Early Embarkation?

[midtown_girl]

This is my first time cruising on Princess, and I understand that embarkation is a breeze compared to Carnival.

What is the earliest that someone has gotten on the ship? In other words, if I want to be the first one on, when should we be at the pier?

We'll be in Fort Lauderdale for the Sun.

Jen
Carnival Glory 12/6/03
Sun Princess 10/13/04

[meyerhaus]

Unfortunately, if you want to be the first one, you have to go on about 15 cruises between now and then. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Elite, Platinum, et. get priority embarkation.

However, when you get your paperwork it will give an embarkation time. If you get there a couple of hours early, you can sit on your suitcases and read a book until you can get on! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Just kidding!! Have fun on the Sun!

JON

[url="http://www.geocities.com/pattersandmenus/"][img]http://www.picgoo.com/uploads/960426124355.gif[/img] [/url]
[url="http://www.geocities.com/pattersandmenus"]www.geocities.com/pattersandmenus[/url]

Golden Princess 7/11/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;7;11;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Big Red Boat-1993 (Amy)
Celebrity Zenith-1993 (Jon)

[Toto2Kansas]

If you arrive early to the pier (definitely at least two hours early) no matter what status you hold with Princess you can be one of the first ones onboard the ship.
Platinum and Ellite have their own lines to board, but there are more lines for gold or first time members so you have a good chance.
Make sure to fill out all of your embarkation forms online to get faster check in.
And have a great cruise!

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04
RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.
One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

[KAJOKG]

Our experience with Princess has been early boarding. We have been on board by 11:30 -- once we boarded at 11:15. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will be able to get into your cabin, but you can explore the ship and have lunch at Horizon Court. We have been able to get right into our cabin each time, but I think Princess is now doing embarkation the same way that HAL has just put in place....get on board, and then they announce when you can get into your cabin. That's usually 1 o'clock.

KATY

NCL NORWAY - 2000
GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2001
GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2002
HAL NOORDAM - 2002
HAL VOLENDAM - 2003
ISLAND PRINCESS - NOV. 2003
HAL VOLENDAM - JAN. 2004
CORAL PRINCESS - OCT. 2004

[midtown_girl]

Yes, I'm more interested in being able to get on the ship and explore and enjoy. Not too concerned with getting in the cabin until afternoon. We'll pack light on the carryon side so we're not lugging a ton around.

And yes, the online forms are fantastic! I was highly impressed.

Jen
Carnival Glory 12/6/03
Sun Princess 10/13/04

[donna5]

Lately on the 3 cruises we took this year. And some last year, Princess didn't start boarding process until stated time and sometimes over an hour later. I think the days of boarding early are gone. All our boardings were in U.S. ports. What are other people finding, such as in San Juan, we haven't been there for over 3 years.

[spongerob]

If you want to board as early as possible, you have to get to the port and in line before the Love Boat Express shuttles and airport transfer buses start showing up. We went to the port at 11:00 AM last time, and the line at the terminal was already 3 rows deep. If you get there early, though, you might not be able to drop off your bags and will have to stand with them until the shore staff is ready to start taking them.

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess

[CruiseFever]

We found the same thing in Fort Lauderdale before our Golden cruise in March and plan on going to the port earlier for our CP cruise in June. We got there about 11:00 before the Golden cruise and like noted above, the crowd was three rows deep.

All the time we were standing in line bus after bus from Cruise Connection, the South Florida passenger gathering mogul was dumping hoardes of cruisers off behind us.

Again, as Toto noted above, early to the port (like on Carnival) does get you on board earlier, regardless of the crowd. Also, I should add that even though there were hundreds of people ahead of us, from the time they opened the doors until we walked on the ship was no more than 15 minutes. This is where Princess rules over Carnival on embarkation.

You'll enter the terminal and go to a check-in desk for your deck. There are lots of decks and lots of desks so it goes really quickly. A quick check there then through one of up to four security stations and you're off to the ship.

It's so simple I just can't understand why everyone doesn't do it this way...unless its a labor cost thing. They DO have more staff on duty.

Happy Cruising

Chris

[url="http://www.LifeIsCruising.com"]www.LifeIsCruising.com[/url]

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05
Carnival Valor 10/30/05

[midtown_girl]

Thanks everyone. Looks like arriving by 11 is the thing to do, knowing we may be waiting for the desks to open.

Jen
Carnival Glory 12/6/03
Sun Princess 10/13/04

[LindaKE]

We arrived at 11:30 in Vancouver and sailed through the Princess lines. Then we waited, and waited, for immigration to open so we could board.

LindaKE

Sun Princess(Alaska)
Carnival Inspiration