Can someone clear up the time embakation can begin

[Nitrodog]

We are booked on the Regatta out of Miami in February 2007. There are conflicting reports as to when embarkation is allowed to begin. The listed embakation time is 3:00 pm and we are in a B1 cabin. How much earlier than 3 pm are we allowed to board the ship.....if at all.

[LHT28]

Concierge level cabins (A and above ) can board earlier the rest have to wait ;)

[Nitrodog]

Wait until when? It's hard to believe that the ship lines everyone else up and opens the gates promptly at 3:00.

[PA Nana]

Nitrodog - We were on the Regatta this past Feb. Boarding time in our documents said 3 p.m. That's what you have to assume will happen. That said, I will tell you that our flight from PIT did not arrive until around noon and by the time we got to the port in Miami it was 1:00 p.m. No one but the 10 of us who came off that flight were there to board - everyone else was already on board. It was, without a doubt the smoothest embarkation we've ever encountered. Now folks continued to come on all day, depending on when their flights arrived, I'm sure. We did not sail until 11 p.m. It was nice having all that time to organize our stateroom, put away all our clothes and get the luggage stashed out of the way. Then we went exploring, set up our Toscana and Polo Grill dinner reservations, etc.

It will obviously depend on when the ship is ready. They do begin allowing you to board and if all the rooms aren't finished you will be directed to the Terrace Cafe where a buffet is set up. But, to be safe they say 3 to protect themselves if there was some reason the ship was not ready.

[Nitrodog]

PA Nana,

I am so thankful for your post. It just didn't seem logical that Oceania would hold everyone up till the "boarding time"

Thanks

[firsttimeeurope]

We just came back from the Rome- Greece Insignia cruise. Our "official" embarkation time also said 3:00. We arrived at about 2:30 & there were many people already on board. Also I agree with PA Nana--get on board & then go immediately up to the speciality restaurants & you will get your first choice. Our embarkation process was also very easy-- you check in with your passport & they take your picture & walk you to your room. You don't even provide your credit card that day- you do it the following day or whenever you want.
It is really nice to check in early. Also, if you want to go to the spa (especially on a sea day) book it early.
Contrary to what the brochures say, we found no difference in the time the people in different categories could book, i.e. the suites did not get priority as far as we could tell.

[confused4now]

We are on the Rome - Istanbul, Nautica June 8. I would love to have your impressions of the trip, the ports and any tours that you may have taken

[PittsburghTerri]

PANANA,
I saw on a post that you flew from PIT. We live in Pittsburgh, in Shadyside. What about you?

[PA Nana]

We're actually about 60 miles south of PIT. But love to come to Shadyside for lunch and to browse the shops. Will this be your first trip on Oceania or have you cruised with them in the past? We thought it was the best cruise line we've ever been on.

[confused4now]

PANANA,
I saw on a post that you flew from PIT. We live in Pittsburgh, in Shadyside. What about you?

PittsburghTerri and PANANA,

Look forward to meeting both of you on the cruise. We live in the Cranberry Twp. area.

[PA Nana]

Sorry, I'm not on your June 8th cruise. We just cruised with "O" in Feb/Mar and will be going again next May to the Med. Wish I was was going with you in June. Would like to go every month. Only thing that stops me is my darn wallet....it yells ouch. Pittsburgh Terri just referenced me from my response about embarkation time/ease.

[PA Nana]

Steelers do rule!

[Jane110]

PA Nana,

I am so thankful for your post. It just didn't seem logical that Oceania would hold everyone up till the "boarding time"

Thanks


There have been times when those not in suites and PH's were told to wait until "their time" and not allowed to board earlier than 3:00, even though the ship was ready. Those in suites and PH's were welcomed aboard, the rest sat at the dock and watched the clocks.

[PA Nana]

"We were on the Regatta this past Feb. Boarding time in our documents said 3 p.m. That's what you have to assume will happen."

Please note - this is what I said happened on our cruise. I have read where others said they waited, but no one did on our cruise. In fact, we were concierge and so would have been entitled to board early, however even though we arrived 2 hours before the scheduled boarding time everyone was already on board.

You do need to plan as though you will be allowed to board at the time as stated in your documents and consider anything earlier to be a bonus.