Unfair boarding times.

[sverigecruiser]

Ultimately, however, if early boarding is essential, it might make sense to restrict your cruising to lines which enforce schedules—- and be willing to pay for any preference available.

 

Or pick a cruiseline with priority boarding for suites. (MSC are supposed to have that but we got a late time assigned, as I said it wasn't enforced.)

 

Or pick a cruiseline where those who arrival to the port first also board first.

[bUU]

It should be equally silly if they decided to enforce the early embarkation times. Someone arrival at 11.30 and are denied boarding because their assigned time was 11. I should not be happy about it!

Carnival actually has staggered boarding and enforces it. The time you are allocated is the earliest you can arrive. There is no "latest" except when necessary to be aboard in time for muster and sail away - the same time for all staggered arrival times.

 

I guess we just have to disagree but I really think that it's unfair that some might get some extra hours on the ship.

Just keep in mind that you're not disagreeing with me: You're disagreeing with the cruise lines that you would do business with. That's a sure-fire way of setting yourself up for disappointment. I hope, when that disappointment comes, that you take responsibility for it rather than attempting to foist it off on the cruise line.

[sverigecruiser]

Carnival actually has staggered boarding and enforces it. The time you are allocated is the earliest you can arrive. There is no "latest" except when necessary to be aboard in time for muster and sail away - the same time for all staggered arrival times.

 

How can we know that it's the earlier time when they don't inform us about it? They can say that someone missing their time won't be allowed to embark.

[sverigecruiser]

Just keep in mind that you're not disagreeing with me: You're disagreeing with the cruise lines that you would do business with. That's a sure-fire way of setting yourself up for disappointment. I hope, when that disappointment comes, that you take responsibility for it rather than attempting to foist it off on the cruise line.

 

I think that we disagree if it's unfair or not.

 

If I ever get a late assigned time again and it's enforced I will question what they mean with priority boarding but I will not take that fight during embarkation, I will do it when I'm back home after the cruise.

[MicCanberra]

Neither can we. I suspect that some people are desperate to get to the buffet. We prefer to linger, avoid the crowds, and essentially be able to walk on to the ship without lining up.

Agreed on barding later and missing the scrum of getting on before noon. Better the wait and board stress free with no lines.

[John Bull]

How can we know that it's the earlier time when they don't inform us about it? They can say that someone missing their time won't be allowed to embark.

 

HUH?:confused:

 

I think you've misunderstood bUU's post.

Or am I misunderstanding yours? :rolleyes:

 

You can arrive after your allocated time.

If for instance you're allocated 12.30 that means they're not obliged to register / board you before 12.30 (though, as many posts on this thread, they might - especially if there's not a long line).

But if you arrive at, say, 1.30pm that's fine.

 

It's only a problem if you arrive after last-boarding time. Usually 90 mins to 2 hrs before sailing time and the time noted somewhere on your paperwork.

 

JB :)

[MicCanberra]

You definitely don't want to leave it too late.

[sverigecruiser]

HUH?:confused:

 

I think you've misunderstood bUU's post.

Or am I misunderstanding yours? :rolleyes:

 

You can arrive after your allocated time.

If for instance you're allocated 12.30 that means they're not obliged to register / board you before 12.30 (though, as many posts on this thread, they might - especially if there's not a long line).

But if you arrive at, say, 1.30pm that's fine.

 

It's only a problem if you arrive after last-boarding time. Usually 90 mins to 2 hrs before sailing time and the time noted somewhere on your paperwork.

 

JB :)

 

In my documents there was no information about that it was possible to arrive later than the assigned time.

 

What if everyone arrive late? The cruise will defenitely be delayed then.

[Shmoo here]

It's always been my understanding that when I book a cruise the cruise is listed as an XX NIGHT cruise (not XX DAYS). So, boarding anytime before, say 6:00 pm would not be considered part of the cruise. OP isn't "missing out" on any part of the cruise, IMO.

[MicCanberra]

Good point, it explains why some ships don't offer many daytime activities.

[sverigecruiser]

It's always been my understanding that when I book a cruise the cruise is listed as an XX NIGHT cruise (not XX DAYS). So, boarding anytime before, say 6:00 pm would not be considered part of the cruise. OP isn't "missing out" on any part of the cruise, IMO.

 

As I see it the OP miss a few hours on the ship, including one meal.

 

Maybe everything, bars, restaurants, pools etc. should be closed during embarkation (10-16?). Then a late boardingtime should be less unfair.

 

I looked in MSCs brochure and they list both number of days and number of nights. For example 12 days - 11 nights.

[Z'Loth]

First world problems. And here I was worried that my two week vacation in September which includes a ten day cruise doesn't get yoinked on me at the last minute by work. Never mind making my flight to Miami to board my ship.

[sverigecruiser]

First world problems. And here I was worried that my two week vacation in September which includes a ten day cruise doesn't get yoinked on me at the last minute by work. Never mind making my flight to Miami to board my ship.

 

Yes, absolutely first world problems.

[John Bull]

In my documents there was no information about that it was possible to arrive later than the assigned time.

 

What if everyone arrive late? The cruise will defenitely be delayed then.

 

Poor phraseology by the cruise line unless you missed it in the paperwork.

Or perhaps they simply presumed that folk would know that the time quoted was merely the earliest time. Folk book their travel-to-port arrangements before they're told their embarkation slot, so there'll be plenty who can't arrive by that time.

 

Yes, if everyone arrived late there'd be bedlam. :eek:

But this thread demonstrates that most folk want to board early, so that's not going to happen.:)

 

JB :)

[MicCanberra]

I am not sure that bedlam will ensue unless of course, the cruise line starts to leave without them.

