Perfect time to arrive at dock?

[MiamiNicole]

We will be on the Caribbean Princess for the Dec 26th (New Year's Sailing).
What time do you think would be ideal for us to arrive at dock. We will all be at my parents house that week and it is only 5 minutes from port everglades. We do have 1 foreign citizen and 1 resident visa holder in our group, so will that take our group a bit longer? Thanks for you expertise and imput, we appreciate it!!

[BJS]

Shouldn't take any longer for them if all paper work has been filled out. They will check everyone's passports or other id.

We like to arrive around 11:30 so we are onboard for lunch around 12:30. There may be more people arriving at that time and if you don't want to risk standing in line arrive several hours later.

[cynbar]

We also like to arrive early. That gives us plenty of time to explore the ship, have lunch, as well as get first shot at reservations for the spa and the specialty restaurants. The first afternoon is always very festive, and it's nice to be settled in and ready for sailaway. Even when we have seen a line, embarkation always seems to go quickly with Princess, so I don't think one time is better than another to avoid lines.

[JanetMarie]

We like to board around 12:30. The "cattle crowd" has gone through and it seems the rest of the passengers trickle in at that point in time. ;)

[solsticebride]

I agree, we have arrived at the port between 11:00 and 11:30 both times and eventhough it was a little crowded, we were on the ship within an hour each time.

I have heard, however, that you can get right on if you go later in the afternoon....

[spongerob]

If you can stand the wait (I can't) try to arrive around 12:30. That way you won't have to stand outside in the heat. It does take a few minutes longer for a resident card even if you've got all the paperwork filled out on line. They'll want to see the card and will write your number down again on your passage ticket. I've never figured out why, but that's what they do.

[ericosmith]

Would these times hold true even though the Personalizer says 1:00?

[katisdale]

Boy are we in for a long day. Our flight arrives in Miami at 8:30 AM. We bought the Princess transfers so we are hoping for a slow ride to the port so we don't have to stand and wait too long. Should I bring a chair?

[randolph]

You'll arrive at port about 10:30 if your flight arrives at 8:30.
For us that is when we prefer to arrive. Let's my wife be one
of the first on the ship. Wolrks for us. Nothing to fret over.