Dover boarding

We are sailing on the Braemar (30th June Amsterdam mini cruise) and was wondering are they strict with boarding?

When we have sailed P&O from Southampton our tickets have usually state 3pm-4pm boarding but we have always arrived at the terminal before midday and have always been on the ship before 1pm.

Our tickets this time say 5pm boarding and that boarding closes at 6pm???

Do you mean 30th May?

If so I am on this too. Braemar does not return from her fjords cruise until mid/late morning so embarkation times that day are later than usual.

Fred. Olsen does not usually start boarding until 2pm, unlike P&O where boarding starts at noon with lunch offered.

With a late arrival in Dover embarkation times are later. I have been given the same time as you! :D

We are sailing on the Braemar (30th June Amsterdam mini cruise) and was wondering are they strict with boarding?

Short answer, yes.

No point in turning up hours early, you will not be boarding much if any before the printed time and often even a little later.

There is no lunch service available anyway, even if boarding time was earlier, the first food service is afternoon tea.

The only consolation is that it's far more comfortable and civilized waiting in the Dover terminal than Southampton terminal which could turn out to be a warehouse with hard cafe-type chairs and no refreshments.

Sounds good for our Braemar cruise on 9 Aug then as she is coming in from a French River cruise.