Emergency Notification for Embarkation

[espmass]

I just got an "emergency notification" from Princess telling me not to arrive before noon for my Dawn 9/30 departure and that any cars arriving before noon would be turned away from the port. I realize boarding is noon but we have always arrived early for all our cruises (never out of San Diego though) and have always been thrilled to get on early when the ship was ready. Is this something new? Does anyone know if they stick by this? Thanks.

[MichCook]

Can't help you. Never left out of San Diego. Never had a problem arriving to the Port early in Ft. Lauderdale....although, we've never driven our car to the port.

[cactusrose]

This Dawn will be traveling from San Francisco to San Diego on the 29th. This is the first cruise out of San Diego so my guess is they want to be sure to have enough time to reach port and take care set up in the new location before allowing passengers on board for the new itinerary. Or, maybe it's just as simple as they won't be there before noon.

[Cruisin' Chick]

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who's recently sailed out of SD.

 

I know that our docs on our last cruise (back in 2005) it said not to arrive in San Pedro before 1pm. We didn't follow this and got there at 12:15pm (traffic kept us from arriving even earlier). There was absolutely no waiting. We were immediately escorted to a waiting check-in clerk and was onboard the ship a short time later.

[wrp96]

Also, that week is Fleet Week in San Diego. I expect that the area around the pier will be filled to the brim.

 

I saw this post on the West Coast Departures board

 

There will also be Navy ships with open houses that weekend on Broadway pier (which used to be an every weekend event before 9/11) so it remain crowded in the cruise ship pier area for that whole weekend. This may impact somewhat getting from the hotel to the ship with traffic if you are going out on Sunday, but the road will not be closed that day.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Okay, that would make sense. That's good that they are informing people that there may be a problem. But you would think they would want to stagger the arrivals, rather than have everyone arrive at the same time.

[TM]

We are sailing out of SF on the 26th of this month on the Coral Princess and got the same notification. In the past we have always been on board by noon or 12:30 at the latest. We are supposed to be sailing at 4:00 PM so it doesn't leave much time to board. This may be a new policy that Princess has started.

[Crown Prince]

Also, that week is Fleet Week in San Diego. I expect that the area around the pier will be filled to the brim.

I saw this post on the West Coast Departures board

 

Ahhh, yes - Fleet Week.

 

Memories of Tailhook 1974 in Las Vegas. Those were the Days, My Friend! ;)

[lazycruzer]

We are on same ship. Thought the change in embarkation was due to Coral arrive in SF from Vancouver at 10:00 AM instead of the normal 7/8am. Thought it would take time to disembark Vancouver to SF people and clean cabins.

There is NO room except an 8/10 foot wide by 100 ft long sidewalk on a very busy street to get cars/limos/taxi/shutttle/buses loaded and unloaded to walk into pier 35. Also 2 other cruise ships in SF, 1 also arrives at about 10Am

 

Get me on the ship!

[geoherb]

We had a last-minute notification to not arrive until after 1 p.m. for our cruise last December leaving from Fort Lauderdale. The problem with that cruise was there was a noro outbreak on the previous cruise. They did not want the terminal to get too crowded while they were cleaning the ship more thoroughly--although it ended up doing so.

[ArizonaRalphie]

When we're driving to our embarkation port we always like to arrive early and have a "tail gate" party with burgers, brats, potato salad and beer. We usually invite all the other early arrivers.

[Ula]

When sailing out of San Pedro we get the same notification if two cruise ship are at the terminal at the same time.

[donna5]

Remember, if you need any type of assistance at all, wheelchairs etc. do not go before they tell you to. There is nowhere to sit and all you do is hear people complain that Princess should be prepared for them. Well that is why they tell you to wait until the time they state. Also the customs/imigration or security will be taking breaks and won't start until their d*** ready to.

[Gone Cruising]

We sailed out of San Diego on the Oosterdam. There was one other ship embarking at the time and we tried to get to the ship at noon...wow what a traffic jam there was. It took us over an hour to get from the airport, which you can see from the ship, to the terminal. It may be because their trying to reduce the traffic.

[TM]

Lazycruzer, you have posted on our roll call. Looking forward to meeting you at our meet and greet on Thursday the 27th. We are coming from the East Bay and will probably plan on getting to the ship around 12:30 or so. I agree with you, just get us on the ship!!

[flacruiser]

Very small terminal in San Diego.

[lazycruzer]

Lazycruzer, you have posted on our roll call. Looking forward to meeting you at our meet and greet on Thursday the 27th. We are coming from the East Bay and will probably plan on getting to the ship around 12:30 or so. I agree with you, just get us on the ship!!

TM..

I'm having hard time being patient about this cruise. Waited 20 years for this one. Do you really think you will be able to board at 12:30 with Coral arriving at 10AM. I would try it(coming from San Mateo) if you can so me how you get around the delayed embarkation. Are you elite or platinum? I'm just gold.

Traveiling with DH and DBIN. both have MAJOR back problems. Can't stand for long periods of time. Dbin can't walk,sit for long periods of time. Don't want to spend the cruise with DH and dbin both stuck in cabin for 15 days. Suggestions?

[Trey]

The terminal is San Diego is small. Very little room for buses, taxis, plus those dropping off. The traffic is horrible. Parking is a mess. I would arrive later rather than eariler and save yourself a huge hassle. Yes, your excited to be on your trip, but standing for hours in a chaotic environment is no way to start a vacation. We arrived at noon for our Celebrity Infinity cruise. 2 ships in port. Took almost 2 hrs to get on board. Had we arrived after 3pm, we would have been on board in 15 minutes.

[lazycruzer]

thanks trey,

I am really leaning to later boarding with my family.. I just hate to miss a moment on the ship. But I would NEVER want to ruin the cruise with a long wait.

[espmass]

Sounds like boarding will be a real problem between the small pier, the extra ships, Fleet Week, and traffic jams. Guess we'll opt to meet some friends for lunch in San Diego and get to the pier on the later side. I always prefer to get on early, get unpacked and organized, and get my bearings before we sail but I'll manage. Sure sounds like it will be bedlam with most the ship boarding at once rather than staggered out since we sail at 4.