Check-in time

[reeni]

Hi
Great forum here. I'm learning a lot.
I do have a question...If the ship is leaving at 5 PM, is embarking at 3 pm too late? We might be having a problem getting to the pier,and that is the time that the people who can drive us can get us there.
Thanks for your help.

[Mike M]

3 p.m. is about the latest you want to board. Muster drill for a 5 p.m. departure would be around 3:30 and I believe that boarding closes between 3 and 4 p.m.

If you can get there any earlier then do it.

Take care,
Mike

[Trip]

Oh Boy, factor in any issues that might occur,and you get too close for comfort for me...Are there any other options available to you?

[Henry43]

Why not call the cruise line and inquire ?

[Kuki]

Actually most of the cruise lines state in their documents that 3 PM is check in time... even though it's not and it starts before noon these days.

I don't think you'd want to be any later than 3:30 or so, and best take into account the possibility of traffic problems.

[reeni]

Thanks for the replies.
I was wanting to get opinions on check in times, so I can tell our ride what time we need to be there. Now I can tell them we need to be there a few hours earlier than they thought.

We're not cruising until May so we have time to figure all this out.

I'll probably be back with more questions. Thanks.

[Trip]

Reeni, welcome to Cruisemates...ask away!

[DeeDee]

You don't say what ship you will be on; what port you are sailing from or where you are driving from.

In my opinion arriving at 3pm is too late - you could run into problems with traffic.

Either try to get your ride to take you earlier or take a taxi to the ship.

[sail7seas]

I would be uncomfortable planning a 3 P.M. embarkation for a 5 P.M. sailaway. You are cutting it too close IMO in the event there is a traffic incident, your ride comes late, car has mechanical problems etc

You know Murphy's Law. Try to give yourself a little more room for Plan B if necessary.

It is also important for you to do on line check in at HAL website so your name/passport numbers can be cleared on the manifest. If you arrive late and have not done on line check in, you could be denied boarding even though the ship is still tied up. U.S. CBP (Customs and Border Protection divisioin of Homeland Security) has rules regarding clearing of manifests so many minutes prior to departure.

[Casual Guy]

hi reeni...its been my experience you should be fine...have fun !! casual guy

[johnthed0g]

I would say get there as soon as you can make the most of your cruise by squeezing a few more hours....& a lunch!

[reeni]

Thanks, everyone. I'm looking at plans B,C,&D so we can get there in plenty of time. The problem is that the ship leaves Seattle on a Friday, and the people who were going to drive us both work.

So I'm looking for other ways to get there so we arrive when we need to.

I have until the end of May, so I have time.

[DeeDee]

reeni - do your friends live in Fort Lauderdale? You don't say where you would be driving from.

I still say "take a taxi" and that way you can leave for the ship when you want and not have to worry. What if your friends get stuck at work or stuck in traffic? Then what are you going to do?

[reeni]

No, I live in Tacoma Wa,and the ship leaves out of Seattle.
We're probably going to take a shuttle...$85 and up each way.

[Skipper's Mom]

How long is the cruise? What about long term parking at the pier? You could drive yourself and not have to deal with others. It might be less expensive than a shuttle.

[reeni]

It's a 14 day cruise. Parking is around $20-25 a day.

We're looking at lots of alternatives right now, and since we're not cruising until the end of May, we have time.

Thanks for all the replies.