What Time Does the Fantasy Begin Boarding?

[Rowan555]

In the past we were always on the ship by 11:30 or so - but on our last cruise out of Galveston we weren't able to board until around 2 PM. I'm hoping we'll be able to get onto the Fantasy sooner than that! If anyone has cruised out of NOLA since the Fantasy got here, please tell me what time you were able to board (and how early I should arrive at the port). Thanks!

 

Susan

[BrendaB1]

Several recent reviews have been posted about Fantasy. Boarding time should be at usual time. Galveston has nothing to do with it. We were onbaord Conquest last month by noon. Must have been something going on the day you boarded to make it so late.

[jetskier]

Hi Susan,

Shoot for 11am. We got there around 11ish. Processing went okay other than having four different people to include the porter check our tickets. Once you process through security and are issued your S&S card, they will seat you down in rows. After the VIPs board, they will then take the first row and then the second row. Your photo for the S&S is taken once you enter the ship.

 

Getting back into NOLA, we were very early. Just because you are early does not mean they will let you off. We had to wait for everyone to show up at the terminal before they started letting anyone off. Hopefully you will have better luck with your luggage if not doing self-disembark. Ours ended up in four different rows. There was about 10 rows of luggage for each color tag. Make sure you grab a porter at the door where you make the right turn to retrieve your luggage. If not, you wont get one.

 

Dave

[truecruiser]

in my experience, they always start embarkation as soon as they clear customs (from the previous sailing), get everyone off of the ship, and get LIDO cleaned up. this has even been true when the cabins aren't ready. in these cases, they merly leave the passageway doors locked until the cabin stewards have finished the block. passengers tend to head up to LIDO for lunch and during disembarkation, you'll note that they start preparing LIDO deck for the next sailing right away (even before you are off of the ship).it always seems that they wld rather get the embarkation process started sooner, rather than later, if at all possible despite the guidelines for embarkation times on the back cover of the carnival book. so it'll depend on how "on time" the previous sailing is (unless it has to share a slip like the fantasy and elation did b/4 repositioning, a rare occurrence (i hope)) and how fast the ship clears customs. remember, it only takes one passenger to mess things up, but things usually go smoothly.

[Rowan555]

We're planning to do self-assist to disembark - my husband has to work that day, so we're hoping to be off the ship and on the way home by 8 or so!

 

Thanks for the information - we'll plan to leave home around 10:15 or so and get to the port area by 10:45. I'd rather sit and wait than not be in that first row :)

[jetskier]

We're planning to do self-assist to disembark - my husband has to work that day, so we're hoping to be off the ship and on the way home by 8 or so!

 

Susan,

8:45 to 9 will be more realistic.

 

Dave

[Avril]

I have only sailed Carnival out of Miami and only Princess out of Ft. Lauderdale. My next cruise on Legend leaves from Lauderdale and I was just wondering, does anyone know what time Carnival starts boarding in Lauderdale? We are flying in that morning and should be at the airport in Lauderdale around 9am (them we have to pick up our luggage, go through custems and immagration unless we do that in Toronto, etc.). Is that to early to go to the port? If so, what should we do in Lauderddale to pass the time?

[blakeamy]

Susan,

8:45 to 9 will be more realistic.

 

Dave

 

They started letting us off at about 7:45. We were out of the terminal by 8. They started with the empress deck and made their way down. We carried our luggage off. Some people that checked their luggage tried to sneak off with the self assist group, but they were sent back to the ship.

[crazycruzer68]

We're planning to do self-assist to disembark - my husband has to work that day, so we're hoping to be off the ship and on the way home by 8 or so!

 

Thanks for the information - we'll plan to leave home around 10:15 or so and get to the port area by 10:45. I'd rather sit and wait than not be in that first row :)

 

 

 

Sure sounds like you are a local, do you mind helping with hotel recommendations for me.

[Rowan555]

Sure sounds like you are a local, do you mind helping with hotel recommendations for me.

 

Are you looking to stay within walking distance / short cab ride from the terminal, or are you open to staying in the Frennch Quarter?

[crazycruzer68]

I would like to find a hotel that will allow us to park our car there while we are on the ship and hopefully provide a shuttle service, do you know of any hotels offering this?

[Rok4u2]

Check-in starts about 10:30 when all the stations are up and running. Boarding starts no earlier than 11:15 and sometimes a little later. Lido Deck opens for lunch at 11:30. Passengers will be allowed to go their cabins about 1:00. I work the embarkation process, so I will see you there. :)

[jetskier]

They started letting us off at about 7:45. We were out of the terminal by 8. They started with the empress deck and made their way down. We carried our luggage off. Some people that checked their luggage tried to sneak off with the self assist group, but they were sent back to the ship.

 

You lucked up then. We had to wait on Customs and the terminal people to show up on the Oct 30th sailing. They must have gotten things a little more streamlined. It will be interesting when we sail next week as the QE2 and Fantasy are both in port at the same time. The QE2 will only be there as a port of call.

Dave

[jetskier]

Check-in starts about 10:30 when all the stations are up and running. Boarding starts no earlier than 11:15 and sometimes a little later. Lido Deck opens for lunch at 11:30. Passengers will be allowed to go their cabins about 1:00. I work the embarkation process, so I will see you there. :)

 

Hi Robert,

I looked for you on Oct 30th but I couldnt jump the ropes to get to the VIP room. I have two more cruises to go before I get Platinum and the VIP checkin.

 

I do have a question for you. For NCL, how are they seperating the Latitudes passengers from the first timers?

 

Dave

[Rok4u2]

Dave, I am sorry, but I can not answer your question. NCL has different people working the ships. I only work the FANTASY.

[JudyKa]

Rok, do you work the VIP desk? I'm not going to bombard you with questions.... just excited about our Dec. 2nd Fantasy cruise coming up and wondering if we were going to see you at that desk.

 

I sure like the way the New Orleans people have it all organized and flowing during embarkation procedure.....they sure did last 2 times I cruised the Conquest and Sensation out of good ole N.O.

[bonniemari]

We meant to get to the port around 11:30 but due to work on I-10 Coming from Biloxi) we didn't get there till 12:00. We had VIP check and boarding and we were on the Lido by 12:15.

 

Judy don't know if it was Rok working the VIP desk, but whomever it was he was really nice and fast.

 

We were on the Empress deck (the same deck you enter to board) and the doors were closed to the cabins. We didn't get around to going to our cabin til about 1:30. But even our friends who did not have VIP were on the ship in 30 minutes.

 

We had VIP debarkation and were off the ship after the self debark about 8:35. One of the social host escorted us off the ship. And yes unless you are self debark don't try to get off the ship. We saw them taking people that had gotten off back to the ship.

 

This was the Nov 9th sailing.

[bp traveler]

We don't fly until 6pm out of NOLA on Monday Nov. 27th.

 

We are looking for a good spot for lunch, any recommendations for lunch and what we should do afterwards?

 

Thanks

[Rowan555]

We don't fly until 6pm out of NOLA on Monday Nov. 27th.

 

We are looking for a good spot for lunch, any recommendations for lunch and what we should do afterwards?

 

Thanks

 

My recommendation is to have lunch at the Gumbo Shop (get a cup of gumbo and the Combination Plate - YUM) and then wander around the French Quarter for a few hours. You can take the riverfront streetcar from the Riverwalk to the Quarter if you don't want to walk. Gumbo Shop is to the left of St Louis Cathedral, about half a block past the cathedral at 630 St. Peter St. You won't get a better creole style meal anywhere, and it's very reasonable. Check out the French Market for some shopping, and walk up Royal Street to see some neat art galleries and antique shops. We love the French Quarter - it's one of the reasons I won't leave NOLA!

 

Susan

[Paladin]

Hi Robert. We will be sailing on the 12/7 Fantasy and we have VIP boarding so I hope to meet you. Since we are in a cat 12 and we are also Platinum, does that mean that we get to be escorted twice? :D

[Rok4u2]

Yes, that is me, in the VIP Lounge. Thanks for the compliment. I look forward to serving all the Cat 11 & 12 and Platinum guests. My co-worker and I enjoy this assignment. Sometimes during Debarkation I am at the end of the gangway to greet the passengers getting off the ship.

[NDalfrey]

We were on the November 9th sailing with Bonnie and we arrived at the pier at 11:25 and we were on the ship at 11:45...easiest ever, and we were not VIP.

We did self assist and we too were on the Empress deck (first deck called) and we were driving out of the parking garage at 7:55...too easy. We are looking to book the Fantasy again, we loved it.

 

Have fun everyone....

[BrendaB1]

My recommendation is to have lunch at the Gumbo Shop (get a cup of gumbo and the Combination Plate - YUM) and then wander around the French Quarter for a few hours. You can take the riverfront streetcar from the Riverwalk to the Quarter if you don't want to walk. Gumbo Shop is to the left of St Louis Cathedral, about half a block past the cathedral at 630 St. Peter St. You won't get a better creole style meal anywhere, and it's very reasonable. Check out the French Market for some shopping, and walk up Royal Street to see some neat art galleries and antique shops. We love the French Quarter - it's one of the reasons I won't leave NOLA!

 

Susan

 

I totally agree. Can't wait to get back there. Always a must do on my list.

[BrendaB1]

Yes, that is me, in the VIP Lounge. Thanks for the compliment. I look forward to serving all the Cat 11 & 12 and Platinum guests. My co-worker and I enjoy this assignment. Sometimes during Debarkation I am at the end of the gangway to greet the passengers getting off the ship.

 

Look forward to meeting you. You will have several of us on Jan 8th. Look for the purple shirts that have CC on them.

[BrendaB1]

I would like to find a hotel that will allow us to park our car there while we are on the ship and hopefully provide a shuttle service, do you know of any hotels offering this?

 

Good luck with that. Parking is always at a premium in Nola. Several hotels used to offer free or reduced rates on parking before Katrina. Hilton-Riverside was one & Holiday Inn but the cruise packages went away. You may try calling some of the major hotels and asking. They never showed them on the websites. Lots of info on the City, hotels, food, entertainment can be found at www.nola.com Maybe with the cruise ships & visitors returning, some of the hotel will start offering the packages again.