Princess Cruises Boarding Times: How Early Can You Really Get Onboard?

When you’re counting down the days to your cruise, one of the first things you’ll wonder is how early you can get on the ship. The earlier you board, the sooner the holiday starts – and if you’re on by lunchtime, that’s an extra meal and half a day of relaxation you wouldn’t want to miss!

I always love boarding early because it makes the first day feel so much calmer. You can find your muster station, unpack at your own pace, grab a cocktail, and maybe even sneak in a dip in the whirlpool before most people have stepped onboard.

So, what time can you actually board a Princess cruise? Let’s take a look at how it works and how to make the most of embarkation day.

You Can (Sometimes) Board from 11!

The earliest that you can board a Princess cruise is typically 11 am, though if you have priority boarding, then you may be able to board as early as 10 am and go straight to the front of the queue in the port.

The boarding time can also vary depending on whether the prior cruise docked on time, and everyone else left the ship when they should.

How to Get Priority Boarding

Certain groups of guests get priority boarding on Princess cruises. These are:

• Platinum or Elite Captain’s Circle Members: Guests who have completed five cruises or 50 cruise days
• Suite Guests: Those staying in a full Suite, a Club Class Mini Suite or a Reserve Collection Mini Suite (but not a regular Mini Suite)
• Guests With Special Needs: Those with medical issues or using mobility aids

There used to be a Bon Voyage Experience where guests could pay an extra charge to board early and enjoy a four-course lunch, ship tour and photo, but that service has been discontinued.

No Need to Select an Arrival Time!

It used to be that, to board a Princess cruise, you needed to book an arrival time. The earlier slots always went very quickly, too, so if you weren’t on it, you could end up being last on the ship!

But Princess decided to get rid of that in 2023, and now it’s essentially a free-for-all, except for those people who get priority boarding and can skip the wait.

It’s not actually chaotic, but if you do show up earlier, you’ll probably find that the lines are longer, though it’ll depend on the port and whether more people are likely to be getting the coach, or flying in – if you’re there at 11, you might beat the bigger crowds!

If you are staying in a hotel near the port on the night before your cruise, you can make sure you’re one of the first people on the ship. Just remember that if you do turn up at 11 am or even sooner to queue, you might still be waiting a while, especially if the ship isn’t ready.

Blue Lanes and Green Lanes Explained

When you arrive at the port, there’ll be a couple of different lanes that you can use.

The blue lane is if you still need help with check-in, but you can skip that and have a much faster experience if you use the Princess Cruises app on your phone.

If you do all the check-in admin on the app before you reach the port, you can use the green lane, and you’ll get on the ship faster.

US passengers can only use the green lane if they’ve had the Medallion shipped to their home already. If you’ve done all the admin but need to pick up your Medallion, it’s the blue lane you need.

In the UK, nobody gets their Medallion shipped to them, so the green lane is for picking up the Medallion once the check-in stuff on the app is sorted.

There is a third lane too, which is an accessibility lane for anyone who needs help with mobility or other accessibility needs. If that’s you, you shouldn’t have to worry about being forced into a queue where you need to stand for a long time.

What to Expect If You Arrive Early

Arriving super early doesn’t always guarantee you’ll board first. If boarding hasn’t opened yet, you’ll usually be directed to a waiting area until check-in begins.

If you want to be among the first onboard:

• Aim to arrive at the terminal by 10:30 am
• Complete check-in on the app so you can use the green lane
• Bring a small bag with swimwear and essentials so you can use the pool or grab lunch while waiting for your cabin

Don’t Be Late!

It’s really important that you make sure you know the check-in times for your ship. The all-aboard time is around one hour before the ship’s departure time. If you miss this, you won’t be allowed to board the ship, even if it hasn’t yet left port.

This is because the ship’s crew have some admin to do once all the passengers are on board before departure, and must submit a manifest detailing the names of everyone on board to the port authority.

The ship will bar you from entering, and they won’t refund you because it’ll be your fault. Even if someone else makes you late, the cruise line will tell you that you should’ve planned extra time. So you’ll be watching the ship sail away without you, knowing you’ve lost the money (and insurance might not cover it, too).

Don’t be late! It’s always best to travel the day before if you’ve got a long journey to make to get to the port.

Final Thoughts

The earlier you board, the more time you’ll have to relax, explore, and enjoy your first day. Aim for 11:00 am if you can, complete your check-in online, and take advantage of green lane boarding for the fastest embarkation.

And remember – don’t cut it fine. Arriving too late means missing the ship entirely (and losing your money!).

Related posts:

• Princess Cruises Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide
• Princess Cruises Luggage Allowance
• Princess Cruises Suite Perks (Compare the 5 Suite Types)
• Things You Must Know About Princess Medallion
• Here’s Everything That Princess Cruises Does Better Than Other Cruise Lines