Getting an early boarding number at the NYC terminal for Breakaway?

[Jezo]

We are interested in getting a Vibe pass but not sure about how getting an early boarding number works for non Haven/Suite/Casino/VIP folks.

 

Every other time I have been there, including once we showed up for the Gem before the terminal was even letting people in, they just put you in a line and it's the luck of the draw depending on what check in person takes you at the counter, you could end up with 6, you could end up with 26. Is there any method to get an earlier boarding number so we can quickly get to the guest services desk before the Vibe sells out?

[momoftwinteens]

On my cruise this past August, the person checking us in forgot to give us a boarding number. I didn't realize it until we had been sitting for a while. I went up to the lady who was going to be taking the boarding numbers and told her. She put her fingers to her lips and handed me a card with boarding group 1 on it.

 

You never know, I guess!

[esm54687]

NCL now uses a "check-in" time that you choose when completing your on-line document stuff.... NCL cautions you about arriving before your "check-in" and that you will be asked to wait until your time. The "check-in" is when you receive ship credentials, show passport, etc and not the boarding time.

 

I guess you can roll the dice and arrive early to see if they will allow you to check-in early but I just wanted to caution you about the new procedure.

 

My experience has been hit or miss with boarding numbers and it does seem to be who actually hands them to you. I have had two women standing next to each other handing the cards out to the same stream of customers in the same line and the groups have been 14 apart.

 

There is a pecking order concerning the group numbers like you mentioned so getting a low group number without being part of Lattitude, Haven, Casino, etc is a challenge

Edited February 25, 2016 by esm54687

[janetz]

We sailed with our friends and put down arrival time of 10:30. We had boarding number 7 and they had 17. Go figure. 😳

[Jezo]

So in NY it's all just luck?

 

Might as well put my Vibe dreams away now then, will be easier than being let down once we get on board.