to arrive after my allotted embarkation time for cruise?

[CallieCruiser]

Shamelessly posting for traffic!
I'm going on my first ever cruise in a few weeks. I had thought from the info I had that boarding would be any time after 11am and best to be onboard at least 2 hours prior to departure. Just had updated info and I have been given an embarkation time of 11am-midday. All aboard is 5.30pm for departure at 6pm. The thing is we fly in to the departure city on that day and we wont make it to the port until 1-2pm. Have tried to contact cruise operator but they cant change my slot.

Does anyone have experience of how strict they are with the embarkation slots? I will be there 4.5 hours before 'all aboard' but 1-2 hours after my slot - will they let me on ok?

YABU - You need to be there between 11-12
YANBU - the slot is a guide, as long as you are well before all aboard it will be fine.

I have never been on a cruise but I have heard it is best to arrive the day before and stay in a hotel because there have been incidents where flights have been cancelled last minute and the next one only goes a day later. Or there could be a 6 hour delay (I’ve had that before!) and if you miss the sailing time you have a big problem!

This was directed to the patronising post about 'lovey'.....but that post has been taken down so now my post is standing all alone lol....looking v out of place lol

That’s the thing .. if you miss it, you are fucked.

if we are travelling under our own steam, we always get there the day before. I’ll only travel on the day, if the travel is part of the cruise package .. then they are obliged to get you at the next port (or next feasible port).

if I’m going from Southampton, I wouldn’t trust the railways to get me down there in time.

My afternoon flight from Belfast to Southampton yesterday was cancelled completely and rescheduled for today. It has been inconvenient but I didn’t have a cruise ship to board. I fly this route very often usually with no issues. Southampton airport is small and baggage reclaim is just as you get off the plane and usually very quick. I often meet people who are going on a cruise the next day but occasionally some brave person on the early morning flight going that afternoon (I couldn’t deal with the stress of not getting there the night before a cruise).

How are there deleted comments on a thread about cruise ship check in times? How does that turn nasty? People are seriously weird.

OP, you’ll be fine.

..complete aside...

To be clear, this is not a criticism. It's not a prod. I'm not suggesting anything should be changed. And I do know that this really doesn't matter a bit. For me, it's just one of those things that are triggering out of all proportion to their importance.

@SpringHasSprungg have you been on 26 cruises? If it's more than that, why choose 25 as the cut off for the number? Why not 'more than 26'? Where would you stop - 'more than 28'?

One sees on websites things like 'we have more than 18 industry awards'....what, 19? Obviously they know exactly how many in order to know it's more than 18.

People at my company used to write to prospective clients saying, "We have more than 32 consultants who..." What? Don't we know how many exactly? "But we might gain a few." "And we might lose a few. Have many have we actually got?"

Actually, this might be quite a good idea for a thread...Things You Find Triggering Out Of All Proportion To Their Importance.

Anyway, sorry. Ignore me, I'll go away. I'll get professonal help.

.....Now back to your scheduled programme.

@CallieCruiser better earlier than later!! it is to do with high tide for boats sailing out of harbours!!

@CallieCruiser I called them on the chat and they changed mine (also MSC) - though I don’t think it would have mattered if late.

I know it’s more than 25 and less than 30. I can’t remember them all and would be possibly lying if I said it’s 28 or whatever. Why do you ask?

This. Assuming your flight is on time etc, you’ll be fine @CallieCruiser - it’s just to stagger embarkation.

Completely irrelevant to your issue, but it reminded me of turning up a day early to a cruise once at Southampton 😂 better than a day late I suppose but was a little embarrassing!

But it's nice for OP to be reassured it's OK (barring a cancelled flight) rather than undergoing unnecessary excessive anxiety

I admire anyone who could fly the same day as their cruise started. I'm a very stressful traveller until I'm on the train, ship, plane and then I can relax. You wouldn't want me as your travelling companion that day! 😱

It's fine OP, as others have said it's just to help them stagger the arrivals. You won't have any problem getting onboard. However if you're worried you can ring MSC and ask them to move you to the later time.

I just want reassurance that this wont be an issue, so i can relax, or confirmation that this is a no-go and i look to cancel my flight and fly to port 2.

Cant change slot as i'm part of a group booking. had to fly same day (not my choice) due to something the day before which i can't change. in future, if i ever get to cruise again, these tips will be vewry useful.

In normal circumstances i would fly the day before but i'm going on a last minute deal with a group and compromises were needed!

because i'm part of a group booking it can't be changed as it would have to change the whole group and they wont do that.

Chances are you'll be absolutely fine and arrive in plenty of time. Meanwhile, I'd be having nightmares about running up the dockside sobbing as the ship disappeared into the sunset without me. I'm normally a rational person but my family and friends have endured many an instance of me being a PITA on 'journey day'.

Ooh, that’s awkward because I assumed 28.

you will be fine. I have only been on one cruise but we were a group. Our group had different embarkation times. When I rang and queried this P&O said to all board at the later time as they couldn’t bring the time forward for half the group. I think it’s to prevent everyone turning up too early .

I’ve been with MSC twice and arrived later both times. Wasn’t an issue. Have a lovely time!

Not necessarily awkward if the magic number is indeed 28.

MSC unlike almost all other lines has people embarking and disembarking at every port ( other lines everyone gets on, stays for a week/2 weeks etc and then everyone gets off) so, although it would be a hassle getting to the next port the would let you embark there. So wouldn’t be writing off the whole cruise if your flight gets messed up.

that is reassuring in worst case scenario!

I worked for Celebrity cruises about ten years ago, I imagine all cruise lines are the same. They never leave without guests (just threaten too) so I can’t imagine they will have a problem with you embarking late, the times are just to make it fluid.