Embarkation Time with Yacht Club?

[jimmypackedcorn]

Hi All,

 

We just booked a Yacht Club suite on Seaside. When I signed in on my MSC portal, it prominently displays our "Embarkation time: 3:00PM" and the departure time for the ship is 6:00PM.

 

I thought one of the benefits of the Yacht Club was an early embarkation? This doesn't seem like a great value for me. Based on your previous experiences, can we board earlier? Has anyone had any experience with Yacht Club embarkation and the times?

 

Thank you!!!

[Two Wheels Only]

Show up whenever you want. If you get there early enough, you can be among the first to board.

 

The time assigned doesn't really matter to Yacht Club guests.

[jimmypackedcorn]

Thank you so much for responding. We live about an hour and a half away and our preference is to be among the first to board. In your experience, what time can we show up? 11:00AM?

[Two Wheels Only]

You can get there even earlier but you won't board until the ship gets the all clear.

[jimmypackedcorn]

Based on your post history - you know what you're doing, so I'll ask it this way:

 

If you were us, and you wanted to board as early as possible without also standing in line/waiting on your feet for the shortest period of time possible, what time would you show up?

 

BTW - I really appreciate your time providing this guidance. We have never been on MSC before and were really worried about booking it based on the reviews we've read. Thanks for taking the time.

[Two Wheels Only]

It's not really possible to time it exactly but if you arrive between 11a and noon, you'll likely board without having much of a wait while still being among the first.

 

The people in the Yacht Club generally don't wait once boarding begins.

[jimmypackedcorn]

Thanks for taking the time, we appreciate it.

[sbcs5390]

And remember, if you do have to wait, the waiting area for the Yacht Club is much more comfortable and there's champagne, snacks, etc. 

[karmamule]

7 hours ago, sbcs5390 said:

And remember, if you do have to wait, the waiting area for the Yacht Club is much more comfortable and there's champagne, snacks, etc. 

 

We like to arrive on the early side because of this. It's fun relaxing in that lounge knowing your embarkation is only a short time away. You can enjoy the snacks and maybe start up a conversation with some other YC guests.

 

We keep an eye on the roll call for our cruise for the earliest arrival times people are getting and go for 15 minutes before that. 

[Brighton Line]

My boarding time changed over 7 times. Sail at 3p I had as late as 2:00 pm which is too late to submit the manifest to C&BP and early as 9:00a when the ship wouldn't even have cleared from a 7 am arrival.

YC I just went and waited in my YC waiting room until the ship cleared and escorted me onboard. I forgot which email I printed no one looked at the boarding time, didn't matter.

[Inflatable_Catfish]

Went on this cruise last month. I hope your butler is Glenn. We had the absolute best time with the YC crew but Glenn was the best. If you do by chance see him, tell him Mr Marshall says hello. 

[lovetravel1114]

I don't know where your embarkation port is but last time I arrived at Southampton 11am and this time will try to arrive by 10 or maybe little earlier counting the parking time. When I arrived at 11 last time, there was very very long queue for AB parking which we will be using this time. 

[sbcs5390]

23 minutes ago, lovetravel1114 said:

I don't know where your embarkation port is but last time I arrived at Southampton 11am and this time will try to arrive by 10 or maybe little earlier counting the parking time. When I arrived at 11 last time, there was very very long queue for AB parking which we will be using this time. 

I agree - I boarded in New York. I checked my photos and I had parked at 10:39 and was being walked on board at 11:08. The only issue is in my scenario the ship had arrived two days earlier, so there were not debarking guests. I will try to arrive at this time or probably a bit earlier when I return in October but will expect a wait in the shoreside lounge. 

[mnpurple]

I'd also check the itinerary for the sailing prior to yours. We were on Divina and went to Columbia, etc. and going through customs when we returned was an ordeal and held up the passengers boarding for the next cruise as well.

[stp_mmh5]

For us on the current sailing, we arrived at Port Canaveral right around 10, were checking into the YC tent by 10:30 and around 10:50 they had started the boarding process. The 15 or so minutes in the waiting lounge we finished the actual check-in and sat in airport terminal seats enjoying drinks, snacks and some conversation with fellow cruisers, so the time went by very quickly.

