Star Class Check-in/Star Class Boarding Times

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

Hello all,

 

Appreciate your feedback, as we are not RCL customers normally, but doing one cruise on this line per grandkids' request.

 

Background - forthcoming Harmony of the Seas out of Galveston. Ten people in three Star class staterooms. 

 

1. What is the absolute earliest porters will accept luggage?

 

2. What is the absolute earliest pax can enter terminal?

 

3. When is the earliest that check-in begins (which may be different than when entry to terminal begins)?

 

4. When is the absolute earliest boarding time (typically)?

 

5. For those who have done Star class in general, or specifically out of Galveston from the new terminal, when and where does someone meet me to get me onto the ship/my stateroom/a drink in my hand/lunch?

 

Many thanks and peace to all.

[firefly333]

By 9 or 9:30 the porters will accept luggage.

 

10:30 is the earliest arrival time given, though I've heard 11:00 lately on the big ships. 

 

Outside there are no suite lines, but inside after you are checked in then you will sit in a suite area. Boarding starts when they are ready. One inspection time it was after Noon. Just hope it's not a coast guard inspection date. 

 

There is a bar right after you enter the ship, near customer service. Just show your boarding pass to order a drink. 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Many thanks and peace to all.

You can confirm all that info when the genie gets in touch about a week out.

[AlexandNessa]

Do not give your luggage to just any porter. Star Class has its own porters, so be careful. As Biker19 states, wait for the Genie who will have all that info. Enjoy. We took one abysmal cruise on Royal in 2008 and vowed never again (it was that bad). Wound up on a star class cruise by chance a few years ago.  Total game changer. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by AlexandNessa
Typo

[firefly333]

The  new terminal has a better waiting place for suites than the old terminal. Coffee, pastry, that kind of thing. And of course you will board first with the pinns and hc was with them before. As soon as the ship is ready you can board. Their own lounge area. Nicer now. 

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

TY. All good intel.

[Ret MP]

On 5/14/2023 at 6:29 PM, 4-2-N-8 said:

Hello all,

 

Appreciate your feedback, as we are not RCL customers normally, but doing one cruise on this line per grandkids' request.

 

Background - forthcoming Harmony of the Seas out of Galveston. Ten people in three Star class staterooms. 

 

1. What is the absolute earliest porters will accept luggage?  As stated, you can work that out with your Genie with your pre-cruise date communications with the Genie.  He/she will work out a time with you a time to meet him/her at the Terminal Suite Drop Off location.  It can be as early as 10:30 (many conditions dependent), and that's my experience.  YMMV 

 

2. What is the absolute earliest pax can enter terminal?  Again, as early as 10:30 (see above), depending on how fast the debarkatioin goes, how much of the U.S. Coast Guard (if any) inspection(s) there are and how long it takes.  Sometimes there are also health inspections, and when your Genie is meeting other of his/her Star Class passengers.  

 

3. When is the earliest that check-in begins (which may be different than when entry to terminal begins)?  Your Genie will work with you to establish your arrival time at the Terminal (don't worry about the "arrival time" that you select while doing the App/website pre-arrival check-in process, pick any that show up, it means nothing), you will complete the final parts of the Check-In in the terminal with the Genie assisting.  The initial Check-In you can do long before you cruise. If you don't do the initial Check-In on the App or online, you can do it all in the Ternminal.  

 

4. When is the absolute earliest boarding time (typically)?  See #1 & 2 above.

 

5. For those who have done Star class in general, or specifically out of Galveston from the new terminal, when and where does someone meet me to get me onto the ship/my stateroom/a drink in my hand/lunch?  There are some Youtube videos that show the Terminal, the new terminal.  I haven't found one yet that does a good job of showing the Suite Class drop-off area.  However, as you are driving through the terminal drop-off area you will see in the over head canopy which designates the "SUITE and PINNICALE" drop-off area.  That should be where the Genie makes arrangements to meet you and have the ship's porter's get your luggage.  He/she will then escort you through the check-in process and to your suite.  If the suite isn't ready, he she will take you, probably, to the Coastal Kitchen for Lunch/Snack/Adult Beverage. The #6 and purple area is the Suite and Pinnicle area.  The view is from the opposite side that you actually come from.  If you are taking a shuttle or Uber or Taxi, make sure thay take you to that location to be dropped off.  In the #6/purple area on embarkation day, there should also be a banner for Star Class.  The Galveston Terminal is unique, to me, as you drove into the luggage drop-off area with the terminal to the left of the vehicle, as opposed to the others I've been to, the terminal is to the right of the vehicle.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Edited May 16, 2023 by Ret MP

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

12 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

 

Hope this helps!

 

Thank you for your detailed synopsis. Much appreciated. 

[topnole]

At other ports regular porters sometimes try to take your luggage.  Do not let them take it.  Make sure they are Star class porters.  After that the star class staff will guide you through to the genie.  Easy breezy.  Enjoy.  Harmony is a great ship and Star Class is fantastic.  
 

Keep in mind your cabin being ready is contingent on how early the prior guest left.  They don’t exactly through you out as Star class so even if you board early, your cabin may or may not be read yet yet.  
 

Communicate all your requests clearly to the Genie.  The more they know and the earlier, the better they can provide for you.  
 

Ask all your questions via email after the genie emails all of you.  

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

36 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

 

Hope this helps!

