Assigned check in...you got to be kidding me

[Victorious8]

[quote name='jimbo5544']Long Beach is a perfect example of a port that needs staggered check in. It would solve a lot of their problems.[/QUOTE]

Could you elaborate a bit more? I have never used this port or Carnival. I have found it pretty hard to find recent information about this port (I had a hell of a time finding info about alternate parking).

[katiel53]

[quote name='stargate fan'][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="DarkOrchid"]Port personnel are not Carnival employees. They work for the port authority. Same with every cruise port. Carnival does not control how many windows are open.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

So then Carnival at Port Canaveral hires port employees for check in while Disney has it's own employees checking in people? I doubt that they would be different and my neighbor works for Disney and does checkin. The people I have spoken to at the port have told me they work for Carnival and wear their uniforms.

I know the porters are employed by the port, but I think you are wrong about the agents working the checkin.

[tcw92]

we have cruised out of Galveston the past 2 years and received a "suggested arrival time" via email and we arrive when we are ready usually around 9:30 or so (which is earlier than the time they gave us) we have never been told we are early or to leave and come back.
I say just ignore the check in time that is given and go when you want to

[cruizinisthebest]

[quote name='tcw92']we have cruised out of Galveston the past 2 years and received a "suggested arrival time" via email and we arrive when we are ready usually around 9:30 or so (which is earlier than the time they gave us) we have never been told we are early or to leave and come back.
I say just ignore the check in time that is given and go when you want to[/QUOTE]
Sorry but that practice will no longer work. All the ignoring and showing up 5 minutes after the ship ends the last trip is what led to the NEW process where you will have to pick a check in time in order to complete the online check in process. And if you show up before that time, you will not be allowed in the terminal. No more "suggested" time. Congratulations.

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[sweetsixteencruisers]

I really don't understand why this is an issue!

[2016USAHoliday]

Carnival Australia has had staggered check in times from day 1. The earliest you could choose was 12pm. We don't have FTTF nor nearly enough Platinum (Golds are even invited to the past guest party!!!! Yep and that didn't even fill the piano bar!) From the 3 cruises I have done from Sydney there never seemed to be a problem.

What has me curious though is the US Ports. Sydney's port in the middle of town, next to the bridge and Opera House. So if you get to port early (because your hotel kicked you out, your drove and went straight to port, you had an early flight etc), you could check your bags in from 8am, and wander off, coming back at your assigned time. Are US ports in the middle on nowhere where there is nothing? I am cruising out of NOLA and Seattle.

[Gallivanting Souls]

I will be sailing out of FLL and coming off another ship. At this point no staggered check in. We don't really care about the time so much as long as we can drop our bags off. We will come back a bit later, no big deal.
I have two Eagle Scouts, now that is status :cool:

[august1963]

[quote name='ABQrobin']Our last cruise out of Galveston (last Feb), they did this. Our checkin time was like 1:30pm or something in that area. That did not work for us as we had to check out of our hotel by 11am. So at 11am we parked and went in with our luggage and got in line. We were never questioned, never made to sit back down, or anything. Got checked in and one of the first groups onto the ship.
Don't know if it has changed, but that is what happened to us.[/QUOTE]

This is what I was wondering about......We will probably have a 11:00 checkout time also....we also won't have a car, will be relying on the hotel shuttle to get us to the port.....what are we supposed to do if we get a really late checking time? My vacation planner said that if we are assigned a specific checking time that we will get an email or a call from Carnival. But from reading the posts on here, I thought I read where you get your boarding time when you do your checkin. I don't want to do my checkin yet, as I was planning on calling to see if I could get an upgrade to a better room.

Thanks

[KatieCharlotte]

[quote name='august1963']This is what I was wondering about......We will probably have a 11:00 checkout time also....we also won't have a car, will be relying on the hotel shuttle to get us to the port.....what are we supposed to do if we get a really late checking time? My vacation planner said that if we are assigned a specific checking time that we will get an email or a call from Carnival. But from reading the posts on here, I thought I read where you get your boarding time when you do your checkin. I don't want to do my checkin yet, as I was planning on calling to see if I could get an upgrade to a better room.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

Under the current system in Galveston, you will have to wait outside the terminal or in the general area until your check-in time. When people report being allowed in early, that was under the old system. You should complete the online check-in process now to select your time.

