E
excited 1
Guest
We will be on the ecstasy this monday. Is it better to be a few hours early to avoid standing in long lines for long periods of time? Or is there some type of boarding order?
S
Sweetpea29488
Guest
I've been told that it's better if you arrive early. That's what we are going to do. We'll prob. arrive around 10:30 or so and see if we can get a head start on everything,
C
Cruzman
Guest
Arriving early is definitely the way to go. Carnival usually boards on a first come first served basis. I always plan to arrive between 1100 and noon.
B
bikevegas
Guest
Arrive early---I always get on as soon as possible---Short lines and seems to be less hassle!:AL:USA
D
Dan40
Guest
I wouldn't arrive before 11:AM, even though you may want to beat the crowd boarding your cruise. NO ONE is allowed to board until all the returning passengers are off the ship. If there are ANY returning pax that have either a customs problem or an uncleared Sail&Sign bill the ship is locked up until these problems are resolved. All of us that have a few cruises have had the experience on disembarkation day of hearing the PA system calling a few names over and over to report to the Purser's office. And no luggage tags colors being called to deboard until those people have complied. These customs and accounting holdups are not that frequent nor are they abnormal. These holdups can be only 10 to 30 minutes but I've also still been waiting to deboard at 11:AM.
Even if you arrive at 1
M, most times you will be on board by 2. And remember you are about to go on a cruise....
Dan
Even if you arrive at 1
M, most times you will be on board by 2. And remember you are about to go on a cruise....Dan
L
lizardstew
Guest
I sailed on the Ecstasy in January. We arrived at Port before 11. We had to wait a little before we could board the ship, but we got in the first boarding group. They give you boarding cards now when you check in that tell what boarding group you're in.
I'd always recommend that you get there early! Better to wait sitting around the Port than standing in line to get on the ship!
I'd always recommend that you get there early! Better to wait sitting around the Port than standing in line to get on the ship!
P
PeggySand
Guest
I drove my son and his wife to the new port in Long Beach on 4/27 to sail on the Elation. We arrived at the port at appx. 10:30 and they had early check in at the Queen Mary (right next door to the Elation). That took about five minutes, and then we were told that as Carnival guests, we could tour the Queen Mary for $6/person (including the Ghosts and Legends Tour). Usually, admission costs around $25/person, so it is a really good deal. We spent the next few hours on the Queen Mary (very enjoyable), and then around 1:15 they got their carry-on luggage from the car and went to the big white dome building to board the Elation. By now, there was a HUGE line to check in, and my son and wife were escorted past all the lines, had their boarding picture taken and they were in their cabin in less than 15 minutes. At this new port, I would definitely recommend getting there early, enjoy the Queen Mary and then board the ship without standing in any lines.
J
Jeff & Susana
Guest
We arrived at the port at 10:45 and there was already about 75 people in line.
If you arrive early, you are in one of the first groups to board.
In our case, we were in boarding party #2 and we walked on the ship at 12:45PM.
If you gotta wait somewhere, it might as well be at the ship!
If you arrive early, you are in one of the first groups to board.
In our case, we were in boarding party #2 and we walked on the ship at 12:45PM.
If you gotta wait somewhere, it might as well be at the ship!
D
Dan40
Guest
Peggysand,
That is a quantum improvement in check in. Its wonderful the QM is there to pass the time in a very interesting manner. And all lines are trying to expidite their boarding process with at least some measure of sucess. The problem is that most of our departure ports don't have a Queen Mary nearby. In fact most of them are located right next to the edge of the world and its an austere terminal building or nothing.
Thats why I say early but not too early on arrival times.
Dan
That is a quantum improvement in check in. Its wonderful the QM is there to pass the time in a very interesting manner. And all lines are trying to expidite their boarding process with at least some measure of sucess. The problem is that most of our departure ports don't have a Queen Mary nearby. In fact most of them are located right next to the edge of the world and its an austere terminal building or nothing.
Thats why I say early but not too early on arrival times.
Dan
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Sara Lee
Guest
just my two cents
Some people go so early to events they are excited about , they wait outside on the sidewalk in sleeping bags... GO as early as you want , BE THE FIRST ..
Take a picture of yourselves.... Read the paper , read your brochere , clean your purse while you are the first in line
Some people go so early to events they are excited about , they wait outside on the sidewalk in sleeping bags... GO as early as you want , BE THE FIRST ..
Take a picture of yourselves.... Read the paper , read your brochere , clean your purse while you are the first in line
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lizardstew
Guest
Sara, your posts crack me up....but I wholeheartedly agree!