Port Arrival Time - Royal is SPAMMING me

[jrapps]

So I know the "What time should I get there" question has been asked hundreds of times but this time I'm wondering if there was a real policy change.

 

I've been on dozens of cruises, every time they send some email telling me to get to the port later in the day (obviously for crowd control) and every time I arrive around 10:30 anyway and I'm usually on the boat before noon.

 

We are going on the Independence in 5 days out of Ft. Lauderdale and in the past 4 days Royal has been SPAMMING the heck out of me telling me to arrive after noon. Between myself and my wife, we have gotten OVER 20 text messages, voicemails, and emails telling us to arrive between noon and 3:30. Its at the point where it's obsessively ridiculous.

 

I am tempted to get to the port at 9am just out of spite (just kidding) but in all seriousness, has something changed and are they really enforcing the PAT on your paperwork now, or is this just crowd control taken to an all new level? Has anyone else seen a major increase in the communications from Royal on this?

[Clarea]

I do not believe Royal has been enforcing suggested arrival times at any US ports.

[shadbrew]

So I know the "What time should I get there" question has been asked hundreds of times but this time I'm wondering if there was a real policy change.

 

I've been on dozens of cruises, every time they send some email telling me to get to the port later in the day (obviously for crowd control) and every time I arrive around 10:30 anyway and I'm usually on the boat before noon.

 

We are going on the Independence in 5 days out of Ft. Lauderdale and in the past 4 days Royal has been SPAMMING the heck out of me telling me to arrive after noon. Between myself and my wife, we have gotten OVER 20 text messages, voicemails, and emails telling us to arrive between noon and 3:30. Its at the point where it's obsessively ridiculous.

 

I am tempted to get to the port at 9am just out of spite (just kidding) but in all seriousness, has something changed and are they really enforcing the PAT on your paperwork now, or is this just crowd control taken to an all new level? Has anyone else seen a major increase in the communications from Royal on this?

Same here. We leave on the Navigator on Saturday from FLL. We are Diamond Plus members, and we are supposed to be one of the first groups to get on. So if we aren't supposed to get to the terminal at 12:30pm (like you, we usually get to the terminal around 10-10:30am), if we follow these new instructions, it is going to be a madhouse. What is going on with RCL? Don't they know the sooner we get onboard, the more money we start putting in THEIR pockets?????

[Biker19]

Like many other issues, this could probably be blamed on RCI's IT system. All those messages are automated IT stuff. Did you acknowledge any of the messages - that usually shuts down subsequent ones.

 

Biker, who received zika virus related messages but not port arrival.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Biker19

[KimKTN]

I was under the impression they started checking people in around 11. Has that changed? If so, we need to change our transfer pick-up time from Orlando. I wanted to get there early so we could get on the ship as soon as possible, but, don't want to be there too early and just waiting if they have changed this.

[Retired LEO]

Only if the give you a specific reason should you abide by it.

Such as a noro outbreak and the ship needs a deep cleaning.

USCG inspection where boarding will be delayed by a couple of hours.

On a B2B on Enchantment there was a small noro outbreak on the 1st cruise. We were escorted off and had to sit in the terminal for about 2 hours while they deep cleaned the ship. Boarding didn't begin until around 12:30.

[Big_G]

Did you acknowledge any of the messages - that usually shuts down subsequent ones.

 

 

Also my first question. Acknowledging always works for me.

[Retired LEO]

I was under the impression they started checking people in around 11. Has that changed? If so, we need to change our transfer pick-up time from Orlando. I wanted to get there early so we could get on the ship as soon as possible, but, don't want to be there too early and just waiting if they have changed this.

 

Check in normally begins between 10:00 and 10:30 and boarding begins at 11:00-11:15 in most cases.

[KimKTN]

Check in normally begins between 10:00 and 10:30 and boarding begins at 11:00-11:15 in most cases.

 

Perfect! We were planning on getting to the port around 10. Want to start enjoying the ship as soon as we can since we are paying for it!

[shadbrew]

Like many other issues, this could probably be blamed on RCI's IT system. All those messages are automated IT stuff. Did you acknowledge any of the messages - that usually shuts down subsequent ones.

 

Biker, who received zika virus related messages but not port arrival.

Along with the port arrival times, I have already received two notices about the Zika virus, as well. Seems like everyday, we get a new notice about something.

[jrapps]

Did you acknowledge any of the messages - that usually shuts down subsequent ones.

 

I admit I have NOT acknowledged them but I never have before and at most I've gotten 2 messages, not the deluge I have this time, hence why I was wondering if there was a change.

[UCF_Knight]

Along with the port arrival times, I have already received two notices about the Zika virus, as well. Seems like everyday, we get a new notice about something.

 

Royal Caribbean must have finally switched to an unlimited calling / texting / data plan.

[APDMOM]

Royal Caribbean must have finally switched to an unlimited calling / texting / data plan.

 

LOL! Yep! We got 3 e-mails from royal, 2 from our TA, 3 texts and 2x voicemail... :eek:

 

We did not receive any such notifications since Enchantment back in 2005! Now they are playing catch up!

[vickiw0318]

The Indy has been known lately for its slow disembarkations which in turn cause a back up to those lucky people waiting to get on the ship. I got to the port about 11:30, zipped through the check in process, but then encountered a line waiting to get on the ship. There really wasn't anyone I saw giving directions, but I finally asked if there was a D+ line. I got waived through part of the line and into the next room. Lots of people waiting in there as well. Think I finally made it a little after twelve. I got lucky in that things starting moving once I got into the second room. Clearly there were earlier arrivals who had been sitting and waiting for a while.

[CaribbeanH2OLover]

So I know the "What time should I get there" question has been asked hundreds of times but this time I'm wondering if there was a real reason.

 

 

 

We are going on the Independence in 5 days out of Ft. Lauderdale and in the past 4 days Royal has been SPAMMING the heck out of me telling me to arrive after noon. Between myself and my wife, we have gotten OVER 20 text messages, voicemails, and emails telling us to arrive between noon and 3:30. I am tempted to get to the port at 9am just out of spite (just kidding). Has anyone else seen a major increase in the communications from Royal on this?

 

 

We are on the same sailing and have also received multiple text messages, emails and voice mails. We have never received these before. We also received the messages about the Zika virus. We finally acknowledged them and they stopped. It makes me wonder if the ship is going to be late or if this is something new. We will meet you at the port at 9am lol.

[jrapps]

We will meet you at the port at 9am lol.

 

Sounds good, we will party in the terminal!

[CaribbeanH2OLover]

Sounds good, we will party in the terminal!

 

 

Excellent!