Normal
In my opinion San Diego's terminal is a little different than some of the others. Some things will depend on how many other ships will be in port on the day that you leave. It almost appeared to us that it was first come first served...depending on whether your ship was next to the actual port building or not. There are other piers the ship can be moored at as well - not far from the building. The terminal seemed smaller than some we've been in and it is shared by two companies. The line may seem long when it really isn't. We got there early and stood outside for a bit...once things started moving we got through the line fairly quickly. (We had stayed in a hotel across the street.) We were taking the Spirit and were ushered into the second doorway...while the other cruise line went into the first doorway. This was reversed when we returned...thus the first come first served thought. We always go earlier than the documents show...if at all possible. (Of course they kick you out of your hotel room before then anyway.) Just make sure you are there and in line at least 30 minutes before your end time. Have all your papers filled out - if you do your fun pass ahead of time the only thing to fill out should have to do with your credit card for Sail and Sign purposes. And have your ID available with your documents...various people will be looking at those to tell you where to go next.Because there isn't any way to tell what is going to happen when the Customs officials are on the ship it's difficult to say how early you will be able to check in as well as how early you will be able to disembark. Sometimes people who don't speak English and who aren't from the US have trouble understanding what exactly they are to do on board ship...this can hold up debarkation...thus holding off the next groups embarkation.In our case we were off the ship by 10AM I think....long before our room in the hotel was available.
In my opinion San Diego's terminal is a little different than some of the others. Some things will depend on how many other ships will be in port on the day that you leave. It almost appeared to us that it was first come first served...depending on whether your ship was next to the actual port building or not. There are other piers the ship can be moored at as well - not far from the building. The terminal seemed smaller than some we've been in and it is shared by two companies. The line may seem long when it really isn't. We got there early and stood outside for a bit...once things started moving we got through the line fairly quickly. (We had stayed in a hotel across the street.) We were taking the Spirit and were ushered into the second doorway...while the other cruise line went into the first doorway. This was reversed when we returned...thus the first come first served thought. We always go earlier than the documents show...if at all possible. (Of course they kick you out of your hotel room before then anyway.) Just make sure you are there and in line at least 30 minutes before your end time. Have all your papers filled out - if you do your fun pass ahead of time the only thing to fill out should have to do with your credit card for Sail and Sign purposes. And have your ID available with your documents...various people will be looking at those to tell you where to go next.
Because there isn't any way to tell what is going to happen when the Customs officials are on the ship it's difficult to say how early you will be able to check in as well as how early you will be able to disembark. Sometimes people who don't speak English and who aren't from the US have trouble understanding what exactly they are to do on board ship...this can hold up debarkation...thus holding off the next groups embarkation.
In our case we were off the ship by 10AM I think....long before our room in the hotel was available.