[Keys2Heaven]

[quote name='tkportersat']I don't see anything wrong with it, how is it any different really than someone who pays to be First Class on a flight? Or VIP tickets to a show...many things in life have an option where people can pay more to have it. Some see the value in it, some don't.[/QUOTE]

I didn't say it was right or wrong. All I stated was that Carnival is capitalizing on the ways of today's society. If you, and others, feel it has value, then by all means spends go for it.

I did tell my wife that, while I'm not looking forward to shucking out another $40, that the luggage express looks to be a good deal and we'll take advantage of this during our upcoming cruise.

[LMaxwell]

There are many options how to handle this.

Edited February 18, 2016 by LMaxwell

[KatieCharlotte]

Are US ports in the middle on nowhere where there is nothing? I am cruising out of NOLA and Seattle.

 

Some of them are in the middle of nowhere or in an area that is not really walkable. However, the NOLA port is actually adjacent to a mall along the river.

[LMaxwell]

Port personnel are not Carnival employees. They work for the port authority. Same with every cruise port. Carnival does not control how many windows are open.

 

Wrong

[jimbo5544]

Could you elaborate a bit more? I have never used this port or Carnival. I have found it pretty hard to find recent information about this port (I had a hell of a time finding info about alternate parking).

 

 

Sure, what I meant was that because the port is so small, it makes it a much better candidate that others that have large areas where people can sit around. Having people come to the port (assuming they would follow the rules) at staggered times would make the whole process much easier, and certainly much less crowded. The terminal is the old building where the spruce goose used to be housed. It is small (for a cruise terminal) and having much less people in there at a time would benefit this port greatly.

[jaluvma]

when I did our online check in I didn't see where it asked for check in time. I saw in a forum that we have to choose now so I went back and yes it is there they chose 130 to 330 for us but I was able to change it to an early time

[isaiahsnana]

To give some Galveston perspective: I am cruising two weeks from today, several months ago, I chose a 10:30am arrival time. Today I checked and 10:30 is still available. To go to the original point, we are a group of 11 all arriving in two cars. One group has FTTF (because they have small children and wanted the room available asap to drop off all the Kid Stuff), one is in a wheelchair (gets to board asap for handicapped reasons) and the rest are random family members and friends - we have all chosen to go together and board together at the time the latest person is allowed to board - problem solved without all the hand wringing and mud slinging.

[tkportersat]

I certainly wouldn't pay extra for the FTTF but some think it is the best thing since sliced bread :rolleyes: People will accuse me of saying that because I am Platinum but that isn't the reason. I am in Banking, I have learned to adapt to change very easily. I am aware some are very upset about staggered check in and that is certainly their right and if it helps them to vent here...so be it.

 

I didn't say it was right or wrong. All I stated was that Carnival is capitalizing on the ways of today's society. If you, and others, feel it has value, then by all means spends go for it.

 

I did tell my wife that, while I'm not looking forward to shucking out another $40, that the luggage express looks to be a good deal and we'll take advantage of this during our upcoming cruise.

[bamagirl16]

This is what I was wondering about......We will probably have a 11:00 checkout time also....we also won't have a car, will be relying on the hotel shuttle to get us to the port.....what are we supposed to do if we get a really late checking time? My vacation planner said that if we are assigned a specific checking time that we will get an email or a call from Carnival. But from reading the posts on here, I thought I read where you get your boarding time when you do your checkin. I don't want to do my checkin yet, as I was planning on calling to see if I could get an upgrade to a better room.

 

Thanks

 

You can pick your check in time without completing the whole online check in. We picked ours about a month before doing any of the other online check in.

[sprint180]

Some of them are in the middle of nowhere or in an area that is not really walkable. However, the NOLA port is actually adjacent to a mall along the river.

