Boarding protocol in San Francisco.

[CeeJayPonz]

How does the Carnival port in San Francisco handle boarding times for the Miracle? Are there check in times that you need to sign up for ahead of time?

[Cruising_Addict]

2 hours ago, TreyB said:

You check in online and reserve a boarding window. 

You reserve an arrival time. Not a boarding time. You never know what time you are going to board. The time you pick when you check in online is the half hour window to arrive at port. 

[thenexus2k]

Was on the miracle out of SF last August. Boarding was a fiasco. We had a 1 PM check-in. We arrived at 12:30 and the 11:30 line hadn't even started moving yet. Was around 2:30 before we even made it into the terminal. 
This was not carnival's fault - the porters were completely disorganized and undermanned. Carnival employees were out in the lines handing out water. 
Coming back was amusing, as I got to listen to the dock workers have a profanity laden yelling match with the crew about how to tie up the boat. 
Hopefully, they have things straight before you get there this year. Have fun! Once on, the cruise is GREAT!

[ldubs]

23 minutes ago, thenexus2k said:

Was on the miracle out of SF last August. Boarding was a fiasco. We had a 1 PM check-in. We arrived at 12:30 and the 11:30 line hadn't even started moving yet. Was around 2:30 before we even made it into the terminal. 
This was not carnival's fault - the porters were completely disorganized and undermanned. Carnival employees were out in the lines handing out water. 
Coming back was amusing, as I got to listen to the dock workers have a profanity laden yelling match with the crew about how to tie up the boat. 
Hopefully, they have things straight before you get there this year. Have fun! Once on, the cruise is GREAT!

 

SF continues to be the most disorganized unprofessional boarding experience we have had.  There is plenty of yelling going on.   

[VentureMan_2000]

Was on the Miracle May 29 this year for a 10-day Alaskan cruise.

I couldn't be more pleased with the check-in and boarding process.

We arrived at 9:45am -- 1 hour and 15 minutes before our 11am check-in.  Dropped off our luggage with the porters.

They had 5 lanes roped off outside - one for each check-in time that folks waited in.  They processed each check-in lane fairly quickly -- our 11am check-in lane was released before 10:30am and we were fully checked in and waiting for boarding by 10:45am.  We boarded the ship around 11:20am.

The Lanes were great and eliminated confusion.  There was plenty of seating inside the terminal after check-in while waiting to board.

Edited June 19, 2023 by VentureMan_2000