Manhattan Cruise Terminal - Recent Embarkation Experience?

[MsTabbyKats]

I goy on the Joy yesterday. Embarkation was a disaster. We got to the pier at 11:45....and it took over 2 hours till we got on the ship.. and that was only because one of the port agents let us go to the Casino on Line line.. if we stayed on the platinum line in would have taken another hour.  Absolutely the worst embarkation ever.

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

I goy on the Joy yesterday. Embarkation was a disaster. We got to the pier at 11:45....and it took over 2 hours till we got on the ship ...the platinum line in would have taken another hour.  Absolutely the worst embarkation ever.

Hi, Bonnie ... thanks and really not a happy update about the Joy's ongoing embarkation disaster outcome in NYC, despite the pledge to address & improve it for the better, that was nearly a month ago when I had the discussion with the onboard Guest Services manager as he was a delegated by the General Manager who just took over.  

 

We had a fairly good experience back in March with the Getaway and it was quick & with minimal fuzz - feeling really bad about all this for folks sailing soon, the summer sailings are going to be worst as occupancy level are destined to be higher.  Just leave me speechless on what else we can say ... those onboard, perhaps, as a CC group, ask for a meeting with Guest Services & if necessary, go straight to the GM and raise hell as they really need to kick it up to corporate leadership in Miami. 

 

Anyway, I see that you folks are sailing out of Norfolk now & ready to head out to sea for Bermuda, quick look at Windy App, "Alex" has quickly moved away & further east from Bermuda, sea state & waves should begin to ease up further & tomorrow should be a great sea day for everyone onboard.  Enjoy Bermuda & hi to Stacey from CT - if you run into her - for Sharon The P and me.  

 

Enjoy dinner & don't miss both big production shows in the Joy Theater. 

 

Regards - Henry / mking8288

[CleverUserNameHere]

On 6/6/2022 at 8:59 AM, goldmom said:

I have found in the MCT that when we have a non-haven suite on the Jewel class ships, I just tell the staff that we're in the Haven.  They check their clipboard and our suite number is there and away we go.

The staff at the terminal does not understand that there are Haven and non-haven suites.

Not sure if the non-haven suites on the Joy would work the same as some of those suite categories are in a class of their own.

 

Oh snap if that is the case I'll be thoroughly ticked off

[lx200gps]

There seems to be a huge variation in the boarding experience in the last week or two, ranging from "great" to "unmitigated disaster" and we're boarding on June 12. Having never sailed out of the MCT, is it possible to go through the entire check-in process well before boarding starts, and then LEAVE the terminal, cards in hand, to wait outside instead of in the waiting room? Then, once boarding has started, a few hours later, go back through security, and walk onto the ship? If so, it might be worth trying to get into the line as early as possible.

[CleverUserNameHere]

On 6/6/2022 at 8:48 AM, DKLI said:

Did you order room service for breakfast?  And did they charge you?  I've seen conflicting reports about charges for room service in the family suite.  We have one book in July and can't wait to experience it...was a real struggle to give up a balcony for it...lol.  Thank you.

 

We ordered room service twice and we were charged the $10 for it. The second time they arrived 30 minutes late, so after that we just brought our own food back from the buffet. We were on deck 14 by the stairs and the buffet was deck 16 so it wasn't too bad, although we did get used to eating a lot of lukewarm food by the end of the cruise 😕

[goldmom]

23 minutes ago, lx200gps said:

There seems to be a huge variation in the boarding experience in the last week or two, ranging from "great" to "unmitigated disaster" and we're boarding on June 12. Having never sailed out of the MCT, is it possible to go through the entire check-in process well before boarding starts, and then LEAVE the terminal, cards in hand, to wait outside instead of in the waiting room? Then, once boarding has started, a few hours later, go back through security, and walk onto the ship? If so, it might be worth trying to get into the line as early as possible.

You probably could, but you'd have to go through the check-in/x-ray line again.  Also, you'd need to tote your carry on bags with you as there is no place to check them.

Enjoy

[lx200gps]

3 minutes ago, goldmom said:

You probably could, but you'd have to go through the check-in/x-ray line again.  Also, you'd need to tote your carry on bags with you as there is no place to check them.

Enjoy

Thanks, going back through security with our carry-ons is not an issue whatsoever. Just a camera backpack for me and a small backpack for my wife.  We would have long since dropped our heavy main luggage off with the porters outside anyway. Like you, I really can't see why going outside to wait would be a problem, so we're probably going to try that first, pulling up even before 9AM.

[mking8288]

@lx200gps - Unless things changed recently as in this past Sunday, security lines (that's "checkpoint #2) at MCT does not open until 9:30 am at the earliest and by then, there are hundreds standing there already, waiting to get thru ("checkpoint #1" being the initial passport, eDocs & quick visual about having proof of vaccination & testing results - in one massive long line ... and, as numerous others reconfirmed again, nobody gets any kind of priority or preference except for Haven & accessible passengers, and, possibly families traveling with very young children in strollers)  

 

Both of these are major bottlenecks, extended wait & very little (if any) social distancing and most don't wear even a cloth mask - and, personally, ventilations or HVAC system inside the huge terminal building complex isn't the best to draw in fresh air.  

 

Once you get past #1 and #2, checkpoint #3 is the Bermuda documentation check and that's equally bad & under-staffed - but then, the worst is almost over as they put a colored stickers on your passport(s).  The unfortunate ones missing Bermuda TA get directed to another line to deal with their incomplete documentations or whatever.  

 

Lastly, you hope & just want the shortest line to get check-in and the room or guest key cards handed over to you ... and, there is also the quick health questionnaire by the pier agent.  Haven, Platinum (they obviously are clueless about Sapphire or Diamond tiers) and Casino At Seas - if asked & the agent is well informed, direct you to the appropriate line(s) for, hopefully, a shorter wait & quicker processing (that's your checkpoint #4)    When it's your turn to embark, be patient with the security staff as they frequently need to adjust their facial recognition app to scan & tell you to proceed ahead to the gangway.  

 

Between #4 and security, you are easily looking at anywhere from 30 or 45 minutes, to as much as 2 hours or more.  By then, early boarding that started as early as 10:45 or 11 am should be finished and group/zone numbers with the lower #'s are on their way up the "Z" gangway(s) already.  It might not make sense to exit & leave the terminal, just to step outside for fresh air  - or, is it to not deal with the thousands gathered inside ??  You might be better off just wait and personally, I strongly recommend, put on & wear a quality KN95 or KF94 masks & do your best to maintain social distancing away from "strangers" in your area.  

 

Good luck, happy & healthy cruising.  Our local CC friends are also boarding the Joy this Sunday too - Bon Voyage. 

 

.. If there is going to be a Meet & Greet on the sailing, it might be worthwhile if several of you ask to speak to Guest Services and/or the GM about the mess again, inside MCT.  It is utterly unacceptable and reiterate to them that we on CC about very annoyed about their incompetence and corporate is looking foolish & negatively here in NYC - knowing, of course, they will kick the tin cans & past the bucks again.  

[lx200gps]

15 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

@lx200gps - Unless things changed recently as in this past Sunday, security lines (that's "checkpoint #2) at MCT does not open until 9:30 am at the earliest and by then, there are hundreds standing there already, waiting to get thru ("checkpoint #1" being the initial passport, eDocs & quick visual about having proof of vaccination & testing results - in one massive long line ... and, as numerous others reconfirmed again, nobody gets any kind of priority or preference except for Haven & accessible passengers, and, possibly families traveling with very young children in strollers)  

 

Both of these are major bottlenecks, extended wait & very little (if any) social distancing and most don't wear even a cloth mask - and, personally, ventilations or HVAC system inside the huge terminal building complex isn't the best to draw in fresh air.  

 

Once you get past #1 and #2, checkpoint #3 is the Bermuda documentation check and that's equally bad & under-staffed - but then, the worst is almost over as they put a colored stickers on your passport(s).  The unfortunate ones missing Bermuda TA get directed to another line to deal with their incomplete documentations or whatever.  

 

Lastly, you hope & just want the shortest line to get check-in and the room or guest key cards handed over to you ... and, there is also the quick health questionnaire by the pier agent.  Haven, Platinum (they obviously are clueless about Sapphire or Diamond tiers) and Casino At Seas - if asked & the agent is well informed, direct you to the appropriate line(s) for, hopefully, a shorter wait & quicker processing (that's your checkpoint #4)    When it's your turn to embark, be patient with the security staff as they frequently need to adjust their facial recognition app to scan & tell you to proceed ahead to the gangway.  

 

Between #4 and security, you are easily looking at anywhere from 30 or 45 minutes, to as much as 2 hours or more.  By then, early boarding that started as early as 10:45 or 11 am should be finished and group/zone numbers with the lower #'s are on their way up the "Z" gangway(s) already.  It might not make sense to exit & leave the terminal, just to step outside for fresh air  - or, is it to not deal with the thousands gathered inside ??  You might be better off just wait and personally, I strongly recommend, put on & wear a quality KN95 or KF94 masks & do your best to maintain social distancing away from "strangers" in your area.  

 

Good luck, happy & healthy cruising.  Our local CC friends are also boarding the Joy this Sunday too - Bon Voyage. 

 

.. If there is going to be a Meet & Greet on the sailing, it might be worthwhile if several of you ask to speak to Guest Services and/or the GM about the mess again, inside MCT.  It is utterly unacceptable and reiterate to them that we on CC about very annoyed about their incompetence and corporate is looking foolish & negatively here in NYC - knowing, of course, they will kick the tin cans & past the bucks again.  

Sorry to waste so much of your time, but that's about as explicit as can be. And very disheartening. We're used to "normal" cruise experiences like Princess at PE or San Pedro, where you go through one security line first, stand in one line (which actually has priority sections), show everything to one person, collect your card/Medallion and either sit in the waiting room or walk right on board.  One of the main reasons we chose this trip was to avoid the aggravation of flying right now, but the MCT hell is making us wish we'd simply flown to a better check-in process.

 

As to the opening of "check-in" at 9:30 we were planning to be among the very first in that line and if it meant getting there at 8:30 or earlier, so be it. But with all the other mandatory and illogically arranged "stops" it sounds like there will no way to check in then leave for a few hours as we'd have to go through the same nausea all over again  ;o(

[kylenyc]

  FYI. From a reviewer's recent experience on the Joy.

 

Review: First time Norwegian cruiser Joy to Bermuda on May 29th out of Manhattan

2 hours ago, CleverUserNameHere said:

•  Embarkation out of Manhattan was the worst. I suggest arriving at 8:30 or after 1 pm. It was organized chaos and line after line after line. Security line, Bermuda TA line, covid testing line (for some), and only THEN check in line which moved the slowest of all. The whole process took 2- 2.5 hours. I highly doubt we will be choosing to sail out of there again, although sailing past Ellis island and the Statue of Liberty was pretty cool.

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by kylenyc

[vacation44]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Lastly, you hope & just want the shortest line to get check-in and the room or guest key cards handed over to you ... and, there is also the quick health questionnaire by the pier agent.  Haven, Platinum (they obviously are clueless about Sapphire or Diamond tiers) and Casino At Seas - if asked & the agent is well informed, direct you to the appropriate line(s) for, hopefully, a shorter wait & quicker processing (that's your checkpoint #4)    When it's your turn to embark, be patient with the security staff as they frequently need to adjust their facial recognition app to scan & tell you to proceed ahead to the gangway.  

