Having a cruise booked is exciting. It is even more exciting when your cruise is only a few days away, and the fun is about to begin. Before you begin your long-awaited cruise to exotic ports such as Amber Cove, Taino Bay, Grand Turk, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, or through the Panama Canal, you need to get through embarkation day. On embarkation day, you will go through the cruise embarkation process. This is the day you will line up, hand over your travel documents to be checked and processed, and finally, board your cruise to start your cruise vacation.
Prepare in Advance to Avoid Embarkation Day Stress
Cruise embarkation day can be stressful, especially for first-time cruisers. Cruise lines have their own policies and procedures for embarkation day. They might have a few differences, but the boarding process is similar across cruise lines. Preparing ahead of time is the best way to avoid a stressful embarkation day. This includes knowing what you need to do before leaving home and heading to the cruise port, gathering the correct documents, and what to do on your first cruise day. This guide will help you navigate cruise embarkation day more efficiently. Keep reading to learn how to make cruise embarkation day easier so that you can begin to enjoy your long-awaited cruise vacation without any issues.
Prior to Cruise Embarkation Day
There are a few housekeeping items that you will want to take care of prior to embarkation day. Most of these items are required and a necessary part of the boarding procedures, so you should know about them and handle them prior to your embarkation day.
Check-in Online on Your Cruise Lines Website
To ensure a smooth cruise embarkation day, most, if not all, cruise lines allow passengers to check in for their cruises on their websites. During the online check-in process, you will enter travel information, such as the type of travel documents you will have, the names of passengers and other personal information, and the names and telephone numbers of emergency contacts. There is usually also a short health questionnaire.
You will also have the opportunity to select travel options, such as your preferred meal-time preference, and the set up of your stateroom, such as the need for twin beds or whether you prefer to have the beds put together to make one large bed.
Upload a Photograph of Yourself
Some cruise line websites allow you to take your photograph while checking in or to upload a photograph of yourself as well. This photograph will be displayed on the cruise line mobile app and will help you not only with the embarkation process but also during your cruise.
Download Your Cruise Documents
Once all necessary information has been entered on the website, and your cruise date is a couple of weeks or so away, you will be able to download your cruise documents. Your boarding documents typically include paperwork with pertinent information about your cruise such as your check-in time, your boarding pass, your cabin number, and luggage tags.
Some cruise lines will allow you to use a mobile boarding pass that will be available on their mobile app. Other cruise lines require you to print your boarding pass and have a physical copy in hand during the embarkation process. It is a good idea to check the requirements with your cruise line.
Download the Cruise Line App
Many cruise lines have a mobile app that is handy to have during your cruise. You should download the app prior to sailing as it can be difficult to download the app after you depart. The cruise line app contains important information, such as the shipboard time, and a ship map with detailed ship information, such as locations of the main dining room, the fitness center, the casino, and other locations. The cruise line app also has a daily schedule of events, including itineraries for the ports of call you will visit.
Your Cruise Luggage Tags
Luggage tags are important when traveling in general, as they identify the owner of a piece of luggage. They are especially important when going on a cruise, as they have information such as the passenger’s name, the floor your stateroom is on, and your stateroom number. Thus, attaching your cruise luggage tags to your luggage is essential.
Luggage tags are part of the documents that are available in the cruise line portal. They can be downloaded and printed on paper. The document will include instructions on folding the sheet of paper and attaching the tags to your luggage. They should be attached prior to embarking on your cruise. If you are flying in, they should not be attached to your luggage prior to flying into your port city.
Several people will handle your luggage before it is delivered to your stateroom, including the porter, security, and cruise ship staff. Since luggage tags are printed on paper and attached to your luggage, they can rip and fall off. Adding extra tape or staples will help secure them better.
If your tags fall off, cruise ship staff will not know where to deliver your luggage. Therefore, if you do not receive your luggage by embarkation evening, you can check with customer service as there is usually a place near customer service where undeliverable luggage is stored or held.
Use Luggage Tag Holders
A pro tip is to use a luggage tag holder to prevent your tag from falling off. Luggage tag holders are made of clear, durable plastic and have removable wire loops that attach to luggage handles. This helps ensure that your paper luggage tag will not fall off and that your luggage will find its way to your stateroom.
Luggage tag holders are available for purchase online and come in various sizes. The size of luggage tag holders corresponds to the size of the printed luggage tag after it is folded. This size will vary by cruise line.
Luggage tag holders come in a variety of sizes. Many are specific for the printed luggage tags for particular cruise lines. Another pro tip regarding luggage tag holders is to purchase them in a larger size. Some larger holders can accommodate luggage tags for more than one cruise line. This way, you can use the tag holder with different cruise lines without purchasing additional holders.
The tag holders we purchased easily accommodate luggage tags for Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise lines. You can look at the different luggage tag holders available on Amazon.
Luggage Tags We Recommend:
You can also read about other essential cruise items we recommend to help make your cruise cabin more comfortable.
Arriving at Your Cruise Port City of Embarkation
One frequently asked question is, “Should I arrive a day early at my cruise port city?” While there are different opinions about whether arriving a day early for your cruise is necessary, most seasoned cruisers will advise you to arrive at the city of embarkation the day before you sail.
Arriving early has a few benefits. The most important is that if anything goes wrong with your flight, you have extra time to handle it. Flights can be delayed or canceled, and weather changes can also affect them. Having an extra time buffer allows you to find alternative flights if necessary or handle any unexpected issues that may arise.
Another benefit of arriving early is giving yourself extra time to prepare and run errands. Many cruise lines allow you to bring a limited amount of canned sodas, drinks, and wine. You can take the time to purchase items you would like to get that you cannot easily fly with.
And most importantly, the main benefit of arriving early is being able to explore the city where you will sail from, even for one day. When we fly into a port city, we like to arrive early. We normally arrive the day before but prefer to arrive two days earlier if possible. It’s nice to unwind and explore the port town. It is also a great way to get used to the changes in time if we are in a different time zone.
Cruise Embarkation Day
Finally! Cruise Embarkation Day has arrived, and your long-awaited cruise will soon begin. This is the most exciting day as you start the day with the anticipation of starting your cruise vacation. This is the day when you know you will soon be exploring exciting ports for the next several days.
Subscribe to our Travel Newsletter!
Receive our free Packing Guide with Bonus Cruise Essentials Checklist and Waikiki Travel Guide with Map when you subscribe.
The Best Advice for Embarkation Day
We have been asked multiple times what advice is best to make cruise embarkation day run smoothly. There are a couple of bits of advice that we usually give.
The first advice is to know the final boarding time for your cruise. This is the absolute deadline for being able to board your cruise ship. This time differs from the cruise departure time. It is usually about two hours or so prior to departure time. If you arrive after this time, you will not be allowed to board your cruise ship. You don’t want to miss your cruise by arriving 5 minutes late.
The second piece of advice is to arrive at your scheduled embarkation time. Your arrival time will be assigned to you during the online check-in process. Arriving at your assigned appointment time makes the cruise embarkation process easier. Passengers are usually spread out throughout the day, creating less crowds and shorter wait times for document processing.
When you arrive during your designated window, you will be able to get in line and begin the cruise embarkation process. Each cruise line has its own procedures. If you arrive outside of your designated window, you might be directed to wait in the early arrival line, which is a slower line. Some cruise lines will require you to wait outside until your designated time. Other cruise lines will have a different check-in line for different check-in times. You will have to wait in the check-in line that corresponds to your check-in time. Arriving at your designated time makes the embarkation process easier and avoids having to wait until the correct entry time.
What Happens if You Arrive Early
If your cruise line allows you to begin the embarkation process early, you may be allowed to enter the ship early. However, many cruise lines have designated waiting areas where you must wait until your group is called to enter the ship.
The important thing to remember is to arrive during your designated appointment time. This is ideal as it will avoid waiting outside in line or inside the cruise port. Sometimes, your schedule might require you to arrive outside your entry window. Just be patient and prepared to wait. If you are lucky, you might get on the ship earlier than expected.
Different Types of Waiting Areas Are Available
We have been early at least twice. Once, to avoid traffic on the drive to our home cruise port, the second was due to a side-by-side cruise schedule where we exited the previous ship at 9:00 AM and had an entry time of 11:30 AM for our second cruise.
At our home port at the Long Beach Cruise Port, we were lucky enough to be able to start the embarkation process and board our cruise ship early. This typically does not happen, and we were surprised and happy that we were allowed to start the embarkation process and board early. We knew we would be early and were more than prepared to wait until our appointment time.
During our side-by-side cruise at the Miami Cruise Port, we were required to wait in the designated waiting area after processing our paperwork. The waiting area inside the cruise terminal was comfortable. There was a lot of seating and restroom facilities nearby. As more passengers arrived, seating was at a premium, and the area became more crowded. Separate waiting areas, such as the Captain’s Lounge at the Carnival Cruise Terminal at the Port of Miami, are available for passengers enrolled in a cruise line’s loyalty program.
How is Luggage Handled at a Cruise Port
Every cruise port has porters who take your luggage and load it onto racks. The racks of luggage are then taken inside the cruise terminal. Once your luggage is brought into the building, it will be scanned and go through security. It is very important not to have any prohibited items in your luggage, and it is also important not to have any illegal substances, as luggage is routinely checked for illegal substances.
If the scan detects prohibited items, they will be removed from your luggage. You will receive a note from the cruise line when this occurs. The note will let you know what was removed and how to recover the item at the conclusion of your cruise. Cruise lines have different procedures and policies. Some cruise lines may not return certain confiscated items, such as alcohol.
Cruise Line Prohibited Items
Many cruise lines have lists on their websites detailing prohibited items. One primary type of prohibited item is small appliances that generate heat, such as irons. Irons will be confiscated because they are a fire hazard on a cruise ship. Many cruise ships have laundry and/or ironing rooms where you can press clothing when you need to.
