Embarkation/Disembarkation

[cruzndiz]

Can someone please explain to me why it appears to take soooooo long to board one of Regent's ships (Mariner/Voyager/Navigator)?? I have only done mainstream cruising to date, but have never had a lengthy wait EVER to get on any of those ships -- even with thousands of passengers -- and I am generally always on board sipping my first cocktail by 12:30pm. The Regent delay surprises me especially because from all indications they are hustling you off the ship first thing in the morning on debarkation day (unlike NCL for example whose Freestyle cruising allows you to walk off with your luggage at your leisure no later than 10am). So if Regent is getting everyone off the ship for the most part well before 10am, and there are only 700 passengers MAX to offload, where is the big hold up in getting the next group on???

[linda_22003]

We've never had any delay in boarding, so I'm not sure what you mean.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Cruzndiz, are you talking about a specific experience you just had? (Trying to remember what cruise you were just on.) I have found that Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, is a hassle embarking. I think it's the port security, very tight, and sometimes Coast Guard inspections as well. This happened to us 2 years ago boarding Navigator, and it was a not fun, but wasn't too bad a year ago on Voyager, a little slow, but not bad. Only other time I found boarding was a pain was Voyager in Monte Carlo, and again, I think it was port-side security that caused the problem.

[cruzndiz]

Oh, no, I wasn't saying that the check-in/boarding process was a hassle....I was just wondering why, with the smaller ship capacity, in all the myriad reviews I have read, I have never seen these types of comments:

 

"embarkation was a snap" "we breezed right through check-in" "we were on the ship 20 minutes after we arrived at the port"

 

Not really an issue, just more of a curiosity

[Wendy The Wanderer]

We breezed through in Athens in 2004, and several times boarding the PG (not this last time). Some ports, including Tahiti, you board, then are escorted to a lounge where they take your photo, store your passport and give your room keys. At least in FLL they do everything right there at the registration desk prior to boarding. I haven't done a mass market cruise line, so no comparison I can make.

[Goofyisme]

Never had a problem embarking.

[cruzndiz]

Okay, here is a sampling of some recent embarkation comments from our fellow CCers. Again, I just don't understand why the process is not speedy & efficient given the low # of passengers and the early time they expect you off the ship:

 

From Doc47: Our docs said embarkation was at 3 pm, but since our late checkout was 1pm, we thought we'd be able to board a little early, as we had in the past. We found that about 3/4 of the passengers thought the same thing, but no go. We were given a color coded card and we had to wait. They began calling colors at about 2:15. We finally got on board at about 2:50

 

From Travellerchris: The apprehension continued, when boarding and check in were pretty unorganized and long lines had formed leading into the Constellation Theater.

 

From Paulajk: Yesterday we arrived at the terminal at 11:50 and filed into row 4 of the seats. Check-in began about noon and taking about 10+ minutes per row of seats, we stepped aboard at 12:40pm.

 

From neviboy: A short drive from home to Port Everglades on Fri. and noone checking in luggage. I wondered if we were too early at noon. BUT---there were about 200 in the shed waiting for 2 security officers in 3 lines. It took an hour until arriving at check-in, which was fast.

[Hambagahle]

I think it may be Regent's willingness to allow early embarkation that creates the wait...we all know that even though the docs say "3.00pm" we can go aboard starting around noon, and have lunch, so we all line up like lemmings. Wendy says Ft Lauderdale is a pain. Great! We sail from Ft Lauderdale (for the first time) in May. I know that when there is a surprise inspection, everything is delayed. That hapened to us at Civitavecchia and we had to wait an hour before we could board. But we were seated, and staff passed around with coffee etc etc.

[linda_22003]

I was just wondering why, with the smaller ship capacity, in all the myriad reviews I have read, I have never seen these types of comments:

 

"embarkation was a snap" "we breezed right through check-in" "we were on the ship 20 minutes after we arrived at the port"

 

Not really an issue, just more of a curiosity

 

Probably because when writing a review, people are not as likely to comment on the expected. :p All I can say is that we have not had embarkation or debarkation problems, and I hope you'll just relax and have a good time.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I think it may be Regent's willingness to allow early embarkation that creates the wait...we all know that even though the docs say "3.00pm" we can go aboard starting around noon, and have lunch, so we all line up like lemmings. Wendy says Ft Lauderdale is a pain. Great! We sail from Ft Lauderdale (for the first time) in May. I know that when there is a surprise inspection, everything is delayed. That hapened to us at Civitavecchia and we had to wait an hour before we could board. But we were seated, and staff passed around with coffee etc etc.

 

We were also seated in FLL, with a glass of champagne. And then we were called upstairs to register about 20 at a time. All very orderly. I, for one, agree with you about the early boarding--we came with friends, and I would rather have walked on the beach for a while before boarding, but went along, shortly after 12. In fact, a year ago, when we did it again, and we did go later. It was still bustling, but things went quickly. The big deal that day was making sure folks got onto the right ship, since both Voyager and Navigator were in FLL that day!

[Travelcat2]

From Doc47: Our docs said embarkation was at 3 pm, but since our late checkout was 1pm, we thought we'd be able to board a little early, as we had in the past. We found that about 3/4 of the passengers thought the same thing, but no go. We were given a color coded card and we had to wait. They began calling colors at about 2:15. We finally got on board at about 2:50

 

I'm 99% sure that this was the cruise that was either late arriving or the Coast Guard came on board for an inspection.

