OK, It has been 6 years since my last cruise. The stated embarkation time for Carnival Liberty is 12:30 til 2:30. Have the process improved to the point that it only takes 2 hours for 2900 people to be processed and boarded? They also state that passengers will not be allowed into the terminal until 12:00. Is this factual information?
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Three Day Nassau, Bahamas Cruise 1967
Big Red Boat, Abaco, Bahamas 1991
Carnival Holiday 1993, Western Caribbean
Celebrity Century, 1996, Eastern Caribbean
Carnival Destiny, 2001, Dutch Treat
RCCL Monarch of the Seas, 2003, Western Caribbean
Carnival Legend, 2004, Exotic S. Caribbean
Carnival Liberty, 2010, Exotic Eastern Caribbean
We always go about 11:00 to 11:30 no matter what time they say to be there. If you go the same time as they say, everyone seems to show up at that time and it's very crowded.
I wonder how early you have to get there to be the first in line?
I know the travel docs say for quicker boarding, get there after 2pm, but dayum.... I want to get in line early and keep the excitement going... Its crazy to say, but after almost 20 cruises, it still makes me so excited once the line starts moving....I've met some fun people in cruise lines.
We always get to the terminal on or about 12:00. I make sure that all of our documents are in order ahead of time, (via the computer/ Fun Pass), that way we zoom thorugh the line faster. My wife doesn't want to miss anything. So we usually board the ship about 12:45 or 1:00. This gives us time after we've boarded to check out our stateroom, have a "Drink of the day" and then go to the "Buffet", (maybe not in that order). Of course we like to meet & talk with other passengers prior to the "Bon Voyge" party.
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We love anything assocated with crusing and traveling. We are retired U.S. Navy...and loving it, "Been there...done that"! (almost).
MS Carnival Glory 11/2010
MS Carnival Liberty 11/2007
MS Carnival Spirit 10/2006
MS Carnival Victory 12/2005
MS Star Princess 12/2002
MS Carnival Victory 12/2000
USS Bristol County, LST 1198, 1980-1982
USS Turner Joy, DD951, 1973-1978
We like to show up around 2 o'clock. We're not crazy about waiting in the lines and we find that by 2 o'clock things are moving right along and the process takes much less time and it is more relaxed.
__________________ "Faith is to believe what we do not see; the reward of faith is to see what we believe." -- Saint Augustine
Carnival Paradise 2000, Carnival Paradise 2003,
Carrnival Victory 2004, Carnival Valor 2005, Carnival Fantasy 2006, Carnival Fascination 2006, Carnival Destiny 2007
Carnival Sensation 2007. Carnival Fascination 2007 Carnival Triumph 2008, Carnival Fascination 2008, MSC Orchestra 2008, Carnival Fascination 2009, Carnival Glory 2010
I wonder how early you have to get there to be the first in line?
When we sailed on the Fascination we booked a suite because DW requires a balcony. Our checkout at the hotel was 10:00 so we went directly to the port. We were allowed in with no problem and Carnival was checking people in, just not allowing them to board yet, so you would have to get there before 10:30 to be the first in line. After about 30 minutes in the VIP lounge (because of the suite) we were taken to the escalators and, with our two nieces, were the first to board. Then they began boarding groups by numbers they gave out to the people that arrived before boarding started.
On a previous trip (same hotel) we didn’t have a suite and were waiting for friends to arrive. Security and Checkin at 10:30 took about 20 minutes the we waited for our friends to arrive. At 11:20 (larger ship took a little longer to unload) they started loading VIPs and wedding groups with general boarding starting at 11:45. At 11:30 the busses from the airport started arriving and the lines got really long. At 12:00 our friends arrived and were through the line about 12:50. By then the lines were beginning to shorten again and looked like they would be pretty short again after 1:00. We didn’t see any more since we boarded at 1:00.
Have the process improved to the point that it only takes 2 hours for 2900 people to be processed and boarded?
On-line Fun Pass and other embarkation documents has made check in quicker. The biggest bottle neck might be photos - embarkation (for sale) and the one for security.
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Bob
A Bad Day At Sea [with power] Always Beats A Good Day At Work
Alaska 2014 - haven't picked a cruise yet
Carnival: Glory 2004, Destiny 2008, Splendor 2009, Freedom 2011, Valor 2012
Celebrity: Summit 2011
Princess: Ruby 2010, Caribbean 2013
DW and I were eating lunch @ 12:30 at Emile's on the Liberty last Saturday. Embarkation was the easiest and fastest that I have ever experienced. The only problem I saw were passengers who had no clue as to what documents were needed. So the line would slow down while they searched for them. Good job Carnival!
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Three Day Nassau, Bahamas Cruise 1967
Big Red Boat, Abaco, Bahamas 1991
Carnival Holiday 1993, Western Caribbean
Celebrity Century, 1996, Eastern Caribbean
Carnival Destiny, 2001, Dutch Treat
RCCL Monarch of the Seas, 2003, Western Caribbean
Carnival Legend, 2004, Exotic S. Caribbean
Carnival Liberty, 2010, Exotic Eastern Caribbean
In the UK anytime after 11am is ok despite what they say, I was told they say 2 pm because they know the experienced passengers will arrive early leaving the advised time free for the rest.
Prior to our cruise on the Carnival Dream sailing out of Port Canaveral, we received a telephone call from Carnival asking us, if possible, to check in at 10:00 a.m. Don't know if they are calling people just for the Dream because of the high passenger count.
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