Check-in concerns, Why?

[micruiser2002]

On 3/10/2022 at 5:50 PM, lexmiller said:

We have always gotten to the port when it worked for us (which is always no later than 11am) and never once did anyone ask when our arrival time was.  The idea is to stagger arrivals to keep lines short and manageable, yes, heard.  But at the same time, there has never been a problem if we are (very) early.  The port check-in system in our experience, pre and post covid, has been handled very well - no matter which time you come and never was there a problem if you are not at your assigned time because no one checks and the system runs well even when congested.  Perhaps others have had different experiences though.  Just wanted to share ours!

Have you done this since Covid and the implementation of a specific check in time on your booking?

[Jim_Iain]

My experience post Covid in October and November they had lanes setup with time slots on them -  Kinda like Southwest.    They were only allowing guests with a specific time slot to enter the terminal (Except Suites/Zenith).     I have heard that if they have a lull they invite some passengers in from the next time slot.

 

The purpose is to prevent a large number of people in the terminal where social distancing is limited.

[D C]

2 hours ago, micruiser2002 said:

Have you done this since Covid and the implementation of a specific check in time on your booking?

Twice on the Reflection in terminal 29, and twice we went through the entire process with no inquiry whatsoever as to our assigned boarding time.  We had the earliest assigned time in both cases and arrived 30-45 minutes before our assigned time both times.    

[lexmiller]

15 hours ago, micruiser2002 said:

Have you done this since Covid and the implementation of a specific check in time on your booking?

Absolutely!  Twice post covid, in January in fact.  

[PaperSniper4]

On 3/10/2022 at 11:22 AM, RTShaker said:

I don't want to stir up anything, but am truly curious as to why so many people seem to be concerned about when check-in opens for their sailing. There have been numerous threads with the same check-in date  question. Is it because it used to be 90 days? Is it just habit? You can check in up to almost the sail date, so am I missing something?

So it's now less than 90 days? Is it 45? I see for my next booked cruise (July 2022) it says "will get an email when I can check in".

 

So are folks getting that email? I usually "check in" as early as I can but that's for uploading our passport and other information. I'm not too concerned about actually boarding the ship unless I'm arriving that day, as it driving to the port.

 

 Doug

[LGW59]

On 3/10/2022 at 12:22 PM, RTShaker said:

I don't want to stir up anything, but am truly curious as to why so many people seem to be concerned about when check-in opens for their sailing. There have been numerous threads with the same check-in date  question. Is it because it used to be 90 days? Is it just habit? You can check in up to almost the sail date, so am I missing something?

I don't think you are missing anything, IMO it's just, oh well never mind, whatever time we board, we are just fine

[bigbenboys]

On 3/10/2022 at 4:30 PM, LGW59 said:

I don’t know for sure but I’d guess if one is in Iconic, Villa , PH etc and requested early boarding, they would be accommodated.  

If I remember correctly Suites and Zenith do not get a boarding time. I personally like to arrive about 11:30. As Luminae normally only open from 12 to 1:30. Our Oct sailing in Aqua out of Seattle. The portside staff did not care what time you had, just get in line.

[DCPIV]

15 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

If I remember correctly Suites and Zenith do not get a boarding time.

 

Suites get one, but it doesn't matter.  You can board anytime.

 

I don't know if they've started that back for Zeniths, but they may have.

[zitsky]

I wish X would go back to offering priority boarding to Aqua class.

[the penguins]

On 3/10/2022 at 10:50 PM, lexmiller said:

We have always gotten to the port when it worked for us (which is always no later than 11am) and never once did anyone ask when our arrival time was.  The idea is to stagger arrivals to keep lines short and manageable, yes, heard.  But at the same time, there has never been a problem if we are (very) early.  The port check-in system in our experience, pre and post covid, has been handled very well - no matter which time you come and never was there a problem if you are not at your assigned time because no one checks and the system runs well even when congested.  Perhaps others have had different experiences though.  Just wanted to share ours!

They check at Southampton twice before you are even allowed into the building. 

[zitsky]

If you are *late* for your appointment, do you just walk in or do they send you to another line?

[DCPIV]

26 minutes ago, zitsky said:

If you are *late* for your appointment, do you just walk in or do they send you to another line?

 

I suppose that depends on where you are and how "they" handle things.  We haven't really heard much about that situation.  I would not count on being able to just run up to the front and walk on in, though.  I would more expect just being placed in with the currently boarding group, but I admit that I'm speculating.

[GerScot]

The vast majority of our cruises have been from Southampton and we normally board around 10.30 to 11 no matter prescribed time.. I don't think we have ever encountered a queue of more than one couple in front of us. They always have many check in desks and you are more likely to be held up going through security.

[Homosassa]

For anyone boarding in Tampa (Pier 6, Constellation).  Arrival times were tightly controlled for our 2/14 cruise.

 

Only two lines are open (non-suite passengers) that were for the current arrival time period and for the following time period.  In our case, the lines were for noon - 12:30 (our time) and 12:30 - 1 ).   Your boarding pass was checked before you were allowed to enter the line. 

 

All others needed to find someplace else to wait. 

 

I have also never seen so many sheriff's deputies assigned to traffic control and outside terminal passenger control. 

[zitsky]

5 hours ago, DCPIV said:

 

I suppose that depends on where you are and how "they" handle things.  We haven't really heard much about that situation.  I would not count on being able to just run up to the front and walk on in, though.  I would more expect just being placed in with the currently boarding group, but I admit that I'm speculating.

 

Well like pretty much everyone I will try to be on-time.  But we're going from Rome to the port for our next cruise, so I will ask our transportation what time we should leave.  It was nice before Covid flying to RDU to FLL and spending a night at a hotel.  Then it was so easy to get to the port.

 

Joking here, but maybe I should walk to the front of the line shouting "I'm in AQUA!".  I bet that will get their attention.

 

One day I will sail in a suite but my partner doesn't see the value (yet).  So then I won't have to worry about boarding times.

[C-Dragons]

On 3/10/2022 at 7:30 PM, LGW59 said:

I don’t know for sure but I’d guess if one is in Iconic, Villa , PH etc and requested early boarding, they would be accommodated.  

 

On 3/10/2022 at 8:27 PM, canderson said:

Depending upon what you mean by 'early', that's how it already works.  Be first in line with a suite and you'll be the first aboard as soon as the ship is cleared for boarding.

We boarded the Edge on Sunday. All Suite passengers had priority (early) boarding, but those in the “upper” suites were all checked in first and then escorted on board before the rest of the Suite categories were allowed to board, regardless of your time slot.

Edited March 17, 2022 by C-Dragons

[zitsky]

4 minutes ago, C-Dragons said:

 

We boarded the Edge on Sunday. All Suite passengers had priority (early) boarding, but those in the “upper” suites were all checked in first and then escorted on board before the rest of the Suite categories were allowed to board, regardless of your time slot.

😮 even suite pax have to compete with other suite pax.  😭

 

🤣

[canderson]

11 minutes ago, C-Dragons said:

 

We boarded the Edge on Sunday. All Suite passengers had priority (early) boarding, but those in the “upper” suites were all checked in first and then escorted on board before the rest of the Suite categories were allowed to board, regardless of your time slot.

Granted, it was the Connie restart cruise, but at that time, Tampa wasn't distinguishing.  We arrived about 11:45.  Got a suite?   Check in at the counter and then hop aboard!  

 

Then again, that was kind of an odd day in a nice way anyway since everyone could go direct to cabin and kick back.  No cabins to clean before we boarded!  We dropped our escort at the top of the gangway to retrieve someone else since we knew the ship well.