How will embarkation differ?

[tencruises]

Been on Princess (x3), Royal Caribbean (x5), Disney (x1). Just wondering what to expect when we get to Miami as far as the whole check-in process goes...I assume it is just luggage porter and self park? Then what? I did do the status match and have Silver. Do they have different lines for the different status levels?

 

Also, for those familiar with the kids club and babysitting...can you let me know a little of what to expect there? I know their babysitting is on an availability basis only. My son is 2.5.

[riclop]

Been on Princess (x3), Royal Caribbean (x5), Disney (x1). Just wondering what to expect when we get to Miami as far as the whole check-in process goes...I assume it is just luggage porter and self park? Then what? I did do the status match and have Silver. Do they have different lines for the different status levels?

 

Also, for those familiar with the kids club and babysitting...can you let me know a little of what to expect there? I know their babysitting is on an availability basis only. My son is 2.5.

 

Much better then Princess, doors open about 1030 and you go and check in and sit till about noon.

[Crzyfrk62]

Only the YC, Black level and maybe Aurora status get special boarding privileges. YC goes to the white tent for escort thru security and onto ship. Black level status and I think Aurora level also get "priority boarding"

 

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[deliver42]

The biggest difference is the credit card. With all other cruise lines your credt card is entered when you check in. On MSC, after you board, you have to go to a kiosk to enter your card. It just seems like a total waste of time.

[RichNY]

I understand we should not attach our luggage tags. As YC passengers when we arrive new tags will be provided by our butler...True ???

[Cruisergal1208]

I understand we should not attach our luggage tags. As YC passengers when we arrive new tags will be provided by our butler...True ???

 

True. Just make sure not to let the regular porters grab your bags. YC porters are right next to the white tent.

[tencruises]

Only the YC, Black level and maybe Aurora status get special boarding privileges. YC goes to the white tent for escort thru security and onto ship. Black level status and I think Aurora level also get "priority boarding"

 

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I'm non-YC for this trip. Didn't want to spend mega-money until I was sure we liked the overall experience first.

 

Do you know when would be best to arrive to avoid the long lines? Maybe 2 hours after check-in starts? I've heard Divina has rooms ready quite early compared to RCCL. It would be nice to go through security without much wait and then just proceed to a ready room. Normally we end up taking 45 min or so to get through the RCCL line and then begin the room wait for at least an hour and a half...(and that's with Platinum status.) So I'm thinking maybe 2 hours after check-in starts should be good here....let me know what you think.

[RichNY]

True. Just make sure not to let the regular porters grab your bags. YC porters are right next to the white tent.

 

Thanks. We are used to NCL Suite check-in, this appears to be much better...:D

[GOLDENBONNY]

Been on Princess (x3), Royal Caribbean (x5), Disney (x1). Just wondering what to expect when we get to Miami as far as the whole check-in process goes...I assume it is just luggage porter and self park? Then what? I did do the status match and have Silver. Do they have different lines for the different status levels?

 

Also, for those familiar with the kids club and babysitting...can you let me know a little of what to expect there? I know their babysitting is on an availability basis only. My son is 2.5.

 

Then its same on any other cruise line. Embarkation time very much depend on US customs .

 

Your kid should be 3 years old to use kids club . I am not sure about babysitting .

[Crzyfrk62]

I'm non-YC for this trip. Didn't want to spend mega-money until I was sure we liked the overall experience first.

 

Do you know when would be best to arrive to avoid the long lines? Maybe 2 hours after check-in starts? I've heard Divina has rooms ready quite early compared to RCCL. It would be nice to go through security without much wait and then just proceed to a ready room. Normally we end up taking 45 min or so to get through the RCCL line and then begin the room wait for at least an hour and a half...(and that's with Platinum status.) So I'm thinking maybe 2 hours after check-in starts should be good here....let me know what you think.

We usually get there between 12-1 pm. We check out of the hotel and go straight to the port. I have only traveled in the YC so never had issues boarding immediately. I think the longest I waited was 10 mins. It seems from reading the boards getting there early its not that crowded. Possibly because of a later departure time and many fly in the day of the cruise so they get there in the afternoon. I'm just guessing by what I've read.

 

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Edited October 25, 2016 by Crzyfrk62

[tencruises]

The biggest difference is the credit card. With all other cruise lines your credt card is entered when you check in. On MSC, after you board, you have to go to a kiosk to enter your card. It just seems like a total waste of time.

 

Yes, this seems strange. I wonder what could possibly be good about this process?

