Advice re Boarding
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Topic author - Second Officer
- Posts: 331
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Chorley
Advice re Boarding
I come in peace - not to start a war.
I dont want to discuss the pros and cons of the present arrangements, I just want some advice please.
We haven't sailed from Southampton since the new arrangements were introduced and I'm looking for advice from someone in similar circumstances to us who has done.
Our e-ticket says 3.00 p.m. but I know that that doesn't apply in our case.
We are in Carribean tier (Baltic next time) so entitled to board on arrival after 1.00 p.m.
However we travel by coach from Lancashire which has a boarding time of 2.30 p.m.
The bus ticket says "On arrival you will be issued with an embarkation card with your group clearly specified"
Does that mean that somewhere between the bus and the check in hall we will be given a boarding card or does it just mean the normal first stage check in.
So my real question is is it better to stick with the bus group or approach someone for priority boarding - in which case who?
Thanks for any advice you can give
John
I dont want to discuss the pros and cons of the present arrangements, I just want some advice please.
We haven't sailed from Southampton since the new arrangements were introduced and I'm looking for advice from someone in similar circumstances to us who has done.
Our e-ticket says 3.00 p.m. but I know that that doesn't apply in our case.
We are in Carribean tier (Baltic next time) so entitled to board on arrival after 1.00 p.m.
However we travel by coach from Lancashire which has a boarding time of 2.30 p.m.
The bus ticket says "On arrival you will be issued with an embarkation card with your group clearly specified"
Does that mean that somewhere between the bus and the check in hall we will be given a boarding card or does it just mean the normal first stage check in.
So my real question is is it better to stick with the bus group or approach someone for priority boarding - in which case who?
Thanks for any advice you can give
John
John
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Advice re Boarding
We have only done it as an independent but you are quite right about times. All we did was tip the wink to the lady handing out the embarkation cards and she shot us straight to the priority check-in with no need for a card. We were on board an in our cabin less than half an hour after arrival.
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 9437
- Joined: January 2012
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Advice re Boarding
Just to add that these days the coaches have allotted arrival times so you may be "parked up" somewhere for a while, which will obviously impact on your actual arrival time at the terminal.
You don't say which terminal you are going from as the procedures are slightly different at each terminal.
You don't say which terminal you are going from as the procedures are slightly different at each terminal.
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Topic author - Second Officer
- Posts: 331
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Chorley
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Advice re Boarding
Not sure about the coaching arrangements but once you are in the terminal there will be someone at the desk at the top of the stairs to steer you in the right direction
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8973
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Advice re Boarding
That's an interesting point that Johnds brings up, so if you are a suite passenger or Caribbean tier or above using the free coach offer, then you lose out on your early embarkation entitlement, and your curly canapes.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Advice re Boarding
His life will be ruined !!towny44 wrote:That's an interesting point that Johnds brings up, so if you are a suite passenger or Caribbean tier or above using the free coach offer, then you lose out on your early embarkation entitlement, and your curly canapes.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15358
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Advice re Boarding
Go straight to the compo desk.qbman1 wrote:His life will be ruined !!towny44 wrote:That's an interesting point that Johnds brings up, so if you are a suite passenger or Caribbean tier or above using the free coach offer, then you lose out on your early embarkation entitlement, and your curly canapes.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15984
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Advice re Boarding
Mervyn and Trish wrote:Go straight to the compo desk.qbman1 wrote:His life will be ruined !!towny44 wrote:That's an interesting point that Johnds brings up, so if you are a suite passenger or Caribbean tier or above using the free coach offer, then you lose out on your early embarkation entitlement, and your curly canapes.
At the very least.
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Advice re Boarding
Now, that's a thought. If they had a dedicated compo desk on board it would save the poor sods on reception from taking so much stick from the whingers !Mervyn and Trish wrote:Go straight to the compo desk.qbman1 wrote:His life will be ruined !!towny44 wrote:That's an interesting point that Johnds brings up, so if you are a suite passenger or Caribbean tier or above using the free coach offer, then you lose out on your early embarkation entitlement, and your curly canapes.
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 9437
- Joined: January 2012
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Advice re Boarding
... and also put them out of a job!!qbman1 wrote:If they had a dedicated compo desk on board it would save the poor sods on reception from taking so much stick from the whingers
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Advice re Boarding
I have to say, I marvel at their patience in the light of some of the crap they have to take !
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15358
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Advice re Boarding
They could have a compo claim booth with a seat like the one on Graham Norton's tv show
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Advice re Boarding
What - tip the moaning buggers over the side ?!
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15358
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Advice re Boarding
That's about it. Us exempted of course.
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3367
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Advice re Boarding
We've never gone through the new system with P&O, but we know from regular departures at Ocean Terminal that there is always a person in uniform at the top of the escalators. We always used to simply tell her which level of accommodation we were in, or which loyalty tier applied, and she would direct us to the appropriate place to sit or check-in.
So, my advice would be ...... head for the top of the escalator, speak to the uniformed person just at that point, approach (if necessary) the couple of uniformed people sitting usually behind a couple of little desks just a few steps further on, get your group card (if necessary), and your health declaration forms - and then relax, enjoy and have a great cruise.
So, my advice would be ...... head for the top of the escalator, speak to the uniformed person just at that point, approach (if necessary) the couple of uniformed people sitting usually behind a couple of little desks just a few steps further on, get your group card (if necessary), and your health declaration forms - and then relax, enjoy and have a great cruise.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15984
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Advice re Boarding
We went through the new system like a breeze back in December. Never been boarded so quick.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15358
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Advice re Boarding
What level are you Stephen? Was that steerage boarding or priority?
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 2860
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Advice re Boarding
Ventura N614 now deps from Mayflower returning to Ocean.johnds wrote:Ventura 22/05/16 Ocean Terminal
Mel
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 666
- Joined: February 2013
- Location: North East
Re: Advice re Boarding
johnds wrote:I come in peace - not to start a war.
I dont want to discuss the pros and cons of the present arrangements, I just want some advice please.
We haven't sailed from Southampton since the new arrangements were introduced and I'm looking for advice from someone in similar circumstances to us who has done.
Our e-ticket says 3.00 p.m. but I know that that doesn't apply in our case.
We are in Carribean tier (Baltic next time) so entitled to board on arrival after 1.00 p.m.
However we travel by coach from Lancashire which has a boarding time of 2.30 p.m.
The bus ticket says "On arrival you will be issued with an embarkation card with your group clearly specified"
Does that mean that somewhere between the bus and the check in hall we will be given a boarding card or does it just mean the normal first stage check in.
So my real question is is it better to stick with the bus group or approach someone for priority boarding - in which case who?
Thanks for any advice you can give
John
Unless there are problems with boarding. As a coach passenger you will be checked in as soon as you arrive. I take it the coach is booked through P&O. If not play your Caribbean tier card.
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- Third Officer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: April 2013
Re: Advice re Boarding
John - We cruised last year after the new arrangements. We are also Caribbean tier and travelled with Eavesway coaches, arriving at 2.30 pm. Just inside the terminal there was a lady with a clipboard and as we walked towards her she asked us if we had priority boarding. We said we were Caribbean tier and she took us to the front of the queue where a gentleman directed us to the next available check-in desk.
Barbara x
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Topic author - Second Officer
- Posts: 331
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Chorley
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 24
- Joined: January 2016
Re: Advice re Boarding
I have a question regarding boarding. My husband is disabled and we use the assistance team. I am guessing we will be given a 3:30 time slot but as we are staying overnight in southampton I would imagine we will go to the terminal earlier than 3:30. I am not expecting to be on first and we are quite happy to wait but how does the assistance work ?
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 9437
- Joined: January 2012
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Advice re Boarding
It is impossible to guess the time slot as there does not appear to be any logic applied to allocating them.stocktonmackem2 wrote:I am guessing we will be given a 3:30 time slot
In December those who needed assistance were being checked-in continuously and I don't think that "arrival" times applied. If you are in Southampton anyway, and you have to wait, then it does not make a lot of difference as to where you wait - and if you are at the terminal then there is always the possibility that you will get checked-in earlier than your allotted time.
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 24
- Joined: January 2016
Re: Advice re Boarding
Thanks. I was guessing at 3:30 because we have had c deck for all of our cruises and it always seems to be that time. It was never a problem before but wasn't sure how things worked with assistance. As you say I might as well just wait in the terminal as its no fun wandering around for the sake of it.david63 wrote:It is impossible to guess the time slot as there does not appear to be any logic applied to allocating them.stocktonmackem2 wrote:I am guessing we will be given a 3:30 time slot
In December those who needed assistance were being checked-in continuously and I don't think that "arrival" times applied. If you are in Southampton anyway, and you have to wait, then it does not make a lot of difference as to where you wait - and if you are at the terminal then there is always the possibility that you will get checked-in earlier than your allotted time.