 

If I read the deck plan accurately, there are a total of ten Star Class staterooms on the entire ship. I have three of them ( Royal Loft plus both Star Lofts).

 

Perhaps, I'll have a Genie assigned to us only.

 

No information on how many staterooms any one Genie is assigned.

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

4 minutes ago, topnole said:

At other ports regular porters sometimes try to take your luggage.  Do not let them take it.  Make sure they are Star class porters.  After that the star class staff will guide you through to the genie.  Easy breezy.  Enjoy.  Harmony is a great ship and Star Class is fantastic.  
 

Keep in mind your cabin being ready is contingent on how early the prior guest left.  They don’t exactly through you out as Star class so even if you board early, your cabin may or may not be read yet yet.  
 

Communicate all your requests clearly to the Genie.  The more they know and the earlier, the better they can provide for you.  
 

Ask all your questions via email after the genie emails all of you.  

Good to know. Thank you.

[Ret MP]

20 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

If I read the deck plan accurately, there are a total of ten Star Class staterooms on the entire ship. I have three of them ( Royal Loft plus both Star Lofts).

 

Perhaps, I'll have a Genie assigned to us only.

 

No information on how many staterooms any one Genie is assigned.

Can't help you with that one.  I can only say that on my last Star Cruise, on the Ovation, our Genie had 3 suites.  Not sure if it is actually done by suites or the # of people within all suites and they try to even it out as best as they can.   

 

 

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

2 hours ago, Ret MP said:

Can't help you with that one.  I can only say that on my last Star Cruise, on the Ovation, our Genie had 3 suites.  Not sure if it is actually done by suites or the # of people within all suites and they try to even it out as best as they can.   

 

 

Appreciate it.

[Ret MP]

By the way, when I go to that terminal, I will do a video of the Suite/Pinnacle drop-off area and post it on Youtube, unless someone beats me to it.

 

We just made our parking reservation yesterday for the covered premium lot.  If you want to park in that lot, I'd get it done as space will probably go quickly.  

 

https://www.portofgalveston.com/91/Cruise-Parking--General-Information

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

5 hours ago, Ret MP said:

By the way, when I go to that terminal, I will do a video of the Suite/Pinnacle drop-off area and post it on Youtube, unless someone beats me to it.

 

We just made our parking reservation yesterday for the covered premium lot.  If you want to park in that lot, I'd get it done as space will probably go quickly.  

 

https://www.portofgalveston.com/91/Cruise-Parking--General-Information

Good info. Appreciate it.

 

In my case, two of ten in my group are flying into Houston, while eight of us will be driving in, as they are in Texas.

 

I'm supplying hotel rooms for my family in Galveston for the weekend ahead of cruise plus booking private transfers to/from terminal and the hotel (which includes long term parking at hotel).

 

I believe the terminal does have a suite check in area. My question is at what stage in the process does the Genie show up so I can hand off the kids to them while I get drinks. 😄

Edited May 17, 2023 by 4-2-N-8

[Ret MP]

4 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

I believe the terminal does have a suite check in area. My question is at what stage in the process does the Genie show up so I can hand off the kids to them while I get drinks. 😄

As stated, you and your Genie will communicate when you meet at the Baggage Drop-Off area/the Star-Banner (#6 in the picture shown above).  Chances are the Genie will be too busy to babysit/watch anybody's kids and that's not their job.  I have heard of a Genie taking a kid or two to a slide or something like that, but I'd bet it wasn't on embarkation day, they have a lot going on that day.   AND yes, there is a separate suite and Pinnacle lounge and check-in area in the terminal.  There are no bars in the terminal to go and get a drink at.  The suite and Pinnacle lounge in the terminal have water and maybe sodas, and some bakery items.  The Genie will take you and your entire suite party to the suite(s) when the ship is ready to board, if your suite(s) are not ready he/she will take you to the Coastal Kitchen where there is a bar.  If you communicate to your Genie, pre-cruise, that you want X brand(s) of beer and/or just about any other non-alcohol drinks in your suite, it will be there if the brand(s) are available. 

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

11 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

As stated, you and your Genie will communicate when you meet at the Baggage Drop-Off area/the Star-Banner (#6 in the picture shown above).  Chances are the Genie will be too busy to babysit/watch anybody's kids and that's not their job.  I have heard of a Genie taking a kid or two to a slide or something like that, but I'd bet it wasn't on embarkation day, they have a lot going on that day.   AND yes, there is a separate suite and Pinnacle lounge and check-in area in the terminal.  There are no bars in the terminal to go and get a drink at.  The suite and Pinnacle lounge in the terminal have water and maybe sodas, and some bakery items.  The Genie will take you and your entire suite party to the suite(s) when the ship is ready to board, if your suite(s) are not ready he/she will take you to the Coastal Kitchen where there is a bar.  If you communicate to your Genie, pre-cruise, that you want X brand(s) of beer and/or just about any other non-alcohol drinks in your suite, it will be there if the brand(s) are available. 

Was being facetious about Genie taking grandkids. Parents will have them.

 

All very good info. Much appreciated. 

[Ret MP]

11 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Was being facetious about Genie taking grandkids. Parents will have them.

 

All very good info. Much appreciated. 

I did think, while I was typing that, I vaguely remember a thread that discussed it.  So, I answered it in that way just in case someone else took it seriously.