Time to board

[Star965]

Hello All, 

We haven't cruised since pre-pandemic when you could show up at the port whenever you like. I hear they give you a time now, when does that happen? Also, do you have to stick to it or can you go early and if so, would you be able to board?

Thank you

[Drazil65]

From CCL FAQs...

 

 

Q: Why must I select an Arrival Appointment?
A:  By selecting and arriving on time for your Arrival Appointment, you will be able to reduce your wait time in line once you get to the terminal.   

 

Q: When should I arrive at the terminal?
A:  You must arrive at the terminal promptly within your Arrival Appointment.

Q.  What happens if I arrive before or after my Arrival Appointment?
A:  Guests who do not arrive on time will experience longer wait times.  

 

 

Edited July 30 by Drazil65

[teknoge3k]

14 days prior to your cruise (16 for priority guests), you will complete your online check-in. During that process, you will select an ARRIVAL TIME. That's the time you need to show up at the terminal on embarkation day to begin the check-in and boarding process. Nobody picks a boarding time. Do not show up prior to that time. Staggered check-in is there for a reason.

[mfs2k]

57 minutes ago, teknoge3k said:

14 days prior to your cruise (16 for priority guests), you will complete your online check-in. During that process, you will select an ARRIVAL TIME. That's the time you need to show up at the terminal on embarkation day to begin the check-in and boarding process. Nobody picks a boarding time. Do not show up prior to that time. Staggered check-in is there for a reason.

What happens if you're late by an hour or two. 

[nwcruiselover]

1 hour ago, mfs2k said:

What happens if you're late by an hour or two. 

Being late isn’t a problem.  Being early is.

[Star965]

2 hours ago, teknoge3k said:

14 days prior to your cruise (16 for priority guests), you will complete your online check-in. During that process, you will select an ARRIVAL TIME. That's the time you need to show up at the terminal on embarkation day to begin the check-in and boarding process. Nobody picks a boarding time. Do not show up prior to that time. Staggered check-in is there for a reason.

Thank you!

[jsglow]

30 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

Being late isn’t a problem.  Being early is.

As long as you are there before Final Boarding! 🤯  The bottom line: try to honestly determine when you're getting to the terminal and pick that slot at the 14 day check-in. It's actually a very good system that we first experienced back about 2018.

[jsglow]

3 hours ago, Star965 said:

Hello All, 

We haven't cruised since pre-pandemic when you could show up at the port whenever you like. I hear they give you a time now, when does that happen? Also, do you have to stick to it or can you go early and if so, would you be able to board?

Thank you

So @Star965, the whole key to this is your 14 day check-in. That's when you put in all your info, Passports, credit card, emergency contact stuff into the computer PLUS select your Arrival Appointment. It's done on-line; not on the Hubb App. The process takes maybe 20-25 minutes and one person can do it for everyone in the cabin. At the end of that you'll print out your Boarding Pass (on paper) and have that ready to go waiting for the big day. Show up as promised in your 30 minute slot and it'll go like clockwork. Enjoy your cruise.

[Mike45LC]

As Teknuggee pointed out, the time you are assigned is your "arrival time", not your boarding time.  Generally, you are not allowed inside the huge processing hall until your arrival time.  You do some check-in stuff, and then you wait around in a huge hall until your group (based on priority and status) actually begins boarding.  The earliest arrival slot people just get to wait in the huge hall longer; they don't actually board earlier.

 

Boarding time depends on when the ship is cleared from the last cruise.  Everyone has to be off before they let your cruise board.  

 

Wedding parties board first.  Then Diamond and Platinum frequent cruisers.  Then people who buy the privilege of early boarding {'Faster to the Fun"].  Suite guests come in here somewhere.  Then the rest of us!

 

Don't worry, they won't run out of booze before you board!

 

[mfs2k]

14 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

Don't worry, they won't run out of booze before you board!

But your preferable brand of bourbon might not be restocked yet if they ran out on the last cruise.

And it might be your bartender's first day on the job.

Remember to breathe.  You're finally on vacation. 

Edited July 31 by mfs2k

[ProgRockCruiser]

21 minutes ago, mfs2k said:

But your preferable brand of bourbon might not be restocked yet if they ran out on the last cruise.

And it might be your bartender's first day on the job.

Remember to breathe.  You're finally on vacation. 

This.  We usually cannot order a mojito on the first day because the fresh mint is still below decks in storage...