David:
One should show up at the dock at 11:26:31 AM
I also wonder about the "first in line" folks. Yes, it's nice to get on the ship early and enjoy lunch and explore a ship but to get there at 9:00 AM just to hurry up, wait and then complain because you had to wait, makes no sense to me. I'm not saying this is what the OP did but I've seen those that have.
My wife and I were going down to breakfast at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale at 8:30 and the couple in the room next to us were taking their bags in the elevator. I asked if they were heading home. They replied "No, we're going to the ship." I just smiled and said: "Have a nice cruise." It was too late to talk them out of it, they were going out of the elevator door as they were responding.
Take care,
Mike