Rare mica178 Posted July 9 #1 Share Posted July 9 My husband is one of those people who likes to arrive for flights/trains/cruises at the last moment. He doesn't like to sit and wait. He doesn't see the point to arriving for our cruise much more than a couple hours prior to departure. So since MSC says that our cruise departs at 5PM, he thinks 3PM is the earliest time he wants to get to the terminal. Give me a solid argument for arriving earlier. What is there to do on board on embarkation day? Yes, I know, the sooner we get there, the sooner we get to use the services we already paid for, but if they're on reduced services, then he's not going to be convinced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tincup66 Posted July 9 #2 Share Posted July 9 We get there around 10:30. There is a minimal wait and we can then enjoy lounge, explore the ship, or just relax. It's like having a sea day. Why miss out on half a day's ship time? We also always do YC so there is very little waiting for anything. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonsterJoe Posted July 9 #3 Share Posted July 9 (edited) We we've been on the ship as early as 11(ish) and as late as 2. I probably wouldn't want to arrive much later than 2 because I just want to get my vacation started! You can enjoy the ship, pools, bars, buffet....the sooner they get your luggage, the sooner you get it back. I don't know that it would be worth trying to convince anyone, though - then you have that hanging over your head if they didn't think it was worth it! Edited July 9 by MonsterJoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted July 9 #4 Share Posted July 9 The drop deadline for embarkation out of the US is 90 minutes prior to departure of the port. Arriving at 3 pm for a 5 pm departure (or something similar) is cutting it close. We sail in YC so can embark as soon as it begins...usually around 11, but I've seen it pushed back to noon due to difficulties in clearing the ship. As such, we arrive around 10:30. I don't know if this is a solid argument or not but for me, I want to make the most of the first day so we do so at the earliest possible moment. To your husband's point, when we've embarked via the YC butler escort, we've done so past hoards of people waiting in earnest for their boarding group to be called. I've witnessed groups of people sitting on the floor in some cases because the waiting area was so crowded. I would not want to do this AT ALL so if it was between sitting on the floor or arriving later, I'd pick arriving later. All that to say, I highly recommend YC if you can swing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted July 9 #5 Share Posted July 9 2 hours ago, mica178 said: Give me a solid argument for arriving earlier. What is there to do on board on embarkation day? You can have a free lunch at the buffet. The earlier you get there the better chance you have of getting a good seat at the buffet. Why pay for lunch ashore when you have already paid for it onboard. You can relax with an adult beverage in the sun or in a lounge. You can stow your carry on bag in your cabin, lock you valuable away in your safe, and get a head start on your rest and relaxation. You can walk around the ship and get the "lay of the land" so you can navigate getting to where you want to go easier once your cruise actually begins. You can find a comfortable spot and people watch, or read a book, or listen to music on your headphones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mica178 Posted July 9 Author #6 Share Posted July 9 We will be in the YC. Last year, we arrived 3 hours before the sail time, and a lightning storm kept us stuck in the YC waiting area for 90 minutes waiting for the computer system to come back online. My butler kept us swimming in champagne and juice and nuts, but my husband wasn't amused. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamieLogical Posted July 9 #7 Share Posted July 9 I always like to get to the ship by the time they start boarding or shortly thereafter. On MSC, you can't make specialty dining reservations in advance, so I like to get there before everything books up. Also, on MSC, you have assigned dining times in the MDR for Fantastica and Bella and I want to find out my assigned time and get to the table to have it changed, if desired. The earlier the better for that. But the main reason I like to be onboard ASAP is to start getting my unlimited food, drinks, and entertainment that I have paid for. Why would I pay for a lunch on land when I've already paid for lunch on the ship? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kad56 Posted July 9 #8 Share Posted July 9 As early a possible. I like to have breakfast in the hotel and the head over to ship, largely because I want to get started on my included food by lunch. I like to explore the ship on the first day, and I actually make checklists of things I want to see based on cruisecritic and youtube videos. So I'm spending my first day exploring, eating, and lounging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted July 9 #9 Share Posted July 9 (edited) I'm with your husband. I prefer to arrive late because it makes embarkation day feel less chaotic. Check in lines have usually died down, with zero to minimal wait time. Once onboard, I can go straight to my stateroom because it will be ready. I can drop my carry ons and head to the closest bar and grab a drink. And if we want to grab a quick bite at the buffet, the mad rush from those arriving early will have died down as well. It just feels much more relaxing. On our last MSC cruise (Seashore in June), we were traveling with family who arrived at the port around 11:30am. They were texting us, telling us how insane the check in line was, and what a cluster parking was, and how the buffet was packed with people and their carry ons, etc, etc. In the meantime, we grabbed a quick bite before heading to the port and arrived at 2:30pm. We walked into a completely deserted terminal. Zero lines. We went from curbside to our stateroom in maybe 10 minutes maximum. Edited July 9 by Tapi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Illbcruzn4life Posted July 10 #10 Share Posted July 10 7 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said: The drop deadline for embarkation out of the US is 90 minutes prior to departure of the port. Arriving at 3 pm for a 5 pm departure (or something similar) is cutting it close. We sail in YC so can embark as soon as it begins...usually around 11, but I've seen it pushed back to noon due to difficulties in clearing the ship. As such, we arrive around 10:30. I don't know if this is a solid argument or not but for me, I want to make the most of the first day so we do so at the earliest possible moment. To your husband's point, when we've embarked via the YC butler escort, we've done so past hoards of people waiting in earnest for their boarding group to be called. I've witnessed groups of people sitting on the floor in some cases because the waiting area was so crowded. I would not want to do this AT ALL so if it was between sitting on the floor or arriving later, I'd pick arriving later. All that to say, I highly recommend YC if you can swing it. when we last cruised in June they told us we had to be onboard 2 hours before departure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted July 10 #11 Share Posted July 10 I believe if you arrive after 2pm there will not be porters to take your luggage and you will have to handle it all yourself boarding. MSC does state you should be checked in 2 hours before sailing. