New boarding process - can someone please confirm?

[Dr.Girlfriend]

Is it true that the earlier you book your cruise, the earlier boarding pass # you'll have?

 

[Mommb]

I have never heard that boarding number depends on when you booked. Now that port arrival times are being assigned as part of online check-in, there is a correlation between how far in advance you complete your check-in and the arrival time slots you can choose from. (It looks as if the earlier slots are filling up quickest, so if you wait to check in, the earlier slots may no longer be available.)

Presumably, an earlier arrival time slot will generally translate to a lower boarding number, but DCL does not explicitly say that. In fact, they specify that arrival times are not boarding times.

 

[TitanBrett]

It was not done that way for the March 13th Dream cruise, numbers were assigned based on when you showed up.....though that embarkation was majorly fubar'd anyway

 

[DCLFAN1022]

Due to the time change on the 13th there was a glitch in the system, so they had to revert to the old system of assisgning boarding numbers on a first come first serve basis.

But the new process of how the numbers are assigned is by the time you chose to arrive at the pier online and the computer automatically selects your number.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Not trying to hijack but how early can you check in on line. I've only ever worried about checking in at least 3 days ahead of time. Now I want to make sure we get it done early.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I was on the 3/10 Dream cruise. We arrived at the port at 10 and there were about 20 people ahead of us in line. Our tablemates arrived at 9:15 and were the first in line and the first to check in after the b2b's. We got boarding #3 and they got #5. It didnt make sense since they checked in well before us.

 

[TitanBrett]

If only they had a way to know that time change was coming they wouldn't have pissed off a few thousand people.

 

[Zandy595]

If only they had a way to know that time change was coming they wouldn't have pissed off a few thousand people.

 

[TitanBrett]

You know now that I think about it, I was given a card upon arrival that said group 4 but when I checked in the computer spat out group 17, I was told to disregard that. The 17 was probably where I would have boarded based on the new system if they hadn't lost computer functionality.

 

[IWannaBeAMousketeer]

I think this would be fine if you knew what your boarding number was going to be before you arrived. It probably would cut down on the crowds in the terminal. If you know you are in Group 35, you probably wouldn't show up until noon or so. But if you don't know until you get to the terminal, that could be frustrating!

 

[one princess]

I think this would be fine if you knew what your boarding number was going to be before you arrived. It probably would cut down on the crowds in the terminal. If you know you are in Group 35, you probably wouldn't show up until noon or so. But if you don't know until you get to the terminal, that could be frustrating!

I agree. I think they should send your boarding number with you docs.

 

[kcashner]

To answer the question of when you can do your on line check in--I think it is the same time you can make reservations based on your CC status.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I signed up for a 10 am arrival I think. That was the earliest they had. I don't know if you can sign up for any earlier a time slot or not.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Just got off the ship less than a week ago. Was assign to a 11:30 Port check in time and booked the cruise 2 years prior. Time was assigned based on when I started my on-line check in. Arrived to the airport at 9:50 and checked in then. Got a #15 BP. Arrived to the terminal and they were boarding #14.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

To answer the question of when you can do your on line check in--I think it is the same time you can make reservations based on your CC status.

Thank you!

 

[ljm23]

wow, this has me curious now. We've always been at the port prior to 10AM in order to get one of the earlier boarding numbers and maximize our onboard time. We also sometimes look to upgrade, this could put a major snafu in our routine!
I wonder how stringent they'll be about these times? I have a 10:30-11 time for our next cruise. That was the earliest time showing up at the time and I think the earliest time they offer because now when I went back to look the 11-11:30 and the 11:30-12 times are grayed out indicating they are not available.
They sure know how to keep us guessing!

 

[got2travel]

Wonder how this will affect people who do not complete the online check in? Will they receive the highest boarding group even if they arrive around 10am? We've been told that the check in times you pick online are not strictly enforced so you won't be turned away at the port. But would they really make you sit around for 4 hours until your number was called?

Guess I'll find out in 10 days. I did not complete my online check in right away. And when I was going to, folks on my cruise reported that only 2pm or later times were available. I did not want to commit to such a late time, so I chose not to do the online check in. I'm just going to show up and see what happens. My original reservation was booked onboard in 2008, but I kept pushing the dates around. Didn't settle on the March date until late 2010.

 

[elgerber]

Would this also mean that people that can book stuff earlier, can check in online earlier, and then get earlier boarding numbers. And first time cruisers would end up with the later boarding times, even if they checked in online as soon as they are able? Did that make any sense LOL?

 

[becca-becca]

Does the boarding # correlate to when you actually get in line to get on the ship, or when you go up to the agents at the desk to complete your paperwork/boarding process (or whatever it is actually called)? I thought of this after reading a few posts above-will this process hinder the chance of updgrades (not likely for us anyway with a sold-out cruise) but I thought a lot of people got there early for this reason and was wondering what this would mean for upgrade chances.

 

[IWannaBeAMousketeer]

Ok, now I am confused...I thought the original post was about getting your Boarding Number based on when you book your cruise (this was mentioned on a different thread). Isn't the "Port Arrival Time" that you select or are assigned something else and not necessarily related to the boarding number you will be assigned if this new system is in place??