Late Embarkation Question

I'm cruising on the Summit in January and our departure time is listed as 830pm.

I've never had a sailing that departed so late, so I was hoping someone could help with a few questions:

1. What time does embarkation generally start for these later departures? I love to get on the ship and start exploring, so I want to make sure that we're taking advantage of the full day.

2. Is there a standard dinner service? Is the evening pushed back? Or is it just the Oceanview open for both lunch and dinner on embarkation day? And if there is a standard dinner seating, when does the muster drill occur?

Thanks for your help! :eek:

I went from San Juan on Summit, and although I arrived to the ship later, I believe it started the same as all other sailings.

Dinner was also the same. Regular times- early, late, and select.

Can't remember muster, but it was after all aboard. Just because it leaves later doesn't mean you can come on later. The terminal crew goes home at a certain hour.

I went from San Juan on Summit, and although I arrived to the ship later, I believe it started the same as all other sailings.

 

Dinner was also the same. Regular times- early, late, and select.

 

Can't remember muster, but it was after all aboard. Just because it leaves later doesn't mean you can come on later. The terminal crew goes home at a certain hour.

Ohhhh interesting - so embarkation happens at the same time really, the ship just doesn’t leave?

Ohhhh interesting - so embarkation happens at the same time really, the ship just doesn’t leave?

Yes, the later departure time is to give people more time to arrive who are flying in day of, not because the ship isn't ready at the typical time.

For our upcoming Summit sailing our Roll Call members are reporting a variety of boarding times. I am sure this is reflective of the issues in San Juan.

We have sailed out of SJU more than a few times so here's my take.

From past history even when departure was at 11 p.m. embarkation began around 11 a.m.

Check your docs to see if you have a deferred boarding time.

The dining schedule in the MDR may be slightly adjusted to facilitate the muster drill which should take place around 7:30. You do not have to choose the Oceanview unless you wish to dine there.

Just as a note, and this may affect your dining schedule if you have early seating. Seating in some of the muster stations is either limited or non-existant. One of the stations is in the photo corridor and there is no seating. If you are assigned to the casino or other areas get there early if you want a seat. Bar service ends 20 minutes before the drill and waiters will collect glasses at that time.

We were dining in Normandie (sorry it has gone...) first night of our Summit cruise. Muster had been delayed. I think it initially had been for 7.00 then delayed until 7.30. After talking with the staff we ended up eating starters and mains, going to muster and returning to Normandie for desert!

As others have said boarding starts usual time...

They typically schedule the muster drill for 7:45, right before sailaway, which is scheduled for 8:30.

As previously stated, get to your muster station early if you want a seat, even though the muster drill probably won't actually start before at least 8:00.

At 7:45 they are still checking people in and waiting for latecomers.

Do make sure that they check your cabin number off on their list at the entrance to your muster drill station.

Otherwise, they will call out your cabin number and ask you to identify yourselves, causing you to get dirty looks from all the people who have been sitting there patiently waiting for the muster drill to begin.

Early dinner seating starts on time.

The main dining room and Blu (for aqua class passengers) and Luminae (for suite passengers) and the specialty restaurants will all be serving dinner the first evening.

But they won't seat anyone during the time period right before the muster drill is scheduled, so passengers should plan on eating either early or late that first night.

Late seating won't begin until after the muster drill is over, no matter what time is listed for it on the schedule.

Everything else on the ship shuts down during the muster drill.

Even though sailaway is scheduled for 8:30 it may actually be later, especially if they are expecting a lot of late arrivals.

Sailing out of San Juan at night is very scenic. You see the lights of the city on the port side as the ship slowly backs out, before it turns around and heads out to sea.

I went from San Juan on Summit, and although I arrived to the ship later, I believe it started the same as all other sailings.

 

Dinner was also the same. Regular times- early, late, and select.

 

Can't remember muster, but it was after all aboard. Just because it leaves later doesn't mean you can come on later. The terminal crew goes home at a certain hour.

We were on a cruise departing from Venice with an overnight in Venice. Since we knew the ship was not leaving until the following day - we spent the entire day touring Venice and stupidly did not think about when the embarkation would be closing. Turned out it closed around 5:30 and we luckily got there just before they closed!

Yes, the later departure time is to give people more time to arrive who are flying in day of, not because the ship isn't ready at the typical time.

Or because the next port is only a few hours away? I am sailing midnight from Honolulu to Maui.

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