Hello all, I am new. Embarkation time question...

[Jackjenson]

It has been a real pleasure lurking around here! You guys are a trip, very articulate and well spoken (errrr, typed) and loads of fun to watch interacting with each other.

 

My question has to do with the time for embarkation. I am 37, DH is 39 and our 2 bestest friends are coming along with us for our 10 year anniversary cruise (well, we have all been married 12 years now, but scheduling became difficult 2 years ago as the result of a wonderful little boy named Will who came on the scene right in the middle of cruise season). :)

 

This is our first "cruise ship" cruise, as we have only sailed on the Windjammer Yankee Clipper in the past. We are looking forward to sailing on a "foo foo ship" as the Windjammers call it, as while a 200 foot sailboat has its rugged appeal, our trip on the Westerdam in February seems to be more my speed.

 

Anyway, DH and I are staying the night before the cruise at the Marriott (not Harbor Beach, the other one) which I got on Priceline for $70 because of the wonderful advice on this board. I was wondering, why it seems that you experienced-type cruisers seem to value getting to the port early and getting on the ship, just to seemingly wait around until you can get to your rooms and unpack, at around 3:00 when your luggage is delivered.

 

Is there any reason why my thought of riding the water taxi around Ft. Lauderdale and having a leisurely lunch on dry land during the midday is not ideal?

 

Does HAL give away your room at a certain time or is there some other benefit that I may be missing?

 

Thanks for your thoughts and all of the great advice that you guys give every day to newbies like me.

[DFD1]

Welcome. You get hazzardous pay if you are brave enough to stay. LOL.

 

Many experienced cruisers simply cannot wait to get on board, cabin ready or not. They enjoy exploring the ship, diving into the Lido lunch, having drinks, etc, etc. all afternoon.

 

If you get there really early, you usually have a line out on the sidewaly (in the shade) until the staff is ready. Once you get inside, if you are at the head of the line, the wait is minimal until you get up to the boarding door. Then you may be seated for more than an hour, depending on when the ship is "ship shape" and ready.

 

On the other hand, many people tell me that if you get to the pier mid-afternoon after the morning rush is over, you might be able to just sort of stroll right thru check in and walk on board without any delay.

 

We usually get to the pier around noon or so.

 

Again. welcome. Have a great cruise. Hope this helps.

[Esme]

With the new 11:30am embarkation time, we like to get to the pier around 11am, go through check-in, wait a short time, board the ship, wander around checking out the ship, especially if it is one we have never been on, have lunch at the Lido, relax and before you know it, they are announcing that the rooms are ready, which is around 1:30pm. Usually our luggage is in our room by then and we can unpack, relax and enjoy the day before we have to go to Lifeboat drill at around 4:15-4:30pm. We go to the Sailaway, party knowing that we don't have to go back to the cabin to unpack.

 

No, HAL does not give away your room if you don't arrive until 3pm or 4pm - as long as you are on board at least 1 hour before sailing.

 

We just like to be on board early.

[Randyk47]

Jen - Not all of us get to the ship at the crack of dawn. :D In our case my wife considers that her vacation started the day before the cruise when we flew into Ft Lauderdale (or wherever) and she's not about to rush around. However, I think many folks like to get to the boat and start their cruise as soon as possible. Certainly no problem with that. Typically we get to the ship around 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM and, depending on how check in is running that day, we're in our cabin not later than 4 PM. That still gives us time to wander around a bit checking out the ship, especially if it is new to us, and that seems to suit us fine. Long as you make it on I wouldn't worry about being first in line. It's your vacation. :)

[grannynurse]

Hi,

Welcome to the HAL board. It's really personal preference. We like boarding early to avoid the later rush to unpack, have lunch on the Lido outside deck, register our card, check on dining table, and if the ship is new to us, to explore it.

In Ny this summer, we arrived at the port at 11:45, and there already was a line. The demographics of our last cruise were different, as there were many repeat HAL guests, it was to be a long trip (34 days) and the NY weather was awful, so not conducive to sight-seeing.

