of 2015!:eek:

[jessybell]

From personal experience in January, it took us 35 minutes to drive to Southampton and a further 2.5 hours to get from the flyover to the far docks where Queen Elizabeth was berthed....it was a nightmare....the congestion was made worse by there being no traffic management around the roadworks and the fact that there were three ships in. I blame Southampton Council for the whole problem...this area is congested at the best of times!

 

I hope things might be easier in August when we attempt to board Emerald.

[Lynnwood]

At the risk of repeating myself "Bring on Liverpool"

[Ethel5]

In all my Princess boardings from various places, Southampton was the worst.:(

[DrivesLikeMario]

and I'll repeat myself too - it makes Dover look much more appealing!