Port Arrival Time 1:15

[staceymay00]

Somehow until this morning I completely forgot to check in for our cruise next month. The earliest PAT available was 1:15. Can anyone recommend a good strategy for a PAT around this time? Best to just arrive at 1:15?

I know that if we arrive early we could be be asked to wait before entering the terminal, and our boarding time could be much later even if we get into the terminal early. I also know from our first cruise (with an early PAT) that the terminal is a zoo before and when boarding first begins. We could barely maneuver through the crowd blocking the entrance to board the ship (why do people do that??) when our boarding number was called.

I'm hoping the silver lining of my mistake is that the terminal will not be as crowded when we arrive. Is it worth arriving a little early, like 12 or 12:30? Will we be able to find a parking space in the deck if we arrive at 1:15? We'll be in a hotel in Titusville the night before, so I'm thinking we'll sleep in a bit, have breakfast, check out 11-11:30 and head to the port.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Somehow until this morning I completely forgot to check in for our cruise next month. The earliest PAT available was 1:15. Can anyone recommend a good strategy for a PAT around this time? Best to just arrive at 1:15?

I know that if we arrive early we could be be asked to wait before entering the terminal, and our boarding time could be much later even if we get into the terminal early. I also know from our first cruise (with an early PAT) that the terminal is a zoo before and when boarding first begins. We could barely maneuver through the crowd blocking the entrance to board the ship (why do people do that??) when our boarding number was called.

I'm hoping the silver lining of my mistake is that the terminal will not be as crowded when we arrive. Is it worth arriving a little early, like 12 or 12:30? Will we be able to find a parking space in the deck if we arrive at 1:15? We'll be in a hotel in Titusville the night before, so I'm thinking we'll sleep in a bit, have breakfast, check out 11-11:30 and head to the port.

Thanks for any advice.

Generally, Open Boarding is announced around 12:30ish. That's when anyone holding any boarding number can board. I'd suggest you plan to arrive around then.

Once the big rush is over, it's actually much easier to check in and board.

 

[BlondieinFL]

We have arrived at that time or later for our cruises. The terminal's not crowded, and there's still parking. We've never had any issues, and enjoy boarding at that time because it's so easy - and, you can go right to your room.

 

[amanda ek]

I don't think I would wait until 1:15 to arrive at the port. On one of our cruises we had a 12:15 PAT and got there from the airport at 11:45. We were completely checked in at noon, and by that time our boarding group number was already up. We walked right on.

 

[NavFam5]

We had a 1:15 PAT on our recent sold out Fantasy cruise (8/8). I was worried about time as our friends had an earlier time of 11am. We got to terminal around noon and was on the ship by 12:30. The numbers were called quickly, about every 10 minutes. You should be fine going earlier to the terminal. I wanted a picture with Mickey, but our number was called before we can even get in line.

 

[staceymay00]

Thank you everyone! We will plan to arrive at the port by noon.