 

And non-Haven suites should be included too!   Notice I said "should be".   

[desherry]

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

@lx200gps - Unless things changed recently as in this past Sunday, security lines (that's "checkpoint #2) at MCT does not open until 9:30 am at the earliest and by then, there are hundreds standing there already, waiting to get thru ("checkpoint #1" being the initial passport, eDocs & quick visual about having proof of vaccination & testing results - in one massive long line ... and, as numerous others reconfirmed again, nobody gets any kind of priority or preference except for Haven & accessible passengers, and, possibly families traveling with very young children in strollers)  

 

Both of these are major bottlenecks, extended wait & very little (if any) social distancing and most don't wear even a cloth mask - and, personally, ventilations or HVAC system inside the huge terminal building complex isn't the best to draw in fresh air.  

 

Once you get past #1 and #2, checkpoint #3 is the Bermuda documentation check and that's equally bad & under-staffed - but then, the worst is almost over as they put a colored stickers on your passport(s).  The unfortunate ones missing Bermuda TA get directed to another line to deal with their incomplete documentations or whatever.  

 

Lastly, you hope & just want the shortest line to get check-in and the room or guest key cards handed over to you ... and, there is also the quick health questionnaire by the pier agent.  Haven, Platinum (they obviously are clueless about Sapphire or Diamond tiers) and Casino At Seas - if asked & the agent is well informed, direct you to the appropriate line(s) for, hopefully, a shorter wait & quicker processing (that's your checkpoint #4)    When it's your turn to embark, be patient with the security staff as they frequently need to adjust their facial recognition app to scan & tell you to proceed ahead to the gangway.  

 

Between #4 and security, you are easily looking at anywhere from 30 or 45 minutes, to as much as 2 hours or more.  By then, early boarding that started as early as 10:45 or 11 am should be finished and group/zone numbers with the lower #'s are on their way up the "Z" gangway(s) already.  It might not make sense to exit & leave the terminal, just to step outside for fresh air  - or, is it to not deal with the thousands gathered inside ??  You might be better off just wait and personally, I strongly recommend, put on & wear a quality KN95 or KF94 masks & do your best to maintain social distancing away from "strangers" in your area.  

 

Good luck, happy & healthy cruising.  Our local CC friends are also boarding the Joy this Sunday too - Bon Voyage. 

 

.. If there is going to be a Meet & Greet on the sailing, it might be worthwhile if several of you ask to speak to Guest Services and/or the GM about the mess again, inside MCT.  It is utterly unacceptable and reiterate to them that we on CC about very annoyed about their incompetence and corporate is looking foolish & negatively here in NYC - knowing, of course, they will kick the tin cans & past the bucks again.  

On my Trans-Atlantic on the Dawn, the initial security checkpoint did not open until 11:00 AM. Once  past that, the Canada paperwork check was the main bottleneck, but with that said, we were on the ship by 11:30 AM. This was with 960 passengers. We had arrived at the port at 9:30, and were about the 100th person to get through the initial security checkpoint.

[kylenyc]

8 hours ago, lx200gps said:

There seems to be a huge variation in the boarding experience in the last week or two, ranging from "great" to "unmitigated disaster" and we're boarding on June 12. Having never sailed out of the MCT, is it possible to go through the entire check-in process well before boarding starts, and then LEAVE the terminal, cards in hand, to wait outside instead of in the waiting room? Then, once boarding has started, a few hours later, go back through security, and walk onto the ship? If so, it might be worth trying to get into the line as early as possible.

Yes. You can leave the Manhattan Cruise Terminal after checking in. You will need to go through the security screening again. This is provided NCL doesn't change the Covid testing policy due to Omicron variants 4 and 5 which sound nasty.

[Topdog52]

On 6/5/2022 at 8:48 PM, vacation44 said:

I remember you had a suite so was there any priority boarding for you as there were supposed to be?

Where were they doing the covid testing at the MCT.