 

From Travellerchris: The apprehension continued, when boarding and check in were pretty unorganized and long lines had formed leading into the Constellation Theater.

 

This is just a guess -- Regent takes passengers from the hotel to the ship. In our case, it was a busload. . . so, yes, there were long lines in the Constellation Theater. Generally it is extremely organized.

 

From Paulajk: Yesterday we arrived at the terminal at 11:50 and filed into row 4 of the seats. Check-in began about noon and taking about 10+ minutes per row of seats, we stepped aboard at 12:40pm.

 

Hopefully Paula can fill you in on this one

 

From neviboy: A short drive from home to Port Everglades on Fri. and noone checking in luggage. I wondered if we were too early at noon. BUT---there were about 200 in the shed waiting for 2 security officers in 3 lines. It took an hour until arriving at check-in, which was fast.

 

As mentioned by another poster, Port Everglades is difficult.

Our embarkations have been, for the most part, easy. In San Francisco, it took about 10 minutes. In Istanbul, there was no one there -- so it really took no time (just mentioning cruises in the past 6 months).

I expect embarkation next month (Ft. Lauderdale)to be a bit longer as there are almost 8,000 passengers boarding ships that afternoon (another consideration).

Look forwarding to hearing your experience the day after tomorrow!!!

[RachelG]

We have never had to wait on any embarkation to a Regent ship, but we have never embarked in the US. Istanbul, Nice,, Papeete, Copenhagen all very quick and easy.

[raiderette]

We had a small wait in Nice, but it was because we stayed at a Hotel the night before and there was a bus load of us. It wasn't a long wait and they had food and champagne set up for the short wait.

[Jim B]

We have had to wait in the lobby of the port twice when boarding

a Regent cruise. NEITHER had anything to do with the cruise line.

BOTH had something to do with both customs and spot checks by

government inanities. Last one we arrived at the dock about 1 pm

and were not allowed to even get in line and check in at the counter

until 2:45 pm. Naturally since just about everyone was waiting it did take

a lot longer than normal to check in and be able to get on the ship.

Since then we are not in as big a hurry to get to the ship. LOL

[Ste. Michelle]

We have sailed from Ft. Lauderdale twice (2006 and 2007). We arrived at the pier around 12:30 and boarded immediately. We had champagne in hand and lunch by 1:00. Our room was ready promptly at the "official" boarding time. Unless things have drastically changed, I wouldn't worry.;)

[DebbieH103]

A year ago on Navigator, I was the 11th person on, right after 12. I had a few minute's delay waiting for someone with a wheelchair to go ahead of me. This last time, we were 2nd in line, but the new computer system delayed things, and we were behind a family taking 3 cabins, but I think we still were on by 12:20 or 12:25. These were both FLL.

[Travelcat2]

Thanks Debbie -- how could I possibly forget the computer system problems:confused:

[cruiseism]

Debarkation/Embarkation has nothing to do with the Port, it has to do with the cruise line's operation. The Port supplies the terminal...what and how things are done inside...is all the cruise line.

[JaneBP]

Debarkation/Embarkation has nothing to do with the Port, it has to do with the cruise line's operation. The Port supplies the terminal...what and how things are done inside...is all the cruise line.

 

Embarkation on 12/18 was smooth, I just had to wait a few minutes for a wheelchair. We were not early, arrived at 2PM and breezed through, not bypassing anyone in line.

 

Disembarking from the Voyager on 12/29 was delayed by the slowness/inadequate numbers of personnel to offload the luggage. They were supplied by the Port Operations. However, from the time my card was swiped to my arrival at the FLL USAir gate was 40 minutes. We did have a car waiting, but there were taxis present.

[cruiseism]

Embarkation on 12/18 was smooth, I just had to wait a few minutes for a wheelchair. We were not early, arrived at 2PM and breezed through, not bypassing anyone in line.

 

Disembarking from the Voyager on 12/29 was delayed by the slowness/inadequate numbers of personnel to offload the luggage. They were supplied by the Port Operations. However, from the time my card was swiped to my arrival at the FLL USAir gate was 40 minutes. We did have a car waiting, but there were taxis present.

 

 

Porters (offload luggage) are supplied and hired by the Cruise Line.

[JaneBP]

Porters (offload luggage) are supplied and hired by the Cruise Line.

 

That's interesting, I never knew that. Thanks!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Debarkation/Embarkation has nothing to do with the Port, it has to do with the cruise line's operation. The Port supplies the terminal...what and how things are done inside...is all the cruise line.

 

Well, perhaps you're right and I'm just ignorant. But I've had long lines for security checks in Port Everglades, and I believe this was Inland Security. And then there was the snap Coast Guard inspection, also not the cruise line.

 

I've had slow luggage scanning (in Monte Carlo), which was obviously a port-side problem, not the cruiseline. In Dover, for example, I believe the timing of first debarkations comes from the port, since the ship has to be cleared first. What am I missing?

[PaulaJK]

Wendy,

 

I don't KNOW anything specific...but why wouldn't a cruise port work somewhat like an airport....with Immigration/Customs folks....TSA folks.....airline check in desks and airline gate desks. By this I mean, I imagine that many different departments/services are involved with no one agency controlling everything. At best one hopes for some co-ordination or cooperation........but....[This is what I meant when I questionned whether Regent & longshoreman were having problems.]

 

Certainly the cruise line has a significant role in how they check in people and how they arrange for luggage services.