What Happens on Embarkation Day?

Check In Before You Leave Home

Your cruise line will open online check-in before your sailing.

Complete it.

That is where you may confirm your information, choose or receive an arrival time, complete required travel questions, and access your boarding documents.

Do not wait until you are standing outside the terminal trying to figure out what login you used six months ago.

Handle it before cruise day.

Keep Your Documents WITH You

Your identification and boarding documents belong in your hand or carry-on bag.

Do NOT put your passport, birth certificate, license, or boarding pass inside luggage that you are handing over to the porters.

I cannot stress this enough.

If the bag goes one way and you go another, we now have a problem we did not need. 😂

What Happens to Your Luggage?

At most cruise terminals, you can leave larger bags with luggage porters before entering the terminal.

Make sure the correct cruise-line luggage tags are attached.

Those bags will be delivered to your cabin later.

Keep a small carry-on with anything you may need before your luggage arrives.

Medication. Travel documents. Chargers. Sunscreen. Swimsuit if you want to get straight to the pool.

And please keep anything valuable with you.

Security and Check-In

You will go through a security process similar to an airport, although the exact procedure varies by cruise terminal.

After that, the cruise line verifies your documents and boarding information.

Once you are cleared, it is time to board.

Your Cruise Card

Depending on the cruise line, you may receive your cruise card during the terminal check-in process or after boarding.

That little card is important.

It can serve as your room key, onboard charge card, and identification when getting on and off the ship.

Keep up with it.

This is exactly why I tell first-timers to bring a lanyard.

If you are one of my clients, I already thought about that for you. 😉

Your Cabin May Not Be Ready Yet

Do not assume you are walking straight onboard and immediately taking a nap in your room.

Cabins may still be getting prepared when early boarding begins.

That is another reason your carry-on matters.

You may spend some time eating lunch, exploring the ship, or hanging out on deck before your room is available.

Complete Your Muster Drill

Every guest has to complete the ship’s required safety procedure.

The exact process varies by cruise line.

Some cruise lines use a combination of digital instructions and a quick station check-in. Others may handle it differently.

Do it early and get it out the way.

Vacation is much more enjoyable when the ship is not calling your name over the loudspeaker because you are the last person who still has not completed muster. 😂