When to Board if Looking for a Cabana

[A Monkey's Uncle]

We will be on the Dream for the double-dip on July 19. This is our first cruise and I really want to book a cabana for one of our days at CC. This was a last minute cruise and all of the cabanas are booked. If I'm hoping to get lucky by going to guest services and seeing if anything is available when we are on the ship, am I correct that our best bet is to board as early as possible?

Additionally, if our PAT is 10:45 am, but we don't arrive until noon, is there any issue?

Thanks!

 

[lorimay]

We did it as soon as we boarded the ship, we were gold castaway club members at that time and had boarding #2, so we were at the guest service desk by 11:45. Of course boarding time can start before or after 11:30, theres not a set time.