Sunrise Check-In Delayed

[Wombservice]

We’re sailing tomorrow on the Sunrise and just received an email stating that boarding will be delayed by one hour because of an in-depth debarking procedure by customs for the previous cruise.  My check-in time was 11:30-12:00 so that would’ve made it 12:30-1:00, but I have FTTF - what time would be an appropriate time to arrive?  Has this happened to anybody?  All I can picture is mass chaos!

[PhillyFan33579]

I don’t know if this applies in your situation, but we have experienced delays in the past where they strictly enforced the check-in times 2 hours later, for example. So if your check-in time was originally 12 PM, it was now 2 PM. You couldn’t show up before your new later check-in time even if you had priority boarding (Diamonds, Platinums, FTTF, etc.). This was clearly addressed in e-mails they sent to passengers.  

Edited June 20, 2019 by PhillyFan33579

[Wombservice]

Ok, thanks for the reply!  So I guess FTTF doesn’t count anymore?

 

[jetsfan]

We are sailing Sunrise too. Nothing in my email yet. We are Platinum and are a little over an hour away from the pier. I will check in the morning. 

[PhillyFan33579]

Just now, Wombservice said:

Ok, thanks for the reply!  So I guess FTTF doesn’t count anymore?

 

 

The email would clearly state priority boarding would not be available. If it doesn’t mention this, you should have no issue showing up when you want. 

[Wombservice]

The email only states that the hour later arrival “also applies to our Diamond, Platinum, FTTF and Suite guests”.  But since I wasn’t sure when my initial arrival time was because of FTTF, I’m 

not sure when the new arrival time is.......

[wesorbeth]

You will need to show up one hour later than the earliest original check in time.

[ProgRockCruiser]

4 hours ago, wesorbeth said:

You will need to show up one hour later than the earliest original check in time.

This.

 

If, by having FTTF, it meant you could arrive to check-in at 10:30am, then now you should plan to arrive at 11:30am.

 

Your official assigned check-in time is meaningless if you have FTTF - it is just a placeholder that would apply if you cancelled FTTF, for example.

[maryred]

12 hours ago, Wombservice said:

We’re sailing tomorrow on the Sunrise and just received an email stating that boarding will be delayed by one hour because of an in-depth debarking procedure by customs for the previous cruise.  My check-in time was 11:30-12:00 so that would’ve made it 12:30-1:00, but I have FTTF - what time would be an appropriate time to arrive?  Has this happened to anybody?  All I can picture is mass chaos!

On the surface it sound like someone on the current cruise made a very bad decision requiring intervention of federal authorities or there is a large turn over of crew requiring special processing to leave/join the ship to end/start their contracts and both the cruise line and the terminal want the building clear. Otherwise it's another case of very poor wording on the part of the cruise line's notification system.

Re-read the email or travel alert, does it state boarding of the ship or that terminal operations for check-in is delayed? If it says boarding, and if you are not opposed to waiting the extra time in the terminal then go ahead, since you have FttF, arrive at the cruise terminal building as early as the time listed at the terminal's website for when they open to incoming passengers. For NYC piers 88/89/90 this is usually 9:30am. Delay some, maybe targeting an 11am arrival, if driving in and parking, as the dock adjacent rooftop parking usually does not have spaces until 10:00am on cruises with normal debarkation and clearance procedures.

If the communication states the terminal's check-in operations or ability to process in is delayed then add an hour to to the normal times listed at the port authority's website. With FttF you do not have to follow your picked Arrival Appointment time, but there is no sense in having to wait on the sidewalk of the concourse for the building to open if they are closing it to civilians. Remember it's usually a clustercluck of traffic on 12th Ave (aka the Westside Hwy) getting to the terminal concourse entryway, from early morning until about 1:30pm anyway for any ship's turn around day, so pack your patience in your hip pocket.

Either way boarding of the ship will commence when all the federal and local agencies involved clear the ship for new passengers. The common boarding start time in NYC for embarkation day weddings is about 10:30am, with Diamond, Platinum, and suites soon following (15-30 minutes later). FttF priority boarding will commence after any special cruise line or casino invitees board. If you arrive after they clear the FtF waiting area you will just join the next group boarding the ship after processing in at the priority check-in counter.

Edited June 20, 2019 by maryred