Back on board 2 hours before?

[straiightupx]

As I am looking at my itinerary for my NCL cruise and trying to coordinate meeting up with some family in Port Canaveral I noticed on the side of the itinerary it asks all guests to be on board 2 hours before sailing and also says disembarkation doesn't begin until 2 hours after docked. Is this something that is for fact... that would just make it really hard to meet up with family members and before I make any finalized plans I wanted to take this new inconvenience into consideration.

 

Has anyone had any experience with this?

[SeaShark]

As I am looking at my itinerary for my NCL cruise and trying to coordinate meeting up with some family in Port Canaveral I noticed on the side of the itinerary it asks all guests to be on board 2 hours before sailing and also says disembarkation doesn't begin until 2 hours after docked. Is this something that is for fact... that would just make it really hard to meet up with family members and before I make any finalized plans I wanted to take this new inconvenience into consideration.

 

Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

Yes. You need to be onboard 2 hours before sailing. Unless you cruise begins in Port Canaveral, this wouldn't apply as Port Canaveral is a port stop meaning that you will have already sailed before you arrive there.

 

Disembarkation refers to your departing the ship at the end of the cruise...again, this would not apply to a port visit.

[ColinIllinois]

That is referring not to the ports of call but to the embarkation/disembarking at the home port on the first/last days.

[straiightupx]

Okay so if it says we leave the port at 9:30, it's okay to get back on 8:30-9ish?

 

And once were docked at noon, they start letting people get off immediately?

 

Just want to make sure I've got it right.

[ColinIllinois]

Okay so if it says we leave the port at 9:30, it's okay to get back on 8:30-9ish?

 

And once were docked at noon, they start letting people get off immediately?

 

Just want to make sure I've got it right.

 

 

Correct. Just don't leave it too close to sailing. You don't want to be one of those people on YouTube running down the pier as the ship sails away. ;)

[johnql]

Okay so if it says we leave the port at 9:30, it's okay to get back on 8:30-9ish?

 

And once were docked at noon, they start letting people get off immediately?

 

Just want to make sure I've got it right.

At every port stop, there will be a sign as you leave the ship indicating the time that you should be back on board. The same time is also published in the Freestyle Daily. Typically, it's half an hour before sailing time.

 

As for getting off the ship at a port stop, yes, they let people off the ship pretty much immediately after docking.

[sjbdtz]

Okay so if it says we leave the port at 9:30, it's okay to get back on 8:30-9ish?

 

And once were docked at noon, they start letting people get off immediately?

 

Just want to make sure I've got it right.

 

 

You're good except for the 'ish'. Back-on-board is 30 mins prior to sail-away.

 

INITIAL on-board is 2 hours prior to departure (to ensure time for check-in, etc.).

 

 

Clearance, at most ports tends to happen within 20-30 mins of being tied-up at the dock. You may find line-ups waiting to disembark, so don't plan to meet at exactly 12:30.

 

 

In your situation, I'd tell family I could meet from 12:45, but need to be back to the ship by 8:45. You don't want to see yourself on one of the youtube videos running down the pier as the ship sails away. :)

 

 

 

.

[shof515]

the ship may and may not wait for you if you are late. They might wait an extra 5-10 minutes, it is up to the captain. Ships usually leave on time

[dejanewkath]

Thanks everyone. I have been under the perception that I had to be onboard 2 hours early at every port. Good to know!