Boston boarding for Haven?

[latebloomer56]

We sail at the end of April in the Haven on the Pearl. We have sailed in suites on the Dawn a few times in the past but only out of NY in the Haven on the Gem.

Anyone know if the boarding in Boston for Haven is the same as the suites? There will be five of us together and I may need the elevator will they be able to come with us? Don't want to get separated as we are using just my CC for all of us.

Thanks as always for any input.

[meglet]

We were in one of the non Haven aft penthouse suites (10164) last April and we were taken to the Haven lounge in the terminal to wait for an escort onto the ship. 

[cruiserbear55]

28 minutes ago, latebloomer56 said:

We sail at the end of April in the Haven on the Pearl. We have sailed in suites on the Dawn a few times in the past but only out of NY in the Haven on the Gem.

Anyone know if the boarding in Boston for Haven is the same as the suites? There will be five of us together and I may need the elevator will they be able to come with us? Don't want to get separated as we are using just my CC for all of us.

Thanks as always for any input.

 

   If you need to use the elevator, your party will be allowed to remain with you. There is also a separate security line for mobility impaired folks, and your party will be allowed to use that also. Then you'll have priority check-in, as you are in the Haven. And of course, first group on the ship!!

[BostonGal35]

Haven Suites and Non-Haven suites are all eligible for pre-board.

Assuming all 5 of you are in suites you shouldnt be separated.  

[bonvoyagie]

When we were there in 2016 and the haven/suite waiting area is nothing special and there was no special check in line either. My favorite port to board for suites is Seattle where they meet you on the sidewalk and then escort you to the head of the security checkpoint and up into a lounge area where you do your final check-in and then get escorted to your suite.

[Jordan61]

6 minutes ago, bonvoyagie said:

When we were there in 2016 and the haven/suite waiting area is nothing special and there was no special check in line either. My favorite port to board for suites is Seattle where they meet you on the sidewalk and then escort you to the head of the security checkpoint and up into a lounge area where you do your final check-in and then get escorted to your suite.

 

Oooh, thanks for this! We're leaving from Seattle and I was wondering what the boarding process would be like.

[cruiserbear55]

20 minutes ago, bonvoyagie said:

When we were there in 2016 and the haven/suite waiting area is nothing special and there was no special check in line either. My favorite port to board for suites is Seattle where they meet you on the sidewalk and then escort you to the head of the security checkpoint and up into a lounge area where you do your final check-in and then get escorted to your suite.

 

    Things can , and do, change a lot in seven years!

[styles27]

1 hour ago, bonvoyagie said:

When we were there in 2016 and the haven/suite waiting area is nothing special and there was no special check in line either. My favorite port to board for suites is Seattle where they meet you on the sidewalk and then escort you to the head of the security checkpoint and up into a lounge area where you do your final check-in and then get escorted to your suite.

53 minutes ago, cruiserbear55 said:

 

    Things can , and do, change a lot in seven years!

Cruised Pearl from Boston last April and the Haven waiting area is still awful. It is a very small corner near the restrooms with too few chairs to accommodate everyone that needs one. 
 

We’ll be leaving on Pearl again on 04/07/2023 and we’re hoping they’ve gotten their act together as far as boarding goes. 
 

Last year it was impossible to keep those of us in suites/the Haven separated from others who did not have priority boarding. 
It was like a free for all because the ladies who were trying to control it couldn’t. People wanted on the ship and they ignored the fact that Suites and Haven pax had priority over them. 
 

We’ve left from Boston many many times since we live in RI we have taken advantage of being within driving distance to this port but it is the most disorganized port we leave from. 
 

I’ll let you know how it goes on April 7th!

Edited March 6, 2023 by styles27

[latebloomer56]

4 hours ago, cruiserbear55 said:

 

   If you need to use the elevator, your party will be allowed to remain with you. There is also a separate security line for mobility impaired folks, and your party will be allowed to use that also. Then you'll have priority check-in, as you are in the Haven. And of course, first group on the ship!!

Thank you so much, first trip out of Boston since 2019, and first time on the Inogen machine.

[CILCIANRQTS]

1 hour ago, latebloomer56 said:

Thank you so much, first trip out of Boston since 2019, and first time on the Inogen machine.

Mobility impaired line is to the left of the stairs that most folks go up.

You can see the elevator when you enter the building on the ground floor, after dropping off your luggage. The pre-check folks are right before the elevator. Your party stays together. Any question as to where to go, ask the very nice screening people where the lines begin.There are also “herding staff” when you get off the elevator.

The terminal is rustic, but it worked for us. Not up to snuff for those that expect white glove treatment.

[DaisyGoldberg]

I definitely won't go early to Boston again (and I live here!) 

 

3 hours ago, styles27 said:

Cruised Pearl from Boston last April and the Haven waiting area is still awful. It is a very small corner near the restrooms with too few chairs to accommodate everyone that needs one. 

That pretty much sums it up. Was in the Garden Villa and we were just crammed in on hard folding chairs and there was a delay and they held us and the Owners Suites back until all the rest of the Haven had gone up and it did not feel particularly special. In future we'll just arrive at noon and walk through (hopefully). 

 

I've only sailed the Haven out of NY and Boston, but although NY's is larger and gets you out of the enormous crowds, it's still packed side by side, same hard chairs. 

 

There's nothing WRONG with the Boston terminal - it gets you on the ship, and it IS easier with a wheelchair in the group. But there is zero incentive to get there early to "enjoy" it. 

[styles27]

1 hour ago, DaisyGoldberg said:

I definitely won't go early to Boston again (and I live here!) 

 

That pretty much sums it up. Was in the Garden Villa and we were just crammed in on hard folding chairs and there was a delay and they held us and the Owners Suites back until all the rest of the Haven had gone up and it did not feel particularly special. In future we'll just arrive at noon and walk through (hopefully). 

 

I've only sailed the Haven out of NY and Boston, but although NY's is larger and gets you out of the enormous crowds, it's still packed side by side, same hard chairs. 

 

There's nothing WRONG with the Boston terminal - it gets you on the ship, and it IS easier with a wheelchair in the group. But there is zero incentive to get there early to "enjoy" it. 

Completely agree. 

[latebloomer56]

2 hours ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

Mobility impaired line is to the left of the stairs that most folks go up.

You can see the elevator when you enter the building on the ground floor, after dropping off your luggage. The pre-check folks are right before the elevator. Your party stays together. Any question as to where to go, ask the very nice screening people where the lines begin.There are also “herding staff” when you get off the elevator.

The terminal is rustic, but it worked for us. Not up to snuff for those that expect white glove treatment.

We wanted our 88 yr. old Aunt to use it but she stayed with us and took the stairs. We  had a two bedroom on the Dawn. We didn't wait to long to get on board and went to Cagneys for lunch. Just didn't know if we could stay together.

Thanks

[latebloomer56]

1 hour ago, DaisyGoldberg said:

I definitely won't go early to Boston again (and I live here!) 

 

That pretty much sums it up. Was in the Garden Villa and we were just crammed in on hard folding chairs and there was a delay and they held us and the Owners Suites back until all the rest of the Haven had gone up and it did not feel particularly special. In future we'll just arrive at noon and walk through (hopefully). 

 

I've only sailed the Haven out of NY and Boston, but although NY's is larger and gets you out of the enormous crowds, it's still packed side by side, same hard chairs. 

 

There's nothing WRONG with the Boston terminal - it gets you on the ship, and it IS easier with a wheelchair in the group. But there is zero incentive to get there early to "enjoy" it. 

Been to Cagneys lunch many times the boys don't care so we are thinking of not going until between 1:00-1:30. Think we need to be boarded by 2:00 for a 4:00 sailing.

[latebloomer56]

On 3/6/2023 at 6:48 PM, latebloomer56 said:

Been to Cagneys lunch many times the boys don't care so we are thinking of not going until between 1:00-1:30. Think we need to be boarded by 2:00 for a 4:00 sailing.

Well now they want to go early 😁 guess we will get there for 11:30-12:00. Liked my idea better, not exactly a great place to wait to board, but not the worse we have had over the  years.

[Panhandle Couple]

On 3/6/2023 at 1:05 PM, styles27 said:

Cruised Pearl from Boston last April and the Haven waiting area is still awful. It is a very small corner near the restrooms with too few chairs to accommodate everyone that needs one. 
 

We’ll be leaving on Pearl again on 04/07/2023 and we’re hoping they’ve gotten their act together as far as boarding goes. 
 

Last year it was impossible to keep those of us in suites/the Haven separated from others who did not have priority boarding. 
It was like a free for all because the ladies who were trying to control it couldn’t. People wanted on the ship and they ignored the fact that Suites and Haven pax had priority over them. 
 

We’ve left from Boston many many times since we live in RI we have taken advantage of being within driving distance to this port but it is the most disorganized port we leave from. 
 

I’ll let you know how it goes on April 7th!

That's interesting, because we sailed Pearl in October 2022 (Canada & Maine) and we though it was one of the more orderly processes we had been through. (6 in last 14 months) 

The main problem is that the facility is dated, and too small for modern ship capacities.  Which is what we have noticed in most port facilities.

[styles27]

1 hour ago, Panhandle Couple said:

That's interesting, because we sailed Pearl in October 2022 (Canada & Maine) and we though it was one of the more orderly processes we had been through. (6 in last 14 months) 

The main problem is that the facility is dated, and too small for modern ship capacities.  Which is what we have noticed in most port facilities.

I’m sure it had something to do with us being on the 3rd sailing of the season so between them trying to “get the bugs out” and testing children before boarding it was just crazy. 
 

Hoping our experience next Friday will be better 🤞

[Mistizoom]

On 3/30/2023 at 4:58 PM, styles27 said:

I’m sure it had something to do with us being on the 3rd sailing of the season so between them trying to “get the bugs out” and testing children before boarding it was just crazy. 
 

Hoping our experience next Friday will be better 🤞

Could you provide an update on suite/Haven boarding in Boston this year? I just realized I can pick my check-in time tomorrow. I'll be staying at at hotel near the port, not driving in. Thanks!

[1025cruise]

Last year, you still wait in line until you get upstairs. 

[styles27]

2 hours ago, Mistizoom said:

Could you provide an update on suite/Haven boarding in Boston this year? I just realized I can pick my check-in time tomorrow. I'll be staying at at hotel near the port, not driving in. Thanks!

Sure, I can’t speak to what happened later in the day but for us it was a great experience.

Our check in time was between 10:30-11:00 and we were on board before 11:30. 
It was so much better than last year, much more organized. 
 

Haven and Suite pax boarded first. 

 

[murphy0480]

Is there a different check in line for haven folks?