Bayonne and Oasis

[broadwaybaby123]

3 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

It was a CDC / cruise line restart protocol agreement that only a certain number of people could be inside the building at one time to go through the process of security and check in to board.  Unfortunately, as a result, being outdoors waiting in line to enter is intentional in order to comply with this.  The next check in time group has to wait outside while the previous group is completing this, which is another good reason to not show up early to your boarding time.   Not convenient in inclement weather.  You also are still required (by the port authority) to wear a mask while in the terminal.  

 

 

We didn't mind doing it, but we weren't warned AT ALL that we would be OUTSIDE so we packed our jackets in our checked luggage...not doing that again for our cruise in July!

[leaveitallbehind]

6 minutes ago, broadwaybaby123 said:

We didn't mind doing it, but we weren't warned AT ALL that we would be OUTSIDE so we packed our jackets in our checked luggage...not doing that again for our cruise in July!

Sounds like our April 10 Anthem cruise - haled as we sailed under the VN bridge!  Having sailed out of Bayonne in October on Oasis we knew what to expect with the outdoor wait and dressed with long sleeves and a vest.  

Edited May 17, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[broadwaybaby123]

Just now, leaveitallbehind said:

Sounds like our April 10 Anthem cruise - hailed as we sailed under the VN bridge!  Having sailed out of Bayonne in October on Oasis we knew what to expect with the outdoor wait and dressed with long sleeves and a vest.  

Close, April 28th!

[meadowlander]

10 hours ago, Mkripke said:

Hello

 

We are heading out this weekend and I have heard that the port is a bit unorganized, can anyone let me know if they have seen improvements yet?

Once inside the terminal at Cape Liberty there is no disorganization. There is no disorganization outside either except for those cruisers who ignore their appointment time, get in line when they should not, are turned away at the entrance and slow the process for all others. 

 

If people adhered to their assigned times, no one would be waiting outside be it warm, rainy or freezing weather. They also would not negatively impacting those who do adhere to scheduled entry times.

[Biker19]

9 hours ago, meadowlander said:

If people adhered to their assigned times, no one would be waiting outside be it warm, rainy or freezing weather.

The COVID era check in process is slow enough that you'd likely have a back up with a full Oasis sailing even with just the regularly scheduled customers.

[nu_cruzer1]

On the May 15-22 sailing now. Had a 10:30am checkin plus the key. Drove to port and arrived at 10:20.  Line to the terminal was slow as people had to wait for others to unload their luggage.  We forgo dropping off our bags and came out of the line and went to park first. The parking garage was restricted for those with handicapped signs so all others had to park in the outside lot. We walked back to the terminal and dropped off our luggage. The line for 10:30 was already allowed to enter so we followed it. There were a lot of people already at the port and the line was very long. If you are within your check in I would bypass the line and proceed to the terminal. It’s likely that the line you’re seeing is for other check in tImes. Once inside the terminal there was a line for key guests to go through security. After passing through security there was NO key privileges for check in. There is a separate line after you pass through security for star class and pinnacle to check in. Didn’t notice a banner for suites check in but I’m fairly certain that suite guests were being directed to an area near the star class banner and had priority check in.

[leaveitallbehind]

1 hour ago, nu_cruzer1 said:

After passing through security there was NO key privileges for check in. There is a separate line after you pass through security for star class and pinnacle to check in. Didn’t notice a banner for suites check in but I’m fairly certain that suite guests were being directed to an area near the star class banner and had priority check in.

With our October Oasis and April Anthem cruises Key was in the center of the check in area with a line of its own that was not much faster than the rest.  There were only a couple of dedicated check in agents handling Key only which gave no real faster to board advantage to that aspect of the program at that terminal that I could see - just its own line. 

 

The suite (which includes Star class) and Pinnacle check in was at the far left of the lines in front of the suite / Pinnacle waiting area and had a couple of dedicated agents working to check that line in.  This is where theses individuals always check in at Bayonne in our experience there.

 

The risk you run with the earliest check in is people still loading luggage and departing the garage from the arriving itinerary - especially if they are using the elevators v loading curbside.  But the garage was open both times. 

 

As mentioned before, our process both times recently went smoothly, with an October total time in line to on board of about 45 minutes and April at 30 minutes.  Any delays or confusion stemmed from those arriving early and affected them only.

Edited May 17, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[meadowlander]

10 hours ago, Biker19 said:

The COVID era check in process is slow enough that you'd likely have a back up with a full Oasis sailing even with just the regularly scheduled customers.

I was not aware Oasis was sailing at 100 %,  that's news.. It was not last October, nor Anthem in December. Adherence to scheduled appointment times was the difference between hundreds waiting outside the terminal in October on a sunny day and no one at any time waiting outside on a chilly December day.

[meadowlander]

8 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

 

 

As mentioned before, our process both times recently went smoothly, with an October total time in line to on board of about 45 minutes and April at 30 minutes.  Any delays or confusion stemmed from those arriving early and affected them only.

Affected only them? In October, with early arriving cruisers slowing the entrance line by queuing & attempting to be admitted, it took me 30 minutes total from standing in line to setting foot on the ship. In December with no one arriving early and queuing, I was on ship in less than 15 minutes, perhaps as little as 10.

 

Can't imagine 45 minute wait due to only properly scheduled appointments.

[Biker19]

35 minutes ago, meadowlander said:

I was not aware Oasis was sailing at 100 %,  that's news

It might not be quite at 100% yet, but getting there and maybe above that by the summer. The capacity has been going up since the restart with a pause (and even a decline) during the Omicron surge, but most ships are above 80% regularly now (especially O class).

Edited May 17, 2022 by Biker19

[meadowlander]

41 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

It might not be quite at 100% yet, but getting there and maybe above that by the summer. The capacity has been going up since the restart with a pause (and even a decline) during the Omicron surge, but most ships are above 80% regularly now (especially O class).

I did not think it was quite at 100%, thanks for clarifying your statement. Royal and other cruise lines goal is to be sailing at 100%, no news there.

 

Capacity in December was nowhere near 100% and in October it was much less though it was appreciated that WIndjammer opened the second week of the October b2b. It was not open the first week due to the low numbers of passengers sailing on Oasis.

[Biker19]

4 minutes ago, meadowlander said:

I did not think it was quite at 100%, thanks for clarifying your statement. Royal and other cruise lines goal is to be sailing at 100%, no news there.

For the poor souls waiting outside the terminal in 90+ humid deg in July, it won't really matter if the ship is at 5,000, or 5,200 or 5,400 capacity - it will likely be just as slow between all those capacities.

[alfaeric]

Just boarded Sunday. Traffic was slow, as it took 30 min from the time we got there and finally dropping off luggage. 
 

For us, suites were all the way left, as it has been in the past. But we got there at a bad time, when the security check was also assisted, which took REALLY long. But when past that, it was quick. 
 

In terms of time, we arrived at about noon, and between the traffic and security, we walked on board at 1:15. 

[leaveitallbehind]

1 hour ago, meadowlander said:

Affected only them? In October, with early arriving cruisers slowing the entrance line by queuing & attempting to be admitted, it took me 30 minutes total from standing in line to setting foot on the ship. In December with no one arriving early and queuing, I was on ship in less than 15 minutes, perhaps as little as 10.

 

Can't imagine 45 minute wait due to only properly scheduled appointments.

The 45 minutes was our October Oasis cruise, which was rather early in the restart, and they said that the security and (more noticeably) check in staff was understaffed.  Our line was not particularly long but it was a slow process once inside as a result.  Our April Anthem cruise was 30 minutes luggage drop to ship.

 

There were a fairly large number of people in both instances that showed up early and were waiting along side the lines while we boarded.  They were the ones delayed - not us.  Different port but similar result - 20 minutes to ship in Port Everglades for Allure in December with similar early arrival passengers waiting as we boarded.

Edited May 17, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[meadowlander]

20 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

For the poor souls waiting outside the terminal in 90+ humid deg in July, it won't really matter if the ship is at 5,000, or 5,200 or 5,400 capacity - it will likely be just as slow between all those capacities.

A difference of 400 passengers wont really matter? There was a difference of 300 passengers on the second sail of my most recent b2b and it impacted the service on the ship significantly. 

 

Remember those poor souls in your prayers on the 90+ humid degree embarkation days in July.

[leaveitallbehind]

35 minutes ago, meadowlander said:

\Capacity in December was nowhere near 100% and in October it was much less though it was appreciated that WIndjammer opened the second week of the October b2b. It was not open the first week due to the low numbers of passengers sailing on Oasis.

