Getting on early

[jessica3306]

My friend is going on their first cruise in March with Royal and I was telling her we are going on our first one with Carnival and we can get on early the day of departing around 11ish for lunch and explore and then get to room whenever they are available.

 

Are you able to do this on Royal??

 

Thanks!

[Dockman123]

Providing the ship cleared customs right away and they get all the passengers off. We usually try and get there around noon and have lunch in the Windjammer buffet.

 

Occasionally there is a problem and it could be a little later.

[CynLovesCrusing]

We were very lucky on our NOS cruise this past week. We got there about 10:15 and due to (my co-traveler being diamond) priority boarding we were onboard before 11:00. We were the 5th & 6th persons onboard.

[wrp96]

As long as there were no issues with previous cruise, boarding typically begins between 11 and 12pm.

[jessica3306]

Thanks guys i will be sure to tell her ;)

[Happy ks]

Make sure to tell her not to carry on a whole lot if she plans on boarding early. Most of the time you have to keep your things with you until the cabins are open, around 1pm.

 

We see some people care free with only a small tote, others with rollaboards and large totes they have to drag along everywhere.

 

We've started boarding later rather than earlier (but it's not our first time) and have found we prefer this. We don't miss the buffet lunch, it's usually still there until just before muster anyway. Sometimes we stop and have lunch on the way to the ship. We've also found that our bags are in our cabin within minutes of boarding, perhaps a coincidence.