How are check in lines in NYC?

[MizDemeanor]

We said from NY about two years ago and the lines to check in took literally hours. They seemed very, very understaffed and were also unapolgetic about the excessive waits.

 

We may sail in November, what are the check in processes and line times currenty like for a sail out out Manhattan these days.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Mom2B&Z]

It depends on what time you arrive. If you're there around 8:30-9, you'll be one of the first in line but will wait until 9:30 or so when they open the lines. The lines are long until about 12:30 or so, then they are almost non existent.

Our experiences with breakaway are in March with the ship saying at full capacity, so your experience may vary.

 

 

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[mjkacmom]

It took about an hour at 945 in May.

[mking8288]

To put in perspective, NYC cruise terminal isn't much different than other ports. First, security screening for boarding 12 to 15 wide-bodied jumbo jet in 3 or 4 hours and a good # of them struggled with oversized, non-carry on bags that airlines would definitely denied boarding unless checked. Then, it's onward & split into different check-in sections ... Haven, VIP's, Special Needs, CAS, Platinum & Golds, and all others - positive ID & document checks, credit cards & photos for the Guest KeyCard, plus filling out the short health Q's as required. Next is the wait for boarding when ship is ready - typically via 2 gangways.

 

Typically, it's about 15 minutes or less to get thru security and another 15 minutes for getting check-in, including time standing on lines as non-Haven guests but it helped to be Platinum, VIP's or CAS. We generally arrived at the pier about 10 AM and are inside in about 30 minutes, maybe 45 minutes - just enough time to wait around & perhaps read the Freestyle Dailies - before they start boarding by status, etc. and onboard ourselves, commonly around 11:15 to 11:30

 

Earlier this year, the Gem was late & everyone was held pre-security up till 10 AM so it took longer but we're all done & seated inside by 11 AM, and they had the mobile/portable Dining Reservation desk setup inside the waiting hall to do bookings as desired. It might seemed like hours - but, we're in the terminal for maybe 90 minutes maximum, including 15 minutes in the queue for the long hike up the "Z" gangways.

[Azure Moon]

Last week we arrived at the cruise terminal between 12:00pm and 12:30pm. Two new-to- NCL members of our group of four went to one line and the two previous NCL cruisers (friend and I) went through the Lattitudes line. The Lattitudes line took longer than the other line. So much for that perk, lol! We all joked about it as we waited. It didn't time it, but don't think we waited an hour. Our friends sat and waited for us so we could all get our picture taken together by the photographer.

[garycarla]

We said from NY about two years ago and the lines to check in took literally hours. They seemed very, very understaffed and were also unapolgetic about the excessive waits.

 

We may sail in November, what are the check in processes and line times currenty like for a sail out out Manhattan these days.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

You could hit with a reasonable line, or get stuck for hours if everyone else shows up at the same time, or the incoming folks ran into delays getting off with immigration, or late arrival.

 

Moving a few thousand off the ship, and moving a few thousand back on does have it's challenges.

[DominicAUS]

We arrived at the terminal in March around 11-1130, we were in the Haven and friends were first timers and no status. We were on board in under 30mins. Our friends said everything moved quickly and weren’t far behind us. I thought it was well organised and lots of staff directing pax.

 

Can just depend but we got lucky. Enjoy your cruise,

Dominic

[newmexicoNita]

We sailed out of NYC in April, got to the port about 10:30, we are lattitude. We were on the ship by noon, no problems. Now, disembarking was a totally different story: it was the worst we have ever had and we have cruised over 30 times.