Check in at NYC

[mmouse37]

We sailed out of Vancouver last summer, and that was the first we had seen the Ariel tags. And rest assured, if they had Ariel on previous sailings, we would have them as a momento, as my daughter is an Ariel Affectionato!

That said, we were hoping to get Ariel as our luggage tag, but no luck. Those are reserved for those who report they have early flights/trains to catch and need to be off board first or ASAP. That is part of the reason they ask for your airline/train disembarkment info during online checkin!

Also, thanks to the person who denoted the "B" means Brooklyn terminal! I bet that relieves some people! Yikes the thought of all those QM passengers plus the 3 ships!

I guess the criteria may have changed.....we had no flights, no transfers...were being picked up at the port. We are Platinum though. A letter showed up in our fish mid cruise saying we were selected for the early debarkation. We filled out the form and the white Ariel tags were delivered to our room. Funny...in Vancouver we did not get the Ariel tags so who knows what they base it on. In Vancouver we did not have transfers booked and had a very late night flight out.

As a side note....in Florida Platinum is usually given boarding #1 with handicapped and Concierge....we were given a #2. I inquired and was told that starting very soon all ports will adhere to the same policies and going forward Platinum will received boarding #2 (even from Florida and other ports). They were very strict with the port arrival times as well.

 

[Mom2PrincessesLinSy]

I guess the criteria may have changed.....we had no flights, no transfers...were being picked up at the port. We are Platinum though. A letter showed up in our fish mid cruise saying we were selected for the early debarkation. We filled out the form and the white Ariel tags were delivered to our room. Funny...in Vancouver we did not get the Ariel tags so who knows what they base it on. In Vancouver we did not have transfers booked and had a very late night flight out.

As a side note....in Florida Platinum is usually given boarding #1 with handicapped and Concierge....we were given a #2. I inquired and was told that starting very soon all ports will adhere to the same policies and going forward Platinum will received boarding #2 (even from Florida and other ports). They were very strict with the port arrival times as well.

Funny how the story changes based on the CM you talk to! The early departure story was what we had been told, and we figured it was correct, since my parents were "early debarkers" and got Ariel Tags. At one time I think they gave the tags out based on what deck you stayed on, Mickey was 8, Minnie 7, something like that. That was awhile ago though!

They always have extra tags down by the Front Desk for those who need it. I wonder if people take "other" tags to get a different debarktation time? We never dealt with the different groups get off at different times until last year at Vancouver. It was always just the mass mob in the Atrium waiting and then leaving. Ah, the long line through the Promenade Lounge.....

But I think the groups worked well in Alaska/Vancouver. Then it wasn't so crazy trying to leave!

 

[rosermama]

I agree - good to hear - also on 6/17 sailing and I too have had moments of panic about how getting to the port and parking is going to work. We have an 11 a.m. arrival time so from what I'm reading I'm thinking of trying to arrive at the port parking at 10:30. Does this sound right? Also, never been to the NYC area before and we are staying the night before on the river in Weehawken. Anyone out there have suggestions for the best route to take to the port or what time we'd want to leave the hotel to make it to the port by 10:30? It will be a Sunday morning. Thanks for all those posting info for those of us so desperately craving it!!

I would definetly take the Lincoln Tunnel to get there we did this earlier in the spring when the Fantasy was in port and found it to be much easier than taking the Holland Tunnel. We sometimes take the Holland Tunnel becuse it is right near Carlo's Bakery (the Cake Boss) and I can't pass up an opportunity to get some really good cannolis I don't know anywhere in VA to get them. We probably will stop there on our way to NYC and then drive up to the Lincoln Tunnel.

 

[peachygreen]

So from what I am reading here it sounds like what I was hoping to do won't be possible.

According to the NYC terminal site the parking facility opens at 9:30 in the morning. I was hoping to arrive early and give our luggage to the porters, park the car and then walk over to the Intrepid Air/Space museum which opens at 10am. Spend a couple of hours there and then check in at noon.

It sounds like I won't be able to get in and park and won't be able to find a porter to do that? Is that probably a correct assumption?

 

[mmouse37]

They are enforcing the boarding times?

We are platinum cruisers, going with "non-platinum" friends.....their boarding time is 1pm.....we will not be allowed to board together?????? I don't want to wait til 1pm to board!

Correction....their Port Arrival Time is 1:00 pm....not boarding time. Boarding usually starts around 11:45-12:00 and then they call numbers. There is a possibility that they can get onboard earlier if they are allowed in the terminal earlier if open boarding is called (meaning most of the people are already onboard who were in the terminal).

If you are Platinum you can enter the terminal at 11:00. They may not ask to see anything but technically your non platinum friends won't be allowed in the terminal until their port arrival time of 1:00.

MJ

 

[jilljill]

So from what I am reading here it sounds like what I was hoping to do won't be possible.

According to the NYC terminal site the parking facility opens at 9:30 in the morning. I was hoping to arrive early and give our luggage to the porters, park the car and then walk over to the Intrepid Air/Space museum which opens at 10am. Spend a couple of hours there and then check in at noon.

It sounds like I won't be able to get in and park and won't be able to find a porter to do that? Is that probably a correct assumption?

Why don't you just park your car and then go over to the Intrepid? When finished over there just to your car and get your bags and then check in.