Embarkation lines on Regal out of Port Everglades

[geoherb]

We did the Bon Voyage Experience on the Regal on Dec. 11. The lines were very long when we showed up at 11. We made it through security and check-in around 11:30. (There's a separate line for BVE passengers--but not very clearly marked. We stood in line with the preferred boarding passengers and did not see the sign until we were at the door.)

 

We were the first new passengers on the ship. Some of the ones doing back-to-back cruises were still being processed.

 

We stayed at the Embassy Suites. One of the incentives to book our room there was late (2 p.m.) check-out "depending upon availability." My belief is that it's not ever available since the front desk clerk didn't bother to look at anything before telling me we had to be out by noon. We had them store our luggage while we ate lunch at the diner at the Harbor Shops and caught a cab to the airport for our late afternoon flight back home.

[cruisemom42]

Sounds more and more like a later arrival is the way to go...

[Grego]

Quite a variety of practices and they all work depending on what your idea of solution is.

 

We have always arrived early if we are driving and parking a car in the port terminal. Early for us is about 10:15 entering the port and we drop the luggage and then park the car. If the ship is returning to the same pier as the departure, that's great. When it leaves from one and returns to another, which happen a lot, we drop the luggage and drive to the returning pier terminal location and park there and then catch a shuttle if available or a cab back to the embarkation pier.

 

Usually, there isn't too much of a wait to get processed and then on to the lounge until around noon to get onboard. We like to get to the cabin, unpack the carry-on stuff and get organized then on to a quick lunch. After that we can wander the ship and check back to see if the luggage fairy has been there so we can totally unpack before muster drill.

 

Best of all worlds for us living near Port Everglades is to have the ship using the same pier and we are able to schlep our luggage aboard ourselves.

 

Whatever you choose, the important thing is to get onboard without anxiety or drama and enjoy the voyage.

[Clampram]

Having just boarded the Royal 2 weeks ago, I would suggest driving over to Lesters for a quiet lunch and getting to the port later..........maybe 1-2PM.

 

In my opinion, it's not worth the craziness of sitting in that terminal waiting area (or standing outside) for 2-3 hours.

 

Princess does a great job of getting people in and out of the ship, but there's only so much you can do with 4000 people!

[Hlitner]

We did the Bon Voyage Experience on the Regal on Dec. 11. The lines were very long when we showed up at 11. We made it through security and check-in around 11:30. (There's a separate line for BVE passengers--but not very clearly marked. We stood in line with the preferred boarding passengers and did not see the sign until we were at the door.)

 

We were the first new passengers on the ship. Some of the ones doing back-to-back cruises were still being processed.

 

We stayed at the Embassy Suites. One of the incentives to book our room there was late (2 p.m.) check-out "depending upon availability." My belief is that it's not ever available since the front desk clerk didn't bother to look at anything before telling me we had to be out by noon. We had them store our luggage while we ate lunch at the diner at the Harbor Shops and caught a cab to the airport for our late afternoon flight back home.

 

A word about the 17th Street Embassy Suites. We really like this hotel and use it often pre cruise. We also have some status with Hilton which would normally get us late check-outs if we ask. But this hotel has become very popular with cruisers, which have resulted in higher cost for rooms and very rare late check-outs. The manager told us that late check-outs are granted based on the daily reservations. So On Saturday and Sunday mornings it is nearly impossible to get a late check-out time since there are many folks checking-in who have just arrived on cruises (doing a post cruise day) plus many coming for the following day cruises. In a sense the hotel is now a victim of its own popularity. We can often get an check-out extension until noon (that would be 1 hour extra) but that is about as far as they will go.....and suspect this is not even the norm.

 

Hank

P.S. We already have a reservation for next November :)

Edited December 21, 2016 by Hlitner