A question for those experienced in the art of arriving early on Carnival

[joshac912]

Specifically, Carnival Liberty 9/13/14, Port Canaveral. 4:00 pm departure

 

In my limited cruising experience I, regretfully, arrived at peak crowd time for embarkation. This time I may splurge and get a suite, or at the minimum FTTF, and would be eligible for priority check in. Is there really a huge crowd/line difference in arriving early?

 

I've read in various threads that many folks swear by arriving early, sometimes as early 10:00am. Is that reasonable or too early? With a 4pm departure, what would be the earliest they would board priority and FTTF? (I know FTTF is after suites).

 

Also, is lunch available immediately once they begin boarding?

 

Any other early arrival tips, tricks and experiences you'd like to share would be appreciated. :)

Edited November 19, 2013 by joshac912

[morganboys]

we typically get to the port buy 10 or shortly their after. normally onboard by 11 or 1130. we figure we can wait at the port or wait at the hotel. the wait time is the same either way so why not be near the front of the line getting on the ship. nothing like being one of the first to get to the buffet and have plenty of table to sit at.

[cruzinmamaTN]

In our experience, there really is a significant difference in crowds/lines/waits when arriving early.

 

We typically find lots of available porters, and no security line waits.

 

We've never waited in line to check in.. always walked right up to the counter

Our longest wait to board was about 30 mins, but that was due to winds shutting down the gangway for a bit while they readjusted.

 

We typically arrive between 10-11am.

 

Lido buffet has always been open, as well as many of the bars, all public areas and the pools/hot tubs. It's a great opportunity to walk the ship, become familiar, and get "amost empty/empty" ship pics, if you're interested in that.

 

The other benefit is that the lido is much less busy, so it's easy to quickly grab lunch/brunch and easy to find a table. We typically then grab a pool side chair (almost all are open).. and enjoy an *almost* full day onboard.

Edited November 19, 2013 by cruzinmamaTN

[Aplmac]

Boarding 3,000 people onto one ship takes time and patience.

 

 

Understanding and acceptance are paramount.

Strive to be patient.

Your ship will be visibly Right There -within your eyesight.

Your cruise has already begun, while waiting in line.

 

.

[Gregg00ss]

I usually try to arrive around 10 or so to the port, 1st day is one of your cruise days so I try to maximize it. I've been on as early as 10:30 before. Few cruises I've gone as a group, limo once and other on a bus, so arrived anywhere from 1 pm to 11 ish. Both times was able to walk right on with no wait. Think it's luck of the draw personally.

[stargate fan]

Specifically, Carnival Liberty 9/13/14, Port Canaveral. 4:00 pm departure

 

In my limited cruising experience I, regretfully, arrived at peak crowd time for embarkation. This time I may splurge and get a suite, or at the minimum FTTF, and would be eligible for priority check in. Is there really a huge crowd/line difference in arriving early?

 

I've read in various threads that many folks swear by arriving early, sometimes as early 10:00am. Is that reasonable or too early? With a 4pm departure, what would be the earliest they would board priority and FTTF? (I know FTTF is after suites).

 

Also, is lunch available immediately once they begin boarding?

 

Any other early arrival tips, tricks and experiences you'd like to share would be appreciated. :)

 

We sailed Liberty back in April. We got to port before 9:00, gave our luggage to the porters right away, and started a line outside since they would not let us in until 9:30. We were #1 - #4. :D Since we were Platinum, once we got in, we walked to the right to have our docs checked, then through security. Once we got to the Captain's Lounge, we waited. We made friends with the port employees and the other early birds. By 10:30, the lines to check in in the main section of the port building were crazy! When Platinum passengers were walked onto the ship at 11:30, the check-in line must have had 100+ people in it.

 

We figure that we could wait in a hotel room or wait at the port. We chose the latter and will continue to do so. Our cruise begins as soon as we get to port.

 

Lunch was available as soon as we boarded.