We were onboard by 12:30, and in our cabin by 1:15, we had stopped to eat and visit with old friends on the Lido.

We were unpacked by 2:30, muster drill at 4:15, and were in the Crow's Nest for sail-away by 4:45. It was a great experience for our first early boarding since Hal implemented it.

And we'll do it again in december in Canaveral.

Again, welcome!

GN

[HeatherInFlorida]

Jen, I'm just greedy. I always figure we paid for a 7 day cruise so I want to get as much of that 7th day as possible. The earlier we get on, the earlier we're unpacked and enjoying the ship. Makes no difference that we haven't left the port yet. I always feel cheated if for some reason we can't get on until 3 or 4. Next thing you know it's lifeboat drill and we've missed out on lunch!!! Heaven forbid we miss a meal:D !! I hope you have a great cruise!

[doone]

Welcome to HAL. I have stayed and am staying again at the Marriott, great hotel, we loved it. Ask for a room that over looks the water so you can see your ship docked when you wake up in the morning. Sign up for the shuttle times as soon as you check in, I am told these fill up quickly. We didn't have a problem last year as we sailed on a Monday and we were the only ones on the shuttle.

 

I like to get to the pier around 11 as well. I like to board early and explore the ship and just start my vacation as early as possible, but everyone is different.

[Jackjenson]

Thanks you guys, helpful as always.

 

 

Heather, I noticed on another thread that you live in West Palm, our friends are dropping their 2 kiddlypoops off at Grandma's in West Palm the day before our trip and then are going to meet us in Ft. Lauderdale for the cruise. Can you give me a feel for how long of a trip that will be for them? Grandma spends Jan and Feb in West Palm (I have no idea exactly where, but it must be better than Baltimore in the dead of winter!;) ) and misses the grandchildren too much by the end of that time, so breaking it up with Grandma watching the kids for a week while we cruise childless is a win-win in my book!

[barefootguy]

You are on vacation, away from the phones, pagers etc. the moment you board ship!! Get on early & throw your mobile phone overboard! It will probably be useless later in the cruise anyway... Grab lunch & life jackets for the drill... Do the drill... Then get relaxed....Kick back with a book or get crazy, what ever you want to do.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We usually fly to the port of embarkation 2 or 3 days early.

The morning of the cruise, we go to the pier around 11, board around 11:30, go to the Neptune Lounge. Take care of matters there, i.e., charge card, etc., have a couple of snacks, and if our cabin still isn't ready, walk around the ship.

[CruisinNana]

The sooner I get my "work" done on the ship, the sooner my vacation begins. The "work" I describe is as follows:

1) Check on dining table assignment and time.

2) Make Pinnacle reservation

3) Unpack

4) Register credit card

5) Make spa appointments

6) Eat lunch

7) Explore the ship

8)Empty the refrigerator and put a few diet Cokes and bottles of water in to cool

9) Lifeboat drill

10) Meet the cabin steward and ask for him to unlock the balcony to share with friends next door.......

and all that in no certain order................and then, ahhhhhhhh, enjoy every minute of a glorious week on board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So I say.....get on the ship as soon as you can. :D :D :D

Dee

[dakrewser]

WE always go to the port the night before and camp out - just like a rock concert. After all, HAL gives the first 10 people in line free drinks all week....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUST KIDDING!

[HeatherInFlorida]

WE always go to the port the night before and camp out - just like a rock concert. After all, HAL gives the first 10 people in line free drinks all week....

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUST KIDDING!

LOL:D . And then there's that bridge in Brooklyn for sale. Lucky you said "just kidding" or there might have been a long line in front of you!!! Hahahaha.

[Ziggy7]

I say it's your vacation, go for it! They will not give your cabin away :) Just be on the ship by the time it leaves :)

Welcome and have a great cruise :) Happy 12th eeeeerrrr 19th too hehehe.

[Jackjenson]

WE always go to the port the night before and camp out - just like a rock concert. After all, HAL gives the first 10 people in line free drinks all week...JUST KIDDING!

