Arriving Ship Port Later in Day?

[marluvs2go]

I often wonder why we all rush down to the ship and wait and wait and stand in long lines. Mostly for the free lunch I think? One time sailing out of New Orleans it was so hot and crowded and a big mess. Took forever to que the lines. Then I noticed a party running like crazy the last ones and they had no lines to go thru at all. I do not mean to miss the ship or be awfully late just curious if anyone has considered just going after all the crowds? Maybe will not work well???

[Shmoo here]

I often wonder why we all rush down to the ship and wait and wait and stand in long lines. Mostly for the free lunch I think? One time sailing out of New Orleans it was so hot and crowded and a big mess. Took forever to que the lines. Then I noticed a party running like crazy the last ones and they had no lines to go thru at all. I do not mean to miss the ship or be awfully late just curious if anyone has considered just going after all the crowds? Maybe will not work well???

 

We've done a few cruises (not only HAL) that we weren't trying to be first in line. We arrive at the port around 12:00-12:30 (although on our Panama Canal out of Boston we arrived at the port at 2:00) and, typically, there's no one waiting to check in. So we walked right up to check in, and directly onboard.

 

So nice not to have to fight the crowds. And we've always been able to get something to eat as soon as we board.

[sail7seas]

There is no 'free' lunch. I get your point but that lunch was included in the price of your cruise. :)

[PathfinderEss]

We usually wait until 12:30 to 1 pm to get on the ship. That way there is no long wait in lines.

[cruising_family]

We, and when I say we, I really mean me,;) like getting there early so the vacay can begin. I don't really care about the lines or crowd because to me it helps the anticipation to build and once on board I can get my beverage of choice and feel the stress and tension of everyday life disappear.:D The food is definitely not the draw for us getting on board early, but to get every minute on the ship that I can squeeze in. I see the point of waiting until the crowd thins but I'm too impatient for that.

 

All that said, if I was going on a large ship like RC Oasis or Allure, I might think a bit more on waiting but highly doubtful.

 

I also do worry that for some reason something will go wrong during the embarkation process :eek: and the more time to sort it out before the sail away, the better.

[jtl513]

Anytime after 12:30 you will find little or no lines ... unless a transfer bus from the airport just arrived ahead of you! :D We've done a couple of later boardings and walked right up to a waiting agent.

Edited November 10, 2014 by jtl513

[cruising_family]

We, and when I say we, I really mean me,;) like getting there early so the vacay can begin. I don't really care about the lines or crowd because to me it helps the anticipation to build and once on board I can get my beverage of choice and feel the stress and tension of everyday life disappear.:D The food is definitely not the draw for us getting on board early, but to get every minute on the ship that I can squeeze in. I see the point of waiting until the crowd thins but I'm too impatient for that.

 

All that said, if I was going on a large ship like RC Oasis or Allure, I might think a bit more on waiting but highly doubtful.

 

I also do worry that for some reason something will go wrong during the embarkation process :eek: and the more time to sort it out before the sail away, the better.

 

 

To add, We don't try to be the first in line but after checking out of the hotel and grabbing breakfast or any other errand necessary. Perhaps an hour or so after embarkation time begins. Our last embarkation time started at 1:00 and I believe we got there around 2:00.

[Globaliser]

I often wonder why we all rush down to the ship and wait and wait and stand in long lines. Mostly for the free lunch I think? ... I do not mean to miss the ship or be awfully late just curious if anyone has considered just going after all the crowds?

At many starting points, there really isn't much that one can do for a couple of extra hours in the morning, particularly when you have a deadline increasingly weighing on your mind. So I reckon I might as well get on board and start using the facilities; I usually get a first session in the gym that afternoon, when there's no competition for the machines.

 

Coincidentally, New Orleans was one of the places that we made an exception to this, because there was something else worth doing. We went to Antoine's for a Sunday jazz brunch, and then arrived at the port towards the end of the boarding process. It was still chaotic, but that's NCL for you.

[marluvs2go]

Anytime after 12:30 you will find little or no lines ... unless a transfer bus from the airport just arrived ahead of you! :D We've done a couple of later boardings and walked right up to a waiting agent.

 

That is so interesting, thanks to all of you for your input! The reason I mentioned lunch was that is usually our focus to grab a bite to eat since we have waited in line for what seems like hours? and of course would not want to have lunch somewhere when the ship offers everything. Of course I understand let the vacation begin and I too always rush to get there early, thinking I am going to miss something? Also, I considered our luggage may arrive a lot later than folks who board before us, but overall walking in and walking on sounds so much better than being herded around and jostling for being the first person in line. But I suppose that may be hard for me to think of not being checked in as soon as possible so we do not "miss the boat" But it is hard to get that image out of my mind boarding my first cruise in New Orleans after I had stood in the heat and mire for over two hours, (camera was broken and other boarding issues) then I see this group just come right up and check in no waiting no hassel, I thought at that time why have I been enduring this why not come later? I hope more folks respond I find it very interesting.

