Boarding time on Pearl

[Uno Mas]

Does anyone know how early you can board on the Pearl. We are leaving March 11th on the 5 day Western Carribean cruise. Since the ship doesn't sail until around 8pm we feel it's not really a day on the ship. We would like to get there early so we can maximize our time on the ship.

 

We asked our travel agent, but she wasn't much help....

 

Thanks!

[NCL_Cruiser]

Does anyone know how early you can board on the Pearl. We are leaving March 11th on the 5 day Western Carribean cruise. Since the ship doesn't sail until around 8pm we feel it's not really a day on the ship. We would like to get there early so we can maximize our time on the ship.

 

We asked our travel agent, but she wasn't much help....

 

Thanks!

 

 

You'll be able to board between 3pm and 7pm....

[DRMizzou]

We were on the 5 day Western Caribbean cruise on the Pearl on 2/11 thru 2/16. We received a phone message about 2 days before the cruise that said that contrary to what the cruise docs said, we would not be boarding until 3pm. We had seen on several posts on this board that people had been able to board around 1pm.

 

When we arrived at Miami International Airport at 11am we saw some NCL staff involved with airport to ship transfers. Even though we were not booked on an NCL transfer, we asked them about boarding. They said we could board around 1pm--so we headed for the port.

 

When I gave our luggage to one of the NCL porters, he said "You know, you won't board until around 3pm."

 

 

We went ahead and got in line to check-in. This was about 12:30pm. There were already lots of people there. We wound up waiting in a sitting area with chairs (and refreshments) for about 45 minutes. At 1:15pm, we were allowed to board. This gave us time to put our carry-ons in the stateroom, eat lunch, make some dinner reservations and tour the ship. So we did have a big part of the afternoon on the ship.

 

We then sailed at 8pm.

 

This was our experience on the Pearl 5 day. People (and NCL) keep saying that you won't board until 3pm--but we were on-board by 1:30pm. Others posting on this board have said this also.

 

I would hate to have you go early and then not get on until 3pm--but I wanted you to know about our experience.

[excitedtocruise]

So if you do get to the port, let say at 10:15 a.m. where do you go, is there someone who takes your bags and do you get in some sort of line? We are on the Pearl 3/30, also staying at the Holiday Inn and plan on getting to the port around 10:15, would love to be one of the first in-line, rather than the middle or last. Is this too early?

[Uno Mas]

Thank you both for your input. We'll be driving down, so we are fairly flexible, but would still prefer to get there earlier rather than later. I'll run the information past the rest of our party and we'll make our decision. I guess if we get there too early the parking spaces won't be vacant either!

 

Thanks again! :)

[drewdie]

You cannot board until 3:00 because the 9 day cruise of the Pearl( the cruise the week before the 5 day) does not get into port until 12:00.

[LateCruiser]

You cannot board until 3:00 because the 9 day cruise of the Pearl( the cruise the week before the 5 day) does not get into port until 12:00.

 

Sorry, not correct. The Pearl was docked by 9:00am. We were one of the last one's off arounf 12:15. (This was the Feb 2-11 cruise).:o

[lunyma]

We were able to board the Pearl 5 day cruise on 1/28 at about 12:40 (AFTER checking in and a short wait). And yes... We received the call 2 days earlier at home (although we weren't there) saying that boarding time would be at 3pm...