Anthem Boarding Time-Arriving Early?????

[teacherman]

We are driving from Michigan to board the Anthem on Sunday.  We have never driven to a cruise.  We are stopping in Pennsylvania for Saturday night, and then on to the ship on Sunday morning.  We selected noon as our boarding time, but now realize that we can probably be there by 10:30, which was the earliest time offered.   If we do arrive early, will they let us go ahead and board?  Or will they make us wait outside the terminal?  Or will they let us go through check-in, but wait inside the terminal until noon to actually board.  There will be 3 cars and 3 families involved in this.  Any advice/information from those who may have arrived early is most welcome.  Thank you.

[ghinderliter]

At 10:30, *if* the lines for security are low you *might* be allowed to go through and wait with everyone else getting on at the 10:30 time slot.   most people with a 10-10:30 time are waiting in chairs until the ship gives the go ahead .

 

NJ port is pretty strict about arrival times, but worst case you can always wait on a bench, or give your bags to the porters and explore Harbor View Park, see the 9/11 Teardrop monument etc - it's on the other side of the parking lot

[mets07]

Our most recent Anthem/Cape Liberty experience was that we had the earliest check-in time, but no one was verifying it. We went through the check-in process and then were seated in a large seating area. Once the go-ahead was given, they had us get up row by row to proceed to the ship. 

 

We have had varying experiences in the past there including where someone was outside calling for cruisers to check-in by time slot.

 

Enjoy your cruise! 

[Giantfan13]

We were on the Anthem in January and we also had the first time slot which was 11-11:30. We printed out papers to show but no one even bothered to look at them. You got there and you went in and no one said BOO. In fact right after we finished our check-in we were able to board, with no waiting at all. We were on the ship at 11:30 and too early for the buffet.

Seems Bayonne doesn't really care what time you have.

Get there early and go for it

Cheers

Len

[TheBucketLister]

I find it is hit and miss and really depends who is manning the queue that day.  The same pretty much goes for any port.  I have gone to the same port multiple times and some times I see they are refusing early entry for people.  Even on days where there are 5-10 people in a queue, they could still deny you.  It really comes down to the person and what they are feeling that day, or so it seems.  Also if you are in a suite, they have flexible arrival so they will let you in the queue up to one hour prior to your scheduled time.

 

Bottom line is don't count on it, if they do great.

 

Edited March 25, 2023 by TheBucketLister

[Weluv2cruise2gether]

Nobody checked our check in time for our 3/12 cruise on Anthem. We arrived at 9:30 and out check in time was 10. We walked right in and we were on ship around 10:20. May 2022 on Oasis out of Cape Liberty, no one checked out time either.

[Orsino]

My wild guess is that the randomness of strictness is probably more of a function of the randomness of how many show up early. If half the ship shows up at 9:30am then they sort of have to be strict on arrival times. If most follow their port arrival times and only a few slip in early, then there is no need to be strict. 
i have no idea if this is true, but it seems like a better explanation than mood. 

[pcur]

Go to the dock, don't park, and have one of you see if you can check-in.  If not, have a place picked out nearby to eat brunch or breakfast, and then go later.  Much more comfy and fun than sitting outside the terminal or in the terminal bored. 

 

MFEO:  Mimosas for everyone!!!

Edited March 25, 2023 by pcur