[jagsfan]

We got assigned an early time for our high deck although it wasn't checked. The terminal was waaay less full than we expected at 11.00 though which makes me wonder if it was enforced.

 

 

 

I do agree with your point a little. I think Royal should do what other lines do and get cruisers to choose their check in online then it's first come first served.

 

 

 

What cruise lines allow passengers to choose their check in time online?

 

 

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[MicCanberra]

What cruise lines allow passengers to choose their check in time online?

 

 

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Some cabin categories have allocated early time slots and of course those with loyalty status also can board with priority but Royal, Princess, Carnival, P&O and X all do it here in Australia, although it is first in best dressed and slots fill in quickly.

[mjkacmom]

what cruise lines allow passengers to choose their check in time online?

 

 

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ncl.

[bUU]

What cruise lines allow passengers to choose their check in time online?

Carnival, for one.

 

This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos.

[sverigecruiser]

Poor phraseology by the cruise line unless you missed it in the paperwork.

Or perhaps they simply presumed that folk would know that the time quoted was merely the earliest time. Folk book their travel-to-port arrangements before they're told their embarkation slot, so there'll be plenty who can't arrive by that time.

 

Yes, if everyone arrived late there'd be bedlam. :eek:

But this thread demonstrates that most folk want to board early, so that's not going to happen.:)

 

JB :)

 

I did not missed it in the paperwork. I checked it before I wrote that post just in case I had missed it.

 

Some people might assume that the given time is the latest time they can arrive, not the earliest.

 

Yes, folk book their travel to port arrangements before they are told their embarkation slot so some people may arrange to get to port around 9 before they know that their assigned time is 15. Very unfair, I think.

 

As you said, most people seem to prefer to board early and because of that I think that it's unfair that some can board and have lunch and some drinks if other are told to wait outside the terminal for a few more hours.

[navybankerteacher]

 

...

 

Yes, folk book their travel to port arrangements before they are told their embarkation slot so some people may arrange to get to port around 9 before they know that their assigned time is 15. Very unfair, I think.

 

As you said, most people seem to prefer to board early and because of that I think that it's unfair that some can board and have lunch and some drinks if other are told to wait outside the terminal for a few more hours.

 

I get the feeling that you either have a different understanding of the meaning of “fair”, or you simply cannot grasp the concept that there are limitations on the number of people who can be processed at the same time.

 

Just because something does not work out precisely how someone would like it to does not make it unfair: it makes it part of real life.

[sverigecruiser]

I get the feeling that you either have a different understanding of the meaning of “fair”, or you simply cannot grasp the concept that there are limitations on the number of people who can be processed at the same time.

 

I absolutely understand that there are limitations on the number of people who can be processed at the same time and I have no problem with that people are assigned different times. The problem is how it's done.

 

If people could select a time when they booked, no problem.

 

If people get a time based on their deck or roomtype, no problem if they are informed about it when the cruise is booked.

 

If everything on the ship was closed during the embarkation so that the boarding time didn't matter as much that should feel okay too, I think.

 

What I don't think is fair is that people are just given a boarding time and the times differ with a few hours. I really think that it's amazing that not everyone think that it's unfair that some are allowed to spend maybe four hours extra on the ship when others are told that they have to wait to board.

 

Now when many have some kind of beverage packet, at least on some cruiseines, the best thing might be if everything was closed until everyone has boarded. I shouldn't like that but it should be more fair.

[Texas Tillie]

I absolutely understand that there are limitations on the number of people who can be processed at the same time and I have no problem with that people are assigned different times. The problem is how it's done.

 

If people could select a time when they booked, no problem.

 

If people get a time based on their deck or roomtype, no problem if they are informed about it when the cruise is booked.

 

If everything on the ship was closed during the embarkation so that the boarding time didn't matter as much that should feel okay too, I think.

 

What I don't think is fair is that people are just given a boarding time and the times differ with a few hours. I really think that it's amazing that not everyone think that it's unfair that some are allowed to spend maybe four hours extra on the ship when others are told that they have to wait to board.

 

Now when many have some kind of beverage packet, at least on some cruiseines, the best thing might be if everything was closed until everyone has boarded. I shouldn't like that but it should be more fair.

 

 

I probably shouldn't get into what could be considered politics, but I see that you are from Sweden, a country most Americans would consider "socialist". Things being "fair" are part of the socialist philosophy. We don't operate (at least yet!) on that philosophy in the USA. So, for the most part we will never agree. Remember that most of these cruise lines are operated in the American fashion.

[jagsfan]

Carnival, for one.

 

This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos.

 

 

 

It looks like Princess and RCI are the outliers. I didn’t realize any cruise line let you pick your boarding time.

We sail out of Pt Everglades alternating the two lines. Because we have to check out of the condo we rent for a week, we are at the terminal by 11, regardless of the time we receive in the cruise line email.

I sure hope they don’t change boarding times from suggested to mandated.

 

 

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[sverigecruiser]

I probably shouldn't get into what could be considered politics, but I see that you are from Sweden, a country most Americans would consider "socialist". Things being "fair" are part of the socialist philosophy. We don't operate (at least yet!) on that philosophy in the USA. So, for the most part we will never agree. Remember that most of these cruise lines are operated in the American fashion.

 

None of the opinions I have given can be called "socialist".

 

It's in no way a socialist thing that I think that it's unfair that some passengers will board in time for lunch and others are told that they have to wait. I think that it's very unamerican if you want lunch and just accept that you won't get it without saying something about it. Of course if you don't want to board early and have lunch and some drinks you have no reason to say anything but then you might not understand why some people think that it's unfair.

 

I know this is first world problems but this is a cruiseforum so almost every problem we can discuss here is a first world problem!

Edited July 23, 2018 by sverigecruiser