Have you ever been the first person to check in?

[CASPALL]

Have you ever been first to check in?

Either at Southampton or at the airport for a fly cruise.

 

No matter how "early" we have checked in, there has always been a queue in front of us.

 

Caryl

[cruiseluvva]

We have been the first to board at Southampton, though we weren't first to check-in - that was in the days when we all had to wait in the lounge at the Mayflower.

 

We have also been first to check-in and board, by several hours, in Barbados. As we don't ever take the P&O charter flights, we had flown out a few days earlier. We had to check-out of the hotel by 11am, so I had previously called P&O to ask when we could board. They told us 11.30, so by the time we got to the port, it was indeed just before 11.30.

 

They weren't actually set up with their computers at the check-in shed, so they just looked at their lists to ensure we were actually on the cruise, took our luggage and passports and escorted us onto the ship. We were on board by 11.35am - about 3 or 4 hours before the first charter flight arrived. We will be doing exactly the same next March.

[StLucia]

We were the first to check in at East Midlands Airport for the complimentary coach down to Southampton. Got on the first coach and were one of the first to arrive at the ship. We watched other coaches arriving from round the country from the balcony while we were unpacking. Some didn't get there till gone 4pm and we were on by midday.

Janet

[Adammara]

We were first on in the good old days when check in opened at midday, and boarding started at 2pm. We were treating ourselves to a suite, and they were called first, we just 'happened' to be sitting next to the doorway to the ship.

 

Richard

[jocap]

When we went to the naming ceremony of Azura, we were all given the usual numbered card, and were called up in order...we were about no.120. As we went down the roped off way, I noticed a lot of people were just coming into the terminal, walking round the outside of the ropes, flinging their cards onto any old desk and going straight to the first empty desk. Of course, it doesn't matter to the check in clerks who comes next, but we were amazed at the brazen way they did this. That must be how some people manage to get on board early!!!

Of course, most of the pax were VIPs, and probably not used to waiting....the rest of us were all just very lucky plebs...

Jo.

[CASPALL]

Jo - I've seen people skip the queue like this at Southampton . Always very oldies. People let them off because of their age I suppose.

 

Caryl

[jg96]

We have been the first to board at Southampton, though we weren't first to check-in - that was in the days when we all had to wait in the lounge at the Mayflower.

 

On P&O we've only ever been out of the ocean terminal, do you still have to wait in the departure lounge still?

[cruisebore]

We have often been in the first few at check in at the airport, but surprisingly the best seats have already gone???. I think the walking wounded have pre booked them. However, the Caribbean air soon works its magic and most are running & dancing around in no time. Sadly and I can find no explanation for this, their maladies appear to return once they are about to disembark.

 

Cb

[CASPALL]

Oh so true cruisebore!!!!! LOL!!!!:D

 

Caryl

[Merlin7]

Have never been first on board

 

Earliest ever was sitting in the Crows Nest at around 12.10pm sipping our drink and enjoying the sandwiches!

 

BTW, we did not have priority embarkation because there were too many goldies!!

[LibraLass41]

We were first on in the good old days when check in opened at midday, and boarding started at 2pm. We were treating ourselves to a suite, and they were called first, we just 'happened' to be sitting next to the doorway to the ship.

 

Richard

 

Richard, (said with a smile and a wink...) How can it be the 'good old days' having to wait 2 hours from check-in till boarding sitting in the waiting lounge?

 

I remember doing this back in 2006 on our first few cruises...yawn... surely its much better now with the idea in Ocean, you get a numbered card on arrival sit down and are called in letter groups -usually 100 or so to a letter. Before in 'the old days' you stood and queued for up to half hour or more to check in, then sat and waited for 1-2 hrs, now you can be onboard within 30-45 mins from arriving...:D

[jg96]

Our worst experience in a terminal was the QE2 terminal, where when going out on the QE2 there were no seats, no numbers being called, and we were only onboard an hour before the muster drill, despite getting at the terminal over3 hours prior to this.

[CASPALL]

I remember our first time at Southampton Terminal -it was like a cattle market. We had to sit for nearly 2 hrs and there was nothing there- 1 vending machine which sold out of water in the first half hour

 

It is nice being Gold and getting a glass of fizz and a curled up sandwich when you board, but apart from a smaller queue at check in there's no real benefit. You still have to queue with the masses at security, waiting for people to take their jackets/shoes/whatever off at the last minute.Groan!

 

On our fly cruises P&O served free drinks,crisps and sandwiches when we boarded the ship.(We weren't goldies then )

Does anyone know if they still do this or have they had to cut back on that freebie. It was a nice touch.

 

Caryl