Jolly Ogre Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 So this past Dec we were on Symphony and had a 11:30 am check in, but we were in a suite so we showed up at 10:30 am and still had to stand in line until about 11:00 before the port even opened up. We sat in the suite lounge until about 11:30 before boarding even started. So even if you get an early boarding time you may end up not even getting on the ship until 11:30 or later. WAAAYTOOO, ScottD, RCIfan1912 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastfaller Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 29 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said: So this past Dec we were on Symphony and had a 11:30 am check in, but we were in a suite so we showed up at 10:30 am and still had to stand in line until about 11:00 before the port even opened up. We sat in the suite lounge until about 11:30 before boarding even started. So even if you get an early boarding time you may end up not even getting on the ship until 11:30 or later. Ugh... I am on symphony in 2 weeks and have an 1130 board (the earliest available). I check out of my hotel at 10, so plan to be at the cruise port around 1030. Sitting in the terminal with a 15, 13 and 11 yr old telling me they are board doesn't sound fun. But it is what it is, hopefully it will just build the excitement to get on the ship. OCSC Mike and RCIfan1912 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 On 4/1/2024 at 3:10 PM, Fastfaller said: I hope they are fluff because I got 1130 on. Symphony in 2 weeks, it was the earliest time. But my hotel checkout is 1000. So I will be in line at 1030. This was Miami. From what I understand NJ is a hot mess. I wouldn’t bank on 10:30 am by any means outta that place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastfaller Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 2 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said: This was Miami. From what I understand NJ is a hot mess. I wouldn’t bank on 10:30 am by any means outta that place. Mine is out of FLL, I think NJ starts the week after. We'll have to see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 15 minutes ago, Fastfaller said: Mine is out of FLL, I think NJ starts the week after. We'll have to see what happens Mine was FLL as well. And I was 1st in line. Never had that happen before not that it mattered in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmattinson Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 Port Canaveral - Wonder on May 12 - 10:30 check-in attained PeloAl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 1 hour ago, tonyfsu21 said: This was Miami. From what I understand NJ is a hot mess. I wouldn’t bank on 10:30 am by any means outta that place. Nj was the easiest on/off I've done. RCIfan1912, d.dee and YellowBrickRoad 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCIfan1912 Posted April 4 Author Report Share Posted April 4 28 minutes ago, ScottD said: Nj was the easiest on/off I've done. I agree NJ is very easy, the security line has been annoying lately but the rest is cake. 10 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 1 hour ago, Fastfaller said: Mine is out of FLL, I think NJ starts the week after. We'll have to see what happens FLL is a similar experience to Port of Miami. You should be able to get onboard early with no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 9 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said: I agree NJ is very easy, the security line has been annoying lately but the rest is cake. 10 minutes. That’s good news. We are headed out of NJ in July and plan to be at the port early regardless. RCIfan1912 and ScottD 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougalsgirl Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 Midnight check-in for Anthem out of Southampton in May, 11.30 was the earliest choice I was given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimeRacer Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 I just did my check-in for Ovation in May out of Seattle, and snagged the 10:30am slot. And yes, I was the crazy one who got up at 3am to check in. RCIfan1912 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCIfan1912 Posted April 5 Author Report Share Posted April 5 10:30 is just the best time slot I think. Early is best when boarding the ship. It's nice to get on early, have all that out of the way and get on with vacation. Fastfaller, OCSC Mike and TimeRacer 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastfaller Posted April 5 Report Share Posted April 5 Agreed, if I can be on ship by 1100, grab a specialty coffee and a quick bite to eat then I am in heaven. Then you have all the time in the world to explore the ship, get the lay of the land. Then it's time to find a refreshing cocktail and start the relaxation. TimeRacer and RCIfan1912 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinK Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 On 4/3/2024 at 12:00 PM, RCIfan1912 said: Awesome, really appreciate that. FYI - I just did a check it for Symphony of the sea sailed from Cape Liberty for May 31 cruise. They do have 10 to 10:30am. I got the time I wanted. RCIfan1912, YellowBrickRoad, DrSnowpanic and 3 others 3 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 On 4/5/2024 at 12:36 PM, Fastfaller said: Agreed, if I can be on ship by 1100, grab a specialty coffee and a quick bite to eat then I am in heaven. Then you have all the time in the world to explore the ship, get the lay of the land. Then it's time to find a refreshing cocktail and start the relaxation. It’s so 2020 to abide by the specified boarding time! PeloAl and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 I posted a while ago how I checked in at midnight for my May Liberty cruise from NJ and the first available slot was 11:30. I kept checking back and no earlier time has opened. My cruises over the winter have all had 10:00-10:30 available. Keep in mind this is the time to arrive at the terminal. It is not ‘boarding time’. I sail primarily from NJ and found it’s pretty good. Usually they just wave everyone into the terminal on to and the security lines. The only hold up is the security line. It can get pretty crowded. Especially with people who don’t pay attention and have to waste time emptying their pockets and putting their metal stuff into their carryon when they get to the screener rather than before. So everyone else has to wait for them. Then there’s those who go overboard (pun intended) and waste time taking off their shoes and belts even though it was obvious nobody in front to them did that. If the security line gets too crowded, they may start enforcing times outside the terminal. As long as everything goes as planned, there is usually little delay in getting checked in at a kiosk and then boarding. But…here’s where that ‘Vacation Patience’ comes in…if the ship was delayed getting into port (diversion to medivac a patient, propulsion issue, harbor traffic, assist another vessel…or many other possibilities. Or the ship is undergoing a coast guard or public health inspection…or needs a ‘deep cleaning’) then boarding new guests can be delayed. Then everything gets backed up. RCIfan1912, RumRunner01, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2mybugs Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 I was on at 11 for 12 ship time rhapsody out of San Juan in June. 12-123was the earliest I could get. Now the ship sails at 8pm, so that really legit could be the first time. It feels late though. Jane RCIfan1912 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tania Posted April 22 Report Share Posted April 22 I checked in at midnight for Symphony for the May 31st cruise and got 10:30am check in. WAAAYTOOO and RCIfan1912 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastfaller Posted April 22 Report Share Posted April 22 I am on SY right now, had an 1130 checkin time this past Saturday. Was at the terminal at 1015, went straight in and sat in a holding pen for about 30 mins. Was on ship by 1100-1115. RCIfan1912, WAAAYTOOO and mom2mybugs 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfies Posted April 22 Report Share Posted April 22 On 4/3/2024 at 3:32 PM, Woody14 said: I know we all want on the ship as soon as possible but .... they do have to get everyone off which takes time, you do want the ship to be clean and ready for you when you get on. I wonder how many people who are complaining that can't get on the ship early enough are the same ones who are complaining that they made them get out of the cabin by 8:00 am or that they could not stay on the ship longer? Not complaining here! We were definitely up and out very early on our last day! I don't envy the job they have of turning around the ship and am shocked that they do it so quickly. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfies Posted April 22 Report Share Posted April 22 On 4/4/2024 at 2:05 PM, tonyfsu21 said: That’s good news. We are headed out of NJ in July and plan to be at the port early regardless. I just posted a review of Anthem, including my thoughts on Cape Liberty. And as a first timer, I was shocked to see that the check in time didn't matter. No one asked, no one confirmed, we were put in random chairs to sit and wait and tons of people that arrived later than us got on before us. Again- not a huge deal, just something to know as we were first timers and caught off guard by that. Thinking it was more like an airline would be when they board by group. Definitely get there earlier than you think if you want to get on as soon as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattJump Posted April 22 Report Share Posted April 22 Earliest check-in time from Galveston is now 11 am. This used to be 10 am a few years ago. RCIfan1912 and Carlos A. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.dee Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 On 4/22/2024 at 8:27 AM, Tania said: I checked in at midnight for Symphony for the May 31st cruise and got 10:30am check in. I also was able to get this time for same cruise date and ship. I checked in on app which was a bit glitchy so i had to sign in and out several times. I guess it was about 12:15am when it finally worked. RCIfan1912 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdjnr Posted Wednesday at 02:15 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 02:15 PM we got 10:30 on Allure out of PC for 3JUN boarding. WAAAYTOOO and ScottD 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeloAl Posted Wednesday at 04:00 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 04:00 PM Omg no one cares or bothers with check in times. That's been my experience, my family's, friends, co workers, and virtually every cruise vlogger on Youtube. So much ado about nothing. Just get to the port when you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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