First time: embarkation questions

[whardy7]

1) Do I have to have a printed boarding pass or is it like an airline where I can show my passport/ID? This vacation actually included the Bahamas first and I didn't even think about printing out this boarding pass before I left. We sail on the Ruby Tuesday.

2) Can I check in completely, then still have some time outside the ship before getting on the final time? The reason is I had stuff stolen in Nassau and replacement items will be at a nearby (6 miles) UPS Customer Center. I need to pick them up before I sail. It is going to be close because my flight arrives in FLL at 1:20, but these are have to have things.

Thanks for any help!

[paul929207]

Originally Posted by whardy7

1) Do I have to have a printed boarding pass or is it like an airline where I can show my passport/ID? This vacation actually included the Bahamas first and I didn't even think about printing out this boarding pass before I left. We sail on the Ruby Tuesday.

2) Can I check in completely, then still have some time outside the ship before getting on the final time? The reason is I had stuff stolen in Nassau and replacement items will be at a nearby (6 miles) UPS Customer Center. I need to pick them up before I sail. It is going to be close because my flight arrives in FLL at 1:20, but these are have to have things.

Thanks for any help!

You can check in without a boarding pass.

Assuming you checkin early enough, you can get off after checking in and run your errands. Just be back on by sailing time.

[Pia1913]

Originally Posted by whardy7

1) Do I have to have a printed boarding pass or is it like an airline where I can show my passport/ID? This vacation actually included the Bahamas first and I didn't even think about printing out this boarding pass before I left. We sail on the Ruby Tuesday.

2) Can I check in completely, then still have some time outside the ship before getting on the final time? The reason is I had stuff stolen in Nassau and replacement items will be at a nearby (6 miles) UPS Customer Center. I need to pick them up before I sail. It is going to be close because my flight arrives in FLL at 1:20, but these are have to have things.

Thanks for any help!

With a flight landing at 1:20, you barely have time to check into the ship on time let alone trying to get to another venue. If your intention is pickup up your stuff, you'd better do that first and then pray you get back in time to board the ship.

[-Lew-]

I agree...go to the UPS Center first.

Having said that, once we waited for close to an hour for our luggage to appear at FLL. You might want to send one person to UPS to retrieve your items while someone else takes care of the luggage. You could meet at the ship. There should be virtually no line for check in by the time you arrive.

Have you looked into having UPS forward the items to you so you won't have to deal with this on embarkation day?

Lew

[Pam in CA]

Originally Posted by Pia1913

With a flight landing at 1:20, you barely have time to check into the ship on time let alone trying to get to another venue. If your intention is pickup up your stuff, you'd better do that first and then pray you get back in time to board the ship.

I agree, i.e., go to the UPS store first and then to the ship. Not sure what time your ship sails but you MUST be checked in at least an hour before departure (that's the law thanks to Homeland Security.) Princess requires you to check in earlier than an hour so if you're sailing at 4pm, it's going to be VERY tight. Just checked your itinerary and you sail at 5pm. You SHOULD be OK.

[whardy7]

Thanks for the responses. That is a good idea for me to go to UPS as soon as I get off our flight and the other to stay with the luggage until I get back.

Related question: we paid for the Princess transfer from airport to ship. When I get back from UPS, would you recommend taking the transfer still or taking a taxi over to the ship? I am not sure the transfer would still be around, but if it was, I am assuming I should be able to get on the ship if I am on the transfer bus. Maybe I could be back from UPS by the time the luggage came off the belt.

[-Lew-]

I'd take the taxi to the ship. Taking a Princess shuttle is almost always the least efficient, slowest mode of transportation. You'll already have the taxi, so the cost won't be much more for the short trip to Port Everglades.

With respect to the UPS Center... If you're referring to the one in Ft. Lauderdale, it's 8.4 miles (15 minutes) from FLL according to Google Maps.

The UPS Center in Hollywood is about 6.2 miles away.

Lew

[Pia1913]

Originally Posted by whardy7

Thanks for the responses. That is a good idea for me to go to UPS as soon as I get off our flight and the other to stay with the luggage until I get back.

Related question: we paid for the Princess transfer from airport to ship. When I get back from UPS, would you recommend taking the transfer still or taking a taxi over to the ship? I am not sure the transfer would still be around, but if it was, I am assuming I should be able to get on the ship if I am on the transfer bus. Maybe I could be back from UPS by the time the luggage came off the belt.

Cancel the transfer. You need a taxi to UPS, the other just needs a taxi to the port. Taxi costs less than transfer anyway.

[Pam in CA]

Originally Posted by whardy7

Thanks for the responses. That is a good idea for me to go to UPS as soon as I get off our flight and the other to stay with the luggage until I get back.

Related question: we paid for the Princess transfer from airport to ship. When I get back from UPS, would you recommend taking the transfer still or taking a taxi over to the ship? I am not sure the transfer would still be around, but if it was, I am assuming I should be able to get on the ship if I am on the transfer bus. Maybe I could be back from UPS by the time the luggage came off the belt.

Try to cancel the ship's transfer immediately and take a taxi. You won't get your money back for the transfer if you try to do it on the ship. Don't attempt to use the transfer to get to the ship and then go to UPS, you won't have enough time.

[caribill]

I'll disagree a little.

Since you have paid for the xfers, there is no reason at least for the person getting the luggage not to use what you have paid for.

Since you will be in a cab at UPS, might as well take that straight to the port and ship instead of returning to the airport.

The two of you do not have to check in at the same time unless you want to. Just be sure each has his/her passport for checkin.