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted July 10 #12 Share Posted July 10 Of course it depends on when the ship is scheduled to depart and even more important when it's scheduled to arrive. Normally around 10. We want to be the first to board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted July 10 #13 Share Posted July 10 13 hours ago, mica178 said: My husband is one of those people who likes to arrive for flights/trains/cruises at the last moment. He doesn't like to sit and wait. He doesn't see the point to arriving for our cruise much more than a couple hours prior to departure. So since MSC says that our cruise departs at 5PM, he thinks 3PM is the earliest time he wants to get to the terminal. Give me a solid argument for arriving earlier. What is there to do on board on embarkation day? Yes, I know, the sooner we get there, the sooner we get to use the services we already paid for, but if they're on reduced services, then he's not going to be convinced. 1. Cruise with someone else! or 2. You don't have to check in together so if you want to be early go early and tell him to go with you or later, whatever he prefers. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBeardedCruiser Posted July 11 #14 Share Posted July 11 On 7/9/2024 at 6:14 PM, mica178 said: We will be in the YC. Last year, we arrived 3 hours before the sail time, and a lightning storm kept us stuck in the YC waiting area for 90 minutes waiting for the computer system to come back online. My butler kept us swimming in champagne and juice and nuts, but my husband wasn't amused. I hope that you can make it work. Marriage requires compromise, by both parties, daily! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preziosa Posted July 11 #15 Share Posted July 11 Tell your husbond that he has payed fully Price for the first Day, so Why not eat and drink for the money you already did pay for the Cruise. You Can have your cabin already around 1 o clock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 11 #16 Share Posted July 11 On 7/9/2024 at 9:04 PM, mica178 said: My husband is one of those people who likes to arrive for flights/trains/cruises at the last moment. He doesn't like to sit and wait. He doesn't see the point to arriving for our cruise much more than a couple hours prior to departure. So since MSC says that our cruise departs at 5PM, he thinks 3PM Well, it depends on the port, but if you arrive between 11 and 1 the waiting time can be really really long and your husband will never do this again 😄 After 1 pm the lines get much shorter and after 2 they are basically inexistent as @Tapi wrote. So 2pm would be a fair deal for both of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegeek1974 Posted July 11 #17 Share Posted July 11 Does having an Aurea cabin mean you get to skip some of the boarding lines for your scheduled boarding time, or does it give you the ability to arrive and board at any time AND skip some of the lines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted July 11 #18 Share Posted July 11 Once you get in the door there should be a sign for Diamond/Aurea and you will skip some of the line. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kad56 Posted July 12 #19 Share Posted July 12 2 hours ago, Essiesmom said: Once you get in the door there should be a sign for Diamond/Aurea and you will skip some of the line. EM What ships have you seen this on? There was nothing special for diamond/aurea on my recent Magnifica sailing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted July 12 #20 Share Posted July 12 17 minutes ago, kad56 said: What ships have you seen this on? There was nothing special for diamond/aurea on my recent Magnifica sailing. Port Canaveral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Zippyjet Posted July 12 #21 Share Posted July 12 If I have a choice, my perfect time for embarkation would be between 1230 to 1330 hours. I always cruise out of Port Miami and am coming from Miami Beach. On embarkation day, I like to work out in the pool and take a dip in the ocean then shower, checking out of my hotel and getting a LYFT to the port. I usually ask for a late check out Noon as opposed to 1100. During the 1230-1330 window almost all of the disembarking passengers have left the port and it's right before the main crunch embark 1400-1500. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonsterJoe Posted July 12 #22 Share Posted July 12 (edited) 8 hours ago, Essiesmom said: Port Canaveral Right - and also if you have a mobility challenge (or in our case baby in a stroller), you also get to skip that line before the door in order to take the elevator. Our embarkation in Aurea at Port Canaveral was faster than our YC 🙂 Edited July 12 by MonsterJoe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 12 #23 Share Posted July 12 13 hours ago, cruisegeek1974 said: Does having an Aurea cabin mean you get to skip some of the boarding lines for your scheduled boarding time, or does it give you the ability to arrive and board at any time AND skip some of the lines? It is different from port to port. There are many options how MSC handles it, more than this two 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamieLogical Posted July 12 #24 Share Posted July 12 13 hours ago, cruisegeek1974 said: Does having an Aurea cabin mean you get to skip some of the boarding lines for your scheduled boarding time, or does it give you the ability to arrive and board at any time AND skip some of the lines? I can say with certainty that out of Brooklyn, there is a separate check-in line for Aurea/Diamond that allows you skip the long rat-maze line for check-in. Once through check-in, if boarding has not begun, then there is a seating section for Aurea/Diamond and people seated in that section are boarded before the other passengers. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegeek1974 Posted July 12 #25 Share Posted July 12 Thanks for the replies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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