When to get to the port

[WONDER26FEB06]

Hi,

We are staying at the Radisson the night before our 2-26-06 Wonder Cruise. What is a good time to get to the port? Or maybe my question should be, which shuttle time should I reserve? I know the port opens at 10:30 and start loading the boat around noon. If we get there at 10:30- what are the kids going to do for 1.5 hours? Or does it take that much time to get the paperwork settled, pics with The Mouse, etc?

 

[rotary2808]

If you get there first thing the line to check in shouldn't take long at all. You don't have to get in the line right away. There is a tv for the kids to watch cartoons on. Just watch the crowds and then decide when to jump in the line.

 

[burma]

what does first thing mean .. can you be more specific with a time .... we are staying a the raddison the night before our crusie too and are trying to figure out what time we should arrive at the port

 

[Kim&Chris]

I've been curious about arrival times as well. Based on the posts I've read, it seems that most people try to arrive at port somewhere around noon or so. We'll probably hit the port somewhere between noon and 1:00.

 

[KensJen]

I would get to the port by 11 at the latest. That is just me though, I like to get on the ship when it is first boarding. Usually boarding is between 12 and 1...and usually closer to 12. I stay in line while DH takes DS around the port to keep him occupied. Everyone does this and is fine when they jump back in line with me.

If you have to get to Palo, or other places for ressies, you should try and get on the ship as soon as you can so you have the most choices of days/times.

Like I said, I like to get on the ship as early as possible to start my vacation...so we are always there between 10:30 and 11.

 

[mommasita]

what does first thing mean .. can you be more specific with a time .... we are staying a the raddison the night before our crusie too and are trying to figure out what time we should arrive at the port

I would get there for 10:30 or 11 the latest..This is what we do, and enjoy being some of the first to board, and enjoy the emptiness...After that, it is really crowded everywhere..We really feel it extends our vacation by taking advantage of that first day..

 

[lbgraves]

We are booked on the 10 am shuttle. I can't start my cruise vacation early enough.

 

[AnnanOhio]

When I cruised a couple years ago, we got to the port around 10:30 and the line to wait was SOOO long! People were literally laying on the floor, sleeping! After we got all of our papers checked and what not, I think we boarded around 12-12:30. I wouldn't worry too much about the kids getting antsy, waiting. There are a whole lot more children there than just yours and no one will notice if they are not angels!

have fun!

 

[Big MacK]

Personally, I try not to rush things. I am going to be on the boat for 7 days, so a few hours does not make a difference to me. The pool, etc, are not going anywhere. All my ressies will be made online beforehand.
The terminal is very crowded in the AM, and the lines are long. If I arrive around 1 - 1:30, I can check in and walk right onto the ship. Staterooms are ready by then. Can still have lunch, unpack, then attend the mandatory drill. My main purpose for a cruise is to relax and enjoy myself, and if possible, avoid the crowds.

 

[Scotch]

The terminal is very crowded in the AM, and the lines are long. If I arrive around 1 - 1:30, I can check in and walk right onto the ship. Staterooms are ready by then. Can still have lunch, unpack, then attend the mandatory drill. My main purpose for a cruise is to relax and enjoy myself, and if possible, avoid the crowds.

On our last two cruises we stayed at a hotel the night before and then arrived at the terminal in the AM so we could board asap. But with the upcoming Magic cruise we'll be staying at the Beach Club Villas the week before, so I am not sure we'll be feeling as urgent the need to reach the terminal early. I really would like to avoid "hanging" out in the terminal for roughly an hour. Is there really so little wait for arrivals around 1 pm? Would it be better to arrive closer to 1:30 pm? I would like to balance the desire to arrive early enough for lunch and desire to avoid standing around needlessly.

 

[samc]

We arrived at the port around 1:00 and had to stand in an extremely long line to check in...I would have rather gotten there early and spent all that time I was in line walking around the terminal.

 

[Scotch]

We arrived at the port around 1:00 and had to stand in an extremely long line to check in...I would have rather gotten there early and spent all that time I was in line walking around the terminal.

Well that does not sound pleasant. Anyone else purposefully arrive a bit later to avoid crowds? If so, what is the optimal time?

 

[Big MacK]

Well that does not sound pleasant. Anyone else purposefully arrive a bit later to avoid crowds? If so, what is the optimal time?

I've been told, not really sure, but it really depends if you are on a 3/4 night or a 7 night. I have been told that on a 3/4 night cruise, the busses start arriving in force, after 12 noon, from WDW for all those who are doing the land/Sea package.
If this is true, I would imagine the terminal would be busy in the afternoon as well as the early morning.
Maybe someone who has done both can claify this.

 

[Scotch]

We'll be on a 7 night cruise if that makes a difference.

 

[stampinshauna]

Last year (7-day cruise) I was on the first shuttle from the airport, and I think we got there around 11 or so. There was no line as we were the first large group to arrive. We did a lot of sitting around and waiting after we checked in. I think this year we will try to get there around 12. Once you've checked in, you can line up to board the ship, but boarding doesn't start until like 12:30 or 1:00, so if you like to sit on the floor in line, go early, otherwise you can take your time a little. I don't mind not being first on the ship, but I'd like to be at the terminal when they start boarding so I can get on the ship quickly.