Port opens at 10:30 - what time will they let you in to park?

[Floridatinaherb]

I have tried finding the answer to this and have not been able to find an answer. We want to arrive and get checked in as early as possible (we are concierge so we can arrive at whatever time works for us), but we also do not want to have to sit in the car waiting to be let into the parking area. We have had to do circles of the cruise terminal before because we arrived too early and I really do not want to repeat that experience LOL! Does anyone know what time they start letting people in to park and drop luggage, even if they don't allow you into the terminal itself? Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have tried finding the answer to this and have not been able to find an answer. We want to arrive and get checked in as early as possible (we are concierge so we can arrive at whatever time works for us), but we also do not want to have to sit in the car waiting to be let into the parking area. We have had to do circles of the cruise terminal before because we arrived too early and I really do not want to repeat that experience LOL! Does anyone know what time they start letting people in to park and drop luggage, even if they don't allow you into the terminal itself? Thanks!

I believe it's around 10:15ish. Maybe as early at 10:00, if the previous cruise cleared early.

 

[Floridatinaherb]

I believe it's around 10:15ish. Maybe as early at 10:00, if the previous cruise cleared early.

Thanks! That's around the time I was hoping it would open up...we plan on leaving Shades of Green at 9AM so that should get us there around 10:15. Ya I'm that crazy planner...298 days until we cruise and I am already planning what time we will leave our hotel LOL

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks! That's around the time I was hoping it would open up...we plan on leaving Shades of Green at 9AM so that should get us there around 10:15. Ya I'm that crazy planner...298 days until we cruise and I am already planning what time we will leave our hotel LOL

Just an FYI - if you arrive that early, and are allowed to park then, the terminal itself doesn't open until 10:30. So you'll be waiting for that. And then, once inside, and checked in, you'll wait until at least 11:15 or so before they actually begin boarding.

Personally, I like arriving around 12:15-12:30. There's typically no wait to enter the terminal, check in, or board at that time.

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Just an FYI - if you arrive that early, and are allowed to park then, the terminal itself doesn't open until 10:30. So you'll be waiting for that. And then, once inside, and checked in, you'll wait until at least 11:15 or so before they actually begin boarding.

Personally, I like arriving around 12:15-12:30. There's typically no wait to enter the terminal, check in, or board at that time.

We've never really had a problem with waiting too long, we've always arrived between 10:30 and 11:00 (well except that one time LOL)...and the concierge lounge is fairly comfy. I am really hoping to get there and find that there are upgrades available so we can get a suite! I would gladly wait to get in the terminal an hour if I could get that LOL

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We're just back from a cruise on the Dream. We were staying in Cocoa Beach for the couple days before, had a PAT of 10:30, a car we were parking at the port, and a DD who was very, very anxious to get to the port. Given those parameters, I got to experience some of the "how early can you..." items. They allowed cars to start to enter the port area and drop off luggage or park in the garage at 10:00am. We were several cars back from the first ones to enter so we had a little wait while the cars in front of us dropped off their luggage and made their way to the garage. We parked in the garage and joined the line to get into the terminal about 10:15. They started checking people's IDs to get from the garage to the security check at the terminal around 10:20. And security finally started checking people to enter the terminal at 10:30.

 

[RatherBeInAK]

When would you suggest arriving if you want to board as soon as possible but aren't concierge. We're just silver status. we'll be staying the night before in the Cape Canaveral area so we can get there whenever we want. We would love to have as much time on the ship as possible but don't really want to be waiting around the terminal for hours to board.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

When would you suggest arriving if you want to board as soon as possible but aren't concierge. We're just silver status. we'll be staying the night before in the Cape Canaveral area so we can get there whenever we want. We would love to have as much time on the ship as possible but don't really want to be waiting around the terminal for hours to board.

If you are able to get a 10:30 PAT, I'd select that. Boarding usually begins between 11:15 and 11:30. Your boarding group is tied to your PAT. When we've had a 10:30 PAT, we have always gotten boarding groups between 2 and 4 so we're boarding soon after boarding starts. That leaves us waiting in the terminal for less than an hour and maximizes our time on board.

 

[Floridatinaherb]

If you are able to get a 10:30 PAT, I'd select that. Boarding usually begins between 11:15 and 11:30. Your boarding group is tied to your PAT. When we've had a 10:30 PAT, we have always gotten boarding groups between 2 and 4 so we're boarding soon after boarding starts. That leaves us waiting in the terminal for less than an hour and maximizes our time on board.

We are concierge so we don't have to worry about PAT thank goodness!

 

[Dug720]

When would you suggest arriving if you want to board as soon as possible but aren't concierge. We're just silver status. we'll be staying the night before in the Cape Canaveral area so we can get there whenever we want. We would love to have as much time on the ship as possible but don't really want to be waiting around the terminal for hours to board.

