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Will someone explain how arriving at port works these days?


mama_2_boys
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On 2/13/2019 at 7:32 AM, elcuchio24 said:

 

You MAY be able to sneak on early, but oftentimes they will not let you check in until your assigned time. So, you risk a very real possibility of getting there early and then waiting around for hours in the terminal. If you want to get there early and hop right on, I would suggest FTTF, if its available. 

 

Where can you find your "assigned time?"

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Does anyone know how strict Baltimore port is?  We are assigned a 2:00 check-in, but will have to check out of our hotel by 11:00. Not sure how to kill that much time, since we are relying on the hotel's shuttle to get us to the port.

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3 minutes ago, jomoin said:

Does anyone know how strict Baltimore port is?  We are assigned a 2:00 check-in, but will have to check out of our hotel by 11:00. Not sure how to kill that much time, since we are relying on the hotel's shuttle to get us to the port.

You might want to ask this on the Baltimore board for more responses.

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2 hours ago, K&RCurt said:

I agree, with FTTF it doesn't matter what your assigned time is, you can check in any time after checkin begins.  When we have FTTF we typically select a boarding time around 12:30 - 1:00, so as to leave the earlier time slots to folks who do not have FTTF and want to check in earlier.

 

One thing to consider, when a cruise gets delayed for any number of reasons, Carnival has frequently gone strictly by check-in appointments (3 hours later, for example) with no priority boarding for anyone. So if you select a later boarding time, you may end up not getting on the ship until later than planned, assuming you bought FTTF to get on the ship early. 

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14 hours ago, LuckyStar said:

You choose that time when you do your check in online.  We were able to choose it after we made final payment.  

 

You don't have to be paid in full to choose a check in time.  Checking in can be done at 90 days before the cruise date.  Final payment is usually 60 days before final payment.  Once you check in online, you can do everything but see and print your boarding passes.  Once you are paid in full, then you can see and print the boarding passes.  Luggage tags can be printed as soon as you check in.

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16 hours ago, K&RCurt said:

I agree, with FTTF it doesn't matter what your assigned time is, you can check in any time after checkin begins.� When we have FTTF we typically select a boarding time around 12:30 - 1:00, so as to leave the earlier time slots to folks who do not have FTTF and want to check in earlier.

 

And then do you show up early?

 

Selecting a later time and showing up early just puts you there along with the ones that nabbed that earlier time. Now if all priority do this aren't you just doubling the number of people showing up in the early time slots?

Why don't people just select the time they are planning on being there? The system was put in place for a reason. Thinning the crowds.

Edited by Bookbug53
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1 hour ago, Bookbug53 said:

 

And then do you show up early?

 

Selecting a later time and showing up early just puts you there along with the ones that nabbed that earlier time. Now if all priority do this aren't you just doubling the number of people showing up in the early time slots?

Why don't people just select the time they are planning on being there? The system was put in place for a reason. Thinning the crowds.

 

If you have FTTF it doesnt matter....by picking a time your just 'checking the box' to complete the rez, but they know you have FTTF and can arrive whenever you choose. 

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3 hours ago, RWolver672 said:

 

You don't have to be paid in full to choose a check in time.  Checking in can be done at 90 days before the cruise date.  Final payment is usually 60 days before final payment.  Once you check in online, you can do everything but see and print your boarding passes.  Once you are paid in full, then you can see and print the boarding passes.  Luggage tags can be printed as soon as you check in.

Picking our check in time was not an available option for us before final payment, which was 90 days before the cruise.  And I stay on top of this.   

Edited by LuckyStar
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39 minutes ago, LuckyStar said:

Picking our check in time was not an available option for us before final payment, which was 90 days before the cruise.  And I stay on top of this.   

 

That's odd because everyone else can choose their check in time before final payment.  Were you under final payment date when you booked your cruise?

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On 2/15/2019 at 7:00 AM, Bookbug53 said:

 

And then do you show up early?

 

Selecting a later time and showing up early just puts you there along with the ones that nabbed that earlier time. Now if all priority do this aren't you just doubling the number of people showing up in the early time slots?

Why don't people just select the time they are planning on being there? The system was put in place for a reason. Thinning the crowds.

Yes we show up as soon as boarding opens. 

 

That is one of the things that buying FTTF allows you to do. 

 

The Carnival system forces you to choose a time.  I choose a less popular time under the assumption that since they  haven't figured out how to eliminate picking a time if you have FTTF, they likely include FTTF people in their capacity control limits on each time slot.

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On 2/13/2019 at 8:35 AM, mama_2_boys said:

When does online check in normally open?

We also just booked our first cruise for Sept 30-Oct 5.  We downloaded Carnival's "hub" app and it says that check-in for our cruise will be available on July 2, so 90 days before we cruise.

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On ‎2‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 10:07 AM, LuckyStar said:

Picking our check in time was not an available option for us before final payment, which was 90 days before the cruise.  And I stay on top of this.   

You are able to complete your documents online and choose your check-in time 90 days in advance. In your case, this apparently coincided with your  final payment date. 

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