Concierge- what time do you show up at port?

[sillecruisers]

Basically, I want to know the earliest I can show up and not be turned away. It's a short cruise and I want to be on the ship as long as possible, and it's our first cruise so we're excited. I don't really want to hear, "wait until after 12 when there is no line and you'll walk right on the ship."

I want to know how early we can get there and be allowed in the terminal, maybe avoid the early long lines. When do you concierge folks show up?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I would say arrive around 10.45 embarkation can start at 11.15 am.

You do not want to wait too long but you want to be in the first group on.

So best time is 10.45 to allow for check in and then your on in about 15 mins.

Concierge will be first group on around 11.15 you cannot get on before that.

 

[shelbell77]

If you are taking DCL transfers from the airport they let you in immediately upon arrival even if its technically before they open. We had friends meet us once and they were held outside with everyone else until the terminal opened officially. We always take the DCL transfers so I can't comment on what time they arrived - but they were among the first in the building once the terminal opened up so they may have had a different line outside. We get on the earliest transfer possible from the airport and are generally the first in the building, and board as soon as they allow concierge onboard.

 

[joannjoe]

The night before and pitch tents outside to form a line by the doors. LOL

 

[sillecruisers]

I forgot to mention that we will have a rental car. The plan is for hubby to drop me and the kids off, then run to drop off the rental car and take the shuttle back.

 

[sillecruisers]

The night before and pitch tents outside to form a line by the doors. LOL

Perfect! We want to watch the ship come into port anyway!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I forgot to mention that we will have a rental car. The plan is for hubby to drop me and the kids off, then run to drop off the rental car and take the shuttle back.

Drop off at 10.30am then, you do check i and he drops the car off.

 

[Weedy]

The terminal parking area opens at 10:00ish. So he can drop you and the bags off. But! the terminal doesn't open until 10:30 so you will be waiting outside until then. Once inside you can check in and they usually start boarding at 11:15-11:30

 

[joannjoe]

The terminal parking area opens at 10:00ish. So he can drop you and the bags off. But! the terminal doesn't open until 10:30 so you will be waiting outside until then. Once inside you can check in and they usually start boarding at 11:15-11:30

So you mean to tell me everyone that has a PAT of 10:30 10:45 or even 11:00 will be waiting outside waiting to get in at 10:30?

 

[disnygirl55]

10:30 all the way, with no DCL transport as we stay in Port Canaveral the night before. We don't mind waiting in the concierge waiting area. It's so exciting just to be on vacation! We use the time after check-in to look through the daily navigator, watch the ship being scrubbed and polished, people-watch, and take photos. The anticipation is just so sweet!!

 

[Trera]

We normally show up at port around 10:30ish. there is always a short line that you have to wait in before getting to another short line at security. But once you hit the top of the escalator, you can quickly walk to concierge check in and then to the lounge before boarding around 11:15.

nice and easy.

 

[Weedy]

So you mean to tell me everyone that has a PAT of 10:30 10:45 or even 11:00 will be waiting outside waiting to get in at 10:30?

Yes that is why your PAT is 10:30. They don't open until then. Lots of people show up early. This is why Disney started the PAT's. To spread people out and keep everyone from showing up at the same time.

Showing up early won't get you on the ship any earlier. You boarding # is tied to your PAT.
So if you have an 11:15 PAT you will get the same boarding # if you get there at 10:45 or 11:15.

 

[joannjoe]

I guess it helps with the amount of people inside the terminal but not outside waiting to get in. So if you have a 10:30 PAT will they let people with 10:45 or later in at 10:30? or are they told to wait outside?

 

[Weedy]

Everyone can enter at 10:30. If for some reason they have to delay boarding and the terminal gets more people than the fire code allows people with a later PAT would have to wait outside. (I don't recall it ever happening)

 

[sillecruisers]

Do they check PAT before letting you get in the long line outside? Or does someone with a 10:30 PAT have to wait behind 100 people with 11:00 PATs who just wanted to get there earlier?

 

[Weedy]

Do they check PAT before letting you get in the long line outside? Or does someone with a 10:30 PAT have to wait behind 100 people with 11:00 PATs who just wanted to get there earlier?

The PAT is not checked until you get to the check in desk in the terminal (it's in the computer system). But once again if someone with a PAT of 11:00 checks in before someone with a 10:30 PAT the person with the earlier PAT will get a lower boarding #.

 

[over50visits]

Concierge doesn't have a PAT. You won't be bumped in any line because of that. Arrive when you want, if the terminal is open go right in, relax in the concierge lounge, and be first to board at 11 or so.

 

[Weedy]

As PP said Concierge does not need to pick at PAT, neither do Platinum cruisers. They will be assigned boarding # 1 and sometimes 2. They then will assign #'s from the PAT.

 

[joannjoe]

Still sounds like a goat screw to me. So all the people are doing that have a later PAT is slowing down the people with an earlier PAT by checking in before them? Sounds to me if you want less stress full show up later

 

[turtle27]

When we were in Miami, we got there at about 10:15, the people manning the terminal were not letting anyone in who had a later PAT than 10:30. We were not the first ones in, but there were only a few families in front of us for the concierge check in. I know this is a bit different at POC.