Carnival online check in time

[Ideb]

Do you have to check the  box next to the time you'd like to check in? The times listed are all after 1:00 pm. What if we get to the port earlier on embarkation day? Would we have to wait until the time we selected? Is it okay just to leave the box blank but continue the rest of the check in and just show up and wait in line and get on the ship earlier if they allow it?

[PhillyFan33579]

You have to select a check-in time.  If you show up at the port before your check-in time, you could possibly wait in line for several hours.  The whole point of check-in  windows is to keep everyone from showing up early and/or at the same time. 

Edited February 27, 2019 by PhillyFan33579

[elcuchio24]

Show up when you have a time slot, thats why they do it.

[bingomamma19]

15 minutes ago, Ideb said:

Do you have to check the  box next to the time you'd like to check in? The times listed are all after 1:00 pm. What if we get to the port earlier on embarkation day? Would we have to wait until the time we selected? Is it okay just to leave the box blank but continue the rest of the check in and just show up and wait in line and get on the ship earlier if they allow it?

yes, you check the box of the time that you are picking to check in.   The time slots that show up are the ones that are left as available to pick.

 

You show up at your check in time that you selected.   If you show up earlier, they will redirect you to a different line to wait in.   You may end up waiting for a very long time in that line (up to your chosen check in time).

 

[Garth2]

If you select a time of 1:30 or later your cabin will probably be ready when you board and you won't have to lug your carry on items around while you eat lunch and explore the ship.

[jwcruise1]

From what I understand, if you don't pick a check-in time, Carnival will assign you one and that is still the time for you to show up, or like others have said, possibly wait for hours.

As I said though, this is my understanding, YMMV

[SandiLynn]

On our last cruise out of NOLA we got to ship earlier than our check-in time due to traffic not being as bad as usual and knowing that the parking garage geets full after 1:00. We also had no choice when picking time. It was 1-1:30 only. They let us board at noon. Walked right on with little wait time. Fastest I have ever gotten on ship.

[PlanoDebbie]

You will have to show your Boarding Pass before they let you in line to enter the building.  No point in showing up earlier, because you will be forced to stand against the wall until the boarding time on your pass happens.

[PhillyFan33579]

49 minutes ago, PlanoDebbie said:

You will have to show your Boarding Pass before they let you in line to enter the building.  No point in showing up earlier, because you will be forced to stand against the wall until the boarding time on your pass happens.

 

Thats not correct. There is a line for people who show up before or after their check-in window. Sometimes this line moves fairly quick, other times you could literally be waiting for hours. 

[PlanoDebbie]

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

Thats not correct. There is a line for people who show up before or after their check-in window. Sometimes this line moves fairly quick, other times you could literally be waiting for hours. 

 

Each port may be slightly different.  Most of our experience since they began staging check-in times has been in Galveston.  The folks in front of us that were there 30 minutes before their check-in time were moved to the line against the wall, while we moved forward to the line to go through port security.

[rufflesmom]

I have sailed out of Galveston a couple of times since they started the check-in times.  It is enforced at Galveston.  There was not a special line for people who got there early.  They just had to wait outside.  And yes, they were checking boarding passes.  Check-in has greatly improved since this process started, at least at Galveston.