Embarkment Question?

Our 1st time cruise, just a few questions. Our boarding time is 11:30-12:00 ~ We will have 2 suitcases that we will check with the porter, these will be taken to our room, correct? What about carry-on bags ~ will we need these? What will we do (besides get something to eat) while waiting to get access to our room? Should we carry-on any bags? Also, we purchased the 'Cheers' package ~ what do we show that we have this package? Will this be on our card, do we get a wristband....etc. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Yes your bags will be delivered to your room. Carry on should have your cruise documents and wine if you are bringing it and we always put our prescriptions on our carry on. Depending on what ship you are getting on if they give you your card a check in your cheers will be on the card, if it is one of the ships that your cards are left at your room mailbox your boarding pass will do for your cheers. I carry as little as possible when getting on the ship. After lunch take a walk around and see what the ship has to offer.

Hi

Keep important stuff , documents, valuables, electronics, medications, etc...in your carry on. Everything else can go into your checked bags. These bags at times may be delivered "late" to your cabin. Some people don't get them before dinner, so you might want to keep a change of clothes in your carry on.

Most people head to the buffets once they are on board. If you are not very hungry, waiting till later, will see a thinning of the crowds.

People do different things according to their taste once on board. It's a large ship, if you have never been on it before you can explore. Many lounge around, go to a top deck and enjoy the view. Be sure to pick up a "Fun Times" which will indicate all organized activities on the ship, as well as all dining and bar venues with their times of operation. Also pick up a small card that is a ship map.

You have Cheers, so you will be able start using the package as soon as you get on board. Normally you would just use your Sign & Sail card. Some ports, the sign and sail card are not issued at check in (the card will be in your cabin mailbox when the cabin is ready for entry), but in that case you will use your "boarding pass" for any purchases. The cheers package will show up automatically on your card or your boarding pass.

If you are not in a rush at all, you are allowed to arrive anytime after your assigned check in time. If you arrive around 1 p.m. there will be little waiting in the check in/boarding process, and by the time you board the ship your cabin will likely be ready.

hope this helps

have a great cruise

We use a backpack for our carry-on, easier to carry (and we use it later as a beach bag when we head to a beach at a port). Inside is all our medications, camera, Kindles, chargers, bathing suits and sunscreen. We have a 2 bottle wine bag that we use too. You'll have to carry it until cabins are ready, usually around 1:30 (unless you purchase FTTF or later when you have become a cruise addict and make it to Platinum - ask me how I know :') )

Best people watching ever! We love to watch the first timers faces as they wander around the ship that first day! We'll often sit at the lobby bar just for that reason.

A lot of people wander and familiarize themselves with the layout of the ship. Find the most important places - dining room, casino, bars, shops, guest services, etc. Have a drink or two or three before the Muster Drill starts (no food or drink allowed during that). Or just sit back and relax in a chair somewhere and get into cruise mode - whatever you do, enjoy!

You have Cheers, so you will be able start using the package as soon as you get on board.

If cruising from Galveston or New York, then Cheers! doesn't kick in until day 2 ... you will have to pay for drinks individually on day one.

Our 1st time cruise, just a few questions. Our boarding time is 11:30-12:00 ~ We will have 2 suitcases that we will check with the porter, these will be taken to our room, correct? What about carry-on bags ~ will we need these? What will we do (besides get something to eat) while waiting to get access to our room? Should we carry-on any bags? Also, we purchased the 'Cheers' package ~ what do we show that we have this package? Will this be on our card, do we get a wristband....etc. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Correction: You have a CHECK-IN time at the terminal for 11:30 - 12:00. That means you will not be able to enter the terminal before 11:30. You cannot choose a boarding time. The boarding time varies, depending on when the arriving ship clears Customs and Debarkation has finished. Boarding might start anywhere between 10:45 - 11:45. On average, it's usually around 11:00. So, with your check-in time of 11:30 -12:00, there's a pretty good chance that boarding will have already started, and you'll be able to board very soon after you check in.

What time are you going to check in?

If cruising from Galveston or New York, then Cheers! doesn't kick in until day 2 ... you will have to pay for drinks individually on day one.

Glad to see this response as I have a question about it. Would it be cheaper to buy the Cheers on the boat the next day since they prorate the price when you do that. Otherwise, if you preordered it and can’t use it until the next day you pay a higher price. Right? Or does it even itself out. I know you pay more on the ship for it, but only pay for 4 days not 5 like when you preorder because it goes by duration of the trip, which is 5 in my case. Help!!!!

If we don't have Faster to the Fun (therefore don't have immediate access to our cabin upon boarding) we will check all bags and only carry a small bag with our passports, boarding passes, medication, contacts, laptop, and iPad. Since the cabins aren't ready until around 1:30, we will have to carry this around with us until we can drop it off at our cabin.

My husband and I usually grab something to eat at the buffet and then explore the ship until we have access to our cabin. Then we drop off our bag and unpack our luggage if it has arrived. If not, we continue exploring the ship until the muster drill.

Glad to see this response as I have a question about it. Would it be cheaper to buy the Cheers on the boat the next day since they prorate the price when you do that. Otherwise, if you preordered it and can’t use it until the next day you pay a higher price. Right? Or does it even itself out. I know you pay more on the ship for it, but only pay for 4 days not 5 like when you preorder because it goes by duration of the trip, which is 5 in my case. Help!!!!

If you're leaving from Galveston you only pay for the number of days you use, regardless of whether you buy it in advance or onboard. The difference is, as you said, the cost in advance is $5 a day less. So if your cruise is 5 days, you only pay for 4 if leaving from Galveston. The cost would be higher onboard.

Keep a small carryon with you that has important things...wallet, cash, camera, phone, cruise docs, swimsuit, medications, and possibly a change of clothes and personal items to freshen up in case your main bags don’t get delivered until evening.

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If you're leaving from Galveston you only pay for the number of days you use, regardless of whether you buy it in advance or onboard. The difference is, as you said, the cost in advance is $5 a day less. So if your cruise is 5 days, you only pay for 4 if leaving from Galveston. The cost would be higher onboard.

Thank you Shady Lady, that isn’t really explained in much detail. Just when you purchase it makes you choose the duration of the sail (5 days), but have no way of knowing that it will only charge me for 4 days because I leave out of Galveston. Glad to know that I won’t be paying for 5 days and only get to use it for 4 days.

Our 1st time cruise, just a few questions. Our boarding time is 11:30-12:00 ~ We will have 2 suitcases that we will check with the porter, these will be taken to our room, correct? What about carry-on bags ~ will we need these? What will we do (besides get something to eat) while waiting to get access to our room? Should we carry-on any bags? Also, we purchased the 'Cheers' package ~ what do we show that we have this package? Will this be on our card, do we get a wristband....etc. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Re: carryon bag

The last night of cruise you will be putting your packed luggage out for them to carry off the ship. You'll pick your luggage up in the terminal in the morning.

(Unless you opt to carry off all of your luggage yourself)

You'll need a carryon of some sort for pajamas, toiletries, etc that you won't pack until the morning you debark.