[Alberta Quilter]

I'm one of those people who are anxious to board and want to get there early. However, our last embarkation was brutally long at Vancouver where there were four ships in port so I will rethink that for future cruises, if it's even possible, what with hotel checkout times.

 

If waiting is what you decide to do, please ensure that you are checking in with enough time to spare. I realize that the people who have already posted are recommending 12:30/1:00 times and that is perfect. In Vancouver, that last time, two people who were part of a class reunion onboard, arrived at the pier too late to be allowed to board. It was somewhere around 3 pm. They were not allowed to board because the ship was leaving at 4 pm. As the cruise was a five day coastal cruise, with the next port in San Francisco, they totally missed their cruise because they wouldn't have been allowed to board in SF and disembark in San Diego.

[jtl513]

Also, I considered our luggage may arrive a lot later than folks who board before us.

I really don't know how it's done, but it might be a last-in-first-out stack, with the early arrivals being placed at the back of the staging area so that they get delivered last. :)

[Shmoo here]

I really don't know how it's done, but it might be a last-in-first-out stack, with the early arrivals being placed at the back of the staging area so that they get delivered last. :)

 

I can report that when we boarded at 2:00 (Boston), when we got to our room to put our carry on bags and use the toilet, as we left the room to go eat, our bags were arriving at our room (so, about 5-10 minutes).

[Globaliser]

Also, I considered our luggage may arrive a lot later than folks who board before us ...

I really don't know how it's done, but it might be a last-in-first-out stack, with the early arrivals being placed at the back of the staging area so that they get delivered last.

Always random, IME. I've given up trying to work out when to expect my bags to reach my room, except when I discover them in the lift lobby on my floor so I can take them the last few yards to my room myself.

[jtl513]

When we joined the last segment of a Grand Voyage in early afternoon in Barcelona, there was only one other person boarding with us and we checked-in at the ship front desk. (We were escorted there.) That time our bags beat us to the room ... but that was a pretty unique situation! :)

.

Edited November 10, 2014 by jtl513

[sail7seas]

We always check in early and our bags have always arrived in our cabin no later than 2:30 - 3:00. I never left for life boat drill without much of the unpacking done.

[maxie99]

talk about keeping it close, I decided to get myself, to the ship, maasdam, in England for my Trans Atlantic crossing, in 1999,thinking that the ship would be docked in London-(what was I thinking)-so I had to get a cab from London to Harwich , over a 2 hour trip, and my cabby had never been out of the city before, there we where , both of us trying to read road maps, we finally got there by way of going north then east,, very pretty country side, if I wasn't so stressed, time 3PM, (ship leaving at 5 so lots of time ) but there was nobody there to ck .me in, the place was empty, then someone came running saying -hurry hurry- I just made it in time as they where leaving early, do to rough seas from a hurricane -- and boy was that a storm of the century,,

Edited November 10, 2014 by maxie99

[chrispb]

I often wonder why we all rush down to the ship and wait and wait and stand in long lines. Mostly for the free lunch I think? One time sailing out of New Orleans it was so hot and crowded and a big mess. Took forever to que the lines. Then I noticed a party running like crazy the last ones and they had no lines to go thru at all. I do not mean to miss the ship or be awfully late just curious if anyone has considered just going after all the crowds? Maybe will not work well???

 

Generally, we have always boarded later. We hate queuing so would prefer to be able virtually walk straight on. I don't understand the rush either:confused:

[summersigh]

We always check in early and our bags have always arrived in our cabin no later than 2:30 - 3:00. I never left for life boat drill without much of the unpacking done.

 

We normally arrive at the port in a hotel shuttle so that determines what time we arrive - which is normally 11-ish. Only one time have we had a lengthy (30-40 minute) wait in line to check in. If the ships aren't quite ready for boarding we've always had a chair to wait after checking in.

 

One of my greatest joys is basically being unpacked by the time we leave for muster and sail away. It gives me that grand feeling of "really, really, really being on that vacation we've anticipated for months" :D:D

[CowPrincess]

I'm in the "I can't relax until I am actually aboard the ship group" :D so I am happy to be one of the first to arrive, and sit/wait to be allowed onto the ship. On this summer's Alaska cruise, we unfortunately got to the port with 3,997-ish others :eek: so had a very long wait being processed through Security and Immigration. Zero wait to get on the ship, though!

 

DH knows better than to try to argue with me about getting to the terminal early :D

[threeedogmedia]

Per your quote "Australian spelling lesson: There is no 'U' in Qantas Airlines.

Yes, Qantas really IS spelt like this." I never paid attention but would have failed this test for sure. This old dog (or middle aged dog) can truly learn new tricks. Thanks for the spelling lesson. I'll be going to Australia in a year and can't wait to try this out on our cruise mates....

Karen

[cruisenfreak]

We once booked a cruise out of New York. I had a cousin living in Manhattan so instead of boarding as soon as we could, we went for a nice visit with family we had not seen in a while. Then we boarded the ship at nearly the latest time possible. We literally walked straight onto the ship. I remember that day as a great start to our vacation.