Allure of the Seas Question

[kpopowski]

Hi - I'm new to the boards. My fiance and I are going on the Allure of the Seas on October for our honeymoon. We just got issued our cruise documents and it recommends passengers to get to the ship at 2 pm. Now, I've cruised on another line before, and I know they let people on the ship earlier, just the cabins aren't ready.

So for your experienced cruisers, what time do you recommend that we get to the port? My fiance has never cruised before and he really wants to get on the ship early and start exploring.

Thanks!!!

 

[bob]

For me, we get to the port usually around 11:00, you will get checked in, get your boarding passes (key card) and everything else done that needs to be done. The down side is you usually have to sit around a wait a while till they call for boarding, which can be anytime between 11:30 and 1:00 depending on...........
Once onboard it can be a crap shoot, sometimes the cabins are ready and you can go dump you carryons off and then go to the buffet or on deck, sometimes they are not ready and you just go to the buffet, carryons and all. By arriving around 1:00 you will most likely be able to go to your cabin when you board but the lines checking in will be longer. One way or another you will wait somewhere, I prefer to wait on the ship myself.

 

[Calgon1]

I too opt for the early check-in. Better to get there and wait in the terminal than have something unexpected happen (traffic jam, flat tire, lost, etc.) and arrive too late. Plus, it gives you time to meet the folks you've been chatting with on the roll-call boards.

Additionally, I recommend arriving at the cruise port (at least) the day before. Jet-lag and all that, don't you know?

 

[kpopowski]

Yeah, we are flying in Saturday afternoon, and staying atthe Embassy Suites. I think we will plan to get to the terminal between 10:30 & 11. I don't mind carrying a fewthings with me until our cabin is ready. It's nice to be on the ship and just relax!

 

[Mbandy]

I totally agree with Calgon and bob. We always get there early.

One nice touch I found on Norwegian Sky was they set up one of the lounges as a "bag check" area. You could drop off your carry ons and they gave you claim checks to get your bags when the rooms were ready. The area was secure so only crew could be in there. Hope they do that on the Star when we go in November.

On other ships we just bring our carry ons to the buffet and if we are done eating early we go down to the promenade deck, drop our bags in a deck chair and play shuffleboard until the room is ready.

Enjoy :beach:

 

[dereckbc]

I went on the AOS last February. On Sunday morning we left our hotel on the shuttle at 10:30 for a 5 minute drive to the port that took about 30 minutes, so we arrived @ 11:00 am.

We dropped off our bagged, walked into the terminal took about 20 minutes to check in and went right on board the ship just before noon. The buffet, burger bar, and all bars were open.They opened up the rooms @ 1:00pm.

FWIW the AOS occupancy rate was fully booked on the trip that just returned, and ours was fully booked. We only had to spend about 1 hour with our carry on items, which was only 1 bag with our medicine, camera, and bathing suits which were no problem.

 

[Cruizer]

Hi - I'm new to the boards. My fiance and I are going on the Allure of the Seas on October for our honeymoon. We just got issued our cruise documents and it recommends passengers to get to the ship at 2 pm. Now, I've cruised on another line before, and I know they let people on the ship earlier, just the cabins aren't ready.

So for your experienced cruisers, what time do you recommend that we get to the port? My fiance has never cruised before and he really wants to get on the ship early and start exploring.

Thanks!!!

If you want to be one of the first ones on the ship then I would recommend you arrive at the pier around 11:00am. That is the time I always shoot for on all my cruises.

 

[Christoffer]

Did leave the Embassy Suites last year around 10, was onboard the Allure at 11:05.
Next week I will stay at Hilton Marina Park and will also get to the pier around 10, like to be onboard the first ones.

 

[dereckbc]

I agree arrive between 11:00 and Noon. If you get there by 11:00 and th elines are short you may have to wait around a while before you can board, but it will be a short wait.

My best tip is to take you one carry on with you with like a bathing suit and anything you might need the first day because luggage delivery can be quite late into the night of departure. So if you have any medicine or toys (newly-weds) you need access too the first day take them in your carry on. Just don't get carried away because if you get on by say noon you will have to lug it around with you until your room is ready around 1 or 2 pm.

 

[ViviW]

Excellent tip to bring necessary items as carry on. I always carry on a bag with my swimsuit, an extra change of clothing, meds and toiletries in case my luggage doesn't make it to the cabin before dinner (it has only happened once). But instead of carrying it around until the cabins open up (on my last cruise they didn't open until almost 2 p.m.) I take my carry on bag to the gym/spa and ask for a locker. If asked I say I'm going to work out and sometimes I do but more often than not I just put my bag in the locker, lock it and go on my merry way until the cabins are available when I retrieve my belongings and take them to my cabin. The only drawback is if you want to buy drinks, the gym/spa people hold onto your sea pass card until you return the key to the locker. That hasn't been a problem for me. If I want a drink I buy it before before going to the gym/spa.

Enjoy your cruise.



Enjoy your