Oh my gosh, Dave, stop it, I almost choked to death laughing so hard.

 

What makes me such a sucker is the seemingly endless insights you guys have, I mean, really, if I can get a $70 room at the Marriott, whose best price for that night was $199, if I can get a $50 per person shipboard credit, just from reading your posts,who is to say that the campers wouldn't be given free drinks??

 

I am about ready to believe anything you guys say;)

[bepsf]

Having spent 5 years in the USAF - I'm not a big fan of "Hurry-Up-and-Wait"...:cool:

 

Having tried it both ways and as excited as I am about boarding the ship, i'd rather take a leisurely brunch ashore and show up to the boat right around "Whenever PM" - the lines can be short to non-existant, so we can get from taxi to gangway in 20 minutes.

 

First stop is always the stateroom to drop luggage and make sure that the Champagne is on ice...

 

I figure that there's plenty of time to unpack between Sailaway photos/cocktails and before dinner at 8 - when it's time to crack open the first of many bottles...;)

 

"Lets see how far this cork can shoot!!!"

:D

[Roadwork]

Bebsf has the right idea. I like to embark late and avoid the mad rush, but my wife always wants to go early. You can't win them all. :rolleyes:

[Roboat]

We are looking forward to sailing on a "foo foo ship" as the Windjammers call it, as while a 200 foot sailboat has its rugged appeal, our trip on the Westerdam in February seems to be more my speed.

 

May I remind you that language such as "f** f** ship" and "kiddlyp**ps" cannot be tolerated. :p

 

Also, HAL is not unlike Windjammer, in that you can pitch in and assist in navigating the ship. We like to stand on the bow looking back (or "aft") at the bridge and direct the helmsman as he gunnels the forps'l at the port or starboard midstays. At night, we use the little orange lights like they use on the airport tarmac. I think the Captains appreciates it, as they often send someone running out (to thank us, no doubt) but we like to avoid the spotlight (which they actually USE!) so we run back to our cabin, happy with the job we've done.

 

Welcome to the forum! Let me know if I can give you any othe tips!

 

Oh, and, we like to board early. Vacation starts when my foot hits the deck. (Did HAL mention that boarding is by age? Oldest first. :D )

[HeatherInFlorida]

;)Hey, Roboat, you smokin' somethin'????? LOL ... you're too funny:D .

[Vic The Parrot]

Does HAL really serve lunch for the early-boarders??

 

Not bad at all. Might as well get to the dock around 11am.

[CruisinNana]

Does HAL really serve lunch for the early-boarders??

 

Not bad at all. Might as well get to the dock around 11am.

 

You betcha' and it is good! Dee

[dakrewser]

I am about ready to believe anything you guys say;)

As long as you believe the "just kidding" part. Gotta protect my place in the "free drinks" line......

 

:D -dave

[bepsf]

You betcha' and it is good! Dee

...just avoid the meatloaf!:eek:

[Cruiseoften]

Jackjenson - We're not members of the "Igottabefirst" league - our cabin is booked and paid for! We fly in the day before and relax. A leisurely brunch on departure day before we amble to the boarding hall. It's usually around 1 o'clock and the eager beavers are out of the way - getting on board early is fine but don't bet on your baggage being there. We dislike and avoid the Lido line-up for lunch. We usually have our favorite beverage waiting for us in our outside cabin (we're not suite or verandah people) and enjoy a drink as we unpack and stash our toilet gear and other carry-on items. Then we do walk about and check out our lifeboat station. We're cruisin'...............!

 

Seldom, if ever, do we rush to make appointments for hair, spa, alternative restaurant reservatios etc.

 

To each his own! - we're on vacation.....................

 

Have a great cruise! :D

[CruisinNana]

...just avoid the meatloaf!:eek:

 

I didn't try the meatloaf, but I did try the baked chicken and thought it and the Caesar salad (at the deli bar, I think....it is right across from the bread pudding and kinda' hidden) made a delicious lunch!