 

[indiaksue]

We like the whole embarkation day event. We usually leave our hotel by 10:30 so we can be at the port by 10:45 to 11:00. Since we are priority, we are whisked away to a shorter security line and right up to check-in, then they escort us to our VIP lounge where we relax and people watch and anticipate embarking. We love being first on the ship and exploring and eating lunch before it gets hectic. It is always with fondness that we remember embarkation days and all the excitement that goes with it, it is the best part of the vacation. :)

 

I suggest to anyone going early if you are not Priority, I would pay to have FTTF. I think it is well worth the money.

[dck12ga]

What is FTTF??:confused: I am pretty sure I am not priority since I have only cruised two times so far! so wondering how to skip the busy lines if possible!

[winddawn]

Specifically, Carnival Liberty 9/13/14, Port Canaveral. 4:00 pm departure

 

In my limited cruising experience I, regretfully, arrived at peak crowd time for embarkation. This time I may splurge and get a suite, or at the minimum FTTF, and would be eligible for priority check in. Is there really a huge crowd/line difference in arriving early?

 

I've read in various threads that many folks swear by arriving early, sometimes as early 10:00am. Is that reasonable or too early? With a 4pm departure, what would be the earliest they would board priority and FTTF? (I know FTTF is after suites).

 

Also, is lunch available immediately once they begin boarding?

 

Any other early arrival tips, tricks and experiences you'd like to share would be appreciated. :)

It really does depend on what's going on with the ship on that particular day. I've gotten on early lots of times, but it doesn't always work out that way.

 

On Conquest earlier this month, I got an email from Carnival the day before embarkation day telling me that if my travel plans were flexible, to arrive early. This is the first time I have received an email like this from Carnival. It turned out though that embarkation was delayed, so arriving early was worthless.

 

Lunch on the Lido deck is always ready when embarkation begins.

[GTO-Girl]

What is FTTF??:confused: I am pretty sure I am not priority since I have only cruised two times so far! so wondering how to skip the busy lines if possible!

 

FTTF gives your priority boarding (after Platinum, etc), your room will be ready as soon as you board (instead of the normal 1:30 time) and if you go to a port where you have to tender you are given priority boarding for that too.

 

It cost $50 per room (not per person)......but they only sell a limited number of these per cruise. I believe it is located under the excursion section of the website and they sell out quickly.

 

Hope this helps....

[manmachine]

we typically get to the port buy 10 or shortly their after. normally onboard by 11 or 1130. we figure we can wait at the port or wait at the hotel. the wait time is the same either way so why not be near the front of the line getting on the ship. nothing like being one of the first to get to the buffet and have plenty of table to sit at.

 

Mmm mmm mmm

[Almost Packed]

I have done both....waited around and had to wait for the masses of people ahead of me to board. That was before I found theses boards and learned I didn't have to wait until 1 pm to begin boarding.

 

As others have stated, you'll be waiting regardless. The ship will set sail when it's ready. So you can wait in your hotel, line, chairs etc. or on the ship. What do you prefer?

 

If you arrive early and check in, then you'll be given a boarding number. They will call you up in that order. If you arrive during peak time, then you have to wait through all the other numbers to board. If you get there early, you are ahead of them. Where do you prefer to do your waiting? Me, I'll take the ship and a drink in my hand. :D

 

FTTF is a great option. I'm platinum now, but before I was, I purchased FTTF and LOVED it.

[Vitamin_Sea]

I would say to get there by 11/1130am and it will not be to bad.

[Sh1035]

The problem with Miami is there is not one good restaurant or anything to do. So I would rather stand in line and eat the same stuff I'm having the next week too. Yes I'm cheap that's why I show up at your house at 5 when invite says 6 ;) I am first in line........

 

Just did the liberty and basically walked into VIP on 9/28. Parking was a pain and a long walk.

[dck12ga]

OK, I get the FTTF and I know they are probably sold out by now but I have gone to the excursion page and I do not even see where you would sign up for it?? do I look at the port that I am leaving from or the first port we stop at??? thank you for your help!

[silvercrikhix]

OK, I get the FTTF and I know they are probably sold out by now but I have gone to the excursion page and I do not even see where you would sign up for it?? do I look at the port that I am leaving from or the first port we stop at??? thank you for your help!

