Star Embarkation Advice

[dyslexic pirate]

We don't often get the luxory of flying into our port and staying very near the dock the day before we sail.

 

Next Friday night we will fly to LA in anticipation of boarding the Star all bright eyed and bushy tailed from a good night's rest.

 

Our kids love getting on the ship early and essentially having an "extra" day on board.

 

I have a friend who was trying to board the Star yesterday and she called from the dock about 11am and said it was a mob scene with a long wait.

 

I'd like to avoid all that. We do have latitudes and possibly VIP embarkation (I've heard yes & no on VIP embarkation - so won't know for sure until we get there).

 

Does anyone who's recently been on the Star have a feel for the best time to get there to check in? We could always hang out in our hotel for a bit and then head over to avoid the lines. But I know my kids will be antsy to get over to the ship....:)

[suzyed]

We don't often get the luxory of flying into our port and staying very near the dock the day before we sail.

 

Next Friday night we will fly to LA in anticipation of boarding the Star all bright eyed and bushy tailed from a good night's rest.

 

Our kids love getting on the ship early and essentially having an "extra" day on board.

 

I have a friend who was trying to board the Star yesterday and she called from the dock about 11am and said it was a mob scene with a long wait.

 

I'd like to avoid all that. We do have latitudes and possibly VIP embarkation (I've heard yes & no on VIP embarkation - so won't know for sure until we get there).

 

Does anyone who's recently been on the Star have a feel for the best time to get there to check in? We could always hang out in our hotel for a bit and then head over to avoid the lines. But I know my kids will be antsy to get over to the ship....:)

Well I can tell you about our experience last May on our first NCL cruise. It was the first sailing to Alaska out of Seattle for the year.

 

We arrived at port about 12 noon and it was BEDLAM!! No (or very few) porters available. DH did find one to take our luggage along with a generous tip. The porter pointed to a table over to the right of the very long line snaking around the building.

 

They let us check in there and gave us a number and told us to wait until we were callled. Then I see them wisk thru two other couples, while pronouncing them "VIP's"! So we went back to the fairly unfriendly ladies at the table and told them WE are VIP's too(being in a suite)! Well then we were wisked thru to the security check point!!

 

It's nice being a VIP!!

 

Also, if you are a VIP, you can have lunch in Cagney's rather than in the Market Cafe or Versailles dining room! Nobody told us that before we sailing.

[swedish weave]

We don't often get the luxory of flying into our port and staying very near the dock the day before we sail.

 

Next Friday night we will fly to LA in anticipation of boarding the Star all bright eyed and bushy tailed from a good night's rest.

 

Our kids love getting on the ship early and essentially having an "extra" day on board.

 

I have a friend who was trying to board the Star yesterday and she called from the dock about 11am and said it was a mob scene with a long wait.

 

I'd like to avoid all that. We do have latitudes and possibly VIP embarkation (I've heard yes & no on VIP embarkation - so won't know for sure until we get there).

 

Does anyone who's recently been on the Star have a feel for the best time to get there to check in? We could always hang out in our hotel for a bit and then head over to avoid the lines. But I know my kids will be antsy to get over to the ship....:)

 

With Lattitudes you should get on board pretty fast if you get there around 11 to 11;30. The rooms won't be ready but you can ask about stashing your bags and enjoy exploring. If you have anyone in your party who is hadicapped or VIP, it is faster. The Market cafe is a mob scene at times, but if you go to the Versailles for lunch, it is quieter.

[faymuiheng]

Hi,

 

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza last sept when we sailed for Mexico. When we asked the shuttle bus coordinator at the hotel, they suggested we wait til about 12noon to leave hotel or shortly before that. By doing so, you avoid the mad panic to get there first. Like the saying goes, "hurry up , so we can wait" ends up being the case at the pier. When we left the hotel at the suggested time, we didn't have to wait very long in the line up in the pier, and they were already in the boarding stage.

 

PS. good tip, is to eat in the dining room upon embarkation. Less of a crowd, and you get served. better seated and being served, than that of carrying your carry on at the buffet and looking for a seat.

 

have fun!

[Arwenmark]

I sailed the Star in Dec and got there at 11:00 they started boarding about 11:30 or so, I got right on behind suite guests since I am in a WC. But otherwise would have been either Latitudes, [long line] or balcony line.

 

Also just for the record the day you board is not an "Extra" day it is in fact the first day of the cruise you have paid for, you have to be off the ship the last day by 10 at the very latest usually and nothing is open for you then either. So that first day is it.

[garycarla]

Though it is great to get onboard early, you do risk the chance that two thousand other people have the same idea. So, even if it is well organized, you could face issues. And, if a third of the ship is also lattitudes, that too could backfire.

 

With that said, we tend to get there somewhat early, but not too early and have had pretty good luck. In Miami there was a big crowd at the door and we stood there for 30 minutes, then sat in chairs for 30 minutes but not bad. In less frequent NCL ports, the experience may not be so good.

[Gatorj]

We sailed last week 2/14-2/21 and arrived at the port at 11:15. We were in the boarding group "11" and were on board by 11:45am. Yes, there were a lot of people, but boarding was not a zoo and it was an easy process.

 

Have fun!

[dyslexic pirate]

I sailed the Star in Dec and got there at 11:00 they started boarding about 11:30 or so, I got right on behind suite guests since I am in a WC. But otherwise would have been either Latitudes, [long line] or balcony line.

 

Also just for the record the day you board is not an "Extra" day it is in fact the first day of the cruise you have paid for, you have to be off the ship the last day by 10 at the very latest usually and nothing is open for you then either. So that first day is it.

 

 

 

Thank you for the clarification about the first day. We knew it was the official first day of the cruise but usually we fly in the same day we board and that always seems to waste the "first" day. That's why we are excited about actually already being in LA when the ship sails in and we can board much earlier than usual.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I think we will leave the hotel on a shuttle about 11am and keep our fingers crossed. It sounds as though right now the worst case sceanario looks like manybe 45 minutes from the time we arrive at the dock to being on board based on everything y'all said.

[knharris22277]

Is a mini-suite considered a suite and therefore a VIP for boarding? I have heard conflicting answers on what qualifies as a suite.

 

If a minisuite is a "true" suite, does anyone know what the VIP perks are?

[Caleo]

We just got off of the Star on the 14th...our Embarkation was confusing at best. We arrived at 11, there was a steady flow of people, but the NCL employees could not be found in the mass of people coming off of the security lines, so no one knew to grab a number, get in line and then wait for the number to be called. There was literally a group of 50 wandering the terminal before someone told them what to do. There was no one in the Latitudes line, however...so if you have it you should be able to walk on through!

[Arwenmark]

Is a mini-suite considered a suite and therefore a VIP for boarding? I have heard conflicting answers on what qualifies as a suite.

 

If a minisuite is a "true" suite, does anyone know what the VIP perks are?

 

No a minisuite is not a true suite and it doesn't get priorty VIP boarding it boards instead with the other balcony cabins there is a separate line for balcony and minisuites. They also get a dedicated hot line to the front desk on the room phone and can eat breakfast in Aqua dining room. all the balconies can.

[noeldog]

Arwenmark: Is there a special room for suite quests to sign in. We are in an AE in Dec. and in Miami it was like this and very fast

[LifeisbutaDream85]

No a minisuite is not a true suite and it doesn't get priorty VIP boarding it boards instead with the other balcony cabins there is a separate line for balcony and minisuites. They also get a dedicated hot line to the front desk on the room phone and can eat breakfast in Aqua dining room. all the balconies can.

I did not know this, thank you for the information =)

[dyslexic pirate]

We are keeping our fingers crossed (but not holding our breath) that we will get VIP embarkation again this cruise.

 

Our last cruise we didn't realize we had it and were very surprised (and startled at first!) when they whisked us away from the check in counter and off to a private room with snacks and beverages. Being escorted onto the ship early was also a special treat. That really ruined it for us...that VIP treatment is really neat.

 

We were in a regular Balcony room but NCL surprised us VIP status because we've helped book a lot of group cruises for them. We are just a family this time/no group but it would be neat to experience the VIP check in again. If you ever the chance to experience it you will really love it!:)

 

We've always thought the Latitudes line was pretty special too!

[terrymtex01]

Arwenmark: Is there a special room for suite quests to sign in. We are in an AE in Dec. and in Miami it was like this and very fast

 

I'm not Arwenmark but hopefully Arwenmark won't mind me answering you. When you are being lead into the terminal, look for a sign that says something like " Penthouse Suites, Owner Suites and Garden Villa's". There should be an NCL rep standing next to the line and you will just want to tell them you are in a suite. They have a list so they will ask your name or cabin number or both and then will have someone escort you to the VIP lounge. That at least is how it was for us this past Oct in Miami... it might could change between now and Dec.

[suzyed]

Is a mini-suite considered a suite and therefore a VIP for boarding? I have heard conflicting answers on what qualifies as a suite.

 

If a minisuite is a "true" suite, does anyone know what the VIP perks are?

Nope! :(

[deepnite10]

in san pedro..after going thru security you directed into a line and

given a number..

 

we got their at 10:30..and there were as many passenger s waiting in

the Latitudes line as any other..we waited nearly a hr befor boarding started..

 

there was a seperate waiting area for VIP s..we were told so by some snob who was sitting there making sure noone sat in one of the chairs..his

smugness could have gotten himself a free sandwich..

 

worst part was that there were no rest room s in the waiting area..you had go around and back out of security..then go thru security again when

you were done..all the time NCL was nice enough to be giving out

juice s and coffee..:confused: