Cruise Talk: What time can you really board the ship ?

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated the debut of the all-new Norwegian Aqua to Port Canaveral, Fla. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, where she commenced her inaugural season of round-trip Caribbean cruises as the newest ship in port. This past weekend, approximately 3,700 guests embarked on Norwegian Aqua's first week-long voyage to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Fla., her initial homeport ...

Latest News...Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today reported first quarter Earnings per Share ("EPS") of $2.70 and Adjusted EPS of $2.71. These results were better than the company's guidance due to stronger than expected pricing on close-in demand and lower costs mainly due to timing. Royal Caribbean said that it is increasing its full year 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance to $14.55 to $15.55...

Latest News...Holland America Line announced itineraries for its two Grand Voyages sailing in 2027, offering guests the choice to embark on an ambitious 129-day circumnavigation of the globe on the 2027 Grand World Voyage or a 70-day, region-specific in-depth exploration on the Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage. As revealed today by the cruise line's president Beth Bodensteiner to guests on board...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Lines » What time can you really board the ship ?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: What time can you really board the ship ?

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 01-21-2000 11:30 PM

I have always wondered what time you can board. I know the cruise lines publish the times, but people are boarded much earlier. I am sailing on the Volendam in March, and would like to board as early as possible.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 01-21-2000 11:35 PM

I have had a client who recently managed to board about 12.30.
Most of the ships can be boarded earlier than they state.
If you are an Alumni that will also make boarding early easier.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 01-22-2000 06:56 PM

Thank you DianaD !

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 01-22-2000 10:57 PM

Don't hold your breath, gizmo.
We're long time HAL alumni and have never pushed for extra early boarding - why bother - chances are your luggage is not yet on board so you can't unpack. I suspect that the number of times you've booked top category staterooms may carry some weight - maybe the secret is who you know ...........

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

VOYAGER
First Class Passenger
Member # 1016

posted 01-23-2000 12:15 AM

I know that the suites on Celebrity are given priority embarkation but the normal boarding time is 12:30....

Posts: 24 | From: Wichita KS | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 01-23-2000 11:23 AM

I know you don't get your baggage until later but a lot of cruisers like to have their lunch on board and walk around the ship and get their bearings.
Regarding HAL and Alumni, they do a special check in for Alumni at Vancouver but I am not sure about Fort Lauderdale as I have not cruised with them out of there. RCI definitely lets you board early. At the new Port building in Miami they are now doing a special suite boarding for Cat C and up. However if you are early and category can board. Celebrity does early boarding for Suite passengers and Captains club members.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 01-23-2000 12:14 PM

We always try to board an hour earlier than the posted time, never had a problem on Carnival or NCL. On our last Carnival cruise we were surprised we could get a regular nice lunch in the dining room. I just wanted to get there early for the welcome aboard buffet, well lunch in the dining room is a lot better than that! I like to get there early to get my money's worth LOL.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Debi
First Class Passenger
Member # 936

posted 01-23-2000 05:29 PM

On our first cruise, 2 months ago, we got to the pier at 11:30, two and a half hours before official boarding time, prepared to have a long wait there. To our surprise, we were able to get right on the ship after only 15 minutes of waiting in line, and when we boarded, lunch was already set up at the buffet, and it felt like we had the whole ship to ourselves for a few hours. I definitely would try that again in the future, realizing I was taking a risk of having to wait a few hours near the terminal.

Posts: 52 | From: Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Bernard
First Class Passenger
Member # 1038

posted 01-25-2000 10:50 AM

There was an alumni line in Fort Lauderdale, But the line is much longer than the ordinary lines.
Because a lot of HAL cruisers are alumni, They want to show it to each other and non-alumni's by standing in that line.
You be checked in and board much faster in a regular line.

Posts: 94 | From: The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...