Conquest embarkation questions

[xrayvin]

When you get to the pier for the Conquest, do you get in line even if the process has not started yet? On our honeymoon cruise (Celebrity) we got to FLL pier about 11:30 and they did not open the doors till 12 so we all stood in line, but then they opened a different door and it was a free for all to get inside. It was messy but actually went really smooth once everyone got turned around. My point is do you stand in line and then when they open the doors the line enters, or when the doors open do you need to find a different place to get into line? (the rest of my cruises we have gotten there after the embarkstion had started)

We really want to go early and be on the ship ASAP. I am reading that the suggestion is between 10:30 and 11:30. Are the lines worse if you wait till actual embarktion time?

We will be dropping off a rental car that morning. We were thinking about dropping off 2 people and our luggage and have them get into the line. After the car is dropped off we (DH and I) would take a shuttle back and get in line with the other couple. Would this be considered rude? I am also assuming that if we did this at 10:30am that the line would not have moved by the time we got there. My dh thinks we should all go to the drop off place and all of us take the shuttle (with our luggage) to the pier. Any suggestions?

Thank you again

[joepeka]

Interesting question, unfortunately, we've never arrived at any embarkation port (including the Conquest in May) early enough to know how this is handled. :( I'm sure others on this board have done so however and will respond.

[GoinCruisin]

We got there at 10:30, but we were with a wedding party. Seemed everyone that was upstairs was in a wedding party... not sure what time they started letting everyone else up. Even with all the wedding parties, it wasn't very organized... we just sat in a large room and waited...then got in line for security. If you get there at 10:30, I'm not 100% sure you will be able to go up or not... we had to tell them we were with a wedding party.

[yst347]

We have sailed from Galveston three times. The first cruise we arrived at 11:30, the last two we arrived at 10:45. On all three cruises we went immediately to checkin. We had our S&S cards quickly and waited till noon to board. We were always on board by 12:30.

[hilltopfamily]

definitely recommend getting there early. we called for a taxi from our hotel at 11:15 thinking we'd get to the port at a decent time and get on board. Took an hour and a half to get a taxi for the 5 of us at our hotel!!!!! (It was the brand new Baymont Inn at around 61st and just off of Seawall). Yikes, I was fuming! (next time we'll drive and park at the pier rather than leaving the car at a hotel and fighting for taxis there and back after the cruise). Anyway, by the time we got to the port the lines were LONG, LONG, LONG and we didn't get on board until about 2:45 or 3:00. Sorry I don't know about how early is actually too early, but I sure know about how late is too late! :)

[CoCoNut Willie]

We've sailed several times from Galveston. We usually try to get to the terminal around 10:30 or 11. We were at the Baymont the same weekend as the Hilltopfamily. We called for a taxi at around 10:15, it arrived in about 10 minutes and we were at the terminal before 11. This was our first cruise since Carnival rolled out the platinum perks. As soon as we showed our docs we were escorted around the embarkation line to the VIP lounge. They gave us our S/S cards and escorted us to a seating area adjacent to the general waiting area. Shortly after noon a Carnival rep came and escorted the 12 - 15 of us on board. Very Cool.

[xrayvin]

thank you for all the advice, I think we will leave our hotel at 10am. I also think we will ask the rental place directly about all of us taking the shuttle with all our luggage. I am assuming that with no response about joining the rest of our party already in line it is probably not a good thing to do.

One thing I am wondering about..is the sitting area only for past Carnival cruisers? This will be our first Carnival Cruise. Celebrity had everyone go up into a room and wait to do the boarding there (everyone was given numbers) past Celebrity guests could go whenever no waiting. RCI we stood in line FOREVER and it was quite a madhouse. I was thinking Carnival was more like Celebrity was...but after the last post I was wondering if "the room" is only for past guests while everyone else stands in multiple lines, or does everyone go into the room?

Thanks again.

[CoCoNut Willie]

The VIP embarkation is for platinum guests( 10 or more Carnival cruises), suite passengers, and I believe Carnival Vacation Club. All other passengers wait in multiple lines to get S/S cards. After check-in there's a seating area to wait until embarkation.

[lynyrd]

We were on the Conquest the same time Chris was. We stood in a line inside the terminal for a little while. When it was time to official embark it was not a "free for all". The line just started to move forward. When we got to another room you were guided to other lines depending on if you had your fun pass filled out or not and non-US citizens where directed to a another line also. After we got our cards they had a sit in a waiting area for a short time while a Carnival employee gave a brief talk. We then proceeded to get our photos taken and then onto the ship. The whole process was quick and painless.

 

Let's not discuss debarkation.........................that was a nightmare.

[xrayvin]

Thank you all so much for the information. I think it will definatly be better then RCI!!

[AKB10]

I haven't sailed on the Conquest, but was on the Ecstasy last week and they use the same terminal. We had planned to drive around Galveston for awhile before checking into the cruise, but drove straight to the cruise terminal and dropped off our luggage – it was 10:00 AM. We parked and took the shuttle back to cruise terminal.

 

We got into our first line of the day inside the terminal – there were about 100 people in front of us. About 11:00 they let VIP and handicap guests in – also a wedding party. Shortly after that they let us in – we went through security with no problem - then were directed to check in line. We were asked if we filled out our funpass online – Yes we did. The staff member directed us to the funpass line – there were about 25 people in this line. Because of reading here on cc I knew we could skip that line and went to the line for people who didn’t fill out the funpass. There was only one couple ahead of us. After checking in we were directed to chairs. Here we sat for about 1 hour. At 12:00 – 12:15 they began letting us on. They were very organized and let those who sat first in first – there were about 50 people in front of us. We had our picture taken, then up the ramp to the ship – where we had another picture taken for our sail and sign card.

Kathy

[xrayvin]

AKB~That sounds great! Thank you for the detailed response! Question for you~ You said they directed you to the line for people who DID fill out their funpass online but you knew you could skip that line? Why did you go into the line for people who DID NOT fill out the funpass (I realize it was shorter) I must have missed that on CC, would you please tell me what you read? Thank you

[AKB10]

Not sure when I read that hint, but it was in a cruise report I read online here. After we went through security there was a staff member who was directing people where to go to check in - but not making sure you went to where she told you - it was more like information on where things were. The 3 lines for those who did not fill out fun passes only had 1 -2 groups in them. The fun pass lines (I think 2) were very crowded. When we got up to the counter the person helping us never questioned us as to why we were in his line. He just took our docs and did what he needed to do to get our keys and sail and sign card. He was very cheerful and was a great start to our cruise experience. It was very easy and we got a little further ahead in the line.

Kathy

[xrayvin]

:D Thanks for the hint...basically fill out the funpass and you can go to any line!!! :D