At the port to get on a cruise ship you wait like and hour and a half is this true?

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travel guy

The process of "getting on the ship" not only varies from port-to-port, but by cruise line-to-cruise line and by sailing-to-sailing!

For example, you could be on the Carnival Legend one week out of Miami and have one type of "boarding experience", and be on the the same ship the very next week and have a totally different "boarding experience".

As a Travel Agent and Cruise Consultant Specialist, I always tell my clients that there's a lot that you personally can do to help insure that "getting on the ship" goes easily, without incident, and that your vacation starts on a pleasant note:

1) All major cruise lines today offer you the ability to "Pre-register" for your cruise, on-line. Do it! The pre-registration process takes only a few minutes, and asks for your personal info, passport info, and credit card info - (if you didn't know, no cash is exchanged on-board, everything is billed to your credit card account at the end of the cruise).

2) Since your luggage may not be delivered to your stateroom for several hours, pack a swim suit, shorts, or other items that you may need until it arrives. Folks flying in from colder locations during winter cruises very rarely think of this.

3) All carry-on items go through the same screening process at the pier as it does at the airport. So use the same guidelines as far as what you're carrying and you'll avoid any problems.

4) Make sure that you have all you're boarding documents with you when you arrive at the pier - any document that you don't have will need to be filled-out again.

5) I disagree with getting to the pier before the stated boarding time. The ship will not be cleared by customs and immigration officials, nor will it be ready to receive new guests, so you'll be spending additional time waiting to get on-board. I always suggest that you get to the pier about an hour AFTER the stated embarkation time - this way the big "push" is over and your experience is much more enjoyable and hassle free.

Some cruise lines are moving over toward "electronic tickets" - similar to what the airlines have done. My wife and I were on a cruise last month, and boarded the ship with only a single piece of paper in our hands! I don't think the process of "getting on the ship" took more than 5 minutes! I hope you're experience is the same.

Bon voyage and happy sailing!

search4travelwebsites

Generally cruise lines like you to arrive early so you ships leave on time, as there are many people involved in its departure and this costs money, you also have to have all your documents checked and your baggage taken on-board, remember you are one of over 2,000 passengers boarding the average cruise ship.

I would ask this, would you arrive at an airport after you flights check-in closing time?

Esther

Depends on what cruise line you are sailing on. One of the mega ships, yes, you can wait a very long time. The smaller ships, not so much of a wait. I'm not sure about getting there early, but I would think it wouldn't hurt!

Still@Work

I would get there early because you have to drop off your bags, and then go through all the procedures like having your carry-on scanned & your on-board account set up.

Some cruise lines let you check-in online, and I'd recommend doing that. That way, in the terminal, you can join an express line.

Remember to take some stuff with you, because your bags aren't delivered to your stateroom ASAP.

And that should make your check-in and first few hours easier.

Lex

When I went on a cruise a couple of months ago, the wait was more like an hour. But surprisingly, it seemed to go by fast. I don't know if getting to the port early would work, but it might because the ship would most likely be there. I would try it, what's the worst that could happen? Besides, your wait might be later because when I went, everybody got there about two hours before the ship left so there were about 1000 people to get onto the ship in two hours.

baddrose268

Yes make sure you get to the port at least an hour before it embarks so you can have plenty of time to get on board. At the ports make sure you have your boarding pass to get on and off the ship.(The card they give you before you board the ship.) When the ship is ready to leave the ports of call make sure you are on the ship 2 hours before it leaves because if you don't the cruiseline will not refund your money, the ship will not come back for you and you will need to find another way to get home.

jared_lee_lee

Yes, getting there early would be helpful. The line runs for it seems like miles. If you are on Carnival, they have perks for paying for a suite. Last year when we went, we stayed in a penthouse. You recieve VIP embarkation. You just walk up to the front of the line and show them your VIP tickets. Then, you walk into the VIP room and it takes about 10 minutes to set up everything. It is the best! So, if you are going carnival, get a suite!

gfdgirl

Yes. Getting there early definately helps! If your documents say you can arrive at 3pm, try to be there by 1pm. This has always worked well for us and we get right on the ship. The only downside is that you can't go to your cabin for a while. However, I'd much rather be poolside sipping a cocktail than in the cattle call in the terminal.

missanglgrl

I would go when Embarkation starts. There is no point in getting there earlier because no one is allowed in the port area until embarkation starts for security purposes.

1. Check with you cruise line to see what time boarding starts and be there at that time.

2. Make sure all your paperwork is completed. Immigration form, Credit card auth, ID ready, tickets ready, Etc.

3. Check with the line to see if they have a Express Boarding pass where you can print out on-line. Holland America Line has this feature on their website.

4. make sure you know you cabin number by heart. They will ask you many times.

I went to Mexico 2 weeks ago and was checked in and onboard within an hour. I believe it was about 40 mintues from start to finish.

shoe s

sometimes alot more

rick d

Depends on when you get there. The ships crew has to make sure everyone & their luggage is off then clean every room before anyone can get back on. Everyone wants to get on first. Go on 3 cruises ayear and the longest I waited was 30 minutes.

williamsv

when we went on our cruise it was very fast no waiting at all we were on royal Caribbean good luck on your trip and have fun

robert c

yes. a lot of peoplt to check in. get in line early. if you get on early. you can check out the ship before the crowd gets there

ero.menos

nope, unless you have priority boarding its best to board about an hour to a hour and a half before the ship leaves. most folks are usually onboard by then. i do this all the time and im never in a line.

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