1st Timer confused about boarding/luggage

[AnnaB]

Can someone help me out. I am confused about the boarding process. I understand I will arrive at the terminal and check my luggage. I also understand that I will hold onto my carry-on luggage. I have read posts that in my carry on luggage I should have a number of items in case my luggage is lost or late arriving to my cabin. THis would include a change of clothes, medicine, bathing suits, etc. In adddition I have also read about people bringing on supplies, ie cases of soda, snacks. SO here is my question how do you manage to carry all of the stuff on and how do you manage to lug it all around when you are doing the resservation shuffle. Thanks !

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi

You going by yourself?

Much easier if you have someone with you? Let us know the situation.

 

[AnnaB]

Oh no..I'm sorry should have specified who the cast is. Myself 35. DH 35 DS 8 and DD 6.

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi FolkS

Now it should be easier. DH & DD go to Palos for those ressies and you and DS go for the spa ressies. You have a potential of 4 carry-ons so you should be able to get bathing suits and meds in one, soda in another and have the kiddos carry something light?

 

[AnnaB]

That makes complete sense. I guess I was just making more out of this than need be. After all the planning and research I guess I was begining to create problems out of things that normally would be a simple procedure But just to double check I assume one of my carry on's can be something on wheels ..am I right ?

 

[inkkognito]

Yes, you can definitely bring a wheeled carry-on. I am usually loaded down with gifts for the crew and our plane stuff (books, handheld game, etc.), plus my pin case, while hubby carries the day bag with our necessities (meds., swimwear, etc.). Mine is a tote bag, and his is on wheels. The rooms are not usually ready when we first board, so we eat lunch at Parrot Cay and leave our luggage in the front of the restaurant. No one ever bothers it...lots of people leave it up there to avoid carrying it through the buffet line and around the tables.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Ashkins]

hmm this brings up the question... when can we get into our cabins??

 

[albiats]

The cabins are usually ready by 1:15pm. Since they can't work on all of the cabins at the same time, some will have to be finished before then.

You can usually board the ship by 12:30, sometimes as early as 12:15 or even closer to noon.

 

[Rneighh]

If the ship does not leave until 5:00 pm. what time should you be on the ship?

 

[albiats]

You really need to be on board with enough time to prepare for the mandatory Assembly Drill that is held at 4:00pm, so 3:30 to 3:45 would be the latest I would suggest.

If you want to eat lunch onboard, it is served in two locations from 12:15 to 2pm at Parrot Cay on deck 3 aft or at Topsiders on deck 9 aft from 12:30 to 3:30.

If you want to make reservations for Palo's or the Spa, you'll want to be onboard and ready to get on line about 1:00 to 1:30.

The earliest that you can board is 12:15 to 12:30 and once in awhile, closer to 12 noon.

Also, it's important to understand that the ship could leave earlier than the stated time of 5:00pm, at the Captain's discretion. We were on a cruise on the Wonder in September of 2000 and the Captain decided it was best to leave Port Canaveral at 4:10pm to outrun a storm approaching from land. They moved up the Assembly drill to 3:45, we pulled out at 4:10 and we were able to outrun the storm.

As one that has been so late on the first cruise that we missed the Assembly Drill and one that has been on a cruise that has left early, I would recommend that you try to board around 12:45 to 1pm. It's much less stressfull to enjoy lunch on the ship, to get to your cabin and unpack, and to get a little familiar with the ship before the assembly drill.

Hope that helps.