What does boarding look like at Southampton?

[Flo71]

First time on Princess. With P&O you are given a laminate card with a letter on it as you go into the terminal building. You move to the check in desks when your letter is called.

 

Is this the same / similar to Princess?

 

We are staying in Southampton the night before and planning to arrive at the terminal around 11am.

[JEH]

Princess uses a brand new terminal for check in and the staff is very efficient. Checked in on 6/2 and was in cabin within 25 minutes..

[sparky-elpaso]

Sounds like what we did. There was lots of seating and updates on waiting times, etc. were given frequently. I don't remember how long we had to wait but everything moved along quite quickly and once we were checked in it was just "follow the crowd" for boarding the ship.

 

It was our first Princess cruise and I was favorably impressed.

[WatchHill]

We sailed out of the new terminal on the Royal on May 9th. A friend drove us to the port; we pulled up to the curb where porters immediately took our checked luggage and were directed to walk ahead to the main building. It was about noon when we arrived. Up one flight on the escalator and were directed to fill out the customary health form - that seemed to be the only poorly organized location as too many passengers were crossing on front of each other and between the check-in lines to find a spot to write on. Really not that big of a glitch, but one the check-in staff seemed to be trying to move along smoothly.

 

I did see large groups sitting in the terminal, holding numbers for whatever reason.

 

We were directed to one of the counters within a few minutes, presented our passports, and given our cards. Short walk toward security [very well organized & thorough] moving quickly. Once we re-checked that we had all of our carry-on items, we walked along the outer perimeter of the terminal toward the boarding ramps for the ship.

 

This was the first cruise of the season for the Royal out of Southampton and staff appeared to have things well under control.

 

Darcy

[Flo71]

It is the Royal will be going on in a few weeks out of Southampton.

 

I was hoping if we get there around 11 they should have just started boarding or be about to.

[Shogun]

Hi

 

Think you will find check in is the same, may well spot same staff,

 

Monday Princess Badge

 

Tuesday P&O

 

Wednesday Cunard

 

etc

 

yours Shogun

[Flo71]

Hi

 

Think you will find check in is the same, may well spot same staff,

 

Monday Princess Badge

 

Tuesday P&O

 

Wednesday Cunard

 

etc

 

yours Shogun

 

Thank you :)

Edited June 21, 2015 by Flo71

[mpkent2002]

We were on the Royal with you on June 2 to 14. How did you like it? I thought the ship lovely but way too big.

[aquilegia]

When I've checked in with Princess at Southampton previously it's been at the Ocean terminal and it's been like the OP suggested; get given a numbered card, go and sit down and go to check in when your group is called. Our cruise a few weeks ago was from Mayflower terminal and they did it the other way round: check in straight away then get given a card and sit down to wait to be called to the ship. I preferred it this way, there were no queues for check in and once they started boarding at 12pm the groups were called very quickly.

[KONA VILLAGE KID]

We sailed on the Royal June 2nd. Arrived about 11 am expecting to wait, but almost never stopped on check-in and were in our cabin before 11:30. Platinum expedited.

[insidecabin]

Royal P normally uses Ocean Terminal, the move to Mayflower Terminal on the 2nd June was due to bad weather.

 

Ocean Terminal layout has changed since last year, security has moved.

 

The format on the 21st May was check in then wait by card No, for security.

 

If you have priority then there is a separate security line so no need to wait.