[coalman78]

How strict do they enforce the arrival time slot selected during online check-in? I've always sailed out of other ports and arrived around the selected time. I got stuck with a late time slot for the cruise next week, and wondering if I can get away with arriving much earlier?

[JCDCA]

9 hours ago, kylenyc said:

  FYI. From a reviewer's recent experience on the Joy.

 

Review: First time Norwegian cruiser Joy to Bermuda on May 29th out of Manhattan

 

This is completely accurate.  It took right about 2 hours 15 minutes from curb to ship on 5/29.  It was quite ridiculous with all the separate lines and checkpoints.  Horribly run.  

[drbeamer]

9 hours ago, coalman78 said:

How strict do they enforce the arrival time slot selected during online check-in? I've always sailed out of other ports and arrived around the selected time. I got stuck with a late time slot for the cruise next week, and wondering if I can get away with arriving much earlier?

I’m sailing on Joy 7/17. Do you know what the latest check in time slots are? I’m thinking of just going to pier after lunch, maybe avoid the chaos.

[lx200gps]

1 hour ago, drbeamer said:

I’m sailing on Joy 7/17. Do you know what the latest check in time slots are? I’m thinking of just going to pier after lunch, maybe avoid the chaos.

We're on the 6/12 sailing in a few days, with a 9AM slot. We'll almost certainly be doing just what you suggest, arriving well after noon in the hope the craziness has died down.  Not sure it will help, though, given all the horror stories we're hearing.  That being said, hopefully by the time you sail things will have improved.

[bkrickles1]

2 hours ago, drbeamer said:

I’m sailing on Joy 7/17. Do you know what the latest check in time slots are? I’m thinking of just going to pier after lunch, maybe avoid the chaos.

If you want a really easy time embarking, show up at 2pm or later. You'll have a drink in hand within 30 minutes of arrival at the pier.

I have a 9am slot and plan on being there with my group of 4 at 8:30am or earlier.

I'll deal with a little crowding to be on the ship with the first group after the priority groups.

That usually gets me on board by around 11am and no later than 11:30am.

This is the way we've done it for years at all the various ports.

It's a tradition that everyone in my family appreciates, except for my wife. Lol.

She'll complain the whole time we're waiting to board, but will be so happy once we do.

Our sailing on Joy is in 18 days!!!

[drbeamer]

@bkrickles1@lx200gpsYes…..thanks….we’ll do 2pm….first cruise since pandemic, never cruised from NYC. Just want to relax and enjoy that NYC sail away. Taking Acela train down the day before…Enjoy your cruises!

[UKstages]

 

 

 

 

 

22 hours ago, kylenyc said:

You can leave the Manhattan Cruise Terminal after checking in. You will need to go through the security screening again. 

 

what you can do and what you should do may be two entirely different things. only you can determine what your preference is, based on your level of covid risk tolerance in the crowded terminal (in which few wear masks). and also - for some people - based on how much you wish to avoid the hassle of going through security twice. even if you arrive at a later hour and the line has thinned out... you still have to go through security.

 

an alternative is to drop your bag with porters, then go have lunch in a theatre district or hell's kitchen restaurant or take a walking tour of manhattan. (of course, for some, there will be that pesky problem of what to do with your carry on.) then come back at 2:00 or 2:30 and glide through security and check-in. added bonus: your bags will likely already have been delivered to your room. 

 

18 hours ago, coalman78 said:

How strict do they enforce the arrival time slot selected during online check-in? I've always sailed out of other ports and arrived around the selected time. I got stuck with a late time slot for the cruise next week, and wondering if I can get away with arriving much earlier?

 

i'll give an honest answer, as well as an editorial comment. 

 

they don't enforce the check-in time at all and that's a big part part of the problem.

 

many people show up earlier than the time they booked, which crowds the terminal and makes for a most unpleasant experience. i'm not saying they would have enough staff to handle the crowds at any time, but i suspect it would be a far smoother experience if people only showed up at their appointed times. 

