Cruise Final Boarding

[thepla]

Hi

 

We are schduled for a cruise coming up. My son just got an email about a high school aassesment that could end at 4pm. We are staying at Sheraton, near Long Beach cruise port, and only minutes away.

 

Boarding is from 2pm to 4pm, ship leaves at 5pm.

 

If we get there a few minutes after 4pm will we be able to board?

 

Ship is Radiance out of Long Beach.

[hapytobehr]

If you look at you cruise ticket, it will tell you the latest time to board.

 

I believe the latest boarding time would be an hour before sailing.  

 

You may be risking getting shut out arriving after 4 PM.

 

If I am wrong, someone will correct me I'm sure.

 

 

[famof4togo]

You should NOT cut things that close...too many variables to be worth the risk.  I suggest speaking to your sons' teachers explaining the situation and hopefully they will work with you on adjusting his timeframe.  Good luck!  

[Cruiser_1977]

I would get to the cruise terminal early and use the free wifi. Yes, Long Beach cruise terminal has free public wifi. Best case they let you board early and you use the ship's wifi.

[thepla]

Thannks for replies.

 

It is never easy, we've had so many cruises cancelled so I will put on pressure!!!

 

His second day of assesments is same day as cruise.

 

Day of cruise is his assesment until noon and break until 2:30 where he can go up to 4pm. Seems boarding will be only from 2pm to 4pm, not sure how they get all those people on in two hours.

 

Hopefully he will be done by 3:45 and take taxi at 3:50 to cruise port. Hotel person said only a few minutes away.

 

I moved us to Residence Inn by Carnival Port.

[klfrodo]

Don't be surprised or upset if you are denied boarding. You've been warned and provided with alternative suggestions.

 

Good luck.

[MrMarc]

Not to pile on, but you are taking a HUGE risk.  Perhaps post on John Heald's page to see if he can give you any direction, this might be a situtation where he really can do something.  But don't be upset if he says the same thing we have said here.

[pogoism9]

Its simple. You have to be on board an hour before the ship sails. They have to finalize the passenger manifest before they can leave

[tallnthensome]

No, nor should you make the ship wait for you. 

[pogoism9]

14 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

No, nor should you make the ship wait for you. 

 

Problem is, the ship isn't going to wait.

[thepla]

1 hour ago, pogoism9 said:

 

Problem is, the ship isn't going to wait.

I would not expect them to wait. Entire cruise was a little over 300 and I have 300 obc.

 

I understand risk. I see what everyone says. I don't see a play except hope my son finished by 3:45.

 

I'm sure if we are walking to security to check in at 4, will not cause ship to be late.

 

I still don't see how they can get all those people on in two hours with all extra checks 

 

[keels81]

Staterooms should be available by the time his 2:30 session starts, so I would make plans to board during his break and have him take his second assessment in the stateroom.

 

My husband had to take a couple of meetings on departure day on the Valor a couple of weeks ago, and this is what he did. Other the announcement about the safety drill starting in seven minutes, he was able to finish with little to no interruption.

[chocolate melting cake]

Not really up to Carnival, but to TSA. As others mentioned they HAVE to present the manifest to the TSA at 4:00. The only exception I've ever seen was in Seattle years ago----one member our party locked his passport in his suitcase which was then put in with thousands of others. We were informed that WE could board, but he would be "escorted" under armed guard to the brig. His wife would bring his passport to the brig when the suitcase was delivered (she SWORE that she would leave him in for the night because of his mistake. Luckily, at 5 minutes to the sentencing time a smiling room steward brought the suitcase to the desk!!

[Ferry_Watcher]

19 minutes ago, thepla said:

I'm sure if we are walking to security to check in at 4, will not cause ship to be late.

You have not taken into account the timing of the gangway being pulled from the ship.  Once that happens no one is allowed on.  Your son could pull up in a taxi, see the ship at the dock, but it would be still too late to board the ship.

[thepla]

12 minutes ago, keels81 said:

Staterooms should be available by the time his 2:30 session starts, so I would make plans to board during his break and have him take his second assessment in the stateroom.

 

My husband had to take a couple of meetings on departure day on the Valor a couple of weeks ago, and this is what he did. Other the announcement about the safety drill starting in seven minutes, he was able to finish with little to no interruption.

This was my hope. But they don't start to board until 2. What is chance I get that time?

 

If I had a one o'clock board it would work great.

 

Carnival said they don't start until two and I'd get my time when I check in.

 

I'm not pros like you guys. I've only been five or so cruise, never carnival. Usually boarding might start at 10am

Edited February 2, 2022 by thepla

[csm5986142]

 

24 minutes ago, thepla said:

I still don't see how they can get all those people on in two hours with all extra checks 

 

Sorry, I might have missed it, but why does boarding begin at 2 pm?  That would be really unusual - I've cruised out of Long Beach multiple times and boarding always began between 10:45 - 11:00 am.  Which date are you sailing?

I just checked in for our upcoming cruise on Radiance, and we have a 10:30 am arrival appointment, which made me think they still start boarding around 11 am? 

Maybe I need to get there later.  🙂

[GTO-Girl]

2 hours ago, thepla said:

Hi

 

We are schduled for a cruise coming up. My son just got an email about a high school aassesment that could end at 4pm. We are staying at Sheraton, near Long Beach cruise port, and only minutes away.

 

Boarding is from 2pm to 4pm, ship leaves at 5pm.

 

If we get there a few minutes after 4pm will we be able to board?

 

Ship is Radiance out of Long Beach.

That is cutting it way too close!!!  At 4:00pm the manifest will be closed and no one else will be allowed to check in.  This is not a rule of the ship it is a port rule.

 

You can call Royal all you wish but they have no control over this.

 

You may want to either plan to board early and do his assessment onboard or expect to be turned away at the port.

 

 

 

[thepla]

1 minute ago, csm5986142 said:

 

 

Sorry, I might have missed it, but why does boarding begin at 2 pm?  That would be really unusual - I've cruised out of Long Beach multiple times and boarding always began between 10:45 - 11:00 am.  Which date are you sailing?

I just checked in for our upcoming cruise on Radiance, and we have a 10:30 am arrival appointment, which made me think they still start boarding around 11 am? 

Maybe I need to get there later.  🙂

That would be homerun. I'd try to get around noon and see if my tethering would work. Is WiFi active upon boarding.

 

Feb 18.

[keels81]

3 minutes ago, thepla said:

This was my hope. But they don't start to board until 2. What is chance I get that time?

 

If I had a one o'clock board it would work great.

 

Carnival said they don't start until two and I'd get my time when I check in.

 

I'm not pros like you guys. I've only been five or so cruise, never carnival. Usually boarding might start at 10am

 

Yeah, when you check-in I would expect to have a boarding time option far earlier than 2. Officially, my Valor sailing on 1/20 was not supposed to start boarding until 12:30, but they were calling boarding for all groups at 11 a.m. when we boarded.

 

I wouldn't stress just yet, but I would make every plan to be able to check-in immediately when it opens to get the earliest time slot available. 

 

 

[csm5986142]

That's the same day we are sailing.  This will be my 17th cruise on Carnival (not saying I couldn't be mistaken) but I've never had them start boarding as late as 2 pm.  Of course, it can happen under extenuating circumstances, but I don't think it's typical.

If you are Platinum, you can check in online now.  If not, check in at midnight (Eastern time) tomorrow for the best selection of arrival appointments.  

[thepla]

3 minutes ago, csm5986142 said:

That's the same day we are sailing.  This will be my 17th cruise on Carnival (not saying I couldn't be mistaken) but I've never had them start boarding as late as 2 pm.  Of course, it can happen under extenuating circumstances, but I don't think it's typical.

If you are Platinum, you can check in online now.  If not, check in at midnight (Eastern time) tomorrow for the best selection of arrival appointments.  

I can checkin on 4th. I asked Carnival travel consultant and quetioned three times when he said 2 to 4 pm to checkin. I made same comment I said here. "How can they get couple thoussand people on board in two hours?"

 

He said they had to figured out.

[keels81]

11 minutes ago, thepla said:

I can checkin on 4th. I asked Carnival travel consultant and quetioned three times when he said 2 to 4 pm to checkin. I made same comment I said here. "How can they get couple thoussand people on board in two hours?"

 

He said they had to figured out.

 

Check out this recent review! The OP was at the terminal at 11:50 with an 11:30 boarding time and was on the ship by 12:30, with an empty terminal! I think you'll be in good shape!

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2827999-carnival-radiance-review-three-day-cruise/#comment-62575287

[nwcruiselover]

22 minutes ago, thepla said:

I can checkin on 4th. I asked Carnival travel consultant and quetioned three times when he said 2 to 4 pm to checkin. I made same comment I said here. "How can they get couple thoussand people on board in two hours?"

 

He said they had to figured out.

I think the Carnival travel consultant you spoke to and questioned three times was wrong.  Checkin and boarding begins much earlier than 2:00 PM, most likely between 10:00 and 11:00 AM.  The scenario you’re proposing is fraught with peril and there’s a very slim chance you would get on the cruise even if you left the hotel at 3:50 in a taxi.

Edited February 3, 2022 by nwcruiselover

[Elaine5715]

Before my Alaskan cruise out of Seattle, I had a perfect view of the terminal.  At exactly one hour before scheduled departure, the doors to the terminal were locked.  Two taxis pulled up and people grabbed their bags and ran for the doors.  They pounded and yelled because they could see people inside.  The doors were not opened.  We didn't actually leave until after scheduled departure because they were waiting for someone who eventually came out  of the terminal but the late guests (who screamed, begged and cried) were left behind.  

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, thepla said:

I would not expect them to wait. Entire cruise was a little over 300 and I have 300 obc.

 

I understand risk. I see what everyone says. I don't see a play except hope my son finished by 3:45.

 

I'm sure if we are walking to security to check in at 4, will not cause ship to be late.

 

I still don't see how they can get all those people on in two hours with all extra checks 

 

The terminal entrance will be locked at 4 pm.  Like when the gate attendant closes the door, you can see the plane sitting there but they will not re-open the jetway door