Nervous 1st time Check-in

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi! Another noob here. So would you request a port arrival time of 12:15-12:30? Just wanted to clarify.

If you select a Port Arrival Time of 12:15, you'll get a higher boarding number. But, around that time, Open Boarding is USUALLY announced (not always), so a boarding number may be a moot point.

 

[MSPeeler]

I think we arrived at port around 12:00, and although we received a boarding number, we didn't even need it because there wasn't a line and I don't know, they just told us we could come on through, LOL.

 

[Angeliki19]

If you select a Port Arrival Time of 12:15, you'll get a higher boarding number. But, around that time, Open Boarding is USUALLY announced (not always), so a boarding number may be a moot point.

I think we arrived at port around 12:00, and although we received a boarding number, we didn't even need it because there wasn't a line and I don't know, they just told us we could come on through, LOL.

Ok, good to know! I didn't know about "open boarding" so that makes sense. What do you recommend for first-timers on a 3 day cruise, ha? I know we want to make the most of our time on the ship since it will be so short, but it seems like if they don't start boarding until 11:30 anyway, you aren't really missing that much time by showing up at 12?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok, good to know! I didn't know about "open boarding" so that makes sense. What do you recommend for first-timers on a 3 day cruise, ha? I know we want to make the most of our time on the ship since it will be so short, but it seems like if they don't start boarding until 11:30 anyway, you aren't really missing that much time by showing up at 12?

The biggest thing you'll miss is the madhouse of people all trying to be "first". The line for check in can get long. The clump of people clogging the entrance to the boarding queue waiting for their number to be called. The rush to get to Guest Services (or where ever) to be "first" in that line.

The best suggestion I can give you is "relax, remember it's a vacation". You don't have to do everything (and you can't).