Is there any way to get an early boarding number on the Breakaway?

[beerman2]

It's actually fairly simple.

 

No One gets on-board until the previous guests have all cleared and many previous guests want to linger...longer.

 

When the ship is certified as empty (between 10:30 - 11:30 am), the first passengers to board will be the suite guests.

 

Second groups will include Latitude members according to Latitude level.

 

Last group to board is the rest of us, by group, starting with those who arrive earliest.

 

Those folk who arrive really, really early to join an early group will inevitably be stuck in the waiting area the longest. These are the folks that always complain on Cruise Critic about the long waits. If you do not have a suite and are not prioritized by Latitude number, don't show up at 8 or even 9 am. You are much better served to wander in about noon or even 1 pm when most of the waiting areas are cleared and the lines are much shorter. Arrive at 8 am...on-board by noon. Arrive at noon...on-board by 1 pm.

 

And those that choose to show up at 8 or even 9 if sailing on BA, GA, or Escape are probably there to get Vibe passes and don't complain.

 

Unfortunately that's the only way (outside of Haven and suite) to have a chance at Vibe on most sailings.

[riclop]

Non Haven.

 

As it's all random luck of the draw from whatever counter you go to at the terminal, is there any way to get a lower boarding number or is it up to the fate of whatever the check in person takes?

 

Showing up before the terminal opens still means I might get the last boarding group, so has anyone figured out a way to board earlier?

 

Get there early.

[esm54687]

Total side bar: can't wait for the staggered check in to be enforced in NYC for the BA..... when people completely disregard the time they are asked to arrive and then complain when it's packed and the lines are long and the system is stressed and..... whether the check in time is enforced or not is irrelevant..... things would be so much nicer if people just followed direction.

 

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[MCAT48]

Best we have gotten was #6 on our last cruise. Was in shock and totally prepared to cause a scene if given a high number like all past cruises. We aphave been fist few in line and recieved a high number multiple times. What's the point of latitudes check In if given a number in the 20s when u arive before the masses?!

[MCAT48]

Get there early.

 

Sorry but I've been there before check in begins and have received high boarding groups in NY

[nivekious]

Wait, so is there no point to getting there early for Vibe passes then? We got to the port in Miami when we were on Getaway at 8 to make sure we were the first ones on after suites. Will that not guarantee anything in NY? If so that really sucks.

[broadwaycam]

Does anyone know how they hand out the numbers at the Tampa port?

[beerman2]

Wait, so is there no point to getting there early for Vibe passes then? We got to the port in Miami when we were on Getaway at 8 to make sure we were the first ones on after suites. Will that not guarantee anything in NY? If so that really sucks.

 

Totally agree! With the situation in NY being what it is no way would I sail out of there if I wanted Vibe passes.

 

We loved Vibe on the Escape , so that is now 1 of our must haves on NCL.

[tempus137]

On our last cruise from Honolulu, there were 2 different Latitudes check-ins, one for Platinum & Gold, the other for Silver & Bronze.

 

We were Gold & got group #1.

[CruisinHarvey]

It's actually fairly simple.

 

No One gets on-board until the previous guests have all cleared and many previous guests want to linger...longer.

 

When the ship is certified as empty (between 10:30 - 11:30 am), the first passengers to board will be the suite guests.

 

Second groups will include Latitude members according to Latitude level.

 

Last group to board is the rest of us, by group, starting with those who arrive earliest.

 

Those folk who arrive really, really early to join an early group will inevitably be stuck in the waiting area the longest. These are the folks that always complain on Cruise Critic about the long waits. If you do not have a suite and are not prioritized by Latitude number, don't show up at 8 or even 9 am. You are much better served to wander in about noon or even 1 pm when most of the waiting areas are cleared and the lines are much shorter. Arrive at 8 am...on-board by noon. Arrive at noon...on-board by 1 pm.

 

Not sure where you cruised from, but your explanation is nothing like We've ever experienced. We've been on 10 NCL cruises in the last 2 years from a various different ports. Not all ports are equal. It seems that everyone of them has it's own process. Just be sure to know the process for one you're cruising out of. The only one I'm aware of using the latitudes tier boarding process is Port Canaveral, and that's a trial, probably changing once the new tiers are announced in 2017. The only one that gives CAS priority boarding is NYC.

 

This is not something that can be generalized. It's just not so.

[coka]

Everyone is assuming they start with the number 1 and continue consecutively with the following digits through the twenties. Having sailed many times in different tiers, categories, suites, first to arrive, last to arrive, etc. .... All I know is they do NOT go 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24....

Any other old timers here agree?

 

coka:D

[luckyinpa]

I should be in NY around 930 sunday. who wants to bet what number I get :) i'm only bronze and assuming that gets me nothing but the other members of my party are 1st timers

[NYcruzzer]

Not at exactly true. I was first person in one of the lines handing out numbers and got a high number. The ship was packed by the time we got on.

 

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Maybe in NY the staff hold the low numbers for those who tip ?....lol

[coka]

Maybe in NY the staff hold the low numbers for those who tip ?....lol

 

No, that is only for the porters when getting OFF the ship, lol. I really think the numbers go 1-6 and then jump to the twenties. For those who get the twenties...it really is only a fifteen to twenty minute wait from 1-6.

 

Um, I think! :p

 

coka:D

[Jezo]

How early is "early" for this "mission" quest ?? :D

 

It's all about trying to get a Vibe pass..

[WFlamingo]

We will be on our first cruise this Sunday on the Breakaway, and I am confused--didn't they give us an arrival time when we checked in online? It seems from reading these posts that no one goes by them, so does that mean that we can check in if we get there earlier than our arrival time?

 

I am not so concerned about getting any pass, only with waiting in line for three hours with two kids...advice?

[ncklhaus]

I'm wondering if the check in time you chose online has anything to do with what boarding number you get. Sign up for a later boarding time, get a higher number, even if you show up earlier. It's a possibility.

[Thartson]

How do you book through the casino? What's the qualifications? Thanks

 

 

I have cruised on the Breakaway 3 times. The 1st time we were so excited that we arrived at 9:45am. Upon entering the terminal, someone asked to see our documents and handed us a boarding group number (#24) and directed us to a line. I thought it was odd to receive such a high boarding group number since we arrived so early. The 2nd time we cruised on the Breakaway I booked through the casino. We arrived at 10am and received boarding group #22. I did not realize that booking through the casino would actually get me a casino boarding pass that would allow me to board after the Haven boarded. I happened to see someone else with a casino boarding pass and went back up to the counter to ask for one. After showing my documents, I was given the new pass and shown where special seating was for casino cruisers. The 3rd time I made sure to get a casino boarding pass. When boarding started each of the 3 times we cruised on the Breakaway - groups were called as follows: suites, casino, and then boarding group 1, 2, 3, etc. I'm not sure how getting a boarding group number is the 20's is a good number.

I have read that the Port of Miami starts with boarding group #1 and that there is no special seating for those that have booked through the casino. I'll see in 2 weeks how it goes in Miami.

[Thartson]

Do the suite guests include the mini suites?

 

 

It's actually fairly simple.

 

No One gets on-board until the previous guests have all cleared and many previous guests want to linger...longer.

 

When the ship is certified as empty (between 10:30 - 11:30 am), the first passengers to board will be the suite guests.

 

Second groups will include Latitude members according to Latitude level.

 

Last group to board is the rest of us, by group, starting with those who arrive earliest.

 

Those folk who arrive really, really early to join an early group will inevitably be stuck in the waiting area the longest. These are the folks that always complain on Cruise Critic about the long waits. If you do not have a suite and are not prioritized by Latitude number, don't show up at 8 or even 9 am. You are much better served to wander in about noon or even 1 pm when most of the waiting areas are cleared and the lines are much shorter. Arrive at 8 am...on-board by noon. Arrive at noon...on-board by 1 pm.

[Kilmar]

We will be on our first cruise this Sunday on the Breakaway, and I am confused--didn't they give us an arrival time when we checked in online? It seems from reading these posts that no one goes by them, so does that mean that we can check in if we get there earlier than our arrival time?

 

I am not so concerned about getting any pass, only with waiting in line for three hours with two kids...advice?

 

The "Let's Go!" email says "We ask that you please do not arrive any earlier than one hour prior to the embarkation time noted in your eDocs.". I assume they have your number ready ahead of time so showing up earlier likely won't yield a lower number. I have the 11:00-11:30 time slot, so I'll probably be there around 10:30ish.

[hawkeyetlse]

I'm wondering if the check in time you chose online has anything to do with what boarding number you get. Sign up for a later boarding time, get a higher number, even if you show up earlier.

I would be very surprised if they put anywhere near that much thought and effort into the distribution of boarding numbers.

[CruisinHarvey]

If you don't need to boord early, then wait until noon or so to check in. Once you're checked in, you'll be able to walk on the ship. In NYC, I've read on multiple threads, they now board by latitudes tier. Someone please correct me, if I'm wrong. If that's true, then arriving early will be of no benefit, just a longer wait to board.

Edited December 14, 2016 by CruisinHarvey

[mking8288]

Do the suite guests include the mini suites?

No, only full suite guests - minis are not.

 

I'm wondering if the check in time you chose online has anything to do with what boarding number you get ... It's a possibility.

The first "checkpoint" is the security folks & a handful of "greeters" - all outsourced, working for the pier/terminal operator - get about 10 to 15 seconds to scan your BP & ID's before moving you ahead. Then, it's onward to the actually check-in area, straight ahead, to the left or to the right, depending on how it's setup - again, 10 to 15 seconds for a hyper screening ... impossible to verify & dish out a matching Boarding # based on the selected arrival time, suggested or otherwise "enforced"

 

If you are Haven, VIP or suite, CAS or special needs - you are directed and/or sometimes escorted to the front of the line and/or next available agent on duty ... some of them raising their hands. Sometimes, it doesn't matter where or who is processing your check-in documents ... the magic is of course, as we all know, getting a lower # as that's generally boarding earlier.

 

Those in the roped off area with seatings, closest to the gangways (2 are used for the Breakaway ... I think the GEM only has one gangway for pax) and if all the "stars" aligned - you can be onboard as early as 10:45 or 11 AM ... wedding parties often get to go first; and, sometimes, TA's and invited guests on ship tours (as they will be leaving later on, not sailing).

 

On days where we disembarked early, it's not unusual to see hundreds already sitting inside the terminal as we come off the gangway, apparently already processed by 9 AM - waiting to board the ship ... eventually (probably, no sooner than 11 AM unless they have special status like those in Haven, VIP, CAS, etc.) - not exactly a productive way to spend the early morning hours, not in NYC anyway. Besides, I'm doubtful all of them are there to seize one of the prized Vibe passes.

 

But, they do collect those numbered zone/boarding cards as you head up toward the gangways check-in area with the key cards out - what we need is a BTS story to explain it. (Behind The Scene) :D

Edited December 14, 2016 by mking8288

[lenquixote66]

I normally arrive at the Manhattan port about 9:30 and get on board 11:45 .On my next cruise I plan to arrive at 11.

[mjkacmom]

I'm wondering if the check in time you chose online has anything to do with what boarding number you get. Sign up for a later boarding time, get a higher number, even if you show up earlier. It's a possibility.

 

I doubt it. When we arrived at 9:45 and got boarding number 24, it was years before they stated assigning arrival times. It might have to do with what area you board from!