What is boarding a cruise really like?

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gone!

Well part of the experience of doing your first cruise is doing it without knowing what to expect. The fun of everything being very different. Think of it as checking in to the best hotel you have ever stayed in with a lot of other people checking in at the same time, so get there early. make sure all your papers are in order. ( the cruise line or travel agent should send you all relevant documentation a few weeks before the cruise.
Put All important papers in one place, easily accessible in your HAND luggage. or purse. keep out your passport as this will be surrendered to the cruise ship when you board, if you are going into foreign waters.You are allowed to carry on your hand luggage so take that bathing suit, and there is always a meal provided for passengers as soon as you board. don't worry about security checks, it's for YOUR safety,Enjoy everything, smile and Chat with everyone you see and you'll find your self getting into the spirit very quickly;y. remember everyone else boarding is just as excited as you, even if they don't show it. Have a lovely time.

Johan from Sweden

Well boarding will be like waiting for an aircraft in an airport. First youll take your stuff and stand in a long check in que. When youre reached the check in desk youre tell them your details and ev shows the passport (if needed). Expect to spend an hour or so (or even more) in that que. After that (youre maybe required to drop youre baggage first) you go through a airport security type screaning. Then youre free to board youre ship and thats usually done through one of the lower decks entreance. There could be step ramps and a flight of stairs. Ask the cl for assistance if youre physicaly challenged. When you get onboard you might have to show your onboard account card to the security personal at the entrence to the ship. This will have to be done every time you embark and dissembark the ship. After that youre free to start youre cruise but except that the delivery of youre luggage could take to the evening. Johan.

Tivogal

3 to 4 hours for embarkation-
you will do fine with directions from the internet.
yes,they do check your luggage, it is scanned. you are possibly searched. your passport is checked.
yes, i would bring my own beverages(energy drinks,sodas)
go to cruisecritic.com
(cc)

Time travler

I have embarkation take as little as 15 minutes to an hour. It all depends on when you arrive at the port. The shortest wait time is in the afternoon, but most want to get on the ship asap to start enjoying the ship. After waiting in line, you fill out necessary papers, show your passport and ID's and cruise papers. They will ask for a credit card too. Then you walk onto the ship where they take your picture for security. You get a cruise card before you get on board too. You may take a carry on which most people do. Soda's and such are fine on most ships. Your bag goes through an ex-ray. On Princess you do not go through a pat down or metal detector, so the main security is having your picture, your ID, dogs sniff your bag sometimes too. Finding the port is easy, just head towards the water and look for the ship. They are so big, they look like a huge hotel floating in water, so they are easy to spot. Your first cruise is the most exciting. My next cruise is in 3 weeks and I have done this 9 times. I always get excited still.

Dan

Boarding a cruise ship is a lot like getting on a airplane. You have to check in at a ticket counter, and then go though security with your carry on baggage. It does not take long, at least for us, traveling on Holland-American. Boarding one of the gigantic 4000+ passenger ships probably will take longer. Your cabin baggage will be delivered to your cabin before too long. I doubt that anyone would object to you taking your own energy drinks or soda with you, along with a bathing suit.
Most ships have a departure party, but you can swim if you wish.

Have a good trip.
Regards,
Dan

DC Maximus

Cut through the hassle of the long lines. Have someone take you out to the ship on a motor boat and climb up the ropes.

luludoodie

UK reply.

Howard L has covered most points.

Can I take one of his suggestions further by giving you details of what we did on Hawaii cruise (and others). Shore excursions are a rip off and you have no flexibility.

Get all the local tourist office info. )
Get the cruise lines shore excursion info.) Decide what u want to do.

Book a hire car(s) before going. There are always taxis waiting at side of ship which can take you to the rental office, some will pick you up at dock or just outside the dock gates if they are not allowed in due to security.

Spend the day doing what you want to do! It wil be cheaper and MUCH better! For example we pre-organised a whale watching trip in a high speed inflatable which only took 10 minutes to get to the right place and only had 12 people. We had 2 hours of whales everywhere!
The cruise lines trip went on a slow 150+ person boat and they saw very little! "Our" inflatable" was more expensive (but well worth it) than the "cheaper" slow boat but the overall cost (including the hire car) was cheaper for 2 people! PLUS we spent the whole day doing what WE wanted to do, not stuck on a coach and time dictated by them!

We did the same thing on all 5 islands visited!

Another time we arranged a local guide with 4x4 and went up to the top of Mount Etna in Sicily a few months after it had erupted! The ground was still warm and red in places, even though it was January and snow on the ground! We were able to look into the crater! What an experience!
The tour coaches stopped at the coach park about a mile lower, and you could not even see the top of the volcano!

It's your holiday - do what you want to do - be adventurous!

By the way we are seniors!

Evelyn w/Leading Edge Travel

Wow, you seem to be very excited about what will be a great experience. Relax and love it.

Here are a couple of recomendations:

Advance Guest Registration: All you need is a reservation number to fill out the required Advance Guest Registration form. Skip an extra step at the pier. It's quick, easy, and you don't have to be a registered user.

After your advance registration make sure to put all your necessary travel documents together: Passport or original birth certificate, legal ID card, your cruise documents and your advance registration.

Make sure to take a carry-on bag with all that you will need on the first day, in case your luggage delays arriving to your stateroom; due the same for disembarkation.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the port. Rushing to not miss your cruise is never fun. Find out how much port parking will cost you or have someone drop you off.

For some more answers on your questions and map information visit NCL frequently asked questions @ http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=FAQ

Happy cruising...Evelyn with Leading Edge Travel & Tours @ http://letnt.us or ev@letnt.us

Howard L

I haven't yet cruised with Norwegian but have with most of the others.

Embarkation usually takes about an hour although it can take longer if hordes of people show up at the same time. I'd suggest showing up 30 minutes to an hour after the scheduled opening check in time. Too early and you may have to stand in line until they begin processing. Too late and you may miss out on some embarkation activities. The buffet is always open so you can eat immediately, some times there is an embarkation party going on, or just explore the ship.

Never boarded in Charleston but at most ports you can see the docked ships from miles away. I usually take a taxi or bus to the port. They usually have dollies or carts to leave your bags very near where the taxis and buses unload. Parking can be expensive at the cruise terminal. Long term parking at the airport may be cheaper and more convenient if you intend to bring your own car. Taxis and buses get priority at the cruise terminal which can be jammed with cars. Check rates on the internet.

Security is not at all invasive. You do have to pass through metal detectors and have your carry on bags Xrayed.

You can carry on as much you can carry or pull.

You can bring your own food and drink onboard.

Depending on where you're traveling my other suggestion would be to book your shore excursions directly with the tour operators via the internet and do some research about the activities you want to participate in. The prices booked with the cruise line are outrageous, usually almost twice as much as a directly booked tour.
In Alaska, for example, on my first cruise I booked a tour to Mendenhal Glacier for about $20.00. Got off the ship to find a city bus to Mendenhal at the pier exit for $3.25. Booking online isn't as convenient as through the cruise line because they don't have guides and buses waiting on the dock. Sometimes you have to walk a mile or so or get a taxi to the tour operators office or designated meeting spot, but it can be a big money saver if you're a bit adventurous.

Edit: Great advice from Luludoodie as well. I forgot how much extra fun and flexibility we had in the smaller groups with independant tour operators. Many times they would ask us if there was anything extra or special anyone wanted to do and we did it. You can't do that with a busload of 40 people but with 6-10 in a van you can.

Just Google shore excursions at whichever ports you're going to vist.

♥ єℓℓιє тнє ℓιттℓє мєямαι∂ ♥

I went on an NCL cruise in July and it was really good boarding.

Nice and quick and easy and straight after we got on we went to sit by the pool and eat in the buffet!

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