Arrival versus Boarding time

[anlindst]

Hello! Been following this forum for a while and all of the information is so helpful, thanks to all!! We just did the online check in for our upcoming NCL Encore cruise Nov 20-27, departing from Miami. I was able to select terminal arrival time of 930am since we arrive the night before, but I also noticed on the boarding pass it says Boarding begins at 12pm. Is it a good idea to arrive early, or better to show up closer to 12pm? Also contemplating the Priority Access, the spa benefit and priority tender see, worth it along with priority embarking and disembarking since we have no type of status and just staying in a Club suite and not Haven. Any insight into the boarding process and timing in Miami? 

[BirdTravels]

Haven boarding usually starts around 11:00

 

Priority boarding (platinum, sapphire, Diamond) usually starts boarding at 11:15

 

General boarding usually starts around 11:30. You board by boarding group assigned at check in. 

[RedwingHockeyFan]

If you arrive early, you will end up waiting in the boarding lobby until they allow people on the ship.  If you get there at 12, you will be waiting in the huge winding line to check in but once done you can get right on the ship.  I've done both and prefer to check in early to maximize my time on the ship the first day.

[Laszlo]

8 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Haven boarding usually starts around 11:00

 

Priority boarding (platinum, sapphire, Diamond) usually starts boarding at 11:15

 

General boarding usually starts around 11:30. You board by boarding group assigned at check in. 

You might have answered this before but I forget. If you are in the Haven do you still need to select an arrival time? This would be for NYC

[anlindst]

Is there a Bar or other things to do while waiting in the boarding lounge?

[JGmf]

3 minutes ago, anlindst said:

Is there a Bar or other things to do while waiting in the boarding lounge?

 

None that I've ever seen in any boarding area.  Definitely no bars.

 

That said, if you are a Haven passenger, yes, they have light snacks and non-alcoholic drinks like iced tea and water for your waiting, time-killing pleasure in a separate room just for you.

 

[dandelpino]

8 hours ago, Laszlo said:

If you are in the Haven do you still need to select an arrival time? This would be for NYC

 

The online check-in process requires you to pick an arrival time but has a Haven guest you can disregard it. You can show up at any time. In NYC, Haven goes into a small room past security on the left hand side where you checked-in. If it's busy they have you take a seat and then come to you with a tablet computer to gather your details. 

[EvanBedar]

Honestly after I hand my bags off I don’t care what happens.  I’ve been obsessing over every detail of this vacation for two years.  At that point I’m off the clock and everything is someone else’s problem.  

[BirdTravels]

10 hours ago, Laszlo said:

You might have answered this before but I forget. If you are in the Haven do you still need to select an arrival time? This would be for NYC

You can show up any time. Haven check-in is about 3/4 the way back into the terminal. There is a Haven-only security line (brings you to the front), then keep walking straight until you see the Haven Check-in desk. After check-in, it's over to the Haven Lounge where you can snack and wait until you are escorted onboard. 

 

 

 

[kapcruiser]

What time can you get access to your cabin?

[Laszlo]

44 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

You can show up any time. Haven check-in is about 3/4 the way back into the terminal. There is a Haven-only security line (brings you to the front), then keep walking straight until you see the Haven Check-in desk. After check-in, it's over to the Haven Lounge where you can snack and wait until you are escorted onboard. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, is it still on the right side of the terminal....if you are looking towards NJ?

[2inTul]

In my experience rooms are usually ready between 1:00 - 2:00 PM. 

[JGmf]

2 hours ago, Laszlo said:

Thanks, is it still on the right side of the terminal....if you are looking towards NJ?

 

Yes, on the right side of the terminal, facing NJ, closest side to the ship.

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, Laszlo said:

Thanks, is it still on the right side of the terminal....if you are looking towards NJ?

When we were there, check-in was on the left, lounge on the right. 

[PATRLR]

On 10/31/2022 at 10:08 PM, anlindst said:

Hello! Been following this forum for a while and all of the information is so helpful, thanks to all!! We just did the online check in for our upcoming NCL Encore cruise Nov 20-27, departing from Miami. I was able to select terminal arrival time of 930am since we arrive the night before, but I also noticed on the boarding pass it says Boarding begins at 12pm. Is it a good idea to arrive early, or better to show up closer to 12pm? 

The earlier you arrive, the lower your boarding group number and therefore the earlier you can get on the ship.  We like to get on as earlier as we can so we also have the 9:30 checkin time and we plan to be there at 9:30.  We understand that we will then need to hang around for a couple hours waiting to board, but we're OK with that.

[cruiseny4life]

For NYC Haven boarding, this has been my experience on two separate occasions.

 

In April when we went the Haven check-in was to the right. Past security, down the center of the terminal, then to the right. They asked us to sit in the small lounge and the shoreside employees came to us to check us in. 

 

In September, it was just past security to the left. Again, we went in, however we had to wait in a line to check-in. After checking in, we just found seats in the same room. 

 

Don't expect anything fancy when embarking from NYC. 

 

Left and right are facing New Jersey, with the West Side to our backs.

 

As for boarding time, Haven can choose it, but it doesn't really matter. Just show up. In September, the person at the front of the line was asking to see boarding passes and inquiring about boarding time. I'm not sure if she told anyone to go away as we went to the Haven line, but the question was asked.