Early embarkation

[cruzadict]

I have today received a letter from Silversea asking if we want to register for early embarkation at a cost of $100 each. If we do not take up this option then they advise that embarking will not commence until 3pm. We will be staying the night prior to the cruise at a hotel which I have arranged myself and not thro SS and the rooms have to be vacated by 12 noon. If I do not take up the early embarkation option is it likely that SS will begin boarding before 3pm. We will probably be at the port at approx 1.30 pm.

 

Marilyn

[Seas the Day]

on one of my SS cruises, originating in Auckland, we were offered the opportunity to do a city tour prior to embarkation. It was an extra $ amount - I can't remember how much, but nominal. At the conclusion of the tour we were taken to the terminal. It happened to be a bit before 3:00 pm, but the tour guide was in contact with the ship and had been given permission to take us early (having concluded the tour early.)

 

I don't know how lenient they are about pre-boarding, my guess is that it depends... How many people? How early? Is the ship ready? Etc...

 

You should check to see if they are offereing a pre-embarkation tour. It worked well for me.

[Observer]

It is worth noting that early embarkation does not necessarily imply early occupancy of suite. It all depends.... I took early embarkation and my suite was ready. Another party who boarded at the same time were told it would be a while before their suite was ready and that they were free to use all of the facilities of the ship, meals, etc. They were fuming mad -- and pretty obnoxious -- about not having access to the suite.

[seagirl2002]

We usually do the Early Embarkation. Silversea normally does not let any guests come on board before 3 pm if they did not register for the Early Embarkation. So either you should check with the hotel for a late check-out or prepare for a long wait at the port.

 

And Early Embarkation means you can go on the ship and they do everything to get your Suite ready by that time. If not....I wouldn't be upset. Enjoy a drink at the Pool Bar and have a wonderful lunch in the Restaurant. There is in my opinion no reason to be mad.

[cruzadict]

Thanks very much for your replies. I think that I will just use all the facilities of the hotel and arrive at approx 2.30. I suppose it is not fair to the people who have paid for early embarkation for someone to turn up early and be allowed to board. Thanks again

[newlondon]

When we were in Copenhagen we did exactly what you are doing. We stayed at the Marriott (the SS hotel) but on our Mt points. I asked the SS desk if we could show up early and board and were told NO! We, therefore arrived at 3p--before the bus from the Mt and walked on board in no time. We were in our suite, escorted, in less than 5 minutes. I think the key is to beat the SS bus.

[Observer]

I think the key is to beat the SS bus.

 

Good advice. This expedites everything, including delivery of luggage to suites.

[MrsWaldo]

In Stockholm we arrived at the Port just after 2.30 and boarding began very soon after...we didn't queue at all as we went thru the security and joined the boarding queue boarding commenced

[decocamp]

We are contemplating arriving at the pier around 2:30 pm for regualar 3-5 pm boarding. Will any food be served onboard at that time in the afternoon?

[duct tape]

Room service is always working...there is usually a "sail away" party with lots of goodies...the deck grill serves hamburgers, hot dogs, paninis, etc. ...and you probably had lunch before arrival at the pier. Bon Voyage!

[unfathomable]

There are usually substantial canapes at check-in on board, plus afternoon tea in the Panorama Lounge around 4pm

[fizzy]

While in port on the regent Mariner last spring, we noticed a large hotel of some sort directly across the street. Would anyone know what hotel that might have been? We were thinking of flying in for our spring Wind cruise on the day of departure and perhaps looking into early embarkation but maybe it would make more sense to come in the night before and stay at that incredibly close hotel and try to get an extended checkout. Does one make more sense than the other? Thanks for your help. ----Fizzy

[Brad1185]

I throught the other main lines such as RCI and Princess have gone overboard with the nickle and diming what they do is nothing compared to this.

 

This $100 extra charge pp to get on before 3 to get some lunch is shameful shocking and hard to believe. WOW.

[dusababy]

DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE BRAD.

WITH THE DECLINE OF THE DOLLAR AGAINST THE EURO -- AND GENERALLY OVERPRICED "NICE" RESTAURANTS AT POPULAR PORTS -- $100 FOR LUNCH MIGHT BE A BARGAIN....

:cool:

[Brad1185]

I throught the other main lines such as RCI and Princess have gone overboard with the nickle and diming what they do is nothing compared to this.

 

This $100 extra charge pp to get on before 3 to get some lunch is shameful shocking and hard to believe. WOW.

 

You could be right, I cant believe SS would do this and think its ok and their customers would think its ok as well.