Additional prohibited items include travel steamers and coffee makers. Surge protectors are also usually confiscated, as they are not safe to use on board a ship. It is a good idea to check your cruise line’s website for prohibited items.
Some cruise lines allow cruise-approved non-surge power strips, which you can find on Amazon.
The Cruise Embarkation Process
The cruise embarkation process involves going through customs and having your required documents checked. It is a good idea, and very important, to make sure that you have all the proper documentation with you. The documentation will vary depending on your country of nationality and whether you are a legal permanent resident of the United States.
Required Documentation
If you are an American citizen, the most straightforward document to use is a United States Passport. If you are a legal permanent resident of the United States, you must have your Green Card with you. United States citizens are also allowed to board using an official United States Birth Certificate. This is limited to ports located in the United States that start and end at the same port.
A passport is required if you will be crossing the Panama Canal. A few countries also require a passport regardless of where your cruise begins. If you are a citizen of a different country, you must have your passport. Each cruise line has its own requirements and procedures. It is important to verify with your cruise line what documentation will be required.
Getting Through Customs
After waiting in line, each family will be called to speak with a cruise official. Your documents will be examined, and you will have the opportunity to have your photograph taken. This photograph is used for Biometric identification as you leave and enter the ship at the ports you will visit and for debarkation. You can ask to be exempted from taking your picture. However, other types of identification will be required at all the ports and when you disembark.
If your documentation has problems, you will be taken to a customer service area where document issues are resolved.
Your Carry-On Luggage Will Be Scanned
After you complete the documentation process, your carry-on bag will go through a security checkpoint. You will place your luggage through an X-ray scanner similar to an airport. If the scanner detects any prohibited items, they will be confiscated at this time.
It is important to know that while most ports can scan large luggage, some can only scan carry-on-size luggage. If you want to board with your luggage, you should check that you can place all your luggage through the scanner. The Pan American Cruise Port in Puerto Rico is one of the ports that only allows carry-on-sized luggage through its scanner.
K9 Examination of Luggage at the Cruise Port
Along with passing your luggage through the security scanner, drug-sniffing canines will examine all pieces of luggage. You will be asked to place all items on the floor, including any bags you are holding. The canines will then pass by and sniff all items in search of illegal substances. The dogs will alert if an illegal substance is detected. If the K9’s alert on your luggage, you will be taken to a secondary inspection area.
Don’t be surprised if you see the canine alert at least once. The best advice here is to not bring illegal substances with you. You will be denied boarding and face other legal problems.
Making Your Way on the Gangway
After you go through your customs and security check, you will make your way from the cruise port to the gangway to board your cruise ship. Somewhere along this route, you will have the opportunity to have your photograph taken.
Be Picture Ready for Your Cruise Ship Entrance
Taking photographs is one of the more popular things to do on a cruise ship. You will have the opportunity to have your photograph taken multiple times throughout your cruise. The first photograph will be taken on embarkation day. This is a great way to celebrate the start of your cruise vacation.
As you make your way to the cruise ship, you will have the opportunity to have your picture taken. Being photo-ready for your grand entrance is a good idea, as it is an excellent memento of your cruise vacation. The picture is not required. You can always decline to be photographed.
Finally! You Are On Your Cruise Ship!
As you walk through the gangway, you will finally board your cruise ship. This marks the official start of your cruise vacation. There are a few things you should know about as you board your ship.
Attend Your Muster Station Briefing
A muster station briefing is required on all cruise ships. They are relatively easy to do. While cruise lines have their own procedures, which can differ, they tend to be similar. Your muster station is the area you are required to go to if there is an emergency during your cruise, and an announcement is made to report there.
When you board your cruise ship, you will be asked to go to your muster station to familiarize yourself with its location. During the muster drill, you will be given safety information and instructed on how to don a life vest. Your boarding pass will be scanned to mark your attendance. Cruise ships cannot sail until all passengers arrive at their muster stations and attend the safety briefing. It is important to get this out of the way as soon as you board.
Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation!
Now that you have made it through the embarkation process, you can begin to enjoy your cruise vacation! Take the time to enjoy lunch, explore your cruise ship, go swimming, enjoy the sail away party, relax, unwind, and take in the sunshine on deck.
Popular & Related Posts
- 28 Cruise Tips for New Cruise Travelers
- 27 Essential Cruise Cabin Items for Maximum Comfort
- The Essential Packing List for Your Cruise Vacation
- Is the Carnival Cheers Package Worth the Price? Let’s Take a Closer Look
- The Disembarkation Day Process, What You Need to Know
- Santa Barbara Cruise Port And Shore Excursion Guide
- Port Tampa Bay Cruise Port, Everything You Need to Know
- RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Cruise Port, A Guide to Carnival’s Private Island
- Visiting the Amber Cove Cruise Port in the Dominican Republic
- Taino Bay Cruise Port, A Guide to the Puerto Plata Cruise Port
- A Guide to the La Romana Cruise Port and Shore Excursions
- Full Transit Panama Canal Cruise, Everything You Need to Know
