Oakman Posted September 7, 2023 #1 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Have not cruised since the end of the Pandemic (been RVing instead). Just checked in for our upcoming Equinox cruise in October, and noticed you must pick a pier check in time. How strict are they with the time? We love getting on the ship early (since we live close by in Florida), and the earliest we could get was 1PM. We are in a Verandah cabin (not a Suite) and are Elite Celebrity cruisers. Can you just show up early, or will they make you wait until your designated time? Any updated information would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveToCruise99 Posted September 7, 2023 #2 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Celebrity tries to spread out the check in time to help avoid long waits. If everyone ignored their check in time it would/could result in bottlenecks and long waits. In all honesty, I suspect there would not be an issue however if they chose to, they could have you wait until the earlier check-ins where completed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 7, 2023 #3 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Often you can walk right in but then sometimes there’s already a queue and they make you wait for your assigned time. There’s really no predicting… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted September 7, 2023 #4 Share Posted September 7, 2023 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Oakman said: Have not cruised since the end of the Pandemic (been RVing instead). Just checked in for our upcoming Equinox cruise in October, and noticed you must pick a pier check in time. How strict are they with the time? We love getting on the ship early (since we live close by in Florida), and the earliest we could get was 1PM. We are in a Verandah cabin (not a Suite) and are Elite Celebrity cruisers. Can you just show up early, or will they make you wait until your designated time? Any updated information would be greatly appreciated. Our March cruise on the Apex out of Fort Lauderdale we had a 11:00 AM check in time. We arrived at 10:30 and were checked in immediately and was on the ship by 10:55. YMMV. If you elect to show up earlier just be prepared to wait in case they are holding to the scheduled check in times. Your tier level and stateroom category won't help. Edited September 7, 2023 by doghog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise till you drop Posted September 7, 2023 #5 Share Posted September 7, 2023 9 minutes ago, doghog said: Our March cruise on the Apex out of Fort Lauderdale we had a 11:00 AM check in time. We arrived at 10:30 and were checked in immediately and was on the ship by 10:55. YMMV. If you elect to show up earlier just be prepared to wait in case they are holding to the scheduled check in times. Your tier level and stateroom category won't help. We had the exact same experience. And I agree with the comment that the intent is to spread out check in to avoid those long lines but likely not enforced if you show up earlier or later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmaLee Posted September 7, 2023 #6 Share Posted September 7, 2023 At departure points with large numbers of check in desks it should not be an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doghog Posted September 7, 2023 #7 Share Posted September 7, 2023 5 hours ago, ElmaLee said: At departure points with large numbers of check in desks it should not be an issue. My Magic 8 Ball trumps your WAG. Don't count on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NutsAboutGolf Posted September 7, 2023 #8 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Been on her four times since the pandemic, no enforcement 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the penguins Posted September 9, 2023 #9 Share Posted September 9, 2023 On 9/7/2023 at 3:08 PM, Oakman said: Have not cruised since the end of the Pandemic (been RVing instead). Just checked in for our upcoming Equinox cruise in October, and noticed you must pick a pier check in time. How strict are they with the time? We love getting on the ship early (since we live close by in Florida), and the earliest we could get was 1PM. We are in a Verandah cabin (not a Suite) and are Elite Celebrity cruisers. Can you just show up early, or will they make you wait until your designated time? Any updated information would be greatly appreciated. Stick to the time - anything else is a gamble. Always remember the staff at the Ports are not necessarily cruise line employees and they just follow the "instructions". With the new system check in is very fast. Once onboard go straight to your cabin and pick up your Room/Cruise Card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottaKnowWhen Posted September 10, 2023 #10 Share Posted September 10, 2023 Best strategy is to sign in at 12:01am 45 days before departure (or within a few hours after that) and you will have pretty much a free choice of whatever time you prefer. The early time slots fill up fast. An alternate strategy is to book a 2-2:30 check in time, and at that point the lines are very short since so many people just go early. Stan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyFire Posted September 14, 2023 #11 Share Posted September 14, 2023 On 9/9/2023 at 9:10 PM, GottaKnowWhen said: Best strategy is to sign in at 12:01am 45 days before departure (or within a few hours after that) and you will have pretty much a free choice of whatever time you prefer. The early time slots fill up fast. An alternate strategy is to book a 2-2:30 check in time, and at that point the lines are very short since so many people just go early. Stan 12:01am in what time zone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottaKnowWhen Posted September 14, 2023 #12 Share Posted September 14, 2023 7 hours ago, DaisyFire said: 12:01am in what time zone? the ship's time. If it is embarking from Lauderdale, then EDT. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marco491 Posted September 14, 2023 #13 Share Posted September 14, 2023 I’m a bit annoyed that even though we are Concierge, the earliest check-in time offered is after the CC lunch has finished. True I didn’t leap on the check-in email immediately, but you’d think they’d run some kind of algorithm to ensure this doesn’t happen. CS advice was just to turn up earlier and explain… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 14, 2023 #14 Share Posted September 14, 2023 You’re asking a lot from the IT team that can’t get the app to run correctly and can’t figure out that Blu and Luminae are open seating and don’t take reservations, and suite passengers don’t need to choose a check-in time at all and so on and do be do be do be……. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_K Posted September 14, 2023 #15 Share Posted September 14, 2023 On 9/9/2023 at 9:10 PM, GottaKnowWhen said: Best strategy is to sign in at 12:01am 45 days before departure (or within a few hours after that) and you will have pretty much a free choice of whatever time you prefer. The early time slots fill up fast. An alternate strategy is to book a 2-2:30 check in time, and at that point the lines are very short since so many people just go early. Stan Good strategy but of no help to the OP who is already beyond that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CruisinShips Posted September 14, 2023 #16 Share Posted September 14, 2023 Why not just show up when you're ready to show up...worst case you wait for a little while. Better than sitting in a hotel room twiddling your thumbs and wishing you could get there already! Chances are they will let you check in early anyway! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottaKnowWhen Posted September 14, 2023 #17 Share Posted September 14, 2023 14 minutes ago, Mark_K said: Good strategy but of no help to the OP who is already beyond that. But possibly of help to others who could learn from their experience. If more people would plan ahead, and if fewer people would just show up whenever they feel like it, then the whole check-in/boarding process would be less of a zoo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 14, 2023 #18 Share Posted September 14, 2023 If only Celebrity IT could figure out a way that Suite passengers wouldn’t need to choose a time at all then more early times would open up for those who want them. but we all know that ain’t gonna happen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap_D Posted September 14, 2023 #19 Share Posted September 14, 2023 1 hour ago, marco491 said: I’m a bit annoyed that even though we are Concierge, the earliest check-in time offered is after the CC lunch has finished. True I didn’t leap on the check-in email immediately, but you’d think they’d run some kind of algorithm to ensure this doesn’t happen. CS advice was just to turn up earlier and explain… If that happens, and you miss the lunch then put that back on the company. It's an abusive practice to charge for something that actually is not available. They also should extend the hours to a reasonable time, but that is the lameness with the price and bullet points listed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marco491 Posted September 14, 2023 #20 Share Posted September 14, 2023 2 minutes ago, Cap_D said: If that happens, and you miss the lunch then put that back on the company. It's an abusive practice to charge for something that actually is not available. They also should extend the hours to a reasonable time, but that is the lameness with the price and bullet points listed. Yes, they’d probably give OBC if I made a fuss, but we wanted the lunch because we’ll have to skip breakfast on account of our travel, and it was supposed to be a nice start to the cruise (after a long period without a vacation, an “at last” moment). Anyway, not a *huge* deal but I’m mostly annoyed that they can’t understand the scenario and simply override the check-in IT system using good old human beings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Researcher Posted October 18, 2023 #21 Share Posted October 18, 2023 On 9/9/2023 at 9:10 PM, GottaKnowWhen said: Best strategy is to sign in at 12:01am 45 days before departure (or within a few hours after that) and you will have pretty much a free choice of whatever time you prefer. The early time slots fill up fast. An alternate strategy is to book a 2-2:30 check in time, and at that point the lines are very short since so many people just go early. Stan Thank you! I'm used to checking in with Royal and wasn't sure what the timing was for Celebrity On 9/14/2023 at 10:52 AM, Mark_K said: Good strategy but of no help to the OP who is already beyond that. Well, it helped me out since I did a search on the site for this very information and this thread popped up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kywildcatfanone Posted October 18, 2023 #22 Share Posted October 18, 2023 Is boarding time enforced? We boarded Equinox on Saturday. We has 11:30, got to the terminal at 11:30, through security and were motioned back to the next available waiting section. No looking at our boarding times assigned. They did come get our group a few minutes later, but no one was checking assigned boarding times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted October 19, 2023 #23 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Sometimes it is enforced, sometimes the boarding Goes so smoothly that they don’t need to look at your boarding times because people are moving on board quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tudy Posted October 19, 2023 #24 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Relevant to Port Everglades, before they enforced the check in times, the security checkpoints at the entrance to the port would get completely backed up and wait times just to get through security would take close to a half hour. Since they have spread out the arrival times, we have not experienced a back up. I like the spread in boarding times, But it does mean, that if you are sailing in Concierge, you need to be on your toes for the ship check-in. I also think Celebrity needs to keep the concierge luncheon open longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. B. Posted October 19, 2023 #25 Share Posted October 19, 2023 On 9/14/2023 at 4:56 PM, CruisinShips said: Why not just show up when you're ready to show up...worst case you wait for a little while. Better than sitting in a hotel room twiddling your thumbs and wishing you could get there already! Chances are they will let you check in early anyway! That’s what I do! I usually get to the terminal about 10:30am and have always been Onboard by 11:30-12pm. I am not a Suite guest or Zenith level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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