Embarkation Time???

[Tony M]

Just was reading the cruise Docs more closely and it states that our embarkation time for the 4-Day Wonder(May 30) is "officially" 1:00pm. Is this a "Special" Boarding time?
I thought Embarkation was closer to 12:00pm
Anyone Know???

 

[kcashner]

There is not a "special" time, but boarding usually starts around 12:00. In fact, on the Magic, the time was recently changed to 11:45. The bottom line is that boarding starts as soon as they are cleaned up from the last cruise and ready for new guests (they want you on board as much as you want to be there). Cabins are not usually ready until 1:30, but you can make reservations, go to lunch, etc. before that time.

The port opens to incoming traffic at 10, the counters open for check in at 10:30....and the doors with the ears open no later than 1, but usually much earlier. There is a very small, brief "priority" boarding before general boarding. This is category 1-3 guests and physically handicapped. It does not include "small children" the way the airlines do....as most DCL families have children.

In 10 sailings, the boarding has started at or slightly before noon, no matter what the info says. Our most recent sailing was Feb. 2004....doors opened at 11:45

 

[ivanova]

I think "officially" it's 1pm but when (if) they have the ship ready earlier it can be anywhere between 11:30am and 1pm.

 

[alexandrew]

I agree with Kcashner...the latest we've ever boarded was 12:15...average was 12 sharp....

 

[StuartMI]

Yeah but what time does the lineup start? I noticed that there was a pretty sizable queue. I've told Tiffany's that we want to get there no later than 10am on the Sunday. Hopefully check-in doesn't take too long. We want to be close to the first to board.

 

[mmouse37]

People start lining up to board as soon as they are done checking in...so anytime after 10:30 when check in starts is when the line to board develops.

DCL has recently changed the line formation of checking people in...it used to be you get on a line that looked the shortest....there were about 10 CM and 10 lines....so you would find the shortest one and get on that....now DCL queues everyone up in one long line and pulls from the line when the next CM is available to check someone in....the latter is a much more efficient procedure. There are CM's walking the line making sure people have their documents filled out correctly and to answer any questions. It is much more efficient and the line goes pretty quickly.

The boarding line gets quite long by 11:00 am on....

DCL has a coffee shop, seating with TV's playing for the kids....the characters make appearances so the time goes by pretty quickly. We have met some wonderful people waiting on line. We usually get in the boarding line with our carryons and then some of the party wanders and explores and then we switch. We always let the people on line know we are doing this so they do not think we are bringing people into the line ahead of others.

MJ

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I'm glad to read that they do check-in now the way post offices and airlines do.

I wish it was that way at all places. (fast-food, department stores, etc.)

 

[seastar]

We are just back from the Wonder 4-night. Boarding began at exactly 11:45 am. The line was long but it moved very quickly.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!!!