Earliest boarding time Miami??

[pappahbuttz]

Hello. We are so excited to be sailing in Yacht Club, MSC Meraviglia on the 05 January 2020. On the ticket it states the check in opens in Terminal F at 1200 hours. Is that a firm time or do they sometimes open up earlier? No hurry to get in the cabin but so looking forward to getting on the ship!

[Preziosa]

Be there early, you never know when They Open, and you have payed for the first Day also. The ship in fantastic, much to Explorer before getting your cabin.

[dexddd]

We've sailed last two trips YC on Seaside and MSC doesn't have YC board first as compared to other lines.  We've been there at 10:30 and YC boarding didn't start until noon.

 

They should figure put better method on and off rather than through main public areas jammed with folks.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Why not take your time and enjoy the entire YC experience.  It drives me nuts when I hear of YC pax arriving at 10:00 AM trying to storm the tent.  Usually they end up waiting for the butlers to set up and are then rushed through to board the ship.  Try arriving around 11:00 - 11:30 AM and go through without rushing...sit in the lounge for a few minutes and have a glass of Prosecco and relax.  The YC is all about receiving the service as planned...and not trying to be the first to board.  

[dexddd]

We have no problem enjoying YC.  We don't storm the tent, this isn't a Normandy invasion.

 

However, on other lines, suite guests are first to board and sometimes they even have special areas to get on and off the ship.  With MSC, at least out of Miami, they zig zag a group through areas congested with people to get you on and off ship.  There has to be a better way no matter what time you board.

[SirWolf]

“off-topic MIAMI”:

We have sailed out of Genoa, Barcelona & Copenhagen. The YC experience was very well

organized and smooth. We felt like “VIP’s” from the minute we stepped out of the taxi.

Warm welcome from YC butler and staff checking us in. Water, O-juice, Sparkling Wine, snacks provided for the short wait (5-15 min)

before being escorted onto the ship and

with priority elevators to the YC.

Welcome by YC Director in Top Sail Lounge.

We embarked in Copenhagen at 11:30am and

our stateroom was ready at 12:30pm and

luggage arrived at 2:00pm.

 

[dexddd]

Thanks for the input of non-Miami experiences.  Likely 2021 we'll be at one of those ports.

[Hlitner]

The thing about boarding in Miami is that MSC and the US CBP folks do not seem to have the best relationship (these are my own words).  Why?  One has to remember that MSC has been nailed at least twice (in the past year) with drug smuggling issues (by crew members).  So, it is hard to blame CBP for being cautious.  We have had two MSC cruises out of Miami in the past 13 months....both on the Divina.  In Dec 2018 our boarding was delayed until nearly 1:30 due to a holdup by CBP.  A few weeks ago (Dec 6) on another Divina cruise we sat in the terminal until after 2pm as CBP held up embarkation to complete an extraordinarily long disembarkation process (passengers where still disembarking until after 12:30 pm).   We later learned that CBP had conducted a very careful review of all those who had non-US Passports/ID.    Those long delays in the cruise terminal were not a big deal for us since we had YC bookings and could sit comfortably in the large VIP lounge.  But for thousands of others who were crammed into the regular part of the terminal it was not a fun experience.   We also learned that a few days prior to our delayed Dec 6 embarkation, the same ship (Divina) had suffered more significant delays when they had a port call in San Juan.

 

I should add that our Dec 17 disembarkation (in Miami) quite smoothly.   But we were not in a hurry to get off the ship and relaxed in the YC until nearly 10:30 when the staff finally made it clear that we had to disembark.  At that hour it was great.  We were led off the ship by our Butler, quickly found our luggage, and waited less then 30 seconds before we were cleared by CBP.

 

Hank

[marco]

The two previous sailings on the Divina we've been on...noon-ish is pretty spot on.

[ready2cruzagain]

On 12/24/2019 at 7:40 AM, pappahbuttz said:

Hello. We are so excited to be sailing in Yacht Club, MSC Meraviglia on the 05 January 2020. On the ticket it states the check in opens in Terminal F at 1200 hours. Is that a firm time or do they sometimes open up earlier? No hurry to get in the cabin but so looking forward to getting on the ship!

 

Boarding started at 10:15am on the Seaside on Nov. 30th out of Miami.  We were one of the first ones on the ship. We always arrive around 10am

[pappahbuttz]

Thanks for all of your info! We are so excited and can not wait ! One week to go!!

[Norwich Cruiser]

When we've sailed from Miami we normally arrive at the terminal about 10.30am and are usually boarded by 11.00am

[jkgourmet]

30 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

When we've sailed from Miami we normally arrive at the terminal about 10.30am and are usually boarded by 11.00am

 

Is that early boarding time affected by a loyalty level or an experience category that includes early boarding privileges or a regular, bella experience? 

[Norwich Cruiser]

No there wasn’t any privileges or loyalty Involved I just like to arrive early to try and avoid the crowds and it seems as though you then get an extra day to enjoy and explore the ship.

I can never see the point of boarding at 16.00 or later.

But each to there own I am sure others have there reasons maybe a late flight or out and about sight seeing.

There are still many people there before us but it’s always been pretty well organised.

[jkgourmet]

12 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

No there wasn’t any privileges or loyalty Involved I just like to arrive early to try and avoid the crowds and it seems as though you then get an extra day to enjoy and explore the ship.

I can never see the point of boarding at 16.00 or later.

But each to there own I am sure others have there reasons maybe a late flight or out and about sight seeing.

There are still many people there before us but it’s always been pretty well organised.

 

Thank you!  I'm in total agreement with regarding early boarding.  Glad to hear that it doesn't require a special privilege.