[DebbieH103]

We have done 3 Silversea cruises in the last 20 months. On the two from San Juan, we did early embarkation. Neither time did we pay in advance (since they said it wasn't available). Both times, we just went over there and asked. The second time, we were staying across the street at Sheraton, so we would have just gone back and had them take the bags.

 

The last time was a couple of weeks ago in Dubai, and we wanted to stay at our hotel as long as possible since they were so fabulous. They allowed us to keep our room until 2. We showed up at the port in the 2:30 timeframe, and they did not board until 3 pm on the dot. The canapes werer not particularly substantial. They had smoked salmon and shrimp cocktail. They opened the pool grill until 4, but everyone thought it was 5. I got up there at 3:58 and was told to go to my suite and order. I got a drink, was sour for 2 minutes and went to my suite and ordered. It was the only bad two minutes of the cruise.

 

Regent allows guests on at noon for free, which is a big plus over SS in some ways, but it also changes the ambiance.

[BEAV]

New Customs Rules Affect Cruise TravelersAlong with a flurry of new rules for travelers this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented another item that directly affects cruise travel.

 

As of February 18, all cruise ships departing from U.S. ports must send a passenger manifest to the department of Customs and Border Protection no less than 60 minutes prior to departure, which means that all passengers must be checked in and onboard prior to that time.

 

Some cruise lines have taken a proactive role and are implementing the procedure now. Most lines -- Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Regent, Crystal, Oceania, Princess -- have implemented a policy that states you must be processed and onboard at least 90 minutes before sailaway or you can be denied boarding.

 

 

I wonder if Silversea will be forced to start general embarkation earlier than 3:00pm for a 5:00pm sailaway when departing US ports. Granted they're dealing with much smaller numbers than mass market ships, but can they get everyone on board, processed, and have the information transmitted to the Customs & Border Protection by 4:00pm at the latest?

[DebbieH103]

Beav, I know the new requirements but hadn't thought of it from your angle. Interesting thoughts.

[Aloha Cruiser]

We did early embarkation on our last SS cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong.

 

We paid the $100 per person.

 

We did not feel it was worth it.

 

We are loyal Regent Seven Seas voyagers and I must agree with some of the other posters that being able to board at Noon and have a lovely lunch on the pool deck while your cabin is being prepared is a very nice perk and much appreciated.

 

:)

[TheFerret]

I am going on Silversea this summer from Copenhagen and opted for the early embarkation. One of the reasons was that, from what I've read, a good lunch will probably cost close to $100 anyway.

 

By the way, hello everybody, this is my first post. :)

[MJN1]

Which cruise from Copenhagen are you on?

[ks1460]

I have today received a letter from Silversea asking if we want to register for early embarkation at a cost of $100 each. If we do not take up this option then they advise that embarking will not commence until 3pm. We will be staying the night prior to the cruise at a hotel which I have arranged myself and not thro SS and the rooms have to be vacated by 12 noon. If I do not take up the early embarkation option is it likely that SS will begin boarding before 3pm. We will probably be at the port at approx 1.30 pm.

 

Marilyn

They allowed us to board early and wait in the panorama lounge until 3. this was in Cape Town and we boarded at 1.

[SnoBirdCruiser]

Have I been reading this correctly? $100.00 US pp to board early?WOW!!!

 

We have been seriously considering taking our first SS cruise in winter of 2009 as we have heard soooo much about the ship. Have been cruising since 1990 mainly on Crystal and recently Regent and we have always been permitted to board any time around noon WITH NO CHARGE!!! Now the cabins were not ready until 2:30-3:00pm but we knew this.

 

So why does SS nickle and dime it's passengers with this ridiculous fee?

I remember when Crystal charged us for pop and water and expressos...it took about 3 -4 years writing them before they stopped.

 

Anyway it won't stop us from booking but it is a bit "chintzy" at this level of cruising IMHO.

[TheFerret]

Which cruise from Copenhagen are you on?

 

July 6 to the Norwegian fjords. Can't wait!

[unfathomable]

So why does SS nickle and dime it's passengers with this ridiculous fee?

It may be partly about managing demand for early embarkation (there's also a late disembarkation fee if you want to do that). One issue is that the waiters have been up most of the night moving bags and are often desperate for a few hours off, while the housekeepers have to give the entire ship a "deep clean", especially the suites that are changing occupants. There's probably a limit to how many passengers you can have aboard during this process, including the people staying aboard from the previous cruise, and still keep everybody happy.