Why all the zones for embarkation?

[Missiowa]

just wondering why all the different zones and lines for embarkation? Why not let people board first come first serve? Maybe I don't understand all the process in miami but it sounds like many lines you have to go though before you can load. Get in line here, then go over there, then up the escalator, then thru security then over there etc. what are all those lines for?

[beachbum6264]

Quite a few people arrive before the ship is totally ready for them to board, so you will have to wait. It is 1st come (well, VIP and weddings go first), then they start with zone 1, who will board first, after VIP and wedding parties. Clear as mud, I know!

[riffatsea]

They DO board first come first served. That is how you get your boarding zone number. People who get there early have earlier zones. The ONLY exception is that weddings and platinum cruisers go before the "ordinary folk".

[shof515]

I wish carnival can adopt a similar setup that i think RCI does, were they take your mugshot at the checkin counter instead of you getting near the gangway then they take your picture for the sail n sign card. It might speed up the boarding process

[Missiowa]

We have a wheelchair, so will we have to go get a zone # or do we get to board after wedding s? I am hoping to go early and get on early.

[shof515]

We have a wheelchair, so will we have to go get a zone # or do we get to board after wedding s? I am hoping to go early and get on early.

 

you will get your boarding zone number during checkin. Right after you get your sail n sign cards, you will be handed a zone number

[Scrapbookhappy11]

I never had a zone card. I got on the ship around 12:45 and had no problem.

[croozlady]

We get a wheelchair at the port for our daughter. We usually have to wait a few minutes for someone to bring one down for us, but then we are escorted into the elevator and up to where platinum and weddings board. We have never been given a zone number, we are escorted on after weddings and platinum...

[Missiowa]

Woohooo! To the front of the line? Cool. We are bringing our own wheelchair from home. The disabled are special people. They would do anything not to ne in the wheelchair. They deserve to go first.

[amready]

The zone cards are not always given out first come, first serve. In San Juan it depends upon which agent checks you in. We received a higher zone card than people checking in a half hour after us, so I asked and was told it just depends on which agent you had. They also told me it was no big deal. :confused:

[BenjiRodney]

We were lucky in Miami we arrived after the boarding had begun, so by the time we got through security, got our cards we could go right on board.

[B and C Blake]

They DO board first come first served. That is how you get your boarding zone number. People who get there early have earlier zones. The ONLY exception is that weddings and platinum cruisers go before the "ordinary folk".

 

Unless the 'ordinary folk' as you put it have a suite booked then they board with platinum

[gmros]

I wish carnival can adopt a similar setup that i think RCI does, were they take your mugshot at the checkin counter instead of you getting near the gangway then they take your picture for the sail n sign card. It might speed up the boarding process

 

On our RCI cruise last month that left Port Canaveral, they didn't take our picture at the check-in counter. They took it near the gangway. Maybe it depends on the cruise terminal?

 

We were lucky in Miami we arrived after the boarding had begun, so by the time we got through security, got our cards we could go right on board.

 

What time does boarding usually start? I still have to arrange our flights.

[StarAFire]

Just got off the Valor today. When we checked in, we somehow missed the people giving out the zone cards. They wouldn't let me back out to get one. and one even told me that they weren't giving them out anymore... although, we saw about 50 people get one after us. they told us we had to wait for general boarding then. so we ended up watching all the people after us get on board before us. So I would advise if you are there early, keep an eye out for those folks. We had to wait almost 2 hours, before they called general boarding.

[stargate fan]

We have a wheelchair, so will we have to go get a zone # or do we get to board after wedding s? I am hoping to go early and get on early.

 

You can request a card for "special assistance" so you can board after the wedding guests.

[shof515]

glory embarkation card from port of new york:

[mikesteg]

In Galveston 7 or 8 years ago it was a total [fill in the blank]. They would ask people to sit in 'zones' of chairs and then be orderly when the boarding process started. Poeple acted like.... well, people do these days.

 

If you arrvied early, but happened to get stuck towards the far end of one of the first rows, the most recent people would just do an end run around the seating area and get in front. You could get screwed to the turn of 30 or 45 minutes extra wait.

 

The boarding cards are a good thing... as long as the people actually run the system and they are somewhat enforced.

[kcross3625]

Ok - dumb question. Are the zone cards for people who get to the ship before boarding begins? We got to the port at noon and we just walked on the ship (well had a little bit of a line at security.) We weren't give an zone card.

[kujobie]

Ok - dumb question. Are the zone cards for people who get to the ship before boarding begins? We got to the port at noon and we just walked on the ship (well had a little bit of a line at security.) We weren't give an zone card.

 

Yes.

[fireofficer5]

Another cut back of staffing.

Used to be people could arrive from 11 till before sailing.

Now there is only a three hour window.

[stargate fan]

Another cut back of staffing.

Used to be people could arrive from 11 till before sailing.

Now there is only a three hour window.

 

We always arrive at our port by 9:00, the port building usually opens by 9:30, get our #1 Zone card, go inside, and people watch until embarkation. The only exception was Splendor in Long Beach in April. We still got to the port by 9:00, were given our #1 Zone card, but waited outside, people watching, until embarkation.