If you are able to get a 10:30 PAT, I'd select that. Boarding usually begins between 11:15 and 11:30. Your boarding group is tied to your PAT. When we've had a 10:30 PAT, we have always gotten boarding groups between 2 and 4 so we're boarding soon after boarding starts. That leaves us waiting in the terminal for less than an hour and maximizes our time on board.

Maggie'sMom says it best. If you're not able to get a 10:30am PAT but arrive then, you will most likely see people who arrive with you or even after you but at their PAT being given lower boarding numbers. Because the boarding number is tied to your PAT. I've been at a counter beside a family who arrived way ahead of their selected PAT but who received Boarding Group 24 or something high while I got I think 3 or 4 (there were lots of Platinums and some Golds who selected 10:30 and made up Group 2 and maybe Group 3, so even with my 10:30am PAT being silver I was group 3 or 4).

My advice if you were not able to get a 10:30am PAT - besides checking back to see if people might have dropped them to a later time as plans firmed up - would honestly be to arrive closer to your PAT to avoid the frustration that family next to me experienced (they did have some kids who did NOT understand at all why people who came in after them were "cutting line" to get on board).

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Maggie'sMom says it best. If you're not able to get a 10:30am PAT but arrive then, you will most likely see people who arrive with you or even after you but at their PAT being given lower boarding numbers. Because the boarding number is tied to your PAT. I've been at a counter beside a family who arrived way ahead of their selected PAT but who received Boarding Group 24 or something high while I got I think 3 or 4 (there were lots of Platinums and some Golds who selected 10:30 and made up Group 2 and maybe Group 3, so even with my 10:30am PAT being silver I was group 3 or 4).

My advice if you were not able to get a 10:30am PAT - besides checking back to see if people might have dropped them to a later time as plans firmed up - would honestly be to arrive closer to your PAT to avoid the frustration that family next to me experienced (they did have some kids who did NOT understand at all why people who came in after them were "cutting line" to get on board).

Just realized that you weren't responding to me...apologies for that! Earliest PAT is always the best route if you are not sailing concierge...and people drop all the time! Couple years ago we had a 12:30 PAT which was horrible (for me at least LOL) and I kept checking the system and was able to get a 10:30 PAT about 2 weeks before sailing!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

As I said to Maggie'sMom...we are sailing concierge so we don't have to worry about PAT. One of the perks of concierge is showing up whenever we want to.

Floridatinaherb, both Dug720 and I were responding to the poster RatherBeInAK, who clearly stated she is not concierge. You don't need to keep stating that you are in concierge. Our responses weren't directed to your situation. You can assume when a post quotes a prior post, the information given is in regard to the quoted post, not the OP.

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Floridatinaherb, both Dug720 and I were responding to the poster RatherBeInAK, who clearly stated she is not concierge. You don't need to keep stating that you are in concierge. Our responses weren't directed to your situation. You can assume when a post quotes a prior post, the information given is in regard to the quoted post, not the OP.

I noticed that and corrected it, my work internet doesn't always load the forums correctly...I do realize how posting works though thanks for the reminder!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Good thread sorry to jump in. I found the info helpful also. We are concierge on The Dream 23rd Sep and wanted to get onboard ASAP at 10:30 so nice to know we can park from 10 am. We will leave SSR at 9am also. If this is your date also last one there is a ninny!


( we are doing a week on The Dream it's a b2b ! )

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Good thread sorry to jump in. I found the info helpful also. We are concierge on The Dream 23rd Sep and wanted to get onboard ASAP at 10:30 so nice to know we can park from 10 am. We will leave SSR at 9am also. If this is your date also last one there is a ninny!


( we are doing a week on The Dream it's a b2b ! )

We did B2B last year on the Dream...you are going to love the Concierge team! We are on the Fantasy next year...no cruise for us this year I have to save all of my military leave for my retirement next year!

 

[Dug720]

Good thread sorry to jump in. I found the info helpful also. We are concierge on The Dream 23rd Sep and wanted to get onboard ASAP at 10:30 so nice to know we can park from 10 am. We will leave SSR at 9am also. If this is your date also last one there is a ninny!


( we are doing a week on The Dream it's a b2b ! )

Just FYI, while Concierge will be the first group on the ship (after any B2B), boarding usually begins at around 11:30. NOT 10:30. 10:30 is just when the terminal opens for people to check in.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We did B2B last year on the Dream...you are going to love the Concierge team! We are on the Fantasy next year...no cruise for us this year I have to save all of my military leave for my retirement next year!

Thank you. It will be worth it when you get to next year! Congrats on your service and thank you.

 

[RatherBeInAK]

Thank you so much Maggie's Mom and Dug! That was extremely helpful! And my apologies for Floridatinaherb for hijacking the thread.