Crown- Departing Los Angeles Boarding Question

[drisinger]

Re: Calif. Coastal Mar 26, 2016 leaving on Crown from Los Angeles

 

I am traveling with my 85 year old Mom in a wheel chair. We did this exact cruise last year and it was a poor experience boarding because it was PACKED at 12:00. PACKED! I want to go early, but what is early enough to bypass this crowd.

Although boarding states 12:30 PM Start Time, does it/can it actually start earlier than this?

 

1) I am in a Suite so I do get to board first. I have a group of 11 total, so can anyone advise? Should we get there by 11:00am, would that put us in front of the elevator and front curb madness? Wheelchair madness. Does anyone have experience that they may start boarding earlier than the stated 12:30PM?

 

2) How much time should I give myself to park and get to curbside? 1/2 hour enough?

 

3) Is the Michalangelo Dining room always OPEN for lunch upon boarding? It was last cruise for us and it was lovely! Princess representatives will not say one way or another. It is a quiet calm place to start the party IMHO. This cruise is scheduled for a Bon Voyage, which is how I came upon the dining room being open my last California Coastal cruise.

 

I would love a hand here! Anyone have some inside scoop/experience here? I need to cut out any unnecessary stress boarding with my Mom.

Thank you kindly! :)

[Jasperdo]

We always arrive at San Pedro between 10:30 and 11AM. Before I enter the parking lot, I circle around the outside of the lot and drop my wife and luggage at the terminal. There are always porters there to take the luggage. Then I enter the parking lot and park. I'm usually able to park fairly close to the terminal building, because most of the passengers from the previous cruise have left and not many from our cruise have arrived. It's usually about a one or two minute walk from my car to the terminal.

[Astro Flyer]

Re: Calif. Coastal Mar 26, 2016 leaving on Crown from Los Angeles

 

I am traveling with my 85 year old Mom in a wheel chair. We did this exact cruise last year and it was a poor experience boarding because it was PACKED at 12:00. PACKED! I want to go early, but what is early enough to bypass this crowd.

Although boarding states 12:30 PM Start Time, does it/can it actually start earlier than this? I arrive by 10:30, check-in begins by 11:00 and we're usually onboard by noon being at the elite level.

 

1) I am in a Suite so I do get to board first. I have a group of 11 total, so can anyone advise? Should we get there by 11:00am, would that put us in front of the elevator and front curb madness? Wheelchair madness. Does anyone have experience that they may start boarding earlier than the stated 12:30PM? Generally only passengers in the same cabin get the priority check-in benefit which is the same for other priority passengers (elite & platinum) so it's doubtful if your group of 11 will all get priority.

 

2) How much time should I give myself to park and get to curbside? 1/2 hour enough? I'd think that's enough time to drop off passengers & luggage, park & walk to the terminal.

 

3) Is the Michalangelo Dining room always OPEN for lunch upon boarding? It was last cruise for us and it was lovely! Princess representatives will not say one way or another. It is a quiet calm place to start the party IMHO. This cruise is scheduled for a Bon Voyage, which is how I came upon the dining room being open my last California Coastal cruise. It should be open unless it's unavailable due to a special event (they often have a BVE which I think is limited to 50 people & not a special event) although crew will tell you that the buffet is your only option.

 

I would love a hand here! Anyone have some inside scoop/experience here? I need to cut out any unnecessary stress boarding with my Mom.

Thank you kindly! :)

I've posted some information based on my experiences & someone will probably be able to help you with wheelchair info.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Astro Flyer

[Colo Cruiser]

We arrive by 10:30 too.

[shredie]

We always arrive at San Pedro between 10:30 and 11AM. Before I enter the parking lot, I circle around the outside of the lot and drop my wife and luggage at the terminal. There are always porters there to take the luggage. Then I enter the parking lot and park. I'm usually able to park fairly close to the terminal building, because most of the passengers from the previous cruise have left and not many from our cruise have arrived. It's usually about a one or two minute walk from my car to the terminal.

 

Sounds like exactly our experience. I have seen Princess personnel with wheelchairs, looking for takers, so I know a wheelchair is possible.

[ccruisequeen]

We got an email saying the port wouldn't be open until 1, possibly due to filming with Arnold Schwarzenegger. We hoped to get there early via shuttle bus from the Crown Plaza hotel.

 

 

 

I no longer see carnival from my condo front porch :(

[Astro Flyer]

We got an email saying the port wouldn't be open until 1, possibly due to filming with Arnold Schwarzenegger. We hoped to get there early via shuttle bus from the Crown Plaza hotel.

 

If I'm correct that's the cruise sailing on 2/29/16 and the OP is sailing on 3/26/16 so that would not be a factor for her.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Astro Flyer

[!David!]

Board at 2:30 PM no lines, no hassle. Trying to be the first to board at 85 will always be stressful. Younger 75 year olds will be able to race your Mother to the front of the line.

:cool: :cool:

[drisinger]

We got an email saying the port wouldn't be open until 1, possibly due to filming with Arnold Schwarzenegger. We hoped to get there early via shuttle bus from the Crown Plaza hotel.

