How early can you board?

[Yknot]

I received my docs for the Oosterdam leaving Seattle on September 25th. The itinerary states: SAT on your own Seattle, Washinton - Arrive 3:00 pm, Depart 5:00 pm.

I know the ship gets in early in the morning to let passengers off from Alaska. Do you really have to wait till 3:00 pm to board?
:confused:

[Krazy Kruizers]

As soon as the ship is cleared of all passengers and all luggage has been taken from the terminal - the process begins with allowing passengers into the terminal around 11 AM to begin the boarding procedures.

With HAL's new boarding policies you should be able to get on the ship beginning around 11:30 AM.

[cactuslady]

Plan to get there well before 3, so you are sure you don't miss the boat. And so you can have lunch and the famous bread pudding in the Lido. And so you can unpack and have a little nap before the lifeboat drill, which is somewhere around 4 or 4:30 or so.

[john2003]

I was told 11:30 am by HAL.

[sodell]

Yknot: Thanks for asking the ?

Same for us... we just received our docs & it stated same. We're at the Marriott for a pre-stay, & it's far enough away, that we won't know when the ship docks & pax are getting off. We didn't want to sit around for hours with our luggage, when we could be sight-seeing.
btw... is there anything to do near the pier if we are too early?

Thanks... maybe we'll see you on board. :)

[wilsonzoo]

We got back from the Oosterdam to Alaska last week. We arrived at the dock at 11AM sharp thinking we'd still have a bit of a wait before they'd let us board (as our cruise docs indicated 2PM as boarding time), but no, we waltzed right thru the line (there was practically no one else there) and were on the Lido having cocktails and enjoying the buffet by 11:30. The rooms weren't ready until around 1:30, but that was no problem as there's plenty to see and do in that time.

I don't understand why they always post such a late boarding time on cruise docs. If everyone waited until the suggested 2 or 3, they'd never be able to push away from the dock until probably 8PM!

Bottom line: ignore the time on your docs and get there early!!!