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QM2 boarding time in Brooklyn


steilkurve
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It means that there's usually a crowd when they begin embarkation around 12:30. And as a grill passenger, you can board immediately (Britannia passengers are given staggered boarding times). However, the reality is that if they're boarding, you can join the queue regardless of the time on your VP. As a grill passenger, you should also have expedited check-in at the counter.

 

It can be a crapshoot, as much of it all is at the mercy of US Customs, so it can change (especially the first arrival of the season). Most of the time, the initial rush is through by 2:00-2:30 or so.

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It means that there's usually a crowd when they begin embarkation around 12:30. And as a grill passenger, you can board immediately (Britannia passengers are given staggered boarding times). However, the reality is that if they're boarding, you can join the queue regardless of the time on your VP. As a grill passenger, you should also have expedited check-in at the counter.

 

It can be a crapshoot, as much of it all is at the mercy of US Customs, so it can change (especially the first arrival of the season). Most of the time, the initial rush is through by 2:00-2:30 or so.

 

 

Many thanks for the information. One last question if I may. The expedited check in means there is a special line for Grills passengers? Is there also a different security line? We’ve sailed The Haven on NCL and they actually check you in separately and then escort you into the ship bypassing all the regular bottlenecks. Should we expect the same type of experience here? Thanks again.

 

 

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No at 'Brooklyn' you'll clear security with everyone else 'Before' you approach the main check -in desks. You will then join the check-in line for Grills & Diamond guest's . After check-in, you will be directed to the 'holding lounge area' Grills & Diamond.

Boarding the ship will not commence until the ship has had clearance from the local authorities.

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Hello all. VP says my QM2 boarding time in Brooklyn for a PG cabin is 12:30 pm. What is people's experience? Should I show up earlier? Thanks.

 

FWIW, I'll give you my experience based on over a dozen embarkations in Brooklyn.

 

Once you get past security screening you will be given a health questionaire which must be filled in and presented to the check in agent. There is a Priority Checkin line, for Grills, Diamond and Platinium passengers, all the way to the extreme left. These passengers are sent to an available agent ahead of anyone in the "regular" check in line. You'll want to make sure to look for the Priority line as the other line is usually quite long.

 

As a Grills passenger you'll normally be handed a boarding card that lets you go straight to the ship - unless you show up so early that the staterooms are not yet ready. If that's the case you will be sent to a lounge,

 

Generally speaking the earlier you show up the more crowded it will be. (Almost everyone wants to have lunch and be unpacked before muster but it's logictically impossible.) I say "generally" because things can foul up the process like inadequate immigration staffing that delays disembarking passengers from clearing the terminal. Or USPHS or Coast Guard inspections that might delay opening the ship to embarking passengers.

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We were "in transit" in Brooklyn recent on a back to back cruise and did not wish to go into Brooklyn or Manhattan. We saw folks at the check-in desks around 10:30am and no queues.

 

The queues are long and painful waiting for a check-in agent; even for Queens Grill guests. No queue jump as you still have to queue for separate check-in desks. It is a much shorter queue.

 

In short, go as early as you can and ignore the time on your e-ticket. They let you through if there are no line. You get to board around 11-ish. Same as for in-transit guests.

 

You still have to wait until 1pm for lunch in the Grills lounge.

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If this is a crossing the VIP check-in line should save you time. On the Christmas Caribbean cruise there are so many Platinums and Diamonds that I've seen the VIP line longer than the regular line (the VIP line still moves faster).

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Yes. It is for a Crossing. Your information is helpful. Thank you. We’re staying the night before in a downtown hotel. Given embarkation is on a Friday and traffic may hold us back, we will depart the hotel at 10:45 and then see what happens when we get there.

 

 

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We were "in transit" in Brooklyn recent on a back to back cruise and did not wish to go into Brooklyn or Manhattan. We saw folks at the check-in desks around 10:30am and no queues.

 

The queues are long and painful waiting for a check-in agent; even for Queens Grill guests. No queue jump as you still have to queue for separate check-in desks. It is a much shorter queue.

 

In short, go as early as you can and ignore the time on your e-ticket. They let you through if there are no line. You get to board around 11-ish. Same as for in-transit guests.

 

You still have to wait until 1pm for lunch in the Grills lounge.

When embarking we have always been dropped off by the car service around 11:00. Security and check-in have been quick, then we have waited in the Grills/Platinum/Diamond lounge. Boarding has always started at 12:00.

 

Last year we were in transit from Québec to Southampton. We were allowed to re-board shortly after 11:00. Embarking passengers were delayed slightly. It was after 12:00 before they started boarding.

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When embarking we have always been dropped off by the car service around 11:00. Security and check-in have been quick, then we have waited in the Grills/Platinum/Diamond lounge. Boarding has always started at 12:00.

 

 

 

Last year we were in transit from Québec to Southampton. We were allowed to re-board shortly after 11:00. Embarking passengers were delayed slightly. It was after 12:00 before they started boarding.

 

 

Thanks David. Sounds like leaving our hotel which is supposed to be 15 minutes from terminal (without traffic) at 10:45 makes sense then. I’ll be sure and report back on our experience.

 

 

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When embarking we have always been dropped off by the car service around 11:00. Security and check-in have been quick, then we have waited in the Grills/Platinum/Diamond lounge. Boarding has always started at 12:00.

 

Last year we were in transit from Québec to Southampton. We were allowed to re-board shortly after 11:00. Embarking passengers were delayed slightly. It was after 12:00 before they started boarding.

That seems to be the normal, expected timing - but sometimes threre are delays.

Last September, we arrived and dropped of luggage just after noon, but needed to wait most of an hour before the terminal doors opened and the first batch of passengers was admitted to security screening.

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Steilkurve, if you insist on arriving so early, let me do a bit more expectation setting. The Grills/Diamond/Platinum waiting lounge is spartan at best. I recall a separate room with stackable chairs in rows and perhaps some water in paper cups. Also, such a high proportion of crossers are Platinum or higher (we are), that the room gets filled quickly. No, you will not be escorted through the terminal by crew members, but I can guarantee you'll be barked at by at least one member of the brusque-to-a-fault NY Port Authority staff when walking through the terminal. (Perhaps a canine member as well)

 

- Mark

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As an alternative, let me mention our plans for September.

 

 

  1. bring bags down to bell captain to check early, around 11:00, before the check-out elevator crush (It's a big hotel)
  2. Return to room, review documents, read, and watch TV for a few minutes. Check out on TV before noon.
  3. Walk to brunch across the street and relax until 1:15 or so.
  4. Return to hotel by 1:30 to claim bags and wait for scheduled Dial7 pickup (they will usually arrive a bit early around 1:20-25)
  5. Arrive in Red Hook 2:00-2:30. Walk on ship.

- Mark

Edited by MarkBearSF
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Hello all. VP says my QM2 boarding time in Brooklyn for a PG cabin is 12:30 pm. What is people's experience? Should I show up earlier? Thanks.

 

Hi steilkurve,

Our experience last year at Brooklyn was no different then the other years we sailed. Living only 12 minutes away from the port/dock, we arrived about 11:30 at the front of the Terminal. We did still encounter some of the final passengers coming off the ship from the previous sailing. Our check in was pretty fast if you have your doucments (passports/etickets) available for pre check in line before security. Security was a breeze and we headed to Grill/Diamond Line being in Diamond CWC. Again pretty quick and directed to the Grill/Diamond Lounge which was about 3/4 full but still seats. Yes there was Water, Punch and Coffee/Danish-Pastry available. The doors did open at 12 Noon passing thru the Optional Embarkation Picture taking offered. On to the Gangway and Onboard we were. Our experience was pretty routine to the dozens of time we sailed from Brooklyn.

 

Unfortunately many people do arrive early wanting to start the sailing experience. One thing you will experience if you don't want to wait till 1PM to dine in the Grill, is vast crowds in the Kings Court Buffet influx of those inital passengers that boarded ahead of you. Challenging to say the least.

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Ok. OP here. We’re now on QM2. Left our downtown hotel at 11:20 am. Got to the the pier at 11:50 am. Really no wait at security or check in. A bit of hesitation at the gangway. We were on board around 12:25 pm. Believe it or not, it could have been faster. Check in rep seemed on his first day on the job and unsure of what to do. Also, had to argue a bit with the greeter at the check in line who said Princess Grill was just our restaurant and did not grant us access to the VIP line... Some training needed here. Aside from that, this was one of our fastest embarkation since we started cruising in 1996! Great salmon in the PG for lunch. Looking forward to dinner. Thanks all for the info.

 

 

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