12 WAYS TO SPEED UP THE CRUISE EMBARKATION PROCESS

The last thing you want to do upon arriving at the cruise terminal is wait in a long queue to board your ship and start your vacation. However, cruise ship embarkation can be lengthy and cumbersome, especially when cruising on megaships with thousands of people.

Don't stress. You can avoid — or at least minimize — delays at the cruise port terminal.

These 12 tips will have you through the embarkation process quicker — and enjoying umbrella drinks poolside sooner — while your fellow cruisers are still lined up waiting to board the ship.

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Book accommodations in an exclusive area of the ship

One of the easiest ways to breeze through the embarkation process is to book a cabin or suite with privileged access and perks. Many lines offer priority boarding when you upgrade to a suite or stay within a line's exclusive "ship within a ship" retreat.

MSC Cruises' Yacht Club comes with many amenities, such as luxurious private spaces reserved only for Yacht Club guests and 24-hour butler service. When you arrive at the cruise terminal, a butler will assist with your luggage and guide you through the dedicated priority check-in process.

Book a suite at The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises to enjoy a long list of unique amenities. Features of this luxury enclave include a private restaurant, lounge and a private sundeck. You'll also have a dedicated precruise Retreat concierge, a personal Retreat host and concierge on the ship — and priority check-in when it comes time to board.

If you're sailing with Royal Caribbean, passengers booked into the line's Royal Suite class receive priority boarding, with expedited boarding for the highest-tier Star class.

Those staying in a cabin within Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven will be privy to private venues like The Haven Restaurant and Lounge. They'll also have a 24-hour butler and a personal escort to board the ship during embarkation.

Carnival Cruise Line also includes priority check-in at embarkation when you book deluxe suite accommodations. Your boarding pass will be marked "Priority," and you'll be granted access to the Captain's Lounge or another designated area, depending on the cruise terminal.

Purchase priority access

With programs like Holland America Line's Club Orange, you can also opt to pay for priority access — even if you're not staying in a suite or in a ship's private retreat. This exclusive offering includes priority check-in at the cruise terminal, a complimentary cabin upgrade and other onboard amenities. You'll also have invitations to special events, such as a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship.

Royal Caribbean offers a similar program called The Key. Passengers have priority access at the terminal during a designated arrival time. Once on board, you can drop your bag in the main dining room (they will deliver it to your cabin) while you enjoy a welcome lunch featuring the menu from Chops Grille. Other perks of the program include VIP access to shows and priority departure.

Carnival's priority access program is called Faster to the Fun. With it, you'll enjoy a dedicated security and check-in lane on embarkation day, allowing you to board just after guests with VIFP Diamond or Platinum status and those traveling in deluxe suite accommodations. Expedited luggage delivery, priority dining assignment and early cabin access are among other Faster to the Fun advantages.

Become a loyal cruiser

Some special perks and privileges come with being loyal to one cruise line. Savings on future voyages, exclusive cocktail parties, discounts on shore excursions and priority boarding are a few of the many amenities you'll have as a member of the Latitudes Awards program at Norwegian Cruise Line.

Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle is another loyalty program that features exclusive savings on spa treatments, discounts on the MedallionNet Wi-Fi package, early access to restaurant reservations, a private lounge (for Platinum and Elite members) and priority boarding.

With the cruise lines that offer these programs, the more you sail, the more benefits you'll receive.

But what do you do to speed up the embarkation process if you don't want to book a suite or pay for upgrades or are a first-time cruiser? There are several things you can do.

Book a private transfer in advance

Schedule a private transfer to the port so you're not scrambling for a ride to the terminal at the last minute. Even if it costs a little extra to schedule a car or van to pick you up at a specific time, it's worth the peace of mind to know that you won't be competing for Ubers or cabs with thousands of other people trying to arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day. If you book a cruise line transfer, know that you might spend quite a bit of time waiting for other passengers to fill the bus. It'll be faster to arrange a transfer just for your travel party.

Check in online

Most cruise lines have apps that allow you to check in online before your cruise. Checking in ahead of time streamlines the boarding process, so complete as much information as possible and upload photos or travel document information on the app. Even if you need to go through the checkpoints at the terminal to board the ship and show your passport, QR codes, boarding pass, etc., checking in online still speeds up the embarkation process.

