Running a little early

[Wdchuck]

We are rule followers and have a 1:30 boarding time but what happens if you arrive sooner then your assigned time? If the drive and parking go smoother then planed we could up 1 hour early/

[cruisestitch]

You might have to wait to be admitted to the terminal.

[ScottC4746]

6 minutes ago, Wdchuck said:

We are rule followers and have a 1:30 boarding time but what happens if you arrive sooner then your assigned time? If the drive and parking go smoother then planed we could up 1 hour early/

On Solstice in Seattle Sept 2022, we had a 11:30 AM board time as a Concierge guest.  We arrived 10 AM and had no problem boarding.

[lv2cruisgrl]

We have arrived 40 minutes early before and had no issue.  We drive and sometimes traffic effects our arrival time.

[39august]

Actually that is a check in time, not a boarding time. You may or may not have to wait a while before actually boarding.

[jelayne]

Last year traveling in a Suite we arrived at the port at 11:15, the Retreat entrance area was full, literally shoulder to shoulder.  They were sending guests to the elevator in groups of 10 to be checked in and board the ship.  It took close to a hour to get to a rep to check in.  Something similar in Cape Liberty, seems many arrived early and the ship was delayed in being ready for boarding.  Large waiting area jammed with folks all checked in with no where to sit at 11:30. 
 

Felt like pre pandemic when check in was the dreaded part of cruising.

[Wdchuck]

We got to the terminal 2 hrs early and were told everyone was ready to board. We were on in less then 1/2 hour.

[Baynanno1]

Good and not so good experiences.

We are punctual people, but had our worst ever experience when arriving for our 1130 (first available) time slot last year.

When we arrived on time, it was an absolute shambles, with hundreds of people who had obviously arrived well before their allocated time slot and absolutely no direction from any port staff.

Time slots are there for a reason.

[bEwAbG]

Time slots only matter if the port personnel are enforcing them.  Pre-pandemic they were always just a suggestion.  When cruising resumed, they were pretty strict about enforcing times and would make people wait outside the terminal.  This was to prevent crowding.  Now they're back to it more or less being a suggestion.  As long as you understand that they might make you wait and you don't throw a big fit about it, get there when you get there.

[Bill Miller]

If you're not early, your late.

[NutsAboutGolf]

I think the better question to ask is not when the ship will start boarding but rather what time does the terminal open