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Seattle Port Check-In Question


Batman71

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We were there Aug 12 and they let people with 10:30 - 11:00 checkin and suite/Key guests across the driveway to line up at the doors until there was no more room and the line started spill into the driveway.  They formed new lines based on boarding times across the driveway under the shelters in the drop off areas.  You can drop your large bags with the porters prior to getting the appropriate line.  Make sure the porter you give the bags to has a Royal Caribbean logo'ed vest on as a Celebrity ship (I think Silhouette) was loading as well and there were Celebrity porters in the general area too.

The doors to the security/checkin area are closed until the ship is given to go ahead to begin receiving passengers approx. 10:30 am.  We got through checkin before 11:00 am and were directed to take a seat in a holding area until the ship was opened at approx. 11:00 am.  They began allowing the guests to board Ovation by Key and Loyalty tier (Pinnacle, Diamond Plus, Diamond, etc.) Not sure of boarding priority for low loyalty, suite guests as we are D+ and were among the first to board.  The muster station checkin process was not opened until noon although we used the time in the holding area to view the videos on the app.  We got some lunch, did muster checkin after that, then hung out on the pool deck until the cabins were available.  Signs on the closed cabin hallway doors said cabin available at 2:00pm but they opened at 1:30 pm.

 

BTW - I tried to show my ArriveCAN QR code at checkin and was told it wasn't necessary.  Our cabin steward gave a us form during his initial introduction asking for the QR code number on the ArriveCAN receipt and there was a flyer in the room with ArriveCAN completion instructions. Do not confuse this with the Canadian Customs Declaration form also in the cabin.  They are separate things!! 

HOWEVER, I *think* a person would need VOOM package to reach the internet after leaving Seattle cell service to reach the Canadian ArriveCAN website.  If one needs to do the ArriveCAN registration do it at home OR before the ships sails out of cell signal range.

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You sound like a veteran cruiser Toby...we are first timers. Based on your experience, what time would you arrive for 10:30 check-in, keeping in mind that we have no special status....just a standard stateroom? Also, we are being dropped off by shuttle so no car to deal with.

Thanks for your advice!

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11 minutes ago, Batman71 said:

You sound like a veteran cruiser Toby...we are first timers. Based on your experience, what time would you arrive for 10:30 check-in, keeping in mind that we have no special status....just a standard stateroom?

Thanks for your advice!

Veteran?  Not sure about that considering the members of this forum! 

After our experience I would still arrive by 10:00 am.  Don't let the driveway team to funnel you to the already long 11:00 - 11:30 am line.  My *guess* is some of the those folks were 10:30 check in's who didn't know any better.  Once through security it was pretty fast (maybe 10 min) to get to the holding area before the ship opened for new guests.

What are your travel plans?  Are you flying into Seattle? 

We did and came in a day early in case flight disruptions made booking a different flight necessary.  We chose to stay in a downtown hotel.  They are certainly more pricey than an airport hotel but I have read Seattle traffic jams can be "legendary."  We had a 10:30 - 11:00 am checkin window and we didn't want to miss it.  We left the hotel at 9:30 am.  We were going to take a cab from the hotel to the port but a shuttle van to the port was half full and the driver told us he would take the both of us for $25.  Despite the feeling it could be a scam we took the ride.  We were at the port by 9:55 am and it was already a zoo.  We were the first to be told to wait on the other side of the driveway from the port terminal as the line on the terminal side of the driveway could hold no more.  Still no big deal as it was a typical "hurry up and wait" scenario. 

The lead driveway team leader put a first day on the job kid in charge of stopping all from crossing the driveway.  The kid really didn't want any part of that but did his best. 🙂  He did try to get us into the longs lines but we stood our ground and when the doors opened we headed for the end of the Key/Suite line (we booked a Jr. Suite).

We have no experience with driving to the port. 

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Thanks again Toby. We are arriving at Seatac about 9:00 PM Wed. for a Fri. departure. Opted to say near the airport both nights and then taking a shuttle to the dock Friday AM. Didn't care to pay the price that the downtown hotels charge. And, it seemed easier to get one transfer from the hotel at Seatac to the cruise port rather than two transfers...one from Seatac to a downtown hotel then another transfer form the hotel to the cruise port the next day.

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