So I have a 9-9:30 am check-in. Is that good?

[dbrown84]

19 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

what port is that?

port Canaveral 

[goldmom]

12 hours ago, cruiseat50 said:

We have never sailed out of NYC but are going to sail out in March and we have a few issues so as much info you can give is greatly appreciated.  I am mobility challenged and hubby is for the most part blind so could you let us know the following:

We are going to get a taxi or uber and I assume they will know where to drop us off but once they do where do we go?  Some ports are great at pointing us to the Haven line up but some we had difficulties finding it.  So, once we get dropped do we go through security and then find the Haven check-in?  Is it clearly marked or have people directing where to go?

We have sailed out of NYC many times.  The problem is that it is inconsistent.  Sometimes there's a special Haven line for security and sometimes you wait in the regular line.  Just keep looking for anyone with a Haven sign or a clipboard at the entrance when you first walk in (sometimes right sometimes left).

Once through security follow the Haven signs.  The Haven Lounge lately has been all the way at the back of the terminal.  

Good luck and enjoy!

[goldmom]

12 hours ago, cruiseat50 said:

We have never sailed out of NYC but are going to sail out in March and we have a few issues so as much info you can give is greatly appreciated.  I am mobility challenged and hubby is for the most part blind so could you let us know the following:

We are going to get a taxi or uber and I assume they will know where to drop us off but once they do where do we go?  Some ports are great at pointing us to the Haven line up but some we had difficulties finding it.  So, once we get dropped do we go through security and then find the Haven check-in?  Is it clearly marked or have people directing where to go?

We have sailed out of NYC many times.  The problem is that it is inconsistent.  Sometimes there's a special Haven line for security and sometimes you wait in the regular line.  Just keep looking for anyone with a Haven sign or a clipboard at the entrance when you first walk in (sometimes right sometimes left).

Once through security follow the Haven signs.  The Haven Lounge lately has been all the way at the back of the terminal.  

Good luck and enjoy!

[goldmom]

Also, in regards to making reservations.  I remember sitting in the terminal in New York and someone was making dinner reservations while they were sitting in the terminal waiting to board.  I don't know if they were using the APP or somehow connected to the ships wi-fi.

It might be worth a try if you're killing time sitting in the terminal.

[graphicguy]

16 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

We sail out of nyc, the last time we sailed out of there on the breakaway there wasn’t a seat left by 10 am. Boarding didn’t start until almost noon.

That’s been my experience out of NYC, too.  I’m an outlier.  I hate hanging in the terminal waiting to board.  I had a 9:30 check in in Oct.  I’m Sapphire, so my checkin didn’t affect my boarding.  But, the waiting area was crowded before my group was called (right after Haven).

 

Those I spoke to who got there between 9-9:30 had been there a while before we boarded at 11:30-ish.  I got there at 11:00 and only waited a little while by the time I checked in and snaked through the terminal.

 

Grabbed lunch at O’Sheehans and booked entertainment.  Checked in at my muster station.  Then, my cabin was ready.  Pretty smooth boarding and didn’t waste time milling about and waiting.

Edited December 4, 2022 by graphicguy

[RocketMan275]

7 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Those I spoke to who got there between 9-9:30 had been there a while before we boarded at 11:30-ish.  I got there at 11:00 and only waited a little while by the time I checked in and snaked through the terminal.

Are you saying that those who arrived prior to 0930 boarded at the same time those who got there at 1100?

[graphicguy]

1 minute ago, RocketMan275 said:

Are you saying that those who arrived prior to 0930 boarded at the same time those who got there at 1100?

Yes.  I was in the first Latitudes group.  Some got there at 9:30.  I got there at 11:00.  We boarded at the same time.

[RocketMan275]

Just now, graphicguy said:

Yes.  I was in the first Latitudes group.  Some got there at 9:30.  I got there at 11:00.  We boarded at the same time.

That's the kind of information I'm looking for.

Like I've said before, we're forgoing the rush to get to the port early and intend to get there around 1100-1130.  Hopefully we can just walk on.  I'm not good at waiting especially wait while standing in line.