 

What was the date you received this email notice? I have nothing from Princess on this at all. :confused:

Is this information specifically for March 26 sailing from LA?

 

Goodness, this would be my biggest nightmare. The perfect storm. :(

[Astro Flyer]

What was the date you received this email notice? I have nothing from Princess on this at all. :confused:

Is this information specifically for March 26 sailing from LA?

 

Goodness, this would be my biggest nightmare. The perfect storm. :(

NO...that's for the 2/29/16 cruise from LA. ;)

 

That's the cruise sailing on 2/29/16 and the OP is sailing on 3/26/16 so that would not be a factor for her.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Astro Flyer

[ricksurf]

We have used the wheelchair service many times with an elderly person at the Los Angeles Princess terminal.

First you will need a wheelchair from the curb; so pull up to the entrance door and hail a Princess rep who will call for a wheelchair. The person bringing the wheelchair will escort you via the elevator to the wheelchair check in line. All of the persons staying in the same room with the wheelchair person will be checked in at the disability line.

Since you are staying in a suite then they will give you a boarding pass with Elite/Suite on it. The wheelchair person will then take you trough security then place you in a holding area and seat you. Another Princess rep will have a sign in board and take your name and your Elite boarding card. When they start boarding the ship then ship personnel will show up at the disability area slowly with ship wheelchairs. The Princess Rep with the sign in board will call your name when a wheelchair is available for you. The ship's person will then take you and the people in your stateroom to the boarding ramp and then directly to your room if ready.

With early arrival 11am or so, then this is all somewhat hectic. Some people have offered advice with arriving at 230PM and I agree completely with them since you will probably go right on since more wheelchairs will be available at the curb and at the holding area for the ship's wheelchairs.

If you have your own wheelchair then this solves all these problems since you will go right on without any waiting for the scarce terminal and ship's wheelchairs.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Since you're a large group, I would suggest boarding after 1:30... no fuss.. you can't expect a large group like yours to get priority boarding for all of you. If you board after 1:00, no lunch in the MDR, however, plenty of options available.

 

Have a great cruise!

[aaerobear]

I totally agree with coming later rather than earlier, what a mess Los Angeles terminal is at 11:00 am, when they make the announcement for preferred passengers to start check-in everyone and their brother rushes to line up. Last time it happened to us we were all Elite and about 75th in line, the woman at the head of the line was denying entrance to most of the people as they were not preferred we ended up being the 4th in line at the desks.

 

The biggest complaint I have is when an elite couple want to take 8 or so family members on the ship when the elites are called, and then argue with the boarding personnel.

[!David!]

I totally agree with coming later rather than earlier, what a mess Los Angeles terminal is at 11:00 am, when they make the announcement for preferred passengers to start check-in everyone and their brother rushes to line up. Last time it happened to us we were all Elite and about 75th in line, the woman at the head of the line was denying entrance to most of the people as they were not preferred we ended up being the 4th in line at the desks.

 

The biggest complaint I have is when an elite couple want to take 8 or so family members on the ship when the elites are called, and then argue with the boarding personnel.

 

 

 

And then on the Ship they morph into "Chair Hogs"

 

:cool::cool:

[drisinger]

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions!

We do have our own wheel chair so that simplifies matters AND ALL 11 OF US ARE preferred boarding (suite guests) so there won't be any arguing with the boarding personnel. ;)

It's great having info ahead of time so I will have the least unforseen bumps in the road. I always go in knowing there will be some sort of bump, but I also go in with understanding and patience. :)

You're always going to get a bit of crazy when you mix crowds and rules together!!

Thanks again!

[casavaha]

Re: Calif. Coastal Mar 26, 2016 leaving on Crown from Los Angeles

 

I am traveling with my 85 year old Mom in a wheel chair. We did this exact cruise last year and it was a poor experience boarding because it was PACKED at 12:00. PACKED! I want to go early, but what is early enough to bypass this crowd.

Although boarding states 12:30 PM Start Time, does it/can it actually start earlier than this?

 

1) I am in a Suite so I do get to board first. I have a group of 11 total, so can anyone advise? Should we get there by 11:00am, would that put us in front of the elevator and front curb madness? Wheelchair madness. Does anyone have experience that they may start boarding earlier than the stated 12:30PM?

 

2) How much time should I give myself to park and get to curbside? 1/2 hour enough?

 

3) Is the Michalangelo Dining room always OPEN for lunch upon boarding? It was last cruise for us and it was lovely! Princess representatives will not say one way or another. It is a quiet calm place to start the party IMHO. This cruise is scheduled for a Bon Voyage, which is how I came upon the dining room being open my last California Coastal cruise.

 

I would love a hand here! Anyone have some inside scoop/experience here? I need to cut out any unnecessary stress boarding with my Mom.

Thank you kindly! :)

We were on the Crown a few weeks ago and the Dining room open on embarcation was

the Da Vinci, Deck 6 midship. Do not ask the crew, they either do not know or will send

you to the Lido. I always pick up a copy of the Patter just to make sure.

Greg