Does everyone in party need to check in at the same time?

[Mediaavid]

I’m taking a NYC cruise in September and my spouse couldn’t get the full day off of work. She will be only 2 miles from the boat and joining us at 3pm. I’ll be with my mother in law and want to know if we are able to check in earlier without the full party?

Thanks for any info.

 

[rsx3bishop]

Yes everyone needs to be together. This is where they take your picture before boarding as well as review all ID. When my daughter was little, I left hubby and little sitting in the waiting area and had to go get them to finish the process.

 

[lanejudy]

I've read mixed reports. As PP mentions, yes everyone needs to approach the check-in counter at some point but I do believe an adult is usually allowed to check-in separately from the rest of the party.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[starvenger]

I’ve been led to believe that you should check in together. Since you get announced as you board it makes sense.

At the same time, I’ve boarded separately on RCI and it’s kind of liberating in a way. If you have a rental car to return you can do that while everyone else checks in. (You can also get 2 more bottles of wine on board but that’s actually a hack. ) So if I did DCL again and they offered this option I’d likely take it.

 

[cruiser21]

No. You do not to all check in at the same time. Just tell the cm they'll be arriving later.

 

[Mediaavid]

Thanks for all your responses.

 

[Deb T.]

First hand experience, you definitely don't all need to be there at the same time to check in. Have a great cruise!

 

[mcd2745]

This is good to know. I've been debating about the order of doing things the morning of our cruise (Fantasy). We'll be driving over from Kissimmee in a rental car that morning. I'm undecided as to whether I should drop my family (and luggage) off at the port, and then go return the rental by myself. Or, if we should just go to return the rental first and we all (luggage in tow) take their shuttle to the port. However, if they can check in without me, it may make the first option a little more attractive.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

This is good to know. I've been debating about the order of doing things the morning of our cruise (Fantasy). We'll be driving over from Kissimmee in a rental car that morning. I'm undecided as to whether I should drop my family (and luggage) off at the port, and then go return the rental by myself. Or, if we should just go to return the rental first and we all (luggage in tow) take their shuttle to the port. However, if they can check in without me, it may make the first option a little more attractive.

I did exactly this at Port Canaveral. As it happens I was still back and had myself checked in before my family actually got on the ship, but I did security and the check-in and the KTTW photo by myself after they had already been through. It is POSSIBLE that the system is different in NYC however.

I think one explanation for the differing reports may be that some families arrive together and they ask "Do we all have to go up to the counter, or can hubby stay with the kids while I check us in." The response they get to that question might be, "no you have to all check in together." But what they really mean is that you must all check in, but it doesn't have to be together. The reason all persons must go to the counter is that is when they take the picture that will show up on the CMs monitor every time you hand them your KTTW card. If you are indeed available all at once, they take one group shot and then take it to each KTTW card, but if you go up separately, they can still do it, just with a separately taken picture. Maybe they prefer to do it all at once so it is possible that they say you must all be together to make it easier for them, but there is no technical reason this must be so, especially in the case of the OP who is coming from two different places at two different times. They will almost certainly let you board (and be announced) separately from your spouse and then you can come watch her get announced when she arrives if you like. So long as she is careful not to be LATE.

 

[rsx3bishop]

Thank you PP, that makes perfect sense when you explain it that way!! We were all there together at the terminal....I was just the only one at the desk. Their wording always lead me to believe we needed to be together! Good to know for the future!!

Quick question then, would each person checking in need that online registration form or just 1 person??

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Thank you PP, that makes perfect sense when you explain it that way!! We were all there together at the terminal....I was just the only one at the desk. Their wording always lead me to believe we needed to be together! Good to know for the future!!

Quick question then, with each person checking in need that online registration form or just 1 person??

As I recall, the one form has all the people in your group listed. Basically, they will look at your form, compare it to what they have electronically, ask you if it is all correct, and if you say Yes!, they will take your picture, hand you your KTTW cards (one for each person) and you are done. That simple. The trouble starts when a person doesn't fill in their forms ahead of time, fills them in wrong/incomplete, etc. They they have to go through each question and enter the info manually.

 

[Deb T.]

Quick question then, would each person checking in need that online registration form or just 1 person??

We did two cruises in May, a 4-nt Bahamian and the Eastbound Trans-Atlantic, both out of Miami. They didn't look at the online forms at all for either cruise. I offered them both times, and both times they said they no longer need to see them.

 

[SlickWilly]

I can confirm that at Miami you can check in separately. I dropped the family and went to do a rental car return. They checked in without me and I went through everything on my own. Some security people were concerned about it, but the check in staff had no problem with it at all. DW just told them I was returning rental car and they got through. It went smooth for me too.

That being said, it could be a problem to do this with kids in tow if you are sailing out of Vancouver or other foreign ports. I know Canada is really concerned about kids traveling with just one parent. Also may be different if you are foreign born embarking in the US.

 

[Santmor]

I did exactly this at Port Canaveral. As it happens I was still back and had myself checked in before my family actually got on the ship, but I did security and the check-in and the KTTW photo by myself after they had already been through. It is POSSIBLE that the system is different in NYC however.

I think one explanation for the differing reports may be that some families arrive together and they ask "Do we all have to go up to the counter, or can hubby stay with the kids while I check us in." The response they get to that question might be, "no you have to all check in together." But what they really mean is that you must all check in, but it doesn't have to be together. The reason all persons must go to the counter is that is when they take the picture that will show up on the CMs monitor every time you hand them your KTTW card. If you are indeed available all at once, they take one group shot and then take it to each KTTW card, but if you go up separately, they can still do it, just with a separately taken picture. Maybe they prefer to do it all at once so it is possible that they say you must all be together to make it easier for them, but there is no technical reason this must be so, especially in the case of the OP who is coming from two different places at two different times. They will almost certainly let you board (and be announced) separately from your spouse and then you can come watch her get announced when she arrives if you like. So long as she is careful not to be LATE.

I was wondering the same thing. If I want to return the car after leaving my parents and kid, and all the luggage in the port, what are the documents I will need to keep with me? They can enter the terminal and wait for me before checking in? That will be at Port Canaveral. TKS.

 

[FrogandToad]

Our nine year old is assigned to my mom’s stateroom. We all have an early PAT and she wants to board as early as possible in hopes of riding the Aquaduck. My mom would prefer to avoid the lines and check in later. Can my child check in and board with my wife and me, or does she have to wait and check in with my mom? (We don’t care about getting a group picture or a family boarding announcement.)

 

[surran12]

Our first cruise out of PC in 2015 I dropped my wife and Kids off and they had my passport and checked themselves and me in while I returned our rental car and got all of our KTTW cards, and I had my picture taken when boarding the ship. Our last cruise on 2017 I did the same thing but this time they didn’t let my wife check me in and get my kttw card, I had to go through the checkin line myself, which isn’t really a big deal at all, but either way you can certainly drop everyone off and go return the rental. Both my wife and I felt it made the morning go very smoothly.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Next month I’m on b2b Fantasy sailings. The first cruise I’ll be with my husband. On turnaround day he will leave to the airport, I will debark & reboard alone, and my group of friends including my roommate for the second cruise will arrive after I’m back onboard. I’ll be checked in ahead of her and without her.