[graphicguy]

Just now, RocketMan275 said:

That's the kind of information I'm looking for.

Like I've said before, we're forgoing the rush to get to the port early and intend to get there around 1100-1130.  Hopefully we can just walk on.  I'm not good at waiting especially wait while standing in line.

You’ll be fine.  Probably be able to walk right on if there are no delays in boarding.

[RocketMan275]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

You’ll be fine.  Probably be able to walk right on if there are no delays in boarding.

that would be wonderful.  Even better if the cabins are ready and everyone unpacking instead of clogging the buffet.

[debenson0723]

55 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

that would be wonderful.  Even better if the cabins are ready and everyone unpacking instead of clogging the buffet.

In all my cruises on different lines, I have never seen cabins ready before 1:30-2:00pm (possible exception could be Haven but even then, its iffy or if the ship was empty of passengers on the prior sailing). Skip the buffet and go enjoy a sit down lunch in the MDR. By the time you are finished, your cabin should be open.

[phillygwm]

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

Are you saying that those who arrived prior to 0930 boarded at the same time those who got there at 1100?

It depends.  If you're Haven, Platinum and above, or purchased Preferred Boarding, you don't get a boarding group number.  I believe special assistance falls into that group as well but can't swear to it.  They announce your category and you're on your way.  So in that sense, it doesn't matter if you're there at 9:30 or 11:00.

 

If you don't have some form of preferred boarding then it's like boarding an airplane.  Group 4 will board before Group 24.  In that sense, getting there early can be beneficial.  Or you can wait until 1:00 once the crowds have thinned out, which will enable you to board pretty much immediately.  Unless, of course, the ship is delayed getting into port, in which case everything gets pushed back accordingly.

40 minutes ago, debenson0723 said:

In all my cruises on different lines, I have never seen cabins ready before 1:30-2:00pm (possible exception could be Haven but even then, its iffy or if the ship was empty of passengers on the prior sailing). 

I've generally had better experience than that but yeah, just grab lunch somewhere because there will be some amount of wait.  On my next cruise (Joy) I requested Deck 8, as opposed to one of the top decks where I usually am, because it should be easier logistically.  Most of my preferred bars/restaurants are right there and, if there's an actual muster drill, I'll probably be within one deck of where I need to be so won't need the elevator to get up to 15 or whatever.

[mjkacmom]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

That's the kind of information I'm looking for.

Like I've said before, we're forgoing the rush to get to the port early and intend to get there around 1100-1130.  Hopefully we can just walk on.  I'm not good at waiting especially wait while standing in line.

Do you have priority boarding? If not, I doubt you will be getting to the terminal that early and just walk on with the first boarding group. Toy might want to wait until 1 is boarding with the masses.

[RocketMan275]

39 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

It depends.  If you're Haven, Platinum and above, or purchased Preferred Boarding, you don't get a boarding group number.  I believe special assistance falls into that group as well but can't swear to it.  They announce your category and you're on your way.  So in that sense, it doesn't matter if you're there at 9:30 or 11:00.

 

9 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

Do you have priority boarding? If not, I doubt you will be getting to the terminal that early and just walk on with the first boarding group. Toy might want to wait until 1 is boarding with the masses.

We're in Haven so we have priority boarding.

So, it appears arriving at 0900 won't get us on board any earlier than arriving at 1100+.

 

[mjkacmom]

4 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

We're in Haven so we have priority boarding.

So, it appears arriving at 0900 won't get us on board any earlier than arriving at 1100+.

 

Then it’s seems next to go at 11.

[RocketMan275]

1 minute ago, mjkacmom said:

Then it’s seems next to go at 11.

We plan on parking at the Fulton Garage and should be there before 1100.

We should be at the port before 1130.

Check our bags with the porters except for the Sling Bags with our essentials (prescriptions, passports, cash, kindles, phones, change of clothing, etc.)

With luck, we will be having lunch in the Haven around 1215 or so.

[phillygwm]

12 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

We're in Haven so we have priority boarding.

So, it appears arriving at 0900 won't get us on board any earlier than arriving at 1100+.

 

Correct.  I probably wouldn't bother showing up much before 11:00 in that case.  

 

I do believe there's a "Haven Lounge" in the terminal, at least there are elsewhere.  So if you did get finished check-in early, you can chill there as opposed to the chaos of the main terminal.

[RocketMan275]

Just now, phillygwm said:

Correct.  I probably wouldn't bother showing up much before 11:00 in that case.  

 

I do believe there's a "Haven Lounge" in the terminal, at least there are elsewhere.  So if you did get finished check-in early, you can chill there as opposed to the chaos of the main terminal.

NOLA had a room for Haven passengers with refreshments last March.  Wouldn't call it a lounge.  More like an airport waiting area.

 

The problem was everyone was in the same line to clear security.  We got there at 0930 and stood in the security line until 1100.  I don't think they were even processing people through security because they had no place for them to go so they just keep everyone standing in a long line (two or three blocks long).  They must have cleared the ship around 1030 because the line started moving then. 

 

Once we cleared secuirty we moved immediately to the Haven Check in which took maybe 10 minutes.  Then we moved to the Haven 'Lounge' but we were escorted on the ship before I could even pour a cup of coffee.

 

I just do not wish to stand in line for an hour and a half.

I guess if we got there before 0830 we might be able to spend a couple of hours in the Haven 'Lounge'.  

[BirdTravels]

20 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Question:  how much earlier does one get to board if one has a checkin time of 0930 versus a checkin time of 1130?  I doubt it's two hours earlier.

 

General boarding starts between 11:15 and 11:30 (normally). If you get to check in at 11:30, you may be done around noon. Show and dinner reservations will be getting hit and miss by the time you board. 

[BirdTravels]

21 hours ago, jdvmd said:

I have never seen a check in time that early either. I picked noon for our Prima sailing on the 11th. Just got off the Encore on Nov. 20 and while we checked in at 10:15 a.m. (our time was 12:30 p.m.), we sat and waited. The ship was delayed with disembarkation. Finally got called at 12:50 p.m as a platinum Latitudes. At least the cabin was already ready when we got onboard at 1.

Just a data point, we boarded the Prima yesterday. By 11:45 all of the comedy shows were sold out and it was getting hard to get a good dinner time in some specialty restaurants. 

[RocketMan275]

21 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

General boarding starts between 11:15 and 11:30 (normally). If you get to check in at 11:30, you may be done around noon. Show and dinner reservations will be getting hit and miss by the time you board. 

Appreciate the heads-up but we've already reserved out specialty dinning and we don't do the shows.

[SunshineGal2022]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Just a data point, we boarded the Prima yesterday. By 11:45 all of the comedy shows were sold out and it was getting hard to get a good dinner time in some specialty restaurants. 

Thank you, Ms.Bird.  

 

I was all set to be happy arriving later BUT I would like to book shows.  I will aim for an early check in time and I will be prepared to wait in line for hours. 

[zzdoug]

There seems to be a link to the app in the ncl.com portal. Must I be physically on board to book shows, dinners, etc? 

[dbrown84]

1 hour ago, zzdoug said:

There seems to be a link to the app in the ncl.com portal. Must I be physically on board to book shows, dinners, etc? 

yes, or at least pretty much almost walking onto the ship.  You have to be connected to the ship's wireless, and it doesn't bleed over to the terminal

[zzdoug]

On 12/4/2022 at 4:16 PM, dbrown84 said:

yes, or at least pretty much almost walking onto the ship.  You have to be connected to the ship's wireless, and it doesn't bleed over to the terminal

We are staying in a standard balcony without any special status.  We would like to see all the shows and get reservations for the Bistro and maybe the seafood restaurant or the steakhouse at a reasonable hour.  However, I don't think we will be able to board before noon or later. Will everything be booked out before we get on board?  Are there any hacks we can exploit? Can our travel agent help?

 

Thanks.