You Mean I Can’t Just Walk On?
More than likely you are arriving at the port in one of our chartered buses. Once the luggage is unloaded, your large luggage will remain with the outside porter. Don’t worry, (remember: “I’m on vacation”) it will be delivered to your stateroom before dinner. If you plan on hanging out by the pool or freshen up before you see your luggage, make sure to have the necessary items in your carry on.
You will be greeted warmly as you walk up to the port check-in building by ship staff. They will hand you a Public Health Questionnaire that each person in your party must fill out before you approach the check in desk. This form will ask if you are sick, or have been sick with a fever or one of following: cough, runny nose, or sore throat. If you answer yes, to any of the health questions, we will be waving goodbye to you from the boat!
Ship Board Account
Your shipboard account will be set up during the check in process before you board the ship. Check in is done by deck. Your set sail pass will give you the name of the deck you stateroom is on. Look for the check in counter that has your deck name (dolphin, caribe, lido etc). Be prepared to present the agent with your: 1) set sail pass 2) photo id 3) credit card 4) Form: Charge account and Cruise ticket (found in the center of your cruise document booklet to change your shipboard account from a cash account to a credit account. Please have this form filled out before you check in at the port.)
When all documents have been gone over, the agents will give you your SeaPass card. This card is your room key, and your onboard charge card. The ship is a cashless system; all purchases on board will be made with your SeaPass card. All transactions will be documented daily throughout your cruise. At any time you can go to the guest relations desk and request a copy of your ship board account. This document will show all on board purchases made through out your cruise.
And… Security
This is not as big of a deal as an airport. You do not have to take anything off; simply just put your carry-on through the scanner. You will however, have to remove your laptops from its carrying case as you did at the airport should you bring one. Then Viola, this is the last check point and you will be on vacation.
The Big Boats Buffet
Once you step past security, you will soon find be faced with the Ship Paparazzi. You do not have to take a picture, but you will find it hard to tell them no, after all they are paparazzi. After seeing this picture with the evidence of your airport security and port ship check in experience, you may gag. The good news is you don’t have to buy it and you will have several other photo ops throughout your trip. Once stepping on you will see a shipboard staff member who will direct you to your stateroom. However, if we board the ship too early, your stateroom may not be ready. Therefore, you will be directed to an upper deck for the buffet. Whew! Now we can eat!!!
Getting Lost on the Big Boat
It is perfectly normal to get turned around on a ship of this size. It happens to even the most traveled cruiser. To help you find your way around, there is a directory of the ship at each elevator, on the shopping level with the souvenir shops, at the guest relations desk, and also at the forward and aft of the ship. The map directory points in the direction that tells where the forward is and where the aft is. But don’t worry, you will be a pro by the time disembarkation comes around.