When Can Boarding Time Be Selected?

[Robkat]

We're about 80 days out from our cruise.  We are checked in, all our information has been provided via the app, and we are in the "green lane".

When will be able to select a boarding time?

And are there any other check-in processes that we'll need to do? 

The app says we're Ocean Ready, and there aren't any other instructions or steps shown, BUT we weren't given or asked to select a boarding time.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Rick&Jeannie]

It seems to vary from cruise to cruise.  I've seen it available for your current time frame...and others not until maybe 45 days prior.  Just keep watching/trying.

 

But then again...I've never seen ANYBODY actually checking for a person's boarding/arrival time...so many just ignore this.  We typically get to the ship very late and there's very short lines (usually) so we just zip right on through.  Now...if you're one of the first people when the doors are opened, the elites and priority guests have first dibs.

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Rick&Jeannie

[theloo]

I am also interested in finding out this info.  I will not have any kind of priority, but DO want to get on early!  On the phone with Princess, I was told that there is no health form to fill out until right before sailing, but I didn't ask whether that appears in the app or if it is done at physical check-in.

[jimd909]

I was able to select my group today and it's 60 days until the cruise.

 

My question is if sailing in a suite do you even need to select a group? On the app it says, Your Arrival Group A with a QR code.  Under that it says Proceed to Green lane.

 

It doesn't show that I'm in a suite.

Edited May 2, 2023 by jimd909

[DiRonT]

5 minutes ago, jimd909 said:

I was able to select my group today and it's 60 days until the cruise.

 

My question is if sailing in a suite do you even need to select a group? On the app it says, Your Arrival Group A with a QR code.  Under that it says Proceed to Green lane.

 

It doesn't show that I'm in a suite.

Suites are one of the first groups to board, following disabled and wedding groups or other special groups.  

[PacnGoNow]

3 minutes ago, jimd909 said:

I was able to select my group today and it's 60 days until the cruise.

 

My question is if sailing in a suite do you even need to select a group? On the app it says, Your Arrival Group A with a QR code.  Under that it says Proceed to Green lane.

 

It doesn't show that I'm in a suite.

Normally, opens 59 days before sailing.  However, it can vary by port as much as 12 days before sailing.  Depends on the port clearances.

 

So, I usually start at 59 days before.

 

It doesn’t show the suite in that area, but if you click on your profile picture, it would show your cabin no.  You’re good to go with the QR code. Sometimes ghey have asked me if I’m in the green lane or have a QR code.  Other times, yhey don’t ask. They really have not been going by boarding groups, but I would still pick one, in case.

 

Suites will have priority boarding with Elites.  

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, theloo said:

I am also interested in finding out this info.  I will not have any kind of priority, but DO want to get on early!  On the phone with Princess, I was told that there is no health form to fill out until right before sailing, but I didn't ask whether that appears in the app or if it is done at physical check-in.

The health check, called “wellness check” is on the front page of the APP.

It will be the third line…IF it is required.

 

Also, it doesn’t show up until 24 hours before sailing.  However, if you don’t show it, 24 hours before, then it’s probably not required and you can answer the questions at the port.

 

You can look up your voyage number on the website using the cruisehealth tool. If there are requirements to board the ship, it should tell you.

 

At least, the last few months this has been the case for us.  Out of US ports.

 

 

 

[PacnGoNow]

2 hours ago, Robkat said:

We're about 80 days out from our cruise.  We are checked in, all our information has been provided via the app, and we are in the "green lane".

When will be able to select a boarding time?

And are there any other check-in processes that we'll need to do? 

The app says we're Ocean Ready, and there aren't any other instructions or steps shown, BUT we weren't given or asked to select a boarding time.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

Start trying at 59 days before.

Go on the App

Personal information and documents

Move down…

Under “Suggested “

Arrivals

click on your ship…

when they are available…you will see the group times, just pick one.

[Robkat]

Thanks all for your replies.

@PacnGoNow:  Really appreciate the specific steps to take, and when to take them!

 

We wondered why, even though the App said we were in the green lane, there were no further instructions.

 

Thanks again everyone.

[Robkat]

Understand the priority boarding for suites and Elites ... any consideration for Platinum? 

[PacnGoNow]

2 minutes ago, Robkat said:

Understand the priority boarding for suites and Elites ... any consideration for Platinum? 

Yes, right after Suites/Elites.

[Italy52]

My boarding times have been available 59-60 days out.

[wallyj]

If you choose to do so, you will select an ‘arrival’ group for checking in for your sailing. It is not a ‘boarding’ group. Pre-Covid, you were assigned arrival times based on your deck assignment, but even back then, you could arrive whenever you wanted during the checkin period.

