New Boarding Policy???

[jerwick]

Never noticed before in the "important notices" on the cruise personalizer

the following:

 

"CRUISE CHECK-IN NOTIFICATION"

To ensure a smooth start to your voyage, we operate a staggered check-in

schedule for the Grand Princess. We kindly request that you plan to arrive at

or shortly after your scheduled check-in time as noted below, determined by

your deck and cabin number.

 

11:30 AM - Caribe Deck / Cabins C101-C753

12:30 PM - Baja, Fiesta & Lido Decks / Cabins B201-B751, F301-F315, L201-L308

1:30 PM - Dolphin & Emerald Decks / Cabins D103-D737, E101-E733

2:30 PM - Aloha & Plaza Decks / Cabins A201 - A749, P201 - P337

 

Boarding is scheduled to commence at approximately 12 noon. All passengers must

be onboard by 3pm.

 

Is this new or have I missed it before? Always arrive around 11-11;30 and wait in Elite area until ready to board. Anyone experienced this recently?

 

Thanks

 

Jerry

[Sunkissed Mommy]

I am in the cruise personalizer right now and don't see this anywhere- strange!

[stunnedinva]

Never noticed before in the "important notices" on the cruise personalizer

the following:

 

"CRUISE CHECK-IN NOTIFICATION"

To ensure a smooth start to your voyage, we operate a staggered check-in

schedule for the Grand Princess. We kindly request that you plan to arrive at

or shortly after your scheduled check-in time as noted below, determined by

your deck and cabin number.

 

11:30 AM - Caribe Deck / Cabins C101-C753

12:30 PM - Baja, Fiesta & Lido Decks / Cabins B201-B751, F301-F315, L201-L308

1:30 PM - Dolphin & Emerald Decks / Cabins D103-D737, E101-E733

2:30 PM - Aloha & Plaza Decks / Cabins A201 - A749, P201 - P337

 

Boarding is scheduled to commence at approximately 12 noon. All passengers must

be onboard by 3pm.

 

Is this new or have I missed it before? Always arrive around 11-11;30 and wait in Elite area until ready to board. Anyone experienced this recently?

 

Thanks

 

Jerry

 

They did this for our recent cruise from Southampton. But our notice also said that Elite/suite passengers could still board earlier. It really wasn't a problem--they didn't seem to be holding people who were traveling together but on different decks to the schedule. It seems just to be an attempt at crowd control.

[ChiefSealthCruz]

Perhaps it is an experiment being tried by this ship to see if they want to roll this out fleet-wide?

[Pam in CA]

I think this is only at certain ports. They had something like this for our January cruise out of San Pedro. We ignored it as there were four of us arriving by limo but on three different decks. We weren't about to pay for two more limos.

[Host CJSKIDS]

That would really put those that want to board early at a disadvantage for booking like the Chef's Table or the Sanctuary.

 

Those on Caribe get to enjoy 3 extra hours on board than the Plaza deck!!!

[Iamcruzin]

I honestly don't see how this would be possible with flights arriving at different times. What if you are taking a Princess transfer from the airport? Do they board the buses by deck?

[teachtocruis]

Sure hope they don't do this for cruise to Hawaii. We like boarding early. We feel it adds an extra day to our vacation.

Kayla

[Cruise Junky]

I've only seen this when there's been a general delay in the ship getting into port

[Pam in CA]

I honestly don't see how this would be possible with flights arriving at different times. What if you are taking a Princess transfer from the airport? Do they board the buses by deck?

No way to enforce it. It's a recommendation, not a requirement.

[Passin Thru]

Funny Pam! People get their feathers fluffed easily.

[Pam in CA]

Funny Pam! People get their feathers fluffed easily.

Last January, my nephew (one of those people who knows it all) got the embarkation email posted above and planned to arrive at 2:30pm. He never asked us what time we were arriving. Anyway, he lives an hour and a half away from San Pedro. He was half way to the port when he realized he didn't have his passport or ID. He turned around, went back home, called us on the ship demanding to know where his passport was (how would we know?) before he finally found it. He raced back to the port and was late. They almost wouldn't let him board. He claims that someone called Princess and told them he wasn't coming and that was the reason they wouldn't let him board. (That makes sense, right?) He finally boarded and whined throughout the cruise. It's sad to see a 42YO man whining. Did I mention that while I love him, he's something else?

[truckmaker]

I am reminded of something a very wise woman once said to me, "Sometimes people come into our lives to teach us patience." Sounds like the person you mentioned is one of those. I come from an entire family like that. It couldn't possibly be me, could it?

[DeepWaterMariner]

If enough people actually believe these times mean anything then it might help a little to spread out the boarding process. Most people will do what they always do, ignore it...including us. It seems to me Princess use to suggest boarding at 2:00 to avoid the early rush.

[Hoyaheel]

It seems to me Princess use to suggest boarding at 2:00 to avoid the early rush.

 

That's what our cruise personalizer for Sept states (for an Athens departure of 7pm, I think)