Docs say not to get to port until 1pm

[sweet angel]

Just got my cruise docs yesterday for the 11/4/06 Navigator :D .

 

Card says not to arrive at port before 1 p.m. because boarding will not start until 2 p.m. My flight arrives at FLL at 9:42 a.m. Any ideas what to do to kill some time? Or should I just get to the pier and wait.

[Host Kewlguy]

Just got my cruise docs yesterday for the 11/4/06 Navigator :D .

 

Card says not to arrive at port before 1 p.m. because boarding will not start until 2 p.m. My flight arrives at FLL at 9:42 a.m. Any ideas what to do to kill some time? Or should I just get to the pier and wait.

 

I'd head to the pier and hang out. They usually let you on the ship well before the stated boarding times.

[sweet angel]

That's always been my understanding, but I'm afraid to get there, be dropped off with luggage and then just have to sit and wait for hours.

 

Last year we took the RCI transfers and STILL waited for hours in line. It was the only bad spot in the whole vacation.

[steve20832]

My docs said the same thing last January. We were at the dock at 11:15am and on the ship at 12noon

[leighj]

We just got back from Freedom and were told the same thing--boarding begins at 2. We showed up at the pier at noon and had no trouble getting on the ship--in fact, if you wait till 2, you can just about guarantee that you'll be waiting in a long line with everyone else who thought you couldn't get on till 2!

[sweet angel]

Okay...I'll trust you all!

[Cruisin'Kim]

We were on Splendour last January - arrived at the pier at noon - walked right up to the attendent, and on to the ship, all within about 15 minutes.

 

Have a great cruise!!:D

 

Kim

[IBookHePays]

We got to the pier at 10:45 and were enjoying the beautiful Navigator by 11:30. Even if you can't get into your stateroom, it's so much fun exploring the ship!

[Sheffie]

That's always been my understanding, but I'm afraid to get there, be dropped off with luggage and then just have to sit and wait for hours.

 

Last year we took the RCI transfers and STILL waited for hours in line. It was the only bad spot in the whole vacation.

 

I have had this happen, too, but what could be better than waiting at the dock with lots of other cruisers? Bring along a deck of cards, a book, or something else to do just in case this unusual situation should occur.

 

Then, again, you could get onto the ship in time for lunch and a drink! Think positively!

 

Have a great cruise!

[gkrebs]

My docs have always said 1 or 2. The latestest we were ever allowed onto a ship was 11:45

[sweet angel]

What about our luggage though? I would swear last year we had all our luggage to lug thru the lines. We took the RCI transfer, got off the bus with our luggage...

 

Am I mistaken?

[Sheffie]

What about our luggage though? I would swear last year we had all our luggage to lug thru the lines. We took the RCI transfer, got off the bus with our luggage...

 

Am I mistaken?

 

We have never had to lug our luggage through the lines. When you get out of the taxi you give it directly to the porters. (That is what we have done on each of our cruises.)

[gkrebs]

Porters are there way earlier then they allow you to board the ship and take your luggage so you dont have to lug it around. The only time I ever saw people pulling their luggage was when they didnt know where the porters were. This was in PR on Dawn and their location was a little strange.

[sweet angel]

Maybe we didn't realize there were porters....or maybe my memory is cloudy. I'd swear we lugged all our stuff up the escalators and stuff. Okay...so I'll get there when I get there and give the luggage to the porters. Got it.

 

Thanks!

[Rala]

The porters at the pier will take all but your carry-ons. Actually, they will take those, too if you want them to. Whatever pieces you give to the porters willbe delivered to your cabin later in the day. Mosts folks keep their carry-on luggage with them when they board, but certainly not All your luggage. Anything you keep with you has to fit throught the ship's X-ray scanner which is similar to those at the airport.

 

I would go right to the port. If your plane lands at quarter of 10, by the time you get to baggage, find your baggage, get a taxi or shuttle to the pier it will be close to 11am or later and as previous posters have said, you can usually board by 11:30am or thereabouts. No way will you be waiting around for hours. Have a great cruise!!

[Sheffie]

To elaborate on the one time we had to wait: the ship was HOURS late getting into port due to bad weather. We did meet a lot of nice people whom we ended up being with on the same Quest team, and came in 2nd!

[Treven]

If you waited that long, half the passengers would already be onboard hogging all the poolside chairs!!

[sdear]

I had to laugh when we got to the port at 1030, the lady holding the door open for people kept repeating " you all know boarding doesn't begin until 2pm !! " . We were on by 1130.

[Loucat]

Once on board, look at the Day 1 Cruise Compass. The Windjammer opens for lunch at 11:30 AM. What does that say? :D