 

As mentioned, Princess does not seem to be enforcing or checking at the port. 
 

If you check in before ‘boarding’ has started, you will be segregated into groups, based on boarding priority. Usually first is special groups like weddings, then suites and elites, platinums, then group numbers based on when you checked in. I have seen on some sailings, if in a suite, escorts are waiting in ‘elite’ lounge and are looking for you either by your medallion or asking if you are in a suite. They then escort you onto the ship ‘first’ .

[david63]

4 hours ago, wallyj said:

As mentioned, Princess does not seem to be enforcing or checking at the port.

As I have mentioned elsewhere other Carnival brands have recently started enforcing check in/arrival times at Southampton and those arriving early are being made to queue outside the terminal until their allotted time. Whether this will be applied to Princess I cannot say, nor can I say whether this is a new Carnival policy.

[wowzz]

5 minutes ago, david63 said:

As I have mentioned elsewhere other Carnival brands have recently started enforcing check in/arrival times at Southampton and those arriving early are being made to queue outside the terminal until their allotted time. Whether this will be applied to Princess I cannot say, nor can I say whether this is a new Carnival policy.

It is not being enforced in the UK at present by Princess.

[david63]

7 minutes ago, wowzz said:

It is not being enforced in the UK at present by Princess.

Or more to the point it wasn't a few weeks ago when you sailed. That may change when Sky comes out of dry dock.

[wowzz]

18 minutes ago, david63 said:

Or more to the point it wasn't a few weeks ago when you sailed. That may change when Sky comes out of dry dock.

Well, I will find out in July.

 

[david63]

10 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I will find out in July.

I'll beat you to it next week!

[wowzz]

37 minutes ago, david63 said:

I'll beat you to it next week!

Have a good cruise. Let us know what you make of the refit.

[RedIguana]

18 hours ago, Robkat said:

We're about 80 days out from our cruise.  We are checked in, all our information has been provided via the app, and we are in the "green lane".

When will be able to select a boarding time?

My upcoming Alaska boarding times opened 60 days out. A copy/paste from one of my other posts to show How I deal with selecting boarding times.

 

I believe you have to use the app for this. 

 

Open bottle of wine or pour a few shots. It will help.

 

Open app

click on "Personal Information and Documents"

The screen will sow a section for "Required Information". If you scroll down just a touch you will see an are called "suggested"

Click on "Arrivals"

Click on "your ship name here" (has the sailing date under it)

Click on "Arrival Group" 

Under select party, make sure your group is checked, will have green ring around.

Click on "Early" "Mid" or "late" depending on what time you want

Click on which group you want

I think then click confirm

 

Curse at app for being slow and buggy at any point during this process. Drink wine or do shots as needed. Repeat.

[bagney]

As others have said there is no set timing for the Arrival Groups to open up. We are 24 days out from our Alaska Southbound cruise from Whittier to Vancouver on May 27 and I am still getting the “Sorry, Arrival groups will be available closer to the start of your journey” message. I have been checking daily for about a month but am not concerned as we have a Princess Transfer booked from the Anchorage Convention Center to the ship. 

[MTNest93]

I just booked ours yesterday and we are 60 days out. 

[metairiegal]

Is there a boarding pass to print?  Or, do you just show what is on the phone?

[Robkat]

3 hours ago, RedIguana said:

My upcoming Alaska boarding times opened 60 days out. A copy/paste from one of my other posts to show How I deal with selecting boarding times.

 

I believe you have to use the app for this. 

 

Open bottle of wine or pour a few shots. It will help.

 

Open app

click on "Personal Information and Documents"

The screen will sow a section for "Required Information". If you scroll down just a touch you will see an are called "suggested"

Click on "Arrivals"

Click on "your ship name here" (has the sailing date under it)

Click on "Arrival Group" 

Under select party, make sure your group is checked, will have green ring around.

Click on "Early" "Mid" or "late" depending on what time you want

Click on which group you want

I think then click confirm

 

Curse at app for being slow and buggy at any point during this process. Drink wine or do shots as needed. Repeat.

@RedIguana:  I like the way you think!  Way to "mitigate" an annoying situation! 

 

Thanks again to all who have replied ... Even though Princess used to be our "go to" cruise line, we haven't sailed with them for ages.  Lots of things now, and most especially post-Covid, seem quite different, so we really appreciate everyone being so helpful.

[Robkat]

10 hours ago, david63 said:

I'll beat you to it next week!

I second @wowzz comment, asking  to hear your impressions of the Sky, fresh out of drydock.