Epic Check In at Pier Times

[vacation44]

I could be mistaken, but I thought the earliest check in time at the port was a 9:00-9:30 slot.   For our cruise next Sunday, the earliest slot was 11:00-11:30.     Is this normal or did they change the times?

[zqvol]

The earlier times were probably already full when you got to check in , even if it was right at midnight. 

[laudergayle]

11:00  - 11:30 is the earliest checkin time for San Juan pier.  But if you want to board early get to the pier around 9:30. They let people inside the building through security until the chairs are full. Then everyone else has to wait outside until boarding begins—which started around 11:15.  For our 2/5 sailing the building was full by 10.  Also, they only priority board Haven and special needs.  Everyone else boards based on their chairs…front to back.  We loved the cruise…hope yours is an enjoyable.

[vacation44]

4 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

11:00  - 11:30 is the earliest checkin time for San Juan pier.  But if you want to board early get to the pier around 9:30. They let people inside the building through security until the chairs are full. Then everyone else has to wait outside until boarding begins—which started around 11:15.  For our 2/5 sailing the building was full by 10.  Also, they only priority board Haven and special needs.  Everyone else boards based on their chairs…front to back.  We loved the cruise…hope yours is an enjoyable.

Thank you.   We are in a Haven cabin so hope to board early.    We are planning to get there on the earlier side.

[laudergayle]

1 minute ago, vacation44 said:

Thank you.   We are in a Haven cabin so hope to board early.    We are planning to get there on the earlier side.

And Haven has their own entrance I believe it’s to the right of the regular entrance.

[vacation44]

4 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

And Haven has their own entrance I believe it’s to the right of the regular entrance.

Thank you, again. 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, vacation44 said:

I could be mistaken, but I thought the earliest check in time at the port was a 9:00-9:30 slot.   For our cruise next Sunday, the earliest slot was 11:00-11:30.     Is this normal or did they change the times?

Did you do your online check-in on Day 21 exactly at midnight eastern time? If not, early times sell out quickly by those who do their check-in as soon as they can. 

[vacation44]

3 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Did you do your online check-in on Day 21 exactly at midnight eastern time? If not, early times sell out quickly by those who do their check-in as soon as they can. 

Yes, I did.   As @laudergayleconfirmed,  I did get the earliest checkin.    We are anxious to board as soon as we can as we want to buy Posh passes for members of our extended family. 

[laudergayle]

32 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

Yes, I did.   As @laudergayleconfirmed,  I did get the earliest checkin.    We are anxious to board as soon as we can as we want to buy Posh passes for members of our extended family. 

We were successful in getting Posh passes…but they went quickly.  We were around 4th in line and the people ahead of us were all getting passes. In fact two people were at the counter and their friends jumped the line and got passes.  It’s a very controlled process…only one Guest Service rep can access the system at a time. I believe we got the last two passes.  Your extended family will have to be with you as they need their key card scanned for payment. From what I could tell it was a 1:1 relationship (1 pass per person).  I believe your non Haven family will want to be as far up front in the general boarding chairs, so that 9:15-9:30 arrival at pier would be their target time.

 

also, the boarding went so quickly once they started…there were people in the Haven area still waiting for their escort.  

I guess another option would be for you get to the desk as quick as possible, tell them how many you need…the GSR will pull the passes while the others catch up and jump line.

Good luck!!

Edited March 11, 2023 by laudergayle

[vacation44]

 

1 hour ago, laudergayle said:

We were successful in getting Posh passes…but they went quickly.  We were around 4th in line and the people ahead of us were all getting passes. In fact two people were at the counter and their friends jumped the line and got passes.  It’s a very controlled process…only one Guest Service rep can access the system at a time. I believe we got the last two passes.  Your extended family will have to be with you as they need their key card scanned for payment. From what I could tell it was a 1:1 relationship (1 pass per person).  I believe your non Haven family will want to be as far up front in the general boarding chairs, so that 9:15-9:30 arrival at pier would be their target time.

 

also, the boarding went so quickly once they started…there were people in the Haven area still waiting for their escort.  

I guess another option would be for you get to the desk as quick as possible, tell them how many you need…the GSR will pull the passes while the others catch up and jump line.

Good luck!!

Thank you!  I am hoping their key card is not needed as my husband and I are going to be paying for the passes.   But I will tell them to get to the pier early too.

Edited March 11, 2023 by vacation44

[genealogyfan]

8 hours ago, laudergayle said:

11:00  - 11:30 is the earliest checkin time for San Juan pier.  But if you want to board early get to the pier around 9:30. They let people inside the building through security until the chairs are full. Then everyone else has to wait outside until boarding begins—which started around 11:15.  For our 2/5 sailing the building was full by 10.  Also, they only priority board Haven and special needs.  Everyone else boards based on their chairs…front to back.  We loved the cruise…hope yours is an enjoyable.

Thanks for the info about times to arrive and boarding times in San Juan. We also want to try and get posh passes and want to arrive early. 

[dexddd]

The last three weeks the traffic at 11 am has been pretty light.

[travellingguy]

We just got off yesterday

 

Traffic was light despite what we've heard - we went at 9:30 ish to do bag drop and got close to the front in chairs.  If you get there you should be okay once the doors open as Haven goes a different way when the boarding registration process begins which was super fast.

 

We did get Posh passes - 1st and 2nd.  They told us they only sell about 20.  If it is like Vibe they will not give passes to those that aren't right there at Guest Services.  I'm okay with that though as those that get there early and make that effort shouldn't be left out if someone orders more for people who aren't there yet.