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Boarding times


cruise4mom
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Last night my BFF was reading all the fine print and discovered that Princess states for our deck we should board at 2:30. That’s not what we planning. We were going to get dressed, eat breakfast, and then make our way down to the pier. 

 

In in order to get clarification on this and some other questions she contacted Princess by both chat and phone and was given different answers. One said that was the time we had to board, no leeway, and that the dining room would be closed but perhaps the buffet would be available for lunch. Another stated we could board between 12-3. I then went to chat and received the 12-3 response also. 

 

Then the the question of water keeps getting different responses. How much water can we take? Does bottle size matter? Can it be placed in checked luggage or does it need to be carried on? 

 

We have aent sent an email to our TA and are awaiting her response. Hopefully someone who has recently sailed from Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale) can give us some insight. 

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16 minutes ago, cruise4mom said:

Last night my BFF was reading all the fine print and discovered that Princess states for our deck we should board at 2:30. That’s not what we planning. We were going to get dressed, eat breakfast, and then make our way down to the pier. 

 

In in order to get clarification on this and some other questions she contacted Princess by both chat and phone and was given different answers. One said that was the time we had to board, no leeway, and that the dining room would be closed but perhaps the buffet would be available for lunch. Another stated we could board between 12-3. I then went to chat and received the 12-3 response also. 

 

Then the the question of water keeps getting different responses. How much water can we take? Does bottle size matter? Can it be placed in checked luggage or does it need to be carried on? 

 

We have aent sent an email to our TA and are awaiting her response. Hopefully someone who has recently sailed from Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale) can give us some insight. 

I am laughing because we have all experienced the different answer situation with Princess reps.  Those boarding times are for the uninformed customers.  Since you are now an official Cruise Critic member, you will know better.  You can show up anytime you like and other than some lines or perhaps no lines, you will be able to check-in and then wait for boarding to start - or if boarding already in progress, you can go ahead onto the ship.

 

You can take on as much water as you like.  A wrapped case can have a bag tag attached for direction to your cabin and leave with the porters.  Another option is the water package now available in Cruise Personalizer which is a decent deal and saves lugging the water around.  We re-fill and re-use bottles two or three times so that initial order lasts us the typical cruise. 

 

The water does not need to be in your checked luggage.  As mentioned, you can hand over a wrapped case to porters.  Just stick a baggage tag on it with your cabin number. 

 

BTW, your TA may not know the process exactly either.  Lots of them would not have a clue. 

 

The DR is only open until about 1:30pm for lunch, but you have the Lido buffet area, and you might have Alfredo's, depending on the ship you are on.

 

Edited by steelers36
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As has been stated in many threads (and has been our experience), the "boarding times" are not enforced 🙂 If you get to the port by 11 there will probably be lines but boarding generally begins around 11:30 and moves pretty quickly, especially with OM ships. You may or may not be able to access your cabon right away...

While you will be directed to the buffet, one of the dining rooms shoukd be open for lunch between 12 and 1:30.

You may bring on as much water or soda as you wish (although the ship's water is fine to drink). We bring on a 12-pack of seltzer in cans, wrapped with some packing tape to reinforce the carton and tape a ship luggage tag on it. It's delivered with our luggage.

Have a great cruise!

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Port Everglades. The progressive boarding is just a suggestion. I have never seen it enforced. Arrive around 10:30/11:00am after you have breakfast. You should be on board by noon or before. If you are on a medallion ship and are Ocean Ready you pretty much walk right on once the ship has cleared. Important note, if your ship has just arrived from Europe, South America, or another location and your cruise is the first from the U.S. for the season, then boarding will almost certainly be delayed for more intense immigration, Coast Guard and other regulatory inspections. 

Water, as others have stated you can carry on or check as much water as you want on boarding day and at any port. Note that in the cruise personlizer you can order 12 bottles of water for $7.08. While not the least expensive price it may be worth not having to bring it on board. This promo is not available once on board. You can also bring on as much other non-alcoholic beverage as you like.

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There is a Princess policy that you cannot access your cabin until 1:00 p.m. due to the staff cleaning the cabins for their new occupants.  If you board before 1:00, you might have to lug your carry-on baggage around with you.  The 1:00 p.m. policy may or may not be enforced -- lots of different reports on this!  Some people have been allowed to drop off their bags in their cabins, others have not been allowed.

 

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Just show up when you want. Boarding starts around 11:30.

If there are issues with Coast Guard inspections or customs from the prior cruise boarding can sometimes be delayed.

If cabins are not available until 1:00pm they usually have a place manned by a crew member that you can check your bags onboard until the announcement is made that the cabins are ready.

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We take 2-3 cruises a year and have been able to board around 11-11:30 on every Princess ship at every port, including Port Everglades.  As I recall, we've been able to take our carry-on to the cabin every time as well.  If you would like to have lunch in the dining room, get there before 1 or 1:30, it isn't open very long for lunch.  And if you like to sleep in, they close at 9AM for breakfast.  If the crew members tell you that the dining room is not open for lunch when you board the ship, they're usually lying.  They try and steer everyone to the buffet on that first day.

As for bottled water or any non-alcoholic beverages bring whatever you want and as much as you want.  But do be aware that there are grocery stores at just about every port call.

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