 

What usually holds up boarding is inspections or getting the zero count from the cruise prior. With the trip prior to ours being a three day, most people left the ship pretty promptly, so it's possible that you could experience the same time frame. Any arrival time after 11 should let you zip right through to the lounge.

[j&fhoneymooners]

This is great. We are going out of Canaveral as well. Hoping the YC is great for you so far!

[jimmypackedcorn]

On 6/15/2023 at 4:35 PM, stp_mmh5 said:

For us on the current sailing, we arrived at Port Canaveral right around 10, were checking into the YC tent by 10:30 and around 10:50 they had started the boarding process. The 15 or so minutes in the waiting lounge we finished the actual check-in and sat in airport terminal seats enjoying drinks, snacks and some conversation with fellow cruisers, so the time went by very quickly.

 

What usually holds up boarding is inspections or getting the zero count from the cruise prior. With the trip prior to ours being a three day, most people left the ship pretty promptly, so it's possible that you could experience the same time frame. Any arrival time after 11 should let you zip right through to the lounge.

How was your trip???

[stp_mmh5]

7 minutes ago, jimmypackedcorn said:

How was your trip???

It was amazing. We had a great time and this was honestly the best of the three Seaside class ships and trips we have done. The only minor negative I think we had was that the service was mostly great. What I mean by that is that there were very few standout individuals who we felt like went above and beyond. But at no time did we ever feel like that anything was subpar.

 

I am sure you'll have a great time on your upcoming trip.

[jimmypackedcorn]

23 hours ago, stp_mmh5 said:

It was amazing. We had a great time and this was honestly the best of the three Seaside class ships and trips we have done. The only minor negative I think we had was that the service was mostly great. What I mean by that is that there were very few standout individuals who we felt like went above and beyond. But at no time did we ever feel like that anything was subpar.

 

I am sure you'll have a great time on your upcoming trip.

Awesome. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to provide the feedback!

[Spurschick]

Just make sure to look for the YC tent outside the terminal. The last time we went out of PC it was right where the line started at the bottom of the elevators and was not easy to see from the parking lot. 

[NCteacherlovescruising]

7 minutes ago, Spurschick said:

Just make sure to look for the YC tent outside the terminal. The last time we went out of PC it was right where the line started at the bottom of the elevators and was not easy to see from the parking lot. 

So you don’t see it on your way to the parking lot either?

[kelleherdl]

You will not miss the white tent on your way into the terminal. There is only one way in and you walk right by the tent.

[Two Wheels Only]

18 minutes ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

So you don’t see it on your way to the parking lot either?

 

For Port Canaveral, if you are driving, you see the parking lot on your right and the loading area/ship is on your left. To drive directly to the Yacht Club tent, you have to make 2 U-turns and pull up. After the first U-turn (left side), you can tell the porter that you are Yacht Club and they will direct you to make a U-turn (right side) to go under the awning. 

 

 

The Yacht Club tent is closer to the side of the ship. MSC is currently using CT10. 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Two Wheels Only

[Spurschick]

When we went the tent was right at the entrance at the bottom of the elevator. It was not visible from where we crossed by where we parked. It might be visible as you approach entrance but when queue is very long you might not be aware of it especially if you are a first timer. We did not drop luggage we parked and walked our luggage over so did not pass it. Miami is a lot more visible than PC. 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Spurschick

[NCteacherlovescruising]

12 minutes ago, kelleherdl said:

You will not miss the white tent on your way into the terminal. There is only one way in and you walk right by the tent.

 

8 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

For Port Canaveral, if you are driving, you see the parking lot on your right and the loading area/ship is on your left. To drive directly to the Yacht Club tent, you have to make 2 U-turns and pull up. After the first U-turn (left side), you can tell the porter that you are Yacht Club and they will direct you to make a U-turn (right side) to go under the awning. 

 

 

The Yacht Club tent is closer to the side of the ship. MSC is currently using CT10. 

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Spurschick said:

When we went the tent was right at the entrance at the bottom of the elevator. It was not visible from where we crossed by where we parked. It might be visible as you approach entrance but when queue is very long you might not be aware of it especially if you are a first timer. We did not drop luggage we parked and walked our luggage over so did not pass it. Miami is a lot more visible than PC. 

I’m confused. Do we drop our luggage off first or park first?