Reality of arriving earlier than your Assigned Arrival Boarding Time

[Nujdawg]

We're scheduled for a 130pm arrival/boarding time.  I know what the website says: "Guests who arrive outside of their scheduled arrival time will delay their boarding".

However, for those who have sailed recently, what is the reality if you do arrive early?

Depending on how traffic goes, we could potentially arrive at noon.  So just wondering if we can board then, or will we have to sit around at the terminal in Jersey before we are allowed to board?

Thanks in advance,

Jay

 

[Biker19]

5 minutes ago, Nujdawg said:

So just wondering if we can board then, or will we have to sit around at the terminal in Jersey before we are allowed to board?

That will depend on the staff at the start of the line and the circumstances when you arrive - just about anything can happen. Someone's experience at 12:15 can be quite different than at 12:45, in the same line on the same day.

Edited July 27, 2022 by Biker19

[time4u2go]

What port?

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, time4u2go said:

What port?

I think there's only one in Jersey, New Jersey that is.

[time4u2go]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

I think there's only one in Jersey, New Jersey that is.

Yep, you are correct!  Didn't see that.

[MommaBear55]

We have sailed out of NJ 3 times since December. Each time they checked the paperwork and let people in in order of their time. Once that queue is cleared, they have the option of letting other people in early, but it's totally based on how the line is going. 

[trucker den]

I have heard that they will let you in the terminal then corral you in holding pens according to boarding times. When the current boarding time lines die down they trickle the next time in to keep the queue filled. I do not know what happens if a particular corral fills? This is according to a coworker that cruised on anthem in June out of Bayonne.

[Biker19]

5 minutes ago, trucker den said:

I do not know what happens if a particular corral fills?

The check in time check, if any, usually happens outside - the line inside (before security screening) is somewhat limited and usually full by 11AM.

[meadowlander]

10 hours ago, Nujdawg said:

However, for those who have sailed recently, what is the reality if you do arrive early?

 

 

October 2021: Had a 12 noon boarding time, hundreds of people who arrived earlier than their appointment were waiting outside. 

 

December 2021: Had a 10:30 boarding time, only 50 people waiting outside, all were let in by 10:10.

 

May 2022: Had a 1 pm boarding time. Arrived at 12:50, no line, no checking due to adherence of scheduled times. Computers in the terminal crashed, waited 80 minutes out side due to this. took another 60 inside to be checked in. Some needed 4 hours to be processed.

[BecciBoo]

We are early birds, almost always arrive early...and so far, it's paid off!

[BecciBoo]

30 minutes ago, meadowlander said:

December 2021: Had a 10:30 boarding time, only 50 people waiting outside, all were let in by 10:10.

This has almost always been our experience.

[robmtx]

11 hours ago, meadowlander said:

May 2022: Had a 1 pm boarding time. Arrived at 12:50, no line, no checking due to adherence of scheduled times. Computers in the terminal crashed, waited 80 minutes out side due to this. took another 60 inside to be checked in. Some needed 4 hours to be processed.

Adventure 5/26/22 ?

We were onboard already and got to hear all about this. Sooo dependent on those computers to keep boarding moving.

[robmtx]

21 hours ago, Nujdawg said:

for those who have sailed recently, what is the reality if you do arrive early?

 

 

Post Pandemic | Cape Liberty Sailings:

 

Anthem Nov 2021 11:30 AM Appt, Arrived 10:30ish, was told to come on in, and let's keep things moving.

 

Adventure May 2022 11:30 AM Appt, Arrived 10:00ish, was told to come on in, and let's keep things moving.

 

Oasis June 2022  10:30 AM Appt, Arrived 10:00ish, was told to come on in and let's keep things moving. But Oasis had to move out of the way for other marine traffic, so we ended up sitting in a waiting area after a smooth and quick check-in process.

[rudeney]

1 hour ago, robmtx said:

Adventure 5/26/22 ?

We were onboard already and got to hear all about this. Sooo dependent on those computers to keep boarding moving.

 

I remember cruising out of galveston years ago.  There was a medical emergency inside the terminal, so they closed it down for 30-45 minutes to handle that.  Shortly after it reopened, the computers crashed.  We were lucky to be in a suite and got ahead of all the crowds and completed checked-in right as the computer crash happened.  I think it was down for 30 minutes or so. 

[meadowlander]

11 hours ago, robmtx said:

Adventure 5/26/22 ?

We were onboard already and got to hear all about this. Sooo dependent on those computers to keep boarding moving.

That was the sail date. I was fortunate it only took 1 hour once allowed into the terminal as it was crowded and chaotic. Only after waiting outside for 45 minutes did an employee come outside to explain the delay. The employee provided some comic relief by implying someone outside using their laptop was contributing to the computers inside the terminal not working.