Tighter screening in Port Canaveral - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

JMeans13 · 06-29-2009, 04:21 AM

I will be sailing out of Port Canaveral this October and was wondering how long I should allow for boarding. I know that most people have said not to get there too early because you will just be waiting, but I am one that likes to allow plenty of time for any "surprises" that may come up. Any info on time to get on/off the ship would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Char · 06-29-2009, 08:04 AM

Lauren, most folks here on CLF say they like to arrive about noon...give or take an hour.

The ships are usually ready for boarding then, but sometimes the cabins are not ready for the passengers to have full access until around 1:00 (or sometimes a little later if the ship was late clearing all the previous passengers)

Even if you have to wait a little bit you are starting your wonderful vacation!

Personally, we plan to arrive at noon for a 5PM sailaway. Gives us time to have a little lunch and explore the ship before our early seating dinnertime.

Red Sonja · 07-01-2009, 02:49 AM

Char's advice is good IMHO. We try to arrive around noon for all of our cruises. Royal Caribbean has been pretty good at getting you onboard as fast as possible in all of the ports we have been at, including Port Canveral. It took us longer to go through security than anything else and were onboard less than an hour after arriving at port. The cabins were not ready yet but we had time for a nice lunch and a little exploring before seeing our room.

canarymoon · 07-06-2009, 09:29 AM

A little bragging here (because Port Canaveral is my 'home port')

Of the ports I've cruised from , Port Canaveral has had the quickest and most efficient boarding process.

I have cruises out of six different ports, and am list ing them in terms of ease of boarding - easiest first:

Port Canaveral
Jacksonville
Galveston
Ft Laudrdale
Miami
San Juan

Cruise lines I've sailed on, listed in order of the most hassle free to the least hassle free boarding process.

Royal Caribbean
Celebrity
Princess
Carnival.

It should also be noted that I have VIP boarding with RCL, so that makes a big differnce.