Hi all,
I tried to follow the advice on the board and get an early PAT, but as first time cruisers, it wasn't possible. So we will arrive around noon.
What should our strategy be? Go straight to lunch? Where should we go? I've heard that the buffet can be very busy at that time? Go to the pool first and then eat? but then it's getting late (we have the early dinner seating).
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks
First question, how soon is your cruise? If it is this weekend or something, you are right you have to plan for your Noon PAT. If it is 6 months from now, you can keep checking back, you may well be able to get an earlier time between now and then.
Look at the bright side for a Noon, PAT, by the time you get through security and check-in, they will probably be doing open boarding