No boarding time on Breakaway

[Kodiak99]

I am cruising in late February on the Breakaway and completed online check in yesterday. I was not prompted to select a boarding time. When I called NCL, I was told there are no boarding times for this sailing. I am not looking forward to the chaos that is sure to result when everyone is trying to be first on in order to get Vibe, make show reservations, etc. Has anyone else dealt with this? Is it the nightmare I imagine?

 

As a side note I spoke with 4 different people about this. I got conflicting info - 2 insisted there are no boarding times, and the others thought there was an error. I was directed how to locate the email address for customer service, but when I followed their instructions there was no email address, only a phone number. Called the number and they said it was no longer in use and gave me a website to email customer service. When filling our that form it would not allow me to put a cruise date in the future, so obviously it is intended for post cruise concerns. Not impressed with the service today.

[KeithJenner]

Boarding times have been around for a few years, but before they were introduced it wasn’t chaos, or a nightmare.

 

Admittedly there were fewer ships around back then that had Vibe, but some did.

 

My understanding is that people who want Vibe just ignore their boarding time anyway.

Edited November 25, 2019 by KeithJenner

[Jerseygich]

And KeithJenner that helps Kodiak99 How?

[KeithJenner]

1 minute ago, Jerseygich said:

And KeithJenner that helps Kodiak99 How?

By answering their question.

 

How did yours help?

[Jerseygich]

Answered what?

[Oakman58]

I didn't have any boarding time this past September when I cruised on the Breakaway out of Miami.  The only thing my cruise document said was, boarding begins at 12 PM please don't arrive earlier than one hour before boarding time.  Our NCL transfer bus from the airport arrived at the cruise terminal at 10:40 and we walked right in, check-in, and there was no chaos.

 

My cruise documents for my January cruise on the Epic have exactly the same statement about not arriving more than 1 hour before boarding time.

Edited November 25, 2019 by Oakman58

[KeithJenner]

1 minute ago, Jerseygich said:

Answered what?

 

The question they asked. The bits followed by question marks.

 

23 minutes ago, Kodiak99 said:

Has anyone else dealt with this? Is it the nightmare I imagine?

 

Yes, I have had lots of experience of boarding without allocated boarding times. It was not a nightmare.

 

They also raised the issue of the chaos being caused by people wanting Vibe. I stated my opinion that as people who want Vibe tend to turn up early regardless of their boarding time then it shouldn't make too much difference.

 

It may or may not help the OP, but I really don't see what there was in my answer to cause you such a problem.

[KeithJenner]

32 minutes ago, Kodiak99 said:

As a side note I spoke with 4 different people about this. I got conflicting info - 2 insisted there are no boarding times, and the others thought there was an error. I was directed how to locate the email address for customer service, but when I followed their instructions there was no email address, only a phone number. Called the number and they said it was no longer in use and gave me a website to email customer service. When filling our that form it would not allow me to put a cruise date in the future, so obviously it is intended for post cruise concerns. Not impressed with the service today.

 

Ignoring the thread police, I will just comment on this as well. Unfortunately, that seems about standard for NCL shoreside support, based on peoples reports here. In fact, it could be argued that the fact you only got 2 different responses from 4 discussions could represent a good result.

[KeithJenner]

14 minutes ago, Oakman58 said:

I didn't have any boarding time this past September when I cruised on the Breakaway out of Miami.  The only thing my cruise document said was, boarding begins at 12 PM please don't arrive earlier than one hour before boarding time.  Our NCL transfer bus from the airport arrived at the cruise terminal at 10:40 and we walked right in, check-in, and there was no chaos.

 

My cruise documents for my January cruise on the Epic have exactly the same statement about not arriving more than 1 hour before boarding time.

What is your latitudes level? Above a certain level you don't get allocated a time. It's possible that this is why you didn't have one, but others may have.

[www3traveler]

Sometimes you are asked to select a time to ARRIVE at the terminal not what time you can board the ship.  Boarding begins after all the previous passengers have left and Customs says the ship can begin boarding.  There may be lots of reasons why boarding gets delayed today would be a perfect example.  Boarding was delayed for both The Bliss in New York City and The Joy in LA--- same reason--- deep cleaning because of passengers on the previous cruise being ill.  Other reasons could be inspections by either the US Public Health or the Coast Guard.

[Greek Boss]

Boarding time will always be Noon at the EARLIEST. Typically when you are doing online check in you can select an Arrival Time at the pier. We sailed on the Breakaway out of Miami roughly two weeks ago and were able to select an arrival time at the pier. We arrived around 10:30 and checked in no problem. 

 

Are you Platinum or above, a casinos at sea guest, or staying in the Haven? If so, you will get priority embarkation. Regardless I would still arrive by Noon.

[coastcat]

On 11/24/2019 at 5:02 PM, KeithJenner said:

What is your latitudes level? Above a certain level you don't get allocated a time. It's possible that this is why you didn't have one, but others may have.

I was puzzled about a lack of boarding time, too. I’m on the Joy next month and was never prompted to pick a time. The eDocs just state that boarding starts at noon. Let’s see if it’s a madhouse or not...  (I’m merely Bronze level with no suite/Haven priority on this trip)

Edited November 27, 2019 by coastcat

[Greek Boss]

Just now, coastcat said:

I was puzzled about a lack of boarding time, too. I’m on the Joy next month and was never prompted to pick a time. The eDocs just state that boarding starts at noon. Let’s see if it’s a madhouse or not...  (I’m merely Bronze level)

I will say that while it is bearable, the hour or so leading up to noon was pretty packed in the terminal waiting to board the ship. Everyone was just walking all the way and waiting by the escalator even before they started calling guests to board. This was at the beginning of this month on the Breakaway in Miami. We always opt to arrive at 10:30 - 11 just to have seats up by the gangway. You should be fine but just know around noon at least from my experience everyone is just eager to embark on the ship.

[coastcat]

3 hours ago, Greek Boss said:

I will say that while it is bearable, the hour or so leading up to noon was pretty packed in the terminal waiting to board the ship. Everyone was just walking all the way and waiting by the escalator even before they started calling guests to board. This was at the beginning of this month on the Breakaway in Miami. We always opt to arrive at 10:30 - 11 just to have seats up by the gangway. You should be fine but just know around noon at least from my experience everyone is just eager to embark on the ship.

My plan is to drop my bag, leave to have a leisurely breakfast, then return for boarding after the initial rush. My show and dining reservations are already booked, I'm not going after a Vibe pass, and it's cheaper to race go-karts at the track near my house. So no rush to board... as long as the bars are open and the soft serve machine has chocolate-vanilla swirl ready to go, life is good. 😎

Edited November 27, 2019 by coastcat

[Susandt]

Nobody pay attention to their assigned time

[zqvol]

On 11/24/2019 at 7:24 PM, Kodiak99 said:

I am cruising in late February on the Breakaway and completed online check in yesterday. I was not prompted to select a boarding time. When I called NCL, I was told there are no boarding times for this sailing. I am not looking forward to the chaos that is sure to result when everyone is trying to be first on in order to get Vibe, make show reservations, etc. Has anyone else dealt with this? Is it the nightmare I imagine?

 

As a side note I spoke with 4 different people about this. I got conflicting info - 2 insisted there are no boarding times, and the others thought there was an error. I was directed how to locate the email address for customer service, but when I followed their instructions there was no email address, only a phone number. Called the number and they said it was no longer in use and gave me a website to email customer service. When filling our that form it would not allow me to put a cruise date in the future, so obviously it is intended for post cruise concerns. Not impressed with the service today.

 

While there are some people who want Vibe passes, the vast majority of the passengers don't want them. People come when they want even when there are boarding times (they aren't really boarding times they are a check-in window) as NCL has never even tried to enforce them.