Cruise boarding times: How early should you arrive for a cruise

Table Of Content

What time do I board the ship on embarkation day and in ports of call?
Juneau Takes Steps to Limit Cruise Ship Passengers
How do I get on my ship? Is there a check-in process like at the airport?
Princess Cruises Teams Up to Offer Easy Transportation to Florida Ports
What time can I check-in for my cruise if I'm staying in a suite?
Wrap-Up: Successfully Boarding Cruise Ships

Once you board, you’ll have at least one free hour before the cruise ship sets sail. This is a great time to explore the cruise ship and discover all the amenities. Once you’re clear to board the cruise ship, you’ll be directed by either signs or staff on where to go to get on the cruise ship.

What time do I board the ship on embarkation day and in ports of call?

Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. He has become one of the foremost expert on a Royal Caribbean cruise. When you get the terminal, be sure to tell the pier agent you are staying in a suite so you can be directed to the right place. If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. There's no way to know that's happened without checking manually.

Juneau Takes Steps to Limit Cruise Ship Passengers

You may also be directed to a waiting area in anticipation of instructions on when to board. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. That seems like a lot to save an hour or two on embarkation day.

How do I get on my ship? Is there a check-in process like at the airport?

I cruised Royal Caribbean from Galveston for the first time. Here's what a cruise from Texas is like. - Royal Caribbean Blog

I cruised Royal Caribbean from Galveston for the first time. Here's what a cruise from Texas is like..

Posted: Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This will give you enough time to complete your check-in at the cruise terminal before boarding; your online check-in must be completed prior to arrival. There are typically dozens of agents there to process passengers, and you’ll need to wait for the next available. The agent will get your room keycard, attach a credit card to your onboard spending account, take a photo of you, and also have you fill out a health questionnaire. Then, you are free to continue walking to the gangway to board the ship. Carnival Cruise Line provides even less information on how early you can board their cruise ships. However, like most cruise lines, you can expect the earliest you can board the ship to be about four hours before departure.

The best time to board a cruise ship is obviously when there are few lines and short waits. Get driving directions and arrange for transfers from your airport or hotel ahead of time. And if you are flying in, don’t forget to claim your luggage at the airline’s baggage claim area. If you need to join your voyage late or leave early, it is important to submit your request well in advance of your departure date.

What time can I check-in for my cruise if I'm staying in a suite?

Some cruise lines are moving toward a system where you complete much of the check-in process online before you arrive, making it faster to board the ship come cruise day. Bottom line is that you need to arrive to the port within the boarding window provided by the cruise line. But showing up later in the day (but before the cutoff time provided) can help you board more quickly. When you arrive at the cruise terminal, porters are available to take your large suitcases and transfer them to the ship. You are not required to hand your bags over, but you'll likely want to do this, as cabins are often not ready when you board, and you'll be left lugging your heavy suitcases with you for a few hours. If you arrive to the port too early, you always risk being asked to wait outside until your correct arrival time.

Wrap-Up: Successfully Boarding Cruise Ships

I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you’ll want to take care of a few chores. We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship.

A variety of snack and lunch options should be available so you can grab some food before your cruise begins. These are all normal questions to ask before embarking on your first cruise vacation. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, but usually they will be give more flexibility in their times. While frustrating to not have the rules enforced across the board, we still recommend adhering to the check-in time window to avoid any possible denial of boarding until later. The embarkation process has changed a bit since 2021, but after taking dozens of cruises, here is a guide for what to expect. You can select these times as early as 14 days before departure.

Most cruise lines require you to choose an arrival time for the day you arrive at the cruise ship terminal. In general, getting there earlier is better than getting there too late. However, if you arrive too early, you may be stuck waiting around for a while before you’re allowed to board.

When you arrive at the cruise terminal, it might seem a little crazy at first. Usually the first thing that people notice is just how massive cruise ships actually are when you’re standing right next to them. By spreading passengers out along the entire boarding window, no one time sees as big a rush and mass of people trying to board. That means lines are shorter, especially at the beginning of boarding. In general, the entire process of completing all the steps doesn’t take long; it’s just a matter of minutes.

Royal Caribbean warns there could be a delay in beginning the check-in procedure if you're late, but you will still be able to get to the cruise. Royal Caribbean opens up the check-in at midnight (or 5-10 minutes after) based on the ship's home port time. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m. Time has a way of slipping away when you're on an Azamara cruise. But don't worry, we've got all the information you need so that you know exactly what to do.

Embarkation day is one of the most important days of your cruise. At check-in, guests must present their boarding pass, picture ID and citizenship documents (including any necessary visas). Due to security protocol, last minute bookings made within 24 hours of sailing will require guests to undergo a secondary screening. By the time you get to the port you have already paid for your cruise, so the sooner you get on the cruise ship the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation.

Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Since 2021, Royal Caribbean has mostly been enforcing check-in times, so it's important to get a good time as early as you can. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in.

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