Don't board at peak times

Depending on what time you arrive at the port, you might be joining hundreds or thousands of guests trying to board at the same time, creating long lines and lengthy waits. Many lines offer a window for the arrival time to mitigate the crowds, but some people are always trying to beat the system and sneak in early.

If you're eager to get on the ship, reserve the earliest time slot available for your cabin category. If you can't book a specific time, plan to arrive at the terminal early — when you know you can first begin to board your ship. When you board early in the process, you're less likely to encounter backups, and you can get to the buffet or the shore excursions desk before most of your shipmates arrive.

Another way to beat the crowds and have a faster embarkation process is to arrive later in the day when most people are already on board the ship. Note the gangways close long before the ship sets sail, so find out the latest time you can check in and board.

Stay organized

Before embarkation day, organize your passport (or other required forms of photo ID), boarding passes and other documents you'll need to board the ship. Keep all your travel documents easily accessible during the boarding process — in your carry-on bag, purse or backpack.

If you've stored your documents on your smartphone, pull them up and have them ready to view. If you need to access information in the cruise app, make sure you're logged in ahead of time.

Take your photo before embarkation day

Most photos taken at the port of embarkation aren't flattering. Take a selfie — or have a spouse or friend snap a photo — at home to upload on your ship's app. Doing this in advance will save time and avoid the awkward moment of posing for a picture at the cruise terminal. Aim for a passportlike photo, with your face in the center of the shot, looking straight at the camera. Otherwise, the port agent might make you retake the photo at the terminal.

Be prepared to drop your bags at the terminal

Embarkation will be faster if you hand over your suitcases to the porters at the terminal and only carry a backpack or small bag on board yourself. You won't have to lug large bags through the queues, hoist them onto the security X-ray machines or carry them up escalators.

Speed up the drop-off process by being prepared. All cruise lines provide luggage tags; they either send the tags through the mail or send you an electronic file to print at home. Be sure to fill them out and put them on your luggage before handing them off to porters. Otherwise, you'll have to spend time at the port writing out your name and cabin number and affixing the tags to your bags. Fail to fill out the correct information, especially cabin number, and you'll waste time hunting down your lost luggage on the first day.

It's also customary to tip the porters a dollar or two per bag. Have tip money ready so you don't waste time searching through your purse or pocket for small bills.

Know what's allowed to bring on the ship

All cruise lines provide a list of items — including certain types of beverages — that are permissible to bring on board the ship. They also note items that aren't allowed on board. Your carry-on bags will go through a security X-ray machine at the port. If you don't want to get pulled out of line so your drone, bottle of 20-year-old bourbon, steam iron or other forbidden items can be confiscated, check to see what's allowed on board before you pack.

Empty your reusable water bottles and ensure nonalcoholic beverages are in acceptable containers and amounts. Some lines also limit the number of bottles of wine you can carry, so know the rules. Don't play with fate trying to smuggle additional bottles of vino or items that aren't allowed on board. Getting held up at security will take precious time out of your first vacation day.

Pack a bag to entertain the kids

Little ones traveling with you may get antsy during the boring boarding process as you navigate your way through several checkpoints at the cruise terminal. With this in mind, pack a small bag with snacks, drinks, toys or an iPad to entertain and keep the kiddies content until you can reach your cabin, get settled in and grab lunch. Parents know that a massive meltdown can derail your schedule and make everything take longer. Even without a tantrum, whiny children can make the embarkation process feel like it's taking forever.

Learn your cabin number

It sounds so simple, but if you don't know your cabin number, it can delay your embarkation process if you're fumbling around looking for where you'll sleep for the next week. Someone will likely ask you for your cabin number during the boarding process. If you can't memorize it in advance, jot it down on a piece of paper and slip it into your pocket or put it in your notes on your smartphone — anywhere that you can refer to it quickly. Your cabin number will not be printed on your cruise card for safety reasons.

Bottom line

The easiest way to guarantee a smooth and quick embarkation is with dedicated priority check-in, which is offered with many suites and upper-tier cabins, to frequent cruisers or by purchasing a program that includes faster check-in as one of the perks.

If you're not up for splurging on the added expense, you can still navigate the embarkation process with a few simple tips to board the ship more quickly — and get your cruise vacation started as soon as possible.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

2024-07-22T20:10:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd