Grand san fran

Due to circumstances beyond my control I may be arriving at the pier very early...I realize boarding will not happen till nearly noon but what is the earliest that I can actually check in? Are porters taking luggage at that time?

And once checked in can I pop out for breakfast or must I remain in the facility?

thank you

We normally get there about 1030, porters are available at that time, but you'll probably have pax still disembarking. We're normally on the ship by 1130, but we are in suites, so are part of the first group after BV.

How early is early? There's plenty to do in the area to suck up some time if you need to.

Porters may accept luggage as early as 9:30am, or maybe 10am. At that time passengers will still be disembarking. There will be lots of action on the pier. Check in will begin around 10:30/11:00.

You can check your luggage with the porters and then walk to many nearby locations. Pier 39 is close by. When you return you will go through security, check in and board.

Appreciate the data, may arrive around 10:00 10:30

There is a restaurant right adjacent to the Pier that looks good for a bite to eat.

Due to circumstances beyond my control I may be arriving at the pier very early...I realize boarding will not happen till nearly noon but what is the earliest that I can actually check in? Are porters taking luggage at that time?

And once checked in can I pop out for breakfast or must I remain in the facility?

thank you

How early is early, you did not say? Once you see passengers debarking, there will be porters available to take your luggage. You do not have to stay there at the ship as you will not be able to board. You can walk down to pier 39 and have breakfast at 2 different places. There's Boudain's and another sit down restaurant as soon as you walk into Pier 39. There's stairs to your left that leads you to a restaurant which will be right to your left. We have had breakfast there a few times. I can't think of any other place around the pier area where you can get breakfast. I wouldn't head south down the Embarcadero if I were you - too many homeless and poop on the sidewalk.

Appreciate the data, may arrive around 10:00 10:30

You'll be fine! The lines will be open for security and check in by then. Depending on your room type (suite, club class) or captain's club status (elite, platinum), you may have a bit of a wait within the terminal but it is set up well and you should be comfortable inside. If you choose to delay your check in, there are things very close by the terminal.

It turns out that we may be going back on the Grand again. This past trip, we followed the rules and got on the ship when our deck was supposed to (1:30? 2:00?), but it really threw me off schedule (also traveling w/15 people as well). This time, I'd like to get on by noon but was wondering... we are gold class:'), will they still let us on the ship early if we arrived at the port around 11:30?

I see the responses of different classes or waiting inside the terminal, but I mean actually going through the lines and onto the ship. We'd be traveling w/someone in a wheelchair and someone w/a cane as well, so that might help? I'd like to eat at the MDR the first day to get settled down as well. Thanks.

On our May 16 and July 15, 2018 Alaska Cruises, passengers were allow board at 10:45 am, but Staterooms were not ready until 12 Noon. The Buffet was half full with carry-ons. We did not eat in the main Dining room, but I'm sure there were many with carry-ons also.

There's also the famous Fog City diner across the street on Embarcadero. Always a great place to chill until you can board.

It turns out that we may be going back on the Grand again. This past trip, we followed the rules and got on the ship when our deck was supposed to (1:30? 2:00?), but it really threw me off schedule (also traveling w/15 people as well). This time, I'd like to get on by noon but was wondering... we are gold class:'), will they still let us on the ship early if we arrived at the port around 11:30?

 

I see the responses of different classes or waiting inside the terminal, but I mean actually going through the lines and onto the ship. We'd be traveling w/someone in a wheelchair and someone w/a cane as well, so that might help? I'd like to eat at the MDR the first day to get settled down as well. Thanks.

The time of arrival they send out is actually now a recommendation ... they used to enforce it and that was an unfortunate mistake on their part. They actually have those in the in the window suites boarding after 2 PM. huh?

Anyway, if there are no groups waiting in line to board ahead of you, you should be able to board at 11:30 or right after you get through security. But, if other groups are waiting (BVE, suites, priority boarding such as wedding parties, elite and platinum), they will probably have you wait. Every boarding can be a little different ... but generally, you could be on by noon.

I’ve seen them escort people in wheelchairs on as priority and the same for those un thta party, but also seen where a large group, when one person in a wheelchair, is restricted to just a couple of additional passengers, usually those that are sharing the cabin or an adjacent cabin be allowed to board early. If there are another 15 in your group, I wouldn’t necessarily expect everybody would go before those other groups that are mentioned above.

Great, thank you for the replies!

You'll be fine! The lines will be open for security and check in by then. Depending on your room type (suite, club class) or captain's club status (elite, platinum), you may have a bit of a wait within the terminal but it is set up well and you should be comfortable inside. If you choose to delay your check in, there are things very close by the terminal.

Hello,

I'm not sure which trip this question was for. We will be on the Grand leaving San Francisco on the 23rd-Dec. '18 for Hawaii.

Does anyone know what time the actual boarding will begin. It leaves at 4:00.

Thanks,

hldoug40@msn.com . Harriet & Dave Pa

Harriet & Dave, See post #9. We do Grand 5 times a year and the last two boarding, it started at 10:45 am, but your stateroom was not ready until Noon. We'll be back on Grand for Sept., Oct., and Nov..

Hello,

I'm not sure which trip this question was for. We will be on the Grand leaving San Francisco on the 23rd-Dec. '18 for Hawaii.

Does anyone know what time the actual boarding will begin. It leaves at 4:00.

Thanks,

hldoug40@msn.com . Harriet & Dave Pa

Probably around 10:45 - 11:00 if there are no delays involved. They are pretty good with keeping to this schedule the new pier (well, not so new anymore but new compared to the old Pier 35). There are still those things that can happen onboard that can cause a delay but that would be the exception and not the rule.

thanks to all of you, Harriet