Breakaway: how is embarkation in NOLA?

[AdoraBelle]

Most of my cruises have been out of Miami or PC. I also know that things in NOLA often run on a different schedule. 

 

Still, seeing some embarkation horror stories. Anyone have any tips? We will be arriving via taxi from the airport. 

 

We we will be in Haven for this trip. I see some reviews stating there is no priority boarding in NOLA. Are those people misinformed? 

[HouNew2Cruise]

Yes, there is priority boarding.   They have lines for haven.  Just tell them when you walk in past security 

[YVRBassElectric]

We arrived about 11am, Haven has separate security screening and check - in (stay right after the metal detector, pass the alcohol collection table) - embarkation took about 30 minutes.

disembarkation was a nightmare, people arrived before 9am for the next cruise, staff trying to direct passengers & having to ask if the are leaving or arriving, port isn’t large!

[newmexicoNita]

Embarkation, for us at NOLA has always been fine, debarkation a total nightmare 

[pete_coach]

As others have said, embarkation seemed to be just fine for us too. No long waits but getting off the ship is a disaster. It seemed the port authorities were just not ready or several of them decided to take the day off. The taxi area is even more of a disaster....people coming by taxi to get on the ship and people trying to get taxis to get to their destinations and only one or 2 staff directing the entire operation (and of course, folks not listening to the staff and getting in front of others with luggage and causing  huge mess. Even the cabbies were yelling at each other.....a mess in a small area.

[Georgia_Peaches]

We had no issues with either embarkation or debarkation.  We were in the Haven as well.  There were lots of people in the "warehouse" for lack of a better word but lines were moving.  There wasn't much of a separation between the Haven check in line and the others but we were on the second sailing out of NOLA so they may have perfected it by now.  The Haven holding area is very sad...dingy and uninviting.  Fortunately, we weren't in that space for long.  For disembarkation, we walked off with our bags and had a Haven staff member escort us right up to security.  Took about 15 minutes from Haven lobby to parking lot.  

Edited March 10, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches
typo

[Luvmypups]

We had no issues with either embarkation or debarkation.  We were in the Haven as well.  There were lots of people in the "warehouse" for lack of a better word but lines were moving.  There wasn't much of a separation between the Haven check in line and the others but we were on the second sailing out of NOLA so they may have perfected it by now.  The Haven holding area is very sad...dingy and uninviting.  Fortunately, we weren't in that space for long.  For disembarkation, we walked off with our bags and had a Haven staff member escort us right up to security.  Took about 15 minutes from Haven lobby to parking lot.  

Our experience has been the same and we’ve cruised out of NOLA about 10 times. I think it seems so chaotic because it is small. It’s actually the best port we’ve encountered for being able to park close and walk, coming and going.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[roger001]

Embarkation ok.  Getting out of there was a mess both time we've used NOLA.  It is just too small and the area very congested.  

[Harratine]

Did NOLA over Christmas on the Breakaway.  There is priority boarding everywhere.  As Platinum, we went through security and check in in under 5 minutes.  You will probably match that in the Haven.  To get on the boat it was super quick.  Lots of people, but it shouldn’t slow you down.  Key is to flash either your Haven reservation or your platinum status.  You also get the low numbered groups, though this doesn’t matter oddly enough.

 

Returning to NOLA, it took less than 5 minutes off the ship and through customs.  Just be ready to go when they announce and before the queues happen.  If you have bags (which we did), be sure to get the tags from the butler for the Haven.  If you are Platinum, get from the front desk (yellow).  Your bags end up about 20 feet from the customs door. Coming from the Haven on a mega ship, have the concierge escort you.  They will bring you down the service side elevator and right next to the check out kiosk, where they stop the line and you go straight through from there.  That method took 5 minutes to curbside in Miami on the Escape.  We beat the Uber to the line which the Uber driver was shocked about.  Have fun.

[misguy]

Here is a video of the process when we boarded in January.  

 

 

[roger001]

26 minutes ago, misguy said:

Here is a video of the process when we boarded in January.  

The first minute or so certainly does depict the narrow and very crowded street right in front of the terminal building.  That small street has to be used for arriving guests and returning guests all at the same time.  Cars park, load, unload, and try to also have through access.  And then there is the infamous railroad track that can bring it all to a complete halt frequently.  

 

 

[misguy]

There is a bit of chaos, especially if more than one ship is boarding.

 

[roscoe123]

I boarded last week and things were chaotic.  The Haven line was not well marked.