..Best Time to Arrive at Departure Port?

[cheeka]

Hi!

Our cruise departs at 5:00pm from Miami.

What would be the best time to arrive at the port?

I prefer a leisurely pace, & also hope to enquire about a possible

cabin upgrade.

Chris in Canada

[Nitemare]

Each cruiseline handles boarding differently, if you post your question on the board here dedicated to your cruiseline, you'll get the best, most specific replies.

[suezyq50]

We arrived at 11 and had lunch. I would agree though. Go to the specific cruise line site.

[Patfan]

11AM and you will have lunch on deck by noon!

[Bequia]

Ditto, arrive at 11am lunch by noon. ;)

[hotshot99]

11-12 have lunch in the buffett before it gets crazy.

[CaptData]

Also as soon as you arrive ask where the upgrade desk is and be prepared to fork over the money. You may find that if you watch prices just after final payment you may find that the cabins not sold drop in price and you can get an upgrade then. Good luck.

[Bequia]

also hope to enquire about a possiblecabin upgrade.Chris in Canada

 

Chris, you should check on upgrades before your cruise. Ask how many are available. At times I've arrived at the terminal prepared to buy a last minute upgrade and they were not available. I do not believe the upgrades are any cheaper on the day of departure either. Perhaps someone that's obtained one at the port can share their experience.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Each cruise line does differ as to when you can board the ship. For HAL we arrive arround 11, check in, and are usually on the ship by 11:30. That gives us plenty of time to tour the ship. When the luggage arrives, we unpack and still have time to rest before lifeboat drill which is usually at 4:15 on HAL - 45 minutes before the ship sails.

[Sheffie]

Our first few cruises, (before I knew about cruisecritic!) we boarded at or after the recommended 2 p.m. Once we knew about earlier boarding, we were hooked! It is so great to get on early, go around getting to know the ship, taking pictures (you can even wear jeans to the dining room for these!), getting something to eat in the Windjammer, and finally having that drink in your hand as you watch the stragglers board is wonderful!

 

Have a great cruise!

[Francis]

we just came back from back to back cruise, the first one with carnival, it took about 60 minutes to get on board. the second one with royal caribbean, it took almost 2 hours minutes even though we were there at 10:30 am(walking from carnival to rcl terminal), they said immigration held up the process.

regardless, you will be happy to be on board and have lunch either in lido deck (carnival) or windjammer (rcl) within 30 minutes after boarding.

it beats waiting for HOURS in an airline terminal.

have fun.

by the way, if you are coming from canada (we came in from western canada), it is better to go to miami a day early. you never know what would happen if you take the flight the same day the cruise leaves. DELAY DELAY!!! IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY.

[Francis]

by the way, the cruises we were in. both carnival and rcl posted a sign saying upgrades not available as ship was full. hope you will have better luck.

[wrp96]

Hi!

Our cruise departs at 5:00pm from Miami.

What would be the best time to arrive at the port?

I prefer a leisurely pace, & also hope to enquire about a possible

cabin upgrade.

Chris in Canada

 

If you want to upgrade you need to be the first person in line so I would recommend getting there around 10, 10:30. You still may not have that option but that is the only way to get one.

[RetRanger]

Befor the ship sails!

[Arwenmark]

getting there early like 11 a.m. can be a mixed bag. IF immigration and customs cleared the ship and previous passengers are off it can go well and you get on soon, If not or if the ship was late into port you can be stuck with wall to wall passengers and luggage pushing and shoving for literally hours. Not a fun way to start a vacation.

If you don't care about getting food the min you get on board, you can wait till afternoon say 3 p.m. and literally enter an empty terminal and walk on board. All that being said try for any upgrades before you sail, have your agent call the upsell desk and ask. Day of sailing seldom sees any upgrades available and you would have to be there very very early and wait around if there were in order to get one.

[Ice Travel Agent]

4 hours before depature at least!:cool: