Caribbean Princess FLL Embarkation Question

[fourcruises]

We just recieved an "Emergency Notification" fax regarding embarkation times for our January 21 Caribbean Princess cruise. It stated that we should not arrive before 2:00 since they were unable to handle large crowds. This is the first time this has ever happened and I wonder if any recent Caribbean Princess cruisers could shed some light on this and if there were any problems embarking. I know that the official time is usually 1:00 and people do arrive early but we have never received this type of notification. The only time that we have received "Emergency Notification" is when sailing times have changed or they have changed the itinerary or port order. Thanks.

[srussell]

I was on the December 3, 2005 sailing of the Caribbean Princess. We arrived at the pier at about 12:00 and we were on the ship in about a half hour.

The line was forming outside the building but moved very quickly.

 

On disembarkation we were amazed to see people already in line at 9:30 am to get on the ship! I think that is why they are asking guests to come later so they won't have long lines before they are even able to start checking people in.

 

Have a great cruise....we sure did.

 

S.Russell

[Redsgj]

** IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EMBARKATION **

 

Please be reminded that embarkation begins at 1:00 pm.

It is recommended that you arrive after 2:00 pm in order to avoid

long lines and waiting times.

Please note that there are not adequate facilities available at the pier

to comfortably accommodate large numbers of passengers who arrive prior

to 1:00 pm.

 

We look forward to welcoming you aboard Caribbean Princess!

 

The above is what I have on the personalizer for the 14th sailing.

 

The way I read it is, as srussell said, that they are simply trying to cut down on the number of early arrivals, especially if people are starting to arrive at 9:30! They didn't say you "shouldn't" arrive before 2:00, they just recommended it to cut down on lines and wait times.

 

I find it interesting that they say embarkation doesn't begin until 1:00 but they have the lunch starting in the Horizon Court at 12:00!!

 

Oh well, the check out time at our hotel is 11:00 and it doesn't have a pool to sit by so we will be heading over early. Hopefully they don't turn us away!!

[cruzinchris]

DH and I received the "emergency notification" for the 1/28/06 sailing of the CB, as well. Having been on this vessel a year ago, I think Princess is attempting to alleviate pre-boarding congestion at the terminal.

 

DH and I arrived at the pier for our 1/21/05 cruise at around 12:45 and were onboard the ship in 15 minutes. We heard that passengers had actually waited in line for 2 hours to be among the first to embark the ship - not the way we want to begin a relaxing cruise vacation.

 

On our upcoming cruise, we plan to vacate our hotel room at 11:00, drop off our rental car, and board the Hertz shuttle to the pier by noon. By 12:30 there shouldn't be much of a line for embarkation.

 

Sailing in 30 days.

 

Bon Voyage!

Chris

[Pastor Shane]

I too am on the 21st sailing and while speaking to Princess yesterday, I asked what was the "best" time to arrive if I wanted to avoid long lines and the lady said "after 2:30." I think like other posters have already said, they are just trying to avoid the long lines of eager people arriving before 1:00pm rather than clear up some type of boarding problem. I will be there after 2:30.

[spongerob]

Hi Diane! I wouldn't worry too much about the notice. I think they are more concerned about having lots of people arriving early and having to stand outside in the hot sun or whatever type of weather presents itself.

 

Enjoy your cruise. We're headed for Grand Princess in a couple weeks.

[Baxter]

Hi Diane! I wouldn't worry too much about the notice. I think they are more concerned about having lots of people arriving early and having to stand outside in the hot sun or whatever type of weather presents itself.

 

We sailed the Caribbean Princess in November. Lots of grumpy people, including some of the staff. We arrived at 11:30, and there were people everywhere. But many were grumpy because they had to stand in the hot sun with no shade for extended periods of time. Many times I heard the staff say "that's exactly why we tell you to NOT come before 1:00"! That's where the platinum status comes in handy -- we were quickly escorted inside to a seating area.

[fourcruises]

Hi Diane! I wouldn't worry too much about the notice. I think they are more concerned about having lots of people arriving early and having to stand outside in the hot sun or whatever type of weather presents itself.

 

Enjoy your cruise. We're headed for Grand Princess in a couple weeks.

Hi Rob,

I am so looking forward to a relaxing cruise!! We have Alaska coming up in May and then I have booked a Fall Cruise of....New England/Canada! Strange since we live here but it goes out of Boston and that is convenient. It goes to Martha's Vinyard (never been), Portland (haven't been in years and love the old port), Bar Harbor(only been once on our honeymoon and it was too early for anything to be open) and then Canada where we have not been. Not on Princess...giving Royal Caribbean a try. Why don't you and Margarett join us? New England was the cruise that got you hooked, wasn't it? Happy New Year and enjoy your Grand cruise.

[spongerob]

We loved our Canada/New England cruise! We were on a great ship (Royal Princess) and got to spend some time in NYC beforehand. It was our second cruise and yes, we were definitely hooked after that one. It's too bad that our fall cruise to Alaska conflicts with your schedule, or we'd take you up on going with you. One of my options for 2007 is the repo cruise from Quebec to Ft. Lauderdale, we just have to wait for the schedule to see how the sailing date works out for us.

[KAJOKG]

We live in Florida and always use Cruise Connection bus service to the pier. They have large coaches and pick up all over the state. The bus used to schedule our pick up for 8:15 a.m. The last time their schedule changed to pick up at 10:15 a.m. This could be due to the large crowds at the pier waiting to board before returning passengers had disembarked. We usually were on line by 9:30 -- much too early. I would say the cruise lines have definitely requested that these buses arrive later. I know that many people complain about not having a place to sit while waiting to board...conveniences are sparse, for sure. And the Caribbean Princess has so many (way too many) passengers that the lines are hard to control I hated having to wait 2 or 3 hours in line before embarkation began. Happy to see that the cruise lines are attempting to change things a bit.

[CruiseKing]

We sailed the Caribbean Princess in November. Lots of grumpy people, including some of the staff. We arrived at 11:30, and there were people everywhere. But many were grumpy because they had to stand in the hot sun with no shade for extended periods of time. Many times I heard the staff say "that's exactly why we tell you to NOT come before 1:00"! That's where the platinum status comes in handy -- we were quickly escorted inside to a seating area.

Hello Baxter,

DW & I have an upcoming Caribbean Princess cruise. Just a few weeks away. We are also Platinum and have heard of the "special" treatment for those that arrive early. Could you give me some hints ;) on how to be sure to take advantage of that.

Thanks.

[CruisinChris]

RE: Dining/Horizon Court opening at 12:30 - despite it being a turnaround day, many departments on board operate just as they normally would. Remember - there are likely to be passengers on board doing back-to-back. Passenger services don't halt on turnaround days.

[imsulin2]

I was on the 9/17/05 CB, and we arrived at the FLL pier just after noon. If I said: "Hot weather, no shade, very long lines that moved slowly, a 1 1/2 hour wait in that slowly moving line, and lots of complaining and grumbling"...I wouldn't be lying.

[Nicole721]

Hmmm...we're sailing in just over a week and haven't gotten anything!

 

About this hot long line thing...

 

If we're in a suite, do we get to go to a nice shaded area too? :)

[fourcruises]

We sailed the Caribbean Princess in November. Lots of grumpy people, including some of the staff. We arrived at 11:30, and there were people everywhere. But many were grumpy because they had to stand in the hot sun with no shade for extended periods of time. Many times I heard the staff say "that's exactly why we tell you to NOT come before 1:00"! That's where the platinum status comes in handy -- we were quickly escorted inside to a seating area.

 

How does "platinum status come in handy"? We are Elite and have never been offered any special treatment when arriving early. Also we book Suites and only once (back in 1998) did they have a special check in for Suites. Please share your secret.

[fourcruises]

We sailed the Caribbean Princess in November. Lots of grumpy people, including some of the staff. We arrived at 11:30, and there were people everywhere. But many were grumpy because they had to stand in the hot sun with no shade for extended periods of time. Many times I heard the staff say "that's exactly why we tell you to NOT come before 1:00"! That's where the platinum status comes in handy -- we were quickly escorted inside to a seating area.

 

How does "platinum status come in handy"? We are Elite and have never been offered any special treatment when arriving early. Also we book Suites and only once (back in 1998) did they have a special check in for Suites. Please share your secret.

[KAJOKG]

We are platinum members and the only perks I've seen are the Platinum check in at your deck check in desk, and being able to wait in the Wheel House Lounge waiting to disembark....where they serve juice and coffee. Platinum members do, however, get free internet privileges.

[Baxter]

How does "platinum status come in handy"? We are Elite and have never been offered any special treatment when arriving early. Also we book Suites and only once (back in 1998) did they have a special check in for Suites. Please share your secret.

 

At the Fort Lauderdale pier there is a door further down, to the right of the door that everyone is lining up for. Work your way through everyone. Someone will be standing at the door. We simply showed our "Platinum Check-in" sticker that was on our tickets and they escorted us to a seating area to wait. It is the same area where those in wheelchairs wait for boarding. If you've been at that pier, if you are standing at the desk to check-in, the waiting area is directly behind you against the wall.

 

I had absolutely no clue it was there, but my husband was convinced they had a separate area for platinum and elite. One person we asked said there was no area, but another pointed us in the general area. It wasn't marked. Was just a door with a person standing at it.

[Baxter]

Sorry...multiples

[Baxter]

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[Baxter]

...last one

[holidayathesea]

Perhaps this is a little known fact but they start boarding at 12pm. I got on on 12/17 and spent about 45 minutes in line before it started moving and after 12 it moved fast and we were on board within fifteen minutes.

[KAJOKG]

Perhaps this is a little known fact but they start boarding at 12pm. I got on on 12/17 and spent about 45 minutes in line before it started moving and after 12 it moved fast and we were on board within fifteen minutes.

Even though officially boarding time is 2 p.m., other Princess ships actually start boarding between 11:15 and 11:30. The Caribbean Princess has so many pax (500 more than the other Grand Class ships) so it takes longer for them to disembark to make room for the new passengers. I'm amazed that they can start at 12!

[kcb]

Even though officially boarding time is 2 p.m., other Princess ships actually start boarding between 11:15 and 11:30. The Caribbean Princess has so many pax (500 more than the other Grand Class ships) so it takes longer for them to disembark to make room for the new passengers. I'm amazed that they can start at 12!

 

The official time that boarding starts is a closely guarded secret. I don't believe one actually exists, but has everything to do with the time the ship arrives, how quickly Customs clears the ship, and how willing the passengers are to facilitate an orderly disembarkation.

 

We just got off the CB on 12/31. We were late into Ft. Lauderdale due to a 3-hour misfortune at Princess Cays. As I had exceeded my Customs allowance onboard, I received a letter stating I had to present myself to Customs between 7:15-7:45, before the ship would be cleared for everyone. As we were still maneuvering into the dock shortly before 8:00, Customs was not onboard yet, and there was a long line waiting for those in my situation. So, I'm assuming the ship was cleared much later than normal. Thus, those getting on probably had a longer wait...It will be interesting to find out. That being said, we walked off with the second "group" of people called, and that was around 9:30-9:45.

 

Now, boarding the week before was a different story...When we arrived at the pier, shortly after noon, there was an atrocious line stretching the length of the building. Facing the ship from the pier, the entrance to the building is on your far right, and the line stretched the full-length of the building to the left. The ship had arrived a good hour-plus earlier on this day, as I watched her come in from the Hyatt Pier 66.

 

As we were in a Penthouse Suite, we received Platinum Check-In. We did as another poster has already noted, and went to the door just to the right of where everyone else was entering, someone checked our tickets, and let us right into the building. Platinum Check-In had a dedicated x-ray machine, and a dedicated check-in desk (rather than by deck for the rest). Passengers were already being let onboard, so we went right thru everything and onboard.

 

So, although we arrived just after noon, we went from taxi to suite in less than 30 minutes. Bear in mind, we had Platinum Check-In. I fear we may still be waiting had we not!

 

Bottom line is this: If you don't mind the possible wait, show up when convenient. Consider the weather, however. The wait was undercover, but in Florida, the heat and humidity can zap you. Not a fun way to start your vacation! If you'd like it to be a little more expedited, consider following the cruise line's advice.

 

If you have further questions, feel free to ask: kcb1966@sbcglobal.net

[KAJOKG]

The official time that boarding starts is a closely guarded secret. I don't believe one actually exists, but has everything to do with the time the ship arrives, how quickly Customs clears the ship, and how willing the passengers are to facilitate an orderly disembarkation.

 

QUOTE]

I don't think it's a "closely guarded secret" at all. Documents clearly give the boarding time as 2 or 3 p.m. But in actuality they start boarding as soon as all departing passengers have left the ship. Except for our cruise on the Caribbean Princess, our other cruises on Princess ships have been between 11:00 and 11:30. The delay in arriving back in port, as you explained, is rare. 6 Princess cruises and we have always been in port by early morning. I really do think that the CB has disembarking and embarking problems because it has so many passengers. I know that I will never sail on that ship again. Especially when we have the Star, Golden, and Coral to choose from!!!