Cruise Countdown - Ready for your cruise? (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when your cruise cabin is ready? ›

The cruise director will make an announcement over the PA system when rooms are ready. In some cases, you might be able to pop in early if your cabin has already been cleaned; some ships will block off hallway access with fire doors until all rooms are serviced.

Do not attempt to arrive earlier than is permitted. However, arriving later in the day (but before the designated cut-off time) can speed up the boarding process. It is always recommended to arrive at the pier at least 3 hours prior to the departure time. If you are late you risk being denied boarding.

Ask your travel agent

If you made your cruise booking through a travel agent, simply reach out to them and ask them about the availability. This can be a more accurate source of information, as they sometimes have access to rooms that are not published on a cruise line's website.

Staterooms are typically ready around 1:30 p.m. on the day of your voyage. Luggage may not arrive for a few hours afterward, so I recommend that you bring a swimsuit and coverup in a carry-on bag if you'd like to enjoy the pools onboard shortly after boarding.

On embarkation day, you'll be doing quite a bit of walking—be it at the port, during check-in, or while exploring the ship. Comfortable, non-restrictive clothing and footwear are crucial. Think about wearing soft, stretchable fabrics that allow for easy movement.

The best way to avoid cell phone charges on a cruise if you don't have a roaming deal is to switch your phone to airplane mode and turn off data roaming in your Settings app. That way, your cell phone is restricted to only accessing data via Wi-Fi, providing you keep your Wi-Fi function turned on.

The best time to board a cruise ship is obviously when there are few lines and short waits. The trick is knowing when that will be. Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m.

Boarding will continue up until one to two hours before the scheduled departure time. If you arrive at the terminal a few minutes before the ship's departure, you will not be allowed on.

What is the earliest I can board my cruise? ›

However, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect the earliest embarkation time to be four to five hours before sailing. As most cruise lines leave port at around 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm, in most cases, you can anticipate the earliest time you can board to be at around noon.

During the booking process you'll be able to see how many cabins in any category are left. If you're already booked on that cruise and see that there are open higher-category rooms than what you've got booked, contact the line or your travel agent to see if there are any upgrade offers open.

One trick I learned is to check expedia cruises to see if it's really sold out, oftentimes there will still be cabins available that show up there but not on the cruise lines main booking engine. There usually aren't many cabin options but there are, oftentimes, multiple categories and some good deals.

There will be an announcement when the rooms (also known as staterooms) are ready. Your room key will be in the mail slot next to your door.

Websites such as CruiseMapper, Marine Vessel, Cruising Earth and ShipCruises offer live ship location tracking, speed, position, itinerary information and even the weather conditions of the ship's route.

Many first-time cruisers don't realize that they won't be able to go directly to their staterooms upon boarding. Pass the time while you wait for your room to be ready and for the ship to set sail by enjoying lunch on the Lido Deck of the ship. This is a great way to make sure you aren't starving by dinner time!

Boarding begins roughly between 10 and 11 a.m., depending on the ship's schedule and how long it takes everyone from the last cruise to debark. Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening.