karl_nj Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 I'm enjoying the emails i'm getting from Royal Carribean for my cruise tomorrow: tl;dr: Don't be late! Leave early! tl;dr: But don't arrive early! I'm not sure they can really have it both ways... In any case I'm actually kind of surprised that "last call" boarding time is 2pm, seems a little early. WAAAYTOOO and FionaMG 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 That's not really a mixed message. They're saying leave early so you're not late, due to the marathon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted November 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 12 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: That's not really a mixed message. They're saying leave early so you're not late, due to the marathon But whatever you do, don't arrive early!! Big Tule and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScooterScott22 Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 The first message is specific to your cruise so not really a mixed message. That is the one that you need to utilize as the "truth". You should still try to be there around your specified boarding time, taking into account any possible delays. I'm sure there will be some leeway accommodated in actual boarding time. The second message is standard message that goes out to everyone for every cruise. They are trying to avoid having people show up early just to get on the ship which will create issues like the lines pictured below for entrance to the terminal. FionaMG and Cactus527 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted November 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 11 minutes ago, ScooterScott22 said: The first message is specific to your cruise so not really a mixed message. That is the one that you need to utilize as the "truth". You should still try to be there around your specified boarding time, taking into account any possible delays. I'm sure there will be some leeway accommodated in actual boarding time. The second message is standard message that goes out to everyone for every cruise. They are trying to avoid having people show up early just to get on the ship which will create issues like the lines pictured below for entrance to the terminal. Yeah... I realize... I'm just a little amused that yesterday they sent out an alert to give yourself more time to get to the terminal, and then today they sent out an alert that said basically said you will be punished if you arrive early. Based on how things went the last time I sailed out of Bayonne (Christmas 2021) I fully expect to see lines like the ones in the photos you shared. Nobody pays attention to the boarding times, and the terminal staff doesn't seem to do much about it. Big Tule and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScooterScott22 Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 I picture it this way. We are all the chocolates while Lucy and Ethel are the terminal staff. The plan is the initial conveyer system and the craziness starts when people start showing up early. Cactus527 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 53 minutes ago, karl_nj said: But whatever you do, don't arrive early!! Right, don't get there early, but don't blame us if you're late! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattycruise Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 22 minutes ago, karl_nj said: Yeah... I realize... I'm just a little amused that yesterday they sent out an alert to give yourself more time to get to the terminal, and then today they sent out an alert that said basically said you will be punished if you arrive early. Based on how things went the last time I sailed out of Bayonne (Christmas 2021) I fully expect to see lines like the ones in the photos you shared. Nobody pays attention to the boarding times, and the terminal staff doesn't seem to do much about it. I did not sail out of NJ in Dec or Jan but the rest of the months they had "the guy" who had the bullhorn announcing who can enter. His coworker checked the set sail passes. He was always there for the larger ship sailings but was not there for Adventure of the Seas in Sept/Oct. I imagine this sailing will be a super crap show in regards to luggage drop off and terminal entry. If I imagine the worst I'll be super happy if it's not. Lot's of newbies don't understand why the process is the way it is and then you have the "old timers" who remember it as a "show up as you want" so surely "this arrive at my selected time does not apply to me". Lastly there are those who probably never even chose a time on the app, because they are fully oblivious to anything at all except that they are getting on a cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted November 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 39 minutes ago, Pattycruise said: I did not sail out of NJ in Dec or Jan but the rest of the months they had "the guy" who had the bullhorn announcing who can enter. His coworker checked the set sail passes. He was always there for the larger ship sailings but was not there for Adventure of the Seas in Sept/Oct. I imagine this sailing will be a super crap show in regards to luggage drop off and terminal entry. If I imagine the worst I'll be super happy if it's not. Lot's of newbies don't understand why the process is the way it is and then you have the "old timers" who remember it as a "show up as you want" so surely "this arrive at my selected time does not apply to me". Lastly there are those