 

Seattle has lots to do to waste time. We just walked up and down the street. Looked in the shops etc.

[Warm Breezes]

I certainly wouldn't pay extra for the FTTF but some think it is the best thing since sliced bread :rolleyes: People will accuse me of saying that because I am Platinum but that isn't the reason. I am in Banking, I have learned to adapt to change very easily. I am aware some are very upset about staggered check in and that is certainly their right and if it helps them to vent here...so be it.

 

I had FTTF offered to me in the package my TA quoted me yesterday on the 2 rooms we booked. While I was booking the rooms the TA asked if I wanted the FTTF or would like a price drop on one of the rooms. I took the price drop. It's just me, DH, DS(21) and DD(19) going. We are patient people and can handle carrying around a bag or 2 until the rooms are ready. When I did the on-line check in last night all the times were available. Since we are driving in the night before I just took the earliest time. For us FTTF isn't that valuable and I would rather take a lower price on the room.

[texast518]

I worked in the hospitality business for 10 years at a hotel front desk and would never turn away a customer for showing up early to check in. If I had a room clean, I would check them in and not charge them extra or tell them to come back later for our check in time :rolleyes:

Suite, diamond, platinum, & red all show up at the same time, and you would not turn the red away? Better be a tough cookie!

[Ralphinsc]

I will be sailing out of FLL and coming off another ship. At this point no staggered check in. We don't really care about the time so much as long as we can drop our bags off. We will come back a bit later, no big deal.

I have two Eagle Scouts, now that is status :cool:

 

Got one I hope to be there one day himself! :D

[tkportersat]

I would have done the same thing, would rather have the lower cost room. I really didn't have trouble before FTTF and before I was Platinum out of Galveston, I didn't mind carrying my stuff around until the room was ready. Haven't been to a tender port since becoming Platinum (until my upcoming in 17 days) and I'm not sure we are even doing anything (if we do it will be an excursion that picks up at the ship) so for me I don't see the value in it. I certainly take advantage of some of the perks now because I can but wouldn't if I had to pay. I don't begrudge those that do though, my parents got it once so they could stick with us and they appreciated it.

 

I had FTTF offered to me in the package my TA quoted me yesterday on the 2 rooms we booked. While I was booking the rooms the TA asked if I wanted the FTTF or would like a price drop on one of the rooms. I took the price drop. It's just me, DH, DS(21) and DD(19) going. We are patient people and can handle carrying around a bag or 2 until the rooms are ready. When I did the on-line check in last night all the times were available. Since we are driving in the night before I just took the earliest time. For us FTTF isn't that valuable and I would rather take a lower price on the room.

Edited February 18, 2016 by tkportersat

[HectorAchilleus]

I certainly wouldn't pay extra for the FTTF but some think it is the best thing since sliced bread :rolleyes: People will accuse me of saying that because I am Platinum but that isn't the reason. I am in Banking, I have learned to adapt to change very easily. I am aware some are very upset about staggered check in and that is certainly their right and if it helps them to vent here...so be it.

 

It is my opinion that all this staggered check-in hassle has been caused by FTTF, and the increase in Plats, Diamonds, Casino perks, etc. Before FTTF there were always a number of people who wanted to get to the port early, get an early zone number, and would sit for an hour or two and wait their turn.

 

When FTTF (and the increase of other priorities) came about, the number of people who "paid good money to be first on this ship" (either directly through FTTF or through perks) also came early causing a huge crowd. The occasional boarding mess that resulted with Diamonds and Plats demanding to be first, SOME FTTF people ignoring the announcements, and frustrated early zone people who resented having people stoll in at the last minute and go to the front of the line was certainly predictable - and often reported on this site.

[Gallivanting Souls]

Got one I hope to be there one day himself! :D

 

Keep on him. Parent support is a large part of it. -But if there is no interest to the boy, you can forget it. I also have 2 Life Scouts. I am just as proud of them :cool: Good luck to you and your son. I am glad someone caught my funny.