Regal Princess 3/24 special embarkation notice

[whitneythegreat]

Received this email notice today :

 

"IMPORTANT NOTICES EMBARKATION UPDATE Please be advised that check-in for your Regal Princess cruise departing on Sunday, March 24, 2019, will now begin at 1:30 PM. Please do not arrive at the terminal prior to 1:30 PM as additional immigration formalities and a U.S. Coast Guard Drill requiring participation from all crew members will be taking place upon the ship's arrival. Embarkation cannot begin until these formalities are complete."

 

 

Usually we show up early, around 11, to be one of the first to board. Does anyone know if this notice will truly change the start time of boarding? I'd hate to be waiting around for hours to get on the ship. Thank you! 

[caribill]

If the Coast Guard really will do their inspection, boarding will not usually start until the Coast Guard is finished. This can be be a couple of hours or longer.  How long it takes depends on if any of the inspection has to be repeated in order for the ship to pass.

 

Obviously the terminal area will become very crowded if check-in is delayed as more and more passengers arrive.

 

In our past experience (which may have no relationship to how things are done now), passengers could check in as normal, but could not board until the inspection was completed.

[Dawniepoo]

We received this same notice for our last Regal cruise in September. We totally ignored it and were on board at the usual time. There were no delays. Hopefully that will be the case for you. 

[lindsaygal]

I just saw this as well, it says that our deck Marina (mini-suite) will board at 3?!? We usually get there around noon and enjoy getting familiar with the board and check in at the kids camp well before the ship leaves at 4! Also, since we have to be out of our hotel by noon, it might make for an interesting start to the cruise leg of our vacation 😞

[voljeep]

28 minutes ago, lindsaygal said:

I just saw this as well, it says that our deck Marina (mini-suite) will board at 3?!? We usually get there around noon and enjoy getting familiar with the board and check in at the kids camp well before the ship leaves at 4! Also, since we have to be out of our hotel by noon, it might make for an interesting start to the cruise leg of our vacation 😞

two different notices - one - Coast Guard - which may effect the actual boarding time ... and two - the notice you got

which is just a suggestion and can be ignored at board somewhat in the order you arrive depending on status

[Luvtennis6060]

The same thing happened to us on the Crown Princess in late November.  We are Elite and did not board until after 3:00.  They are at the mercy of the Coast Guard.  It was a long wait and very unorganized. Do yourself a favor and go have a nice lunch, relax and arrive at the port as suggested by the cruise line.  It was no fun sitting in a chair for 4 hours waiting to board.

 

Cindy

[Colo Cruiser]

As noted above........

Due to it being a CG Drill be prepared for delays.

[LeeW]

Sat in Elite lounge watching cruise drills until after 1.  They were putting late-arriving Elites in the Gold area and running out of space there.  Maybe they will get done early, but depends on how the inspection goes.