1 pm Embarkation?

[Grendel]

Ok you guys....I know ive read several times that many of you get to the port when it opens and you get in line early for your ressies etc. But I just got some documentation that states that embarkation doesnt start till 1pm?? which does not seem correct on what ive heard many of you say...even a disny rep mentioned being able to walk on the boat at 11:30 am without a crowd being there....so whats the scoop??

 

[AnnMorin]

I think the earliest we have ever been able to board was about 12:00 if that helps. I could be wrong, I know we usually get to the port and wait about an hour and we get there about 11.

 

[kcashner]

The "official" opening of the doors used to be 12 noon, but usually opened earlier. It has now been moved to 11:45 and usually opens right about on time. Yes, I saw that my docs said 1 pm when the doors actually opened at 11:45.

On 2/7/04, they hadn't even started pre-boarding at 11:30 (wheelchairs and concierge). By 11:45, the general line had started. Walk on with no line? We arrived at port about 10:45, checked in thru the Castaway club line with one family ahead of us, and were maybe 100 people back in the line for boarding. When the doors actually opened, I'd guess that there were 700-800 people in the terminal waiting to board. However, it moves quickly. By 1 pm, we'd made all our ressies and had lunch at Parrot Cay...or maybe we were still eating.

The actual time the doors open depend on the previous cruise having arrived and cleared Customs on time. Maybe they keep the 1 pm time on the docs as people won't complain about opening early, but certainly will complain if it opens late???

 

[makaylee]

I have only sailed once and they let us on the ship about 12:30. I would say it probably depends on how fast they get the ship cleaned and ready. Check in does start earlier then that though. I believe around 11:00 or so.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

1 pm is the official time - they use that as the probable latest time the ship will be ready. However, it is often available earlier than that.

Not sure I've heard anyone boarding before 11:30 - lots of times right around noon.

Deb

 

[MontiD]

WE HAVE THE LAND/SEA PKG AND WAS TOLD THAT WE DO THE "CHECK IN" AT THE RESORT, SO WHEN WE GET TO THE SHIP, THERE IS NO CHECK IN..JUST BOARD. DOES THAT MEAN WE JUST GET INTO THE BOARDING LINE? WHAT WILL WE NEED TO SHOW?

 

[MontiD]

AND WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE GET ON THE SHIP?? GO TO OUR ROOM FIRST? LUNCH? PALO RESSIE? WE'LL PROBABLY PLAN ON GETTING THERE ABOUT 11AM-12PM SINCE WE'LL BE IN OUR RENTAL CAR. THANKS!

 

[poohnpiglet3]

MontiD, I hate to be critical (and I'm not picking on you -- but there are a few people who do this) but it is considered yelling when you type in all caps. Just a friendly FYI

As for your questions, I'm not sure because I haven't cruised yet... I only have a week and I'll be on the sea!

Yippee!!

Sherri

 

[kcashner]

MontiD....if you have booked a Land/Sea vacation, all of your documents will be checked when you check in at the hotel and you will be issued a KTTW card that will open the cabin on the ship. Thus, when you arrive at the port, you can proceed to the boarding line.

When you get on the ship, go first to Palo Ressies, then Spa Ressies, then dining changes if you have any, then go to lunch at Parrot Cay. After lunch, register the kids in the Lab. Even if your kids are club age, the line in the lab is shorter!

Food is the same at Parrot and Topsiders, but at Parrot you can sit down and be served your beverages, and get soda free. Just a nicer atmosphere.

After that, go for a swim or unpack and chill out prior to lifeboat drill. After that, the fun really starts.

 

[alexandrew]

If you board at 12, I would recommend having a little buffet lunch at Parrot Cay before heading over to make Palo ressies....otherwise, you will be needlessly waiting for close to an hour.....if you show up for Palo ressies at 1230-1245, you be fine....also, staterooms are typically not ready until 130 or so...CMs block the elevators and discourage you from going to your stateroom prior to 130.....

 

[MontiD]

Poohnpiglet...Sorry for all the caps, I did not realize that my being over 60% deaf would spill over into my typing style (I have a tendency to over compensate for my hearing loss with talking a little too loudly sometimes..like others are deaf instead of myself). LOL
My apologies if I have offended anyone with my CAPSLOCK.

One other question, if we are not able to go to the rooms to get our dining rotation (I heard it would be in our stateroom), how will I know which night to request Palos? We wanted to try and skip Triton <spelling?> for ressies at Palos. Is there a way to find out what rotation we have been assigned before going to our room? Thanks!

 

[tvguy]

Don't sweat the call caps. My employer has our computers set on all caps so we don't go on boards at work!!!

 

[jrabbit]

Your dinning rotation will be printed on your KTTW card
Magic: LAPLAPL or APLAPLA or PLAPLAP

Wonder
3 night: TAP or APT or PTA
4 night: same as 3 night and you either repeat the first or third night on the 4th night


You can get into your staterooms when you board (they are not ready for occupancy). We do this and drop off our carryon luggage, then go make ressies and have lunch.

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by jrabbit

You can get into your staterooms when you board (they are not ready for occupancy). We do this and drop off our carryon luggage, then go make ressies and have lunch.

Not always! We couldn't...they had the hallway roped off, and when we peeked in they said we had to wait.

 

[poohnpiglet3]

Monti -- LOL... if I told my DH that he would send every email to me in all caps since he swears I don't listen to him half the time... or do I do it on purpose?? LOL!

No problem.

Have fun!

Sherri

 

[kcashner]

On our 2/7 sailing, the hallways to the cabins were roped off as they were not yet ready (first time I'd encountered that). Also, the Palo ressies were starting as soon as we boarded. Boarding started at 11:45. By 12:10, I had my dining changes, Palo ressie, spa ressie, and was on my way to Parrot for lunch.

Palo and dining changes used to start at 1, but I'd read that they started at boarding, and this proved to be true.

 

[mickeyboat]

We booked air through DCL and don't expect to be at port until 3PM (ARGH! - kicking myself). Anyway, will there be something available to eat at that time? My family is bound to be starving by then. Should I try to get something at the airport? I know that everything closes down for the lifeboat drill so I am a buit apprehensive.

Denae

edited for spelling

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by kcashner
On our 2/7 sailing, the hallways to the cabins were roped off as they were not yet ready (first time I'd encountered that). Also, the Palo ressies were starting as soon as we boarded. Boarding started at 11:45. By 12:10, I had my dining changes, Palo ressie, spa ressie, and was on my way to Parrot for lunch.

Palo and dining changes used to start at 1, but I'd read that they started at boarding, and this proved to be true.

You know what, now that you said that, I had all my ressies because of the Romantic Escape at Sea addon, but i wanted to check (yes, Im paranoid) them...we were in line when they opened the doors, and although I'm not sure exactly what time it was, I believe it was before noon, and as soon as we got on board, I went to check the Palo ressies and they were already taking them, and there was a line - but it moved VERY quick, I was impressed by how they had the board up with the available times and nights and so on.

After that we tried to get to the cabin to dump the stuff, and it was roped off...then we headed up top to the spa to check on THAT ressie, and they too were already open and the line there took forever...I ended up leaving, figuring if they got the Palo ressie right, this one would be too....I didn't have to worry as they called that night to confirm anyhow! So they were doing spa ressies right upon boarding as well.

I guess Im just saying that kcashner and I had the exact same experience.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by kcashner
On our 2/7 sailing, the hallways to the cabins were roped off as they were not yet ready (first time I'd encountered that). Also, the Palo ressies were starting as soon as we boarded. Boarding started at 11:45. By 12:10, I had my dining changes, Palo ressie, spa ressie, and was on my way to Parrot for lunch.

Palo and dining changes used to start at 1, but I'd read that they started at boarding, and this proved to be true.

On our 2/22 sailing on the Wonder this week, boarding started at 12:00 and Palo did NOT start taking reservations until 1:00. So we went over to lunch at Parrot Cay first and got in line for Palo at Wavebands at 12:35 and was about 15 people back in line. We had our choice of days at Palo.

So apparently times are different on each Ship according to these posts.

 

[MontiD]

Will my KTTW card by chance have what dinner rotation we will have? (Since I will get the card when I check in at the resort) I'm still stressing about figuring out getting Palo ressies on the same night we would be sched for Tritons. Can you tell this is our first cruise?? LOL