Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to arrive after my allotted embarkation time for cruise?

104 replies

CallieCruiser · 31/03/2025 14:19

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.

OP posts:
Whatwillido2 · 31/03/2025 17:37

Msc don’t mind , have done this several times !! No one says anything, it’s just to try and manage queues

99victoria · 31/03/2025 17:42

If you're flying into Southampton airport it'll be really speedy - there's only one domestic luggage claim and a 5 minute walk and you're out of the terminal building 🙂

Beeloux · 31/03/2025 17:48

I’m a bit a worrier so I would probably email them and ask. 😅Then if they confirm it’s ok at least you have written proof.

Isobel201 · 31/03/2025 17:51

We went on one with P&O from southampton, we were given the later time of 3pm which suited us as we drove down from West Yorkshire on the day. It was pretty busy by then with a lot of people waiting, so the boarding groups do end up being mixed. If you can get there earlier, I recommend it.

marcopront · 31/03/2025 18:13

Downbadatthegym · 31/03/2025 17:34

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.

I seem to get a lot of videos of pier runners on my Facebook feed and they suggest that people are frequently left behind.

suburberphobe · 31/03/2025 18:15

OP, any important stuff carry it in your handbaggage (medicines etc.) as your luggage will appear outside your cabin door about 2 or 3 hours later.

Boarding early is great because you can explore the ship, where the restaurants are, check out the views from the deck, find out where your muster station is (and be photographed for it by the crew) and then go to the bar for a drink( or restaurant for food) and start your holiday, while chatting to the bar crew and any fellow cruisers there.

This is my experience.

Oh, and tip your cabin cleaner generously. They're wonderful and come from all over the world. (Mine were from China and Central America).

suburberphobe · 31/03/2025 18:16

Oh, and tip the guys organising your luggage getting onboard too.

DazzlingCuckoos · 31/03/2025 18:36

Eek! The whole flying in day of thing would stress me out! Fingers crossed it all goes to plan OP!

Last cruise we went on we had a 12pm boarding time given. By the time we went through the local traffic and got to the terminal it was gone 2pm.

It's fine turning up later (as long as you're before all aboard time), but if you turn up earlier you may be made to wait outside the terminal until your time slot. This latter point is why we'd rather be "late" than early - I'd prefer to just walk on, even if I still end up being on an hour later than queuing in the "early" slot!

Ineffable23 · 31/03/2025 18:39

MSC time slots were totally irrelevant when I cruised with them in February. I think I arrived 2 hours before my slot with no issue. This was a circular cruise though, with people embarking at every port so it was very relaxed compared to one where the whole ship was boarding at once.

Original poster
CallieCruiser · 31/03/2025 19:22

Whatwillido2 · 31/03/2025 17:37

Msc don’t mind , have done this several times !! No one says anything, it’s just to try and manage queues

Amazing news, thank you so much for this!

OP posts:
Original poster
CallieCruiser · 31/03/2025 19:23

suburberphobe · 31/03/2025 18:15

OP, any important stuff carry it in your handbaggage (medicines etc.) as your luggage will appear outside your cabin door about 2 or 3 hours later.

Boarding early is great because you can explore the ship, where the restaurants are, check out the views from the deck, find out where your muster station is (and be photographed for it by the crew) and then go to the bar for a drink( or restaurant for food) and start your holiday, while chatting to the bar crew and any fellow cruisers there.

This is my experience.

Oh, and tip your cabin cleaner generously. They're wonderful and come from all over the world. (Mine were from China and Central America).

thank you for that tip, will make sure i have first day stuff in my hand luggage.

OP posts:
Original poster
CallieCruiser · 31/03/2025 19:24

Ineffable23 · 31/03/2025 18:39

MSC time slots were totally irrelevant when I cruised with them in February. I think I arrived 2 hours before my slot with no issue. This was a circular cruise though, with people embarking at every port so it was very relaxed compared to one where the whole ship was boarding at once.

ours is a circular one so this is really reassuring! thank you!

OP posts:
Daphnise · 31/03/2025 19:30

Will you be taking the same attitude towards being on time when the ship leaves any stopping places....?

Original poster
CallieCruiser · 31/03/2025 19:32

Daphnise · 31/03/2025 19:30

Will you be taking the same attitude towards being on time when the ship leaves any stopping places....?

well obviously not, I have no intention of being anywhere close all aboard time at any point, including embarkation day. It's not attitude, its a simple fact of when I can physically get there as at no point prior to this was I told there would be an embarkation slot.

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 31/03/2025 19:52

Daphnise · 31/03/2025 19:30

Will you be taking the same attitude towards being on time when the ship leaves any stopping places....?

What a daft post

saltinesandcoffeecups · 31/03/2025 19:55

This has been a weird thread.

Checking in later than your slot will not be a problem as others have mentioned they are attempting to manage the process but you are always going to have people boarding whenever. As long as you’re on before the last call you’ll be fine.

Not sure everyone is harping on the same day arrival/embarkation. It is what it is and odds are it will be fine. Christ all of those ‘get there the day before’ could just as easily have something that delays them in the same city.

Have fun!

Clueless2024 · 31/03/2025 19:58

I'm pretty sure we arrived slightly before our allocated slot & they let us on. I don't think they are too fussy.

Original poster
CallieCruiser · 31/03/2025 19:59

Thank you to those who have offered helpful tips and reassurances, I really appreciate it! Feeling more relaxed about it all and a bit excited now!

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 31/03/2025 20:55

SIL is being an arse

Musntapplecrumble · 31/03/2025 22:12

You'll have a great time, it's such fun. Took a few days for me to stop swaying though😂and I'm sure we had to leave our big cases outside the cabin on our last night so had to buy a cabin bag at one of our stops for our clothes and stuff we needed the next morning...didn't realise that! Anyhoo have a great trip!🚢

TrickyD · 01/04/2025 10:40

If you are old enough to qualify, 50 or over, next time book a Saga cruise. The cost includes a taxi to pick you up from home and return you, and if the taxi is delayed, traffic or whatever, the ship will always wait. A very relaxing start to the holiday.

SpringHasSprungg · 01/04/2025 11:15

TrickyD · 01/04/2025 10:40

If you are old enough to qualify, 50 or over, next time book a Saga cruise. The cost includes a taxi to pick you up from home and return you, and if the taxi is delayed, traffic or whatever, the ship will always wait. A very relaxing start to the holiday.

Or a package with the cruise company.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 01/04/2025 13:38

Musntapplecrumble · 31/03/2025 22:12

You'll have a great time, it's such fun. Took a few days for me to stop swaying though😂and I'm sure we had to leave our big cases outside the cabin on our last night so had to buy a cabin bag at one of our stops for our clothes and stuff we needed the next morning...didn't realise that! Anyhoo have a great trip!🚢

I don’t know if all lines do but on P and O you can self disembark before your allotted slot

Musntapplecrumble · 01/04/2025 14:07

@ThatsNotMyTeen
Ahh, this was good ol' Marella by TUI😊

knor · 01/04/2025 18:30

Been on 5 cruises, most different companies/ships. I think it will be completely fine. Boarding slots are pretty casual and just a way to stagger arrivals. I’ve never had a problem and I’ve arrived later than my slot due to traffic. Usually the queue is quite big to get on anyway (depends on size of ship and I went just after covid so might have had more checks etc) but I’d be really surprised if they made a fuss. Have an amazing time!!!!