How ill I know my CABIN is ready

[Hdog76]

I cant remember, only been on one cruise before. I know we got our sail away card, and everything, and then went to eat........how do I know if my cabin is ready? Is there a time? Do the keys only work once the cabin is ready? Is it when my luggage is there.....thanks!!!!

[BigDfromTN]

Walk and see works for me...

[templed]

Officially, usually the answer is that all rooms will be ready by 1 ... but... I usually start wondering over to my room as soon as I can to see if I can drop off my carry-on...

[klmorg]

I think the signs and such advise that cabins are not ready until 1:30 pm. Sometimes they're ready a bit earlier than that, but you wouldn't know unless you saw that the doors to the cabin hallways were open. There are also some who go ahead and try to get in their room early to put their stuff away. The luggage arrives at no certain time... sometimes, though not so often, when the rooms are ready, but most of the time randomly throughout the rest of the day/evening. This has been our experience anyway.

[Hdog76]

my cruise departs at 10pm....so if i get lucky and get on around noon, how will I know. Will my key work even if room wasnt cleaned..or do they activate the key as the room is ready....will i kow when i walk in my cabin and its messy.....?

[Host Mach]

Typically, the fire doors are closed until all of the cabins are available. That's often around 1:30 but I've found that no one objects if you drop by your cabin earlier to deposit your carry on luggage...

[SDPadreFan]

There are doors that block off access to most (if not all) cabin passageways. When the staterooms are ready, the crew will open those doors to allow access.

[Hdog76]

Thanks!!!! I appreciate everyones speedy repsonses Just trying to figure out when we can unload our smuggled alcohol and go out to san juan for a second load : )

[trock]

I have never seen the fire doors closed... But usually the cabin doors are open as they are preparing for your cruise.. After 1-130 if your cabin door is closed it is most likely ready...

[Rowan555]

Originally Posted by trock

I have never seen the fire doors closed... But usually the cabin doors are open as they are preparing for your cruise.. After 1-130 if your cabin door is closed it is most likely ready...

On our last 6 or 8 cruises the fire doors have been closed until 1:30, and people end up clustering around the doors, waiting for them to open. On the Triumph last week the fire doors were open on the odd number side, but not the even number side (just our luck, as we were even). They didn't open the fire doors until 1:35. It may depend on the ship, but it seems this has been the case at least on the Fantasy and Triumph for the last few years.

[StillPooh]

We knew ours was ready because we didn't show up at the port until 2 hours before the boat was due to sail. Walked right on and went to our cabin!

[Vanessa L]

I am usually on board by noonish. The fire doors are typically closed until about 1:30. I found the valuable information on these boards that, it is ok to open the door and go to your room to drop off any suitcases you are carrying, etc. However, it is VITALLY important that you find your room steward in this process and let him/her know that you have done this. Otherwise, they have no way of knowing that the stuff is your's. I have read posts here where folks have dropped stuff off only to find it gone because the room steward thought it was the passenger's before. Every time I have done this the room steward was very gracious and didn't seem to mind (of course, we just dropped stuff in the closet and put things in the safe--we didn't make any mess that he/she would have to work around). I found that this process is MUCH better than trying to lug heavy suitcases around while also trying to get lunch.

[serene56]

Originally Posted by Vanessa L

I am usually on board by noonish. The fire doors are typically closed until about 1:30. I found the valuable information on these boards that, it is ok to open the door and go to your room to drop off any suitcases you are carrying, etc. However, it is VITALLY important that you find your room steward in this process and let him/her know that you have done this. Otherwise, they have no way of knowing that the stuff is your's. I have read posts here where folks have dropped stuff off only to find it gone because the room steward thought it was the passenger's before. Every time I have done this the room steward was very gracious and didn't seem to mind (of course, we just dropped stuff in the closet and put things in the safe--we didn't make any mess that he/she would have to work around). I found that this process is MUCH better than trying to lug heavy suitcases around while also trying to get lunch.

please note that by dropping stuff of in the cabin before the set time your room is not secured until the appointed time. Do not leave valubles in the room until its time

[Vanessa L]

Originally Posted by serene56

please note that by dropping stuff of in the cabin before the set time your room is not secured until the appointed time. Do not leave valubles in the room until its time

You are absolutely correct, Serene. The only thing "valuable" I bring on a cruise is my passport and it goes in the safe. So far from what I've seen, as long as the room steward knows the items in the safe are your's, there is no problem.

[sheila1970]

This post has been very helpful. I was wondering the same thing. Last year we were trying to hang out on the Lido deck with our carry-on luggage. One went to the buffett line the other stayed behind with the luggage. This time, I will try and drop my stuff off. I don't care if I can get into the room and stay...just don't want to be trying to move around the ship with a suitcase.

[Vanessa L]

Originally Posted by sheila1970

This post has been very helpful. I was wondering the same thing. Last year we were trying to hang out on the Lido deck with our carry-on luggage. One went to the buffett line the other stayed behind with the luggage. This time, I will try and drop my stuff off. I don't care if I can get into the room and stay...just don't want to be trying to move around the ship with a suitcase.

Exactly. This is but one of the zillion reasons I'm glad I found Cruise Critic!! Started cruising in 1984 and until 2005, when I joined here and started logging all sorts of awesome info, I too would lug my suitcases all over the ship! BIG pain in the arse, IMHO. Today, I drop things off, go enjoy my food in peace and smile at all the poor souls who've yet to find CC carting their luggage all over the ship and trying to do the buffet lines as well. Bless their hearts

[Martini Mom]

One of our prior room stewards was really cranky about us dropping off our stuff early. Now we just leave it at our feet while we eat lunch.

[Joanns6569]

Hdog76,
I am on the same ship in June, will look forward to your great review.
Have a great holiday

[Nunu]

I heard the CD announcing the cabins were ready.

[Alf the cruiser]

Sensation, hallways were blocked for no entry, were told at checkin around 1.30. to answer the other question about your S&S cards, they are activated when you check in along with your picture at the same time. Then de-activated when scanned at disembarc.