who probably never even chose a time on the app, because they are fully oblivious to anything at all except that they are getting on a cruise. Yes I was really surprised how smooth things went October 2021 on Oasis (they were checking set sail pass times, etc.) and then what a mess it was just a couple of months later on Anthem. Nobody was checking any times. I was told JS's could not use the suite line for check-in, and that there was no line for Emerald or even Platinum and was sent to just one huge check in line. I even tried asking nicely again and was yelled at by overwhelmed port staff. Lots of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 I don't see a mixed message. I see "plan to leave early due to known delays" AND do not enter the terminal until its your turn. You can have it both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PG Cruiser Posted November 5, 2022 Report Share Posted November 5, 2022 Reconciling these two seemingly conflicting messages together, they're saying, "With the potential disruptions and delays due to the NYC Marathon, plan to make it on time for your designated Port Arrival Time." ScooterScott22, PPPJJ-GCVAB and Pattycruise 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted November 6, 2022 Report Share Posted November 6, 2022 20 hours ago, karl_nj said: Yeah... I realize... I'm just a little amused that yesterday they sent out an alert to give yourself more time to get to the terminal, and then today they sent out an alert that said basically said you will be punished if you arrive early. I think you're stretching it @karl_nj. There is no mixed message. First says you might need more time because of the marathon. Second is the standard arrive in your time window message. This would be the same message even without the heads up that you might want to give yourself more time. But leaving early is just more time to do what you needed to do in the first place. Arrive in your arrival window. Punish is also and exaggerated word choice. They didn't say you would be punished, they said you would be held to the agreed upon time coordinates. If you agreed to be there at 12, it isn't a punishment if you are asked to line up or leave and return at 12. Punishment is "Ok, you agreed 12 and it's only 11:30, now we won't take you until 1". In any case, enjoy your cruise, I know you were just having a laugh. I'm sure a lot of people will benefit from the marathon message. PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravisMA81 Posted November 6, 2022 Report Share Posted November 6, 2022 Maybe it's time to go back to show up whenever. Covid is "kinda" over. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PG Cruiser Posted November 6, 2022 Report Share Posted November 6, 2022 23 minutes ago, TravisMA81 said: Maybe it's time to go back to show up whenever. Covid is "kinda" over. Even without Covid, the staggered arrival times helped prevent crowding at the terminal. They're very flexible about it anyway. If it is not too busy, they'd let you in ahead of your arrival time. In the numerous times I have sailed after Covid, I was only turned away once. That was in Tampa. They wouldn't even let me drop off my bags before my arrival time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted November 6, 2022 Report Share Posted November 6, 2022 56 minutes ago, TravisMA81 said: Maybe it's time to go back to show up whenever. Covid is "kinda" over. Nah, it's not too hard to pick a time, arrive in a 30 minute window and not be completely shocked if when early, you are asked to wait your turn. Reservations work. I want to keep appointments at the Dr, reservations at restaurants and arrival time spacing too please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted November 6, 2022 Report Share Posted November 6, 2022 2 hours ago, TravisMA81 said: Maybe it's time to go back to show up whenever. Covid is "kinda" over. No way, ENFORCED check in times (like E Muster) is a change that should become permanent JC Pats 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKarl Posted November 6, 2022 Report Share Posted November 6, 2022 47 minutes ago, TXcruzer said: No way, ENFORCED check in times (like E Muster) is a change that should become permanent I take Disneyland's approach for the long lines. It used to be that if you had a medical condition you were able to skip the line and go straight to the ride. The thing is that more and more people had "Medical Conditions" and the line grew again. Now, if you have a condition that prevents you from waiting in those long lines you can Make an appointment to skip the line at your appropriate Time. What a concept! I have an illness called "Bad Doctor Syndrome." You know, the one with No Patients (Patience) TXcruzer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted November 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2022 On 11/5/2022 at 10:07 AM, karl_nj said: Based on how things went the last time I sailed out of Bayonne (Christmas 2021) I fully expect to see lines like the ones in the photos you shared. Nobody pays attention to the boarding times, and the terminal staff doesn't seem to do much about it. Well, it turns out embarkation for my cruise last week was super smooth. Much better than it was Christmas of 2021. Disembarkation was amazing too... looked at my watch when leaving our stateroom and I was opening my front door in just under one hour... KristiZ and FoxboroCruiser 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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