Soured by Arrival Appointment Time

[MT_Sea_Cruisers]

I am wondering if this particular cruise has a higher than usual number of Diamond, Platinum and Casino Priority (Premium or Ultra)  cruisers booked.  If so, all others (gold, blue and red)  may be assigned a later time regardless of how quick they may have been to check-in.  I think this eases the congestion of having so many in the boarding area first thing.

[stellarose]

we did all the pre cruise stuff.

appointment 12-12:30 and boarding zone. B05

 

soo..... what time on the ship?

FINAL BOARDING

2:30PM

[coevan]

it's not that easy or exact, you should get on before 1 if all goes well, relax when boarding, it goes pretty fast

[2wheelin]

8 hours ago, stellarose said:

we did all the pre cruise stuff.

appointment 12-12:30 and boarding zone. B05

 

soo..... what time on the ship?

FINAL BOARDING

2:30PM

About 5 minutes after they call zone B05. 😉

[Tapi]

On 10/28/2019 at 7:22 PM, crockea said:

There were excellent things and some not as excellent but we had a fabulous time as I expected we would. Thank you again to everyone in the beginning who reminded me to get over my disappointment. 

Welcome home! It sounds like, despite your initial disappointment, you gave your experience what sounds like a fair review. Very glad to hear that you had a fabulous time. 
 

Like you said, on Carnival you get your money’s worth. For me, a big part of enjoying a Carnival Cruise (or ANY cruise regardless of cruise line) is to go with realistic expectations so that idiosyncrasies , like this staggered check in process, don’t take me by surprise and give me unnecessary heartburn! 

[DramaQueen22]

On 10/18/2019 at 7:27 PM, crockea said:

 I don't completely understand the haters but I guess that's what I get for voicing my opinion on social media.  LOL

 

One is always free to voice his or her opinion on social media.  That does not exempt one from others voicing their dissenting opinions to yours.  Don't want the input, opinions, or experiences of others...don't post.  There.  Solved your problem,

[Retired_to_Cruise]

On 10/18/2019 at 2:37 PM, mom2tcdx2 said:

There typically are earlier check in times, it just depends on how fast you completed your paperwork as well and chose the arrival time.  I haven't been turned away, as most times we have had to arrive based on when the hotel had a shuttle etc.  

 

Our upcoming cruise I am platinum, our shuttle picking us up is at 9:30 going from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami.  Our arrival time is listed as 1 PM.  I know we will be early, but I don't think that would be an issue.  While I like to arrive early, I do also find it nice to arrive after others have already checked in and some of the crowds are just already gone.  

If you are platinum, the arrival time you select is irrelevant. You can enter the terminal whenever you get there. You are allowed into the terminal any time after it opens. So this does not help the poster with their "soured" problem.

[asalligo]

As others have said, do not let it ruin your cruise, but yes, Carnival is that disorganized. Anyone who says that Carnival is performing boarding well simply has not tried a line that really does do it well. I was seven cruises on Carnival before trying another line and had just gotten used to show up and wait thinking all lines worked that way, then boarded RCCL and was car to ship in less than 20 minutes. Same goes for their buffet though, if RCCL can do it better, so can everyone else. Carnival still is the fun ship though, you will wait in line for everything, but there will always be a party at the end of that line. 

[TEXSUN46]

We had cruise on Vista less than a month ago. Our check in time was 12 noon we got there a few minutes early and never stopped. We were hustled through never once waiting in a line and we were stepping onto the ship about 10 minutes later. I really don't know what else you could want or how you could want it to be more organized than that. It was by far the easiest and fastest embarkation I have ever experienced.