It would not have been 100% on any ship in December as the CDC guidelines for booking capacity were still in place then.  You are correct -  in October on Oasis it was more like 30-40%. 

 

The CDC lifted that in January with no limiting restrictions on booking capacity.  Since then it has been steadily rising to where as example, our April Anthem cruise was reported at about 80%.

Edited May 17, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[Biker19]

Just now, meadowlander said:

A difference of 400 passengers wont really matter?

Not when the same 1000 people show up outside of the check in time. The math/throughput in the COVID era at Bayonne just won't allow much leeway. It was bad enough with Anthem at say 4500 people - add COVID era check in process/rules with 5000+ try to board and you'll likely have a mess at peak times.

[meadowlander]

8 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

The 45 minutes was our October Oasis cruise, which was rather early in the restart, and they said that the security and (more noticeably) check in staff was understaffed.  Our line was not particularly long but it was a slow process once inside as a result.  Our April Anthem cruise was 30 minutes luggage drop to ship.

 

There were a fairly large number of people in both instances that showed up early and were waiting along side the lines while we boarded.  They were the ones delayed - not us.

I am so glad the process was streamlined when I boarded in mid October. No security staffing issues, breezed through security. So glad the new employees started by the time of my sail date, the check in process was not slow for me.

 

15 maybe 10 minutes for me in December with no one waiting outside, to check in and board. Your process in April with a fairly large number of people showing up early took longer than mine in December. Perhaps there is a high turnover of employees and I was fortunate not to have to wait as long as you did on both occasions. Lucky me!

[meadowlander]

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Not when the same 1000 people show up outside of the check in time. The math/throughput in the COVID era at Bayonne just won't allow much leeway. It was bad enough with Anthem at say 4500 people - add COVID era check in process/rules with 5000+ try to board and you'll likely have a mess at peak times.

Of all my cruises originating in Bayonne I can state it was never a "bad enough" process as you state it is. Some always find a reason to complain.

[Biker19]

Just now, meadowlander said:

Of all my cruises originating in Bayonne I can state it was never a "bad enough" process as you state it is.

There has yet to be a full Oasis sailing from Bayonne. We've already had reports of lengthy embarkation times. Of course, "bad enough" is quite subjective.

[meadowlander]

10 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

It would not have been 100% on any ship in December as the CDC guidelines for booking capacity were still in place then.  You are correct -  in October on Oasis it was more like 30-40%. 

 

Agree 100% with you. I knew sailing capacity in December was not near 100%. I didn't claim or imply that it was. The poster who did has since corrected his remark.

[meadowlander]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

There has yet to be a full Oasis sailing from Bayonne. We've already had reports of lengthy embarkation times. Of course, "bad enough" is quite subjective.

Obviously.

 

I don't take a negative outlook so I don't complain for no just reason.

I don't consider my 30 minutes and 15 minute boarding times to be lengthy, whereas others obviously do.

[Casino Comp Chick]

On 5/16/2022 at 3:29 PM, Cruise_Couple said:

Does anyone know if there is separate entrance line for junior suites and above that are supposed to get "priority boarding" We have never done this before with a room that qualified.

I had the first check in time on the May 1 Oasis sailing 11:30 (full suite so I had an hour leeway in both directions) and they excluded junior suites from entering the building when they opened up. It was Sky/Star/Pinnacles only. Sea class had to wait (how long I do not know).
 

Edited May 18, 2022 by Casino Comp Chick

[nelblu]

16 hours ago, Biker19 said:

There has yet to be a full Oasis sailing from Bayonne. We've already had reports of lengthy embarkation times. Of course, "bad enough" is quite subjective.

By the way, there were lengthy embarkation lines at Ft Lauderdale in January's Allure and at est. 45% capacity.   Same applied at Port Canaveral on December's Mariner sail and a @ 40% capacity.

 

 

[loudbmw]

Our experience on the May 15 Oasis.  Had a 10:30 arrival time.  Showed up right at 10:00am, short line to drop luggage.  Garage was full from previous cruise (except for handicap) so we parked in the surface lot. 
 

They were letting 10:30 appointments into the terminal and had a separate line for families with young children.  The non kids line was short and we were through security in a couple of minutes.  
 

We used the Pinnacle check in area and were seated until boarding began - right at 10:30 am.