How early can one embark?

[Slumdog Millionaire]

Our ship leaves at 4:00PM. Thank you.

[wrigley80]

What cruise port are you cruising out of?? I always try to be at the port by 9:30...or 10:00 at the latest. We have priority embarkation

[Slumdog Millionaire]

Port Everglades

[TheNauticalTraveler]

In my experience, you can typically arrive at the port around 9:45am - 10:15am, and wait outside the terminal building until the staff are ready to take incoming passengers.

 

It can really vary though. All depends on factors out of your control - ships arrival, port authority, Carnival staff readiness...

[cruiser fanatic]

Check in most of the time starts at 10:00. No point in getting there any earlier then that.

Edited January 26, 2015 by cruiser fanatic

[WindsorFred]

Check in starts at 10:00.

We've been there between 10 and 10:30 twice so far. Waited a little bit outside before they allowed us to enter the bldg.

[DKNE]

We got to the terminal at 10:40am and boarded the ship exactly 12pm.

[RWolver672]

It also depends on how early the ship arrives and how early the previous passengers debark from the ship. If there's one person still onboard from the last cruise, they won't start boarding until they find that person and get them off the ship.

 

We had FTTF. Got to the port at 10:30 and walked right in and checked in. Sat in the holding area until 11:45 before they started boarding.

[funinthesun1964]

A lot of variables can happen here. Can't really say one particular time because of the variables, but generally we like to arrive at the port no later than 11. We normally check in right away, but boarding can vary. Sometimes there can be an inspection, custom troubles, a previous passenger problem that calls for law enforcement or others, etc. We have been on board as early as 11:00 and as late as 1:30. Wedding parties board first, then Diamond/Platinum/FTTF, then others.