Boarding in Honolulu

[prmssk]

We will be on the Eclipse Honolulu to Vancouver cruise this May.  The cruise starts on May 9 but doesn't actually leave Honolulu until late on May 10.  In planning our time in Honolulu, it would helpful if anyone had any insight on what our boarding day normally looks like in Honolulu.  I'm used to check-in times for other cruises usually starting around 11.  Will they be similar for this cruise?  Or later since we don't leave until late the next day?  Are you able to come and go after you have checked in at the port?

[Northern Aurora]

We boarded in Honolulu several years ago.  The boarding procedure was the same as was in place fleet wide at that time.  We checked in around noon and once we received our sea pass cards were free to leave the ship.  Many people checked in, then left the ship, returned for overnight and then the following day left the ship again.  My memory is that the ship left Honolulu just before midnight and drifted over to Lahaina.  The ship was a floating hotel.

[Jim_Iain]

We have done a HNL departure with a second day departure as well as from Singapore.   You can actually board on either day.   If you board on the first day you treat it like any other cruise and all of the facilities and restaurants are open normal hours.   You can also treat it like a hotel and check in and then go back ashore and sight see or shop as you please.   The ship will allow access 24 hours but check in is usually restricted to certain hours on both days.