Cruising - Embarkation Day

 

To a new cruiser, Embarkation Day can be quite confusing.  On my first cruise following the pandemic shutdown, I had to provide proof of vaccination, be Covid tested 3 days before the cruise, and be tested again at the cruise terminal before I could even finish the check-in process for my cruise.  Luckily, things have mostly returned to a more comfortable “normal” and most Covid protocols that would interfere with the cruise experience have been lifted.

Before one departs for the cruise terminal (but after the flight to the cruise terminal’s city), one should apply luggage tags for each bag to be checked with porters at the cruise terminal.  These tags should have the cruiser’s name, cell phone number, ship name and cabin number.  This will help the porters deliver checked luggage to the proper cabin in a timely manner.  I have bought special Cruise Luggage Tag Holders (with steel loops) from Amazon for this purpose, as they help ensure that my tags will not get separated from my luggage until it is delivered to my cabin.

At the cruise terminal, there will often be a line of people waiting to check in, as well as porters waiting to take your checked luggage to the ship.  Hand all luggage except your carry-on bags and medical equipment to the porters, and proceed to ship check-in.

Each cruise line will implement its own embarkation procedures. In all cases, your identification papers and cruise ticket will need to be displayed before going through security.  You and your carry-on bags will be scanned for contraband before you are directed to the check-in desks.   Once at the check-in desk, your paperwork will be inspected, and you will be given a cruise card.  This card will serve as your room key and a charge card, and as part of the identification you will need to get on and off the ship for shore excursions.  (Not all ships use traditional cruise cards.  For example, Princess Cruises uses a wearable medallion for this purpose.)

Once you have your cruise card, it will be time to get on the ship.  Often, you will be directed past a photo station where you will be given the opportunity to have cheesy pictures taken of you.  From there, you will board the ship, and then be able to head to your cabin when it is ready to be occupied.

Once in your cabin, you may be directed to view a safety video and then check in at a muster station.  On some ships, you may be directed to report to the muster station for a safety demonstration.  In both cases, you are required to view the safety presentation and check in at the muster station, as maritime law requires that all passengers must attend the safety drill in whatever form it is given.

At this point, all major tasks may be complete.  However, there are other tasks that should be taken care of at this time, such as making dining and entertainment reservations (if this has not been done before the cruise) and purchasing shore excursions which may not have been available for purchase before the cruise.  If you are having trouble with the cruise line’s app, the ship’s internet services desk should be able to resolve any problems you may be having, so that the rest of the cruise may be enjoyed without technology glitches.

When I took my Hawaii cruise, I had two specialty restaurant reservations to make, as well as supplying information needed for me to take one of my six scheduled shore excursions.  If one of the excursions had been cancelled (as was the case for some other passengers), this was the best time to reserve another excursion to replace the one that had been cancelled.

Assuming conditions permit, one should be now be able to change into a swimsuit and take a dip in the ship’s pool or hot tubs while waiting for luggage to be delivered to the cabin.  Embarkation day is the one day that I have found that few people make it to the ship’s pool, as they are trying to find their way around the ship. 

Please note that many people rush to the buffet on Embarkation Day.  If possible, one may find that dining in the main dining room is a better choice on this first day of cruising, as it may not be as crowded as the buffet.