 

The port you leave from :)

[rtap23]

The problem with Miami is there is not one good restaurant or anything to do. So I would rather stand in line and eat the same stuff I'm having the next week too. Yes I'm cheap that's why I show up at your house at 5 when invite says 6 ;) I am first in line........

 

Just did the liberty and basically walked into VIP on 9/28. Parking was a pain and a long walk.

 

Sarcasm I hope

[joshac912]

Thanks everyone for the info. Sounds like the effort of getting there early usually pays off!

 

I went ahead and booked 3 cabins for our extended family of 9. Later, our friends booked a 4th cabin on their own. Anyway, I had bought FTTF for the 3 cabins I had booked and apparently they were the last 3 available because it showed sold out immediately after. Oops... looks like our friends are out of luck! (though according to prior threads, more are released periodically... hopefully)

[ezjack1825]

Both Tampa and Port Canaveral we try to show up between 10-11am and then watch the line of ants coming aboard while we are already on lido deck with a drink in our hands.

[misstopgun]

We are diamond and my husband always gives me a hard time because I want to be there by 11:00.

 

Sometimes it works out and we are onboard by 11:30, sometimes it doesn't. We have boarded as late as 1:30. (and I caught a lot of flack for that one by wanting to be early) It's always the luck of the draw and factors such as late arrival and customs plays a part.

 

We still get there by 11:00 even if I know I might have to deal with the "I told you so's". More often then not we are just in time.

[LovesAllTravel]

Back when I was a cruise newbie and before I found these boards with the wealth of good information, we leisurely drove from Houston to Galveston on embarkation day, stopped for lunch on the way, and made our way onto the ship around 2:30-3:00, thinking sailaway is at 4:00 or 5:00, what's the rush? Well, the majority of cruisers were like us and the lines were craaaazy, we didn't know that lunch was available, nor did we realize that we wasted most of Day 1 of our cruise.

 

Flash forward to the present, and 15 cruises later: we almost always arrive around 11:00-11:30, are usually on-board by noon, have lunch, and explore the ship and get settled in for our cruise. We follow this same schedule whether we fly in to the port the day before or sail from our home port of Galveston. Its definitely less stressful!

 

I also love embarkation day -- even after 18 cruises -- I still get a thrill from seeing the ship docked and ready for us, the friendly port staff, and that first ding when you insert your Sailaway card into the reader. The cruise staff makes you feel like they've been waiting for you and are ready to show you a great cruise.

 

If you follow the mid- to late-morning check-in, your cruise will get off to a great start and you will be in vacation mode without a lot of stress. Enjoy your cruise!

[cruzingramma]

We r platinum and will b cruising with my sister and her husband on their first cruise. We would like to board with them. Do we go to the platinum lounge area to check in and get our S&S cards then join them in the general boarding area? I know they will receive boarding number card, will we also get one or can we board without one just using our platinum S&S to board? Thanks!!!

 

 

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[redxpanda]

For all of the cruises I have planned (all but the first CCL in my sig) I have set an 11am arrival time at the port terminal for ourselves. If we have to park our car, I aim for a 10:30am arrival time at the parking lot/garage. We park offsite if possible, so that 30 mins gives us time to wait for the shuttle, etc, so we can still arrive around 11am at the terminal.

 

Except for our last cruise, when the Dream was very late getting back to Port Canaveral, this worked really well. There is minimal waiting in line for security and check-in. We are always boarding the ship within an hour of our arrival, shortly after the VIP groups.

 

We have done this at PC, Miami, and Honolulu. For CCL, NCL, and Disney, and we've had the same results for all ports and cruise lines.

Edited November 23, 2013 by redxpanda

[W6ORZ]

OK, I get the FTTF and I know they are probably sold out by now but I have gone to the excursion page and I do not even see where you would sign up for it?? do I look at the port that I am leaving from or the first port we stop at??? thank you for your help!

Go to My Cruise Manager on the Carnival web page.

I just added Faster To The Fun to our cruise (Carnival Pride, Baltimore, 1/19/14).

Select My Activities

Click on the Shop Activities button

Faster to the Fun usually shows up as a highlighted Shore Excursion - if not click View All Shore Excursions.

When you find it click Select.

If you don't see it, the FTTF allotment may be sold out.

If you don't see it, you may