 

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. I'm starting to get a little excited about the trip. We have 2 balcony cabins because my mother in law is going with us. If we would have just had the 5 of us, we might have been able to share one room like we had prior on Royal Caribbean? Anyone know MSC's policy on that and the non-super family rooms?

[tencruises]

We usually get there between 12-1 pm. We check out of the hotel and go straight to the port. I have only traveled in the YC so never had issues boarding immediately. I think the longest I waited was 10 mins. It seems from reading the boards getting there early its not that crowded. Possibly because of a later departure time and many fly in the day of the cruise so they get there in the afternoon. I'm just guessing by what I've read.

 

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You must love the Divina a lot, as I see it in your signature multiple times. I'm going to go back and read your prior posts. Should make for some good reading for me.

[Crzyfrk62]

You must love the Divina a lot, as I see it in your signature multiple times. I'm going to go back and read your prior posts. Should make for some good reading for me.

I DO!!! I love the YC. haha! I go on a B2B starting November 26.... so excited!!

 

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[Cruisergal1208]

I DO!!! I love the YC. haha! I go on a B2B starting November 26.... so excited!!

 

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Wish we were sailing with you but couldn't pass up a special casino price on HAL for the same two weeks in a suite. Half what MSC would be in YC. Of course it's not all inclusive like YC but with our loyalty rank with HAL it will be ok. Lots of OBC helps too. Enjoy your cruise.

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

The biggest difference is the credit card. With all other cruise lines your credt card is entered when you check in. On MSC, after you board, you have to go to a kiosk to enter your card. It just seems like a total waste of time.

 

It's in fact very efficient. We tried this new boarding procedure in Venice two weeks ago on our Magnifica cruise and the time spent at the check in desk is half of what it used to be. Well on board it takes just a few seconds to activate the cruisecard on the kiosk. There are many kiosks around the atrium.:)

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

Only the YC, Black level and maybe Aurora status get special boarding privileges. YC goes to the white tent for escort thru security and onto ship. Black level status and I think Aurora level also get "priority boarding"

 

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I can confirm that YC, Black Level and Aurea get priority boarding. The Black Level use the same check-in desks as the Aurea and it's clearly marked Priority. In Venice it was very efficient. We are Black and were on board in about ten minutes after we arrived the terminal.

[tencruises]

Yes, YC has some decent benefits. However, it would probably be frowned upon to travel with small kids in YC. Probably ok if you just have one, but we have three. And they do get a bit animated at times...regardless of how hard we try. So out of respect for others, I'll have to hold off on that for a while.

 

Advice on a quiet place for me to sit with my coffee that is non-YC? Dad needs his quiet time every once in a while.

[Cruisergal1208]

Yes, YC has some decent benefits. However, it would probably be frowned upon to travel with small kids in YC. Probably ok if you just have one, but we have three. And they do get a bit animated at times...regardless of how hard we try. So out of respect for others, I'll have to hold off on that for a while.

 

Advice on a quiet place for me to sit with my coffee that is non-YC? Dad needs his quiet time every once in a while.

 

Children are no frowned upon in the YC. We are seen all ages of children there. The butlers take really good care of them.

[deliver42]

I wouldn't be concerned about kids in the YC. Contrary to belief, the people there aren't stuffy, but just like everyone else.

[Homosassa]

I'm non-YC for this trip. Didn't want to spend mega-money until I was sure we liked the overall experience first.

 

Do you know when would be best to arrive to avoid the long lines? Maybe 2 hours after check-in starts? I've heard Divina has rooms ready quite early compared to RCCL. It would be nice to go through security without much wait and then just proceed to a ready room. Normally we end up taking 45 min or so to get through the RCCL line and then begin the room wait for at least an hour and a half...(and that's with Platinum status.) So I'm thinking maybe 2 hours after check-in starts should be good here....let me know what you think.

 

Boarding starts about noon time. We arrived at port at 12:30 PM, dropped our luggage off and parked the car. We arrived back at the building to check in at 12:45 PM. There were no lines to check in and, after receiving our sea passes, we walked onto the ship. We stopped to enter our credit card information in the kiosk and went to the casino to pick up our drink packages (no lines for either). We were up in the Calumet buffet eating within a half hour of entering the building for check in.

 

Cabins were not available until 2:30 PM. Our luggage was waiting outside the door when we went to the cabin at 2:30.

 

If you have carry on luggage, Guest Services has an area to hold carry on luggage. It will not be delivered to the cabin; you must claim it yourself.

[tencruises]

Thanks all for adding more details. I'm one of those types that likes to know everything before I go into something new so that there are no major surprises. I'm anticipating a fantastic journey. Details like you just posted make me feel at ease.