Boarding Time

[JManGSC]

Getting ready for the Harmony Transtlantic (our first) in late October out of Barcelona. What is the earliest we will be able to board?

 

Trying to plan our morning/day to squeeze as much out of Barcelona but thinking of embarking if early enough and then hopping off the ship for some last minute sightseeing.

[Clarea]

When we have done transatlantics from Barcelona, we've been able to board between 11am and 11:30am.

[Paulxyz2004]

If you are trying to put as much Sightseeing as possible into that morning / day, why waste time with going to the port check-in and board, just to go back into town. Save yourself the time of going back and forth and just get there later in the day.

[ozscot01]

Can you actually disembark after boarding on the first day? It's not like a regular port day with the gangways open to come and go as you please. Just curious here.

[Mark_K]

Keep in mind that if you check in that early, your room won't be ready so you will be schlepping your carry on bags with you.

 

Couldn't you just stop by the pier, drop off the bags you're checking and go sightsee without checking in?

Edited July 23, 2016 by Mark_K

[Paulxyz2004]

Can you actually disembark after boarding on the first day? It's not like a regular port day with the gangways open to come and go as you please. Just curious here.

 

Mostly yes, with the exception for People on a B2B they can get off early, but then they can´t get back on until the ship has made their Zero Count and allows People back on. So this would be the time window between the last Pax leaving and them escorting the B2B cruisers off and back on.

[JManGSC]

Thanks, everyone for your advice. We may end up storing our bags at the hotel while we do some last minute hopping around town and then proceed to the ship. The only reason we were looking to board early was to handle some onboard reservations, etc. before it was slammed later in the day. But we'll play it by ear and likely just board early afternoon.

 

See you all on board!

[aviator1945]

The only reason we were looking to board early was to handle some onboard reserva tions, etc. before it was slammed later in the day.

 

A good deal of the onboard reservations can be done by using the Cruise Planner:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/cruiseEnhancements.do?cS=NAVBAR&pnav=4&snav=8

 

In particular, it's a good idea to sort out the dinner and entertainment reservations that way.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[CGinMTL]

If you are trying to put as much Sightseeing as possible into that morning / day, why waste time with going to the port check-in and board, just to go back into town. Save yourself the time of going back and forth and just get there later in the day.

 

I agree, when in Barcelona, checked out early but left our bags at the hotel for the morning. We got out early the day of embarkation, was able to do one loop of the hop-on ( did not hop off) and went back to hotel to pick up our bags and then went to the ship.

[JManGSC]

Great input, everyone. Thanks much. The only reason we were looking to board early was to handle our specialty dining package reservations which we can't do online prior to the cruise. But even with that in mind, I think we'll just check our bags at the hotel & board early afternoon.