 

so, if you want, you can absolutely be that guy who shows up outside of his appointed time and have no  fear of being found out.

 

(except for your confession here, of course.)

 

all's fair in love and cruising, i suppose. every man for himself, i suppose. but you don't really want to be that guy, do you? the guy who thinks rules don't apply to him? 

 

you may also wish to consider, after having read all these posts, that your late check-in might actually be a gift,  a happy accidental bonus. seize the moment, albeit a later one.

Edited June 8, 2022 by UKstages

[coalman78]

2 hours ago, UKstages said:

 

i'll give an honest answer, as well as an editorial comment. 

 

they don't enforce the check-in time at all and that's a big part part of the problem.

 

many people show up earlier than the time they booked, which crowds the terminal and makes for a most unpleasant experience. i'm not saying they would have enough staff to handle the crowds at any time, but i suspect it would be a far smoother experience if people only showed up at their appointed times. 

 

so, if you want, you can absolutely be that guy who shows up outside of his appointed time and have no  fear of being found out.

 

(except for your confession here, of course.)

 

all's fair in love and cruising, i suppose. every man for himself, i suppose. but you don't really want to be that guy, do you? the guy who thinks rules don't apply to him? 

 

you may also wish to consider, after having read all these posts, that your late check-in might actually be a gift,  a happy accidental bonus. seize the moment, albeit a later one.

 

Wow, that's quite the accusatory tone, but that might be because of the way I worded my post. I'm trying to avoid driving to (and paying to park at) the port and getting a ride instead, but that might only be possible if we arrive in the morning (I have a 1230-1 time slot), so I wanted to know what to expect if that's what we do. Nothing Machiavellian about it, certainly not trying to be "that guy". Thanks for the info.

[UKstages]

17 hours ago, coalman78 said:

 

Wow, that's quite the accusatory tone, but that might be because of the way I worded my post...

 

Nothing Machiavellian about it, certainly not trying to be "that guy". Thanks for the info.

 

you're welcome.  i thought my post was actually quite respectful and playful and not at all accusatory. i even said that my experience has been that nobody checks your arrival time and that you won't be found out.

 

as for being "that guy" ... as i understand it, you want to show up at a time other than the one you booked, perhaps two or three hours earlier. you want to show up sometime in the morning, even though you booked an early afternoon slot.  is that right?

 

well, i'm here to tell you... that does indeed make you that guy.

 

i'm not accusing you of being that guy; i'm simply stating a fact. you will be that guy who thinks the rules don't apply to him if you ignore your arrival time. 

 

you've justified breaking the rules and adding to the chaos in the terminal to the detriment of many people by securing a benefit for yourself. we can all understand why you want to do this, but it doesn't change the underlying ethical question.

 

NCL has established terminal arrival times for each passenger group to help control the flow of passengers coming into the building. you've decided that the restriction doesn't apply to you.

 

it really is as simple as that.

 

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

On 6/8/2022 at 8:01 AM, bkrickles1 said:

If you want a really easy time embarking, show up at 2pm or later. You'll have a drink in hand within 30 minutes of arrival at the pier.

Is that better than showing up at 9:00 and having a drink in hand by 11:00?  Asking for a friend...

[bkrickles1]

10 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Is that better than showing up at 9:00 and having a drink in hand by 11:00?  Asking for a friend...

Here's my opinion.

I will be showing up with my people at around 8:30am so we can be one of the first to board at 11am (approximately). We are ok with a little crowding and some waiting for the opportunity to start our vacation at around 11am. We've done this many times already and while my wife will complain a little, we keep doing it this way and are happy when we board.

If you have a problem with crowded areas and waiting, I've seen first hand how showing up at the terminal between 2 and 3pm will almost eliminate this.

It's a personal preference. I prefer to be on my 4th drink by 2pm and having a nice lunch in the dining room. Lmao.

16 days for us!!