I just returned from a HAL 5 day trip up to Ketchikan AK and Prince Rupert, BC. Just a note here to warn you about very crowded and confusing conditions at the Port. There were three ships in meaning that about 8000 pax boarded. Needless to say most of the folks arrive in that 1130-1 PM time slot. There were long lines and some pretty green worker bee's. We were instructed to arrive at 1 PM and it took us about 3+ hours to board. That was time actually moving in lines. The terminal did not clear of crowds and the ships were all delayed. We sailed 3 hours late. Worse experience of getting on ever. To get bags dropped and start the process was 40 mins. Then Your cruise line check in. Then Customs and walking from one end of CP to the other several times.
My suggestion is To go as early as you can and disregard your boarding time given you by the cruise line. You may have to line up and wait to start but you likely will get on sooner. TRy to pick a day with one or two ships. The size of ships has changed a lot since CP was planned and build.
Just an aside. HAL's Koningsdam was fully booked and because of delay were unable to book no dining times sooner than 830. So try really hard to get early seating and then board early enough to get to the Dinner Reservation desk to adjust your times if need be.
My suggestion is To go as early as you can and disregard your boarding time given you by the cruise line. You may have to line up and wait to start but you likely will get on sooner. TRy to pick a day with one or two ships. The size of ships has changed a lot since CP was planned and build.
Just an aside. HAL's Koningsdam was fully booked and because of delay were unable to book no dining times sooner than 830. So try really hard to get early seating and then board early enough to get to the Dinner Reservation desk to adjust your times if need be.
