Best time to board ship?

[jjdshoe]

We leave out of Port Canaveral and arrive night before. We have booked a nice beach front hotel and won't be in a big hurry to leave for port. Having said that what is the best time to arrive at port to miss the big lines to board? If we wait to late to miss lines at port does that mean we will wait in long lines on ship for lunch, purchasing cheers package etc.? Is there a magic window of time to arrive?

[Drazil65]

Well, if you have FTTF or priority boarding then anytime is a good time for you. If not then whatever time is printed on your boarding passes or look on your booking for your boarding timeframe and go at your designated time if you like to make the most of your first day onboard.

 

We love to get onboard and usually have FFTF or OS priority boarding so get to port early (by 11:00 am), last month we were on the Valor at 11:20 and in our cabin (FFTF) dropping off the carryon stuff. We enjoy getting the most out of that first day but that has a lot to do with being able to get into our cabin immediately.

 

If you don't care about that first day then you should be able to walk right on during one of the later boarding times (1:30 and later). Have fun!

[Davey Wavey]

Lines are shortest early. Hardly any lines at the food places and there are places to sit on the Lido for lunch while you wait for your room to be ready (if you don't have FTTF). Otherwise, after 2:00 the lines get short and people go to their rooms shortening the lunch lines and freeing up seating on the Lido.