Imagine yourself in the lanes of the rope-off lanes and zigzag back and forth as you shuffle along the back of hundreds of other people. You mercilessly juggle papers and other belongings as you creep forward at the glacial pace. What’s missing is that Ben Stein doesn’t embrace the “next” with his best “Buehler” voice.
No, I’m not talking about afternoons in the automotive department (though I can do that). I’m talking about boarding a cruise.
This scenario – crowds, dropping in, chuckling cows, and perhaps even sitting – is not the ideal way to start a holiday.
There are very few things that can be killed faster than I say my boarder’s buzz. Arrived at the cruise port At the set time, you will need to wait in a long queue, especially if you are already checking in online. Call me Testy. However, there is no excuse that cruisers pay for the fare, how smoothly some cruise lines have made the boarding process, and that cruise lines and terminals are not efficient.
After all, if thousands of cruisers can plan all day around a 30-minute boarding window, why can’t they ensure that it takes less than 30 minutes to board from the time the cruise line arrives at the port?
Until some of the small cruise lines and facilities catch up with the times, I’m forced to find work around, including one that almost always guarantees you’ll get to the gangway from the curb in less than 10 minutes.
Want to know my secret? I’m glad to share it.
Once passengers check in, most cruise lines will ask you to choose the boarding time, that is, the specified window that must arrive at the terminal. (Many cruise brands implemented this type of arrival system to reduce large crowds when the industry reboots following the Covid-19 shutdown and leave them intact when it turns out to be effective in crowd management.)
If there is no priority boarding – usually you need to have a higher tier Royalty Statusthere Reservations in the Suite Or buy a package with privileges – one thing I do to avoid the “hurry-wait” scenario is to choose the latest boarding time as the boarding experience is something other than smooth sailing. If my line does not ask you to select a window, it will appear one hour before the cutoff time listed for boarding.
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Instead of boarding, if you arrive at the cruise terminal in the afternoon, there is little traffic at the port. This means you can park or drop it off more quickly. If you are traveling with a large bag, you do not need to check in for you with the attention of a porter. Someone whisks your bag with post stadt.
Once you reach the terminal, you will likely have fewer lines at the security and check-in desk, as most of the “Me First” cruisers are likely already on board.
Plus, if you board a little later that day, you will not be able to meet a cluster of fellow passengers hanging around the entrance to the gangway to the ship. Instead of meetings, they eat lunch, kick out their favourite bars and sunbathing spots and check out the cabins.
It will provide another benefit of boarding later. Cruise ship rooms are usually not ready until the afternoon. If you are one of the first people on the ship, you will not be able to access any private bathroom, a place to rest, or where you want to store your carry-on room. If you board a few hours after your boarding period, you will be able to head to the cabin as soon as you get on board.
“But wait,” you may be thinking. “Late boarding means I missed a few hours of pool time.” This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am happy to sacrifice a few hours on the boat in exchange for 20 minutes less in line. Additionally, if you use the pool or drag any items you bring all day long, this means you don’t need to change them in the public toilet.
Checking in later in the process is the secret behind a faster launch. However, with fewer crowds, it’s not the only trick you can employ to maximize your chances for a smoother, faster and more efficient boarding process. Check us Additional tips to promote boardingIncludes recommendations such as smart packaging and holding Cruise Documents Ready.
Do you have more cruise questions? TPG has the answer:
