Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 5, 2023 #1 Share Posted January 5, 2023 First sailing with MSC, and I'm curious about the check-in process. We'll be on the Seaside (3-nt) out of Pt Canaveral in April. How many days prior to sailing can I complete/receive my boarding documents - and do they allow you to pick an arrival window (as we typically do with other lines)? Any idea at what time boarding typically begins for those with priority, and those without (us) ? THANKS, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Morgsmom Posted January 5, 2023 #2 Share Posted January 5, 2023 You will be assigned an embarkation window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 5, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted January 5, 2023 21 minutes ago, Morgsmom said: You will be assigned an embarkation window. Is that first come/first served (assigning the first ones to check in online the earlier times) and, in general, how particular are they with regard to arriving within your window (or early/late)? Some lines try to start boarding by 10:30-11, is that an "average" start time assuming no issues? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Morgsmom Posted January 5, 2023 #4 Share Posted January 5, 2023 MSC will assign you a one hour boarding window; I cannot say how that hour is determined (unless you are in Yacht Club). Normal boarding does start around 10:30, that is correct. As far as "paying attention" to your boarding time, I have NOT found that to be the case 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 5, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted January 5, 2023 11 minutes ago, Morgsmom said: MSC will assign you a one hour boarding window; I cannot say how that hour is determined (unless you are in Yacht Club). Normal boarding does start around 10:30, that is correct. As far as "paying attention" to your boarding time, I have NOT found that to be the case 😉 I had contemplated booking a YC cabin, and also a suite. Both show priority boarding. I'm guessing YC first? With Carnival, suites have priority, as do Diamond and Platinum guests - though it's not always implemented correctly. I know that, being Diamond, I have a two day head start with regard to choosing my boarding window. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asalligo Posted January 5, 2023 #6 Share Posted January 5, 2023 Yes, MSC just assigns you a check in time. You do not get to pick it at check in like Carnival. This check in time also changed several times for my last cruise and was 2pm when my boarding documents were first sent and changed to 10:30am three days before my cruise. MSC also unlike Carnival pretty much ignores your check in time and you can show up whenever you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 5, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted January 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, asalligo said: Yes, MSC just assigns you a check in time. You do not get to pick it at check in like Carnival. This check in time also changed several times for my last cruise and was 2pm when my boarding documents were first sent and changed to 10:30am three days before my cruise. MSC also unlike Carnival pretty much ignores your check in time and you can show up whenever you like. Perfect 🙂 Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TITISSA Posted January 5, 2023 #8 Share Posted January 5, 2023 30 minutes ago, asalligo said: Yes, MSC just assigns you a check in time. You do not get to pick it at check in like Carnival. This check in time also changed several times for my last cruise and was 2pm when my boarding documents were first sent and changed to 10:30am three days before my cruise. MSC also unlike Carnival pretty much ignores your check in time and you can show up whenever you like. 26 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: Perfect 🙂 Tom leaving tomorrow. My embarkation time was 10;30 am. Yesterday they changed to 2:00 pm. Does anyone know why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jame_g Posted January 5, 2023 #9 Share Posted January 5, 2023 My embarkation time changed multiple times in the two weeks before embarkation, with the last one being like 3:00. I just printed the page with the earliest embarkation time (11:00) to bring with me. They never checked when we boarded in Miami. Also, YC has it's own priority boarding. And once inside the terminal, there should be a separate shorter line for Aurea Suite priority boarding, although it may not be labelled and they will try to push you into the general line unless you ask/point out that you are an Aurea Suite. Not sure why they gave us a 3:00 boarding time for Aurea Suite when it's supposed to have priority boarding. We boarded at 11:00 with no problem and got right on the ship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 5, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted January 5, 2023 Oh - when is the check-in time first assigned (when can I request/print my boarding docs)? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asalligo Posted January 5, 2023 #11 Share Posted January 5, 2023 21 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: Oh - when is the check-in time first assigned (when can I request/print my boarding docs)? Tom I received my boarding pass on December 10th for my January 6th cruise. So about 25 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 5, 2023 Author #12 Share Posted January 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, asalligo said: I received my boarding pass on December 10th for my January 6th cruise. So about 25 days. Alright, so not necessarily a set period of days prior to sailing. You'll get an email I suppose? THANKS Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAGR Posted January 5, 2023 #13 Share Posted January 5, 2023 Not necessarily. MSC will let you check in and get your "ticket" or boarding packet 20 days before sailing, although you sometimes can get it earlier. You got msccruisesusa.com, pick Manage Booking, enter your booking number, fill out the web check in information. If you try and get your ticket too early, you will get a message online like this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzget Posted January 6, 2023 #14 Share Posted January 6, 2023 Our entire group is in standard balcony cabins with the exception of one that's interior, and we all got 10:30 boarding time. We got our boarding time when we were able to check in 20 days prior. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 6, 2023 Author #15 Share Posted January 6, 2023 8 minutes ago, Fitzget said: Our entire group is in standard balcony cabins with the exception of one that's interior, and we all got 10:30 boarding time. We got our boarding time when we were able to check in 20 days prior. Marking my calendar now 🙂 Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcpagejr Posted January 8, 2023 #16 Share Posted January 8, 2023 On 1/5/2023 at 1:01 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said: I had contemplated booking a YC cabin, and also a suite. Both show priority boarding. I'm guessing YC first? With Carnival, suites have priority, as do Diamond and Platinum guests - though it's not always implemented correctly. I know that, being Diamond, I have a two day head start with regard to choosing my boarding window. Tom YC has its own embarkation area and boarding procedure. I assume Suite would be first for non YC passengers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudiRatlos Posted January 8, 2023 #17 Share Posted January 8, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, lcpagejr said: YC has its own embarkation area and boarding procedure. I assume Suite would be first for non YC passengers As the non-YC suites usually come with Aurea experience, there is priority boarding, but not the YC's "white tent". There should be a seperate queue for aurea passengers. Edited January 8, 2023 by RudiRatlos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
def0715 Posted January 8, 2023 #18 Share Posted January 8, 2023 When I boarded the Meraviglia in November nobody cared about my boarding time window. (I asked several, I assume, port workers.) They made everyone just line up. The line probably stretched at least 100 or 200 people outside (with many more inside). I think the sailing was full. Not sure if that’s standard at Port Canaveral for this ship. There seemed to be no point in having a boarding window. Maybe things have changed since then. Also, nobody cared that I was Diamond (via status match) until I had cleared security inside the terminal. Then I went to a Diamond area. I’ve had little issue boarding Carnival, Royal and Celebrity ships within my designated boarding window at numerous ports. Maybe this was an anomaly and someone on a more recent cruise has had a different experience. There was some delay in boarding on Friday, but my friend, who had an 11:30 a.m. boarding time, was far enough up in the line that at least he and his family were inside. But boarding seemed to be a mess, from what I understand, and they waited. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40yearcruiser Posted January 17, 2023 #19 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Has anyone had experience with boarding in Dubai? We have been assigned a 5 pm boarding time (the ship overnights in port and leaves the next day). Our problem is that we have to be out of our hotel by noon on boarding day. I am definitely not waiting 5 hours to check our luggage and get checked in. We don't cruise until late March so wonder what the chances are that the boarding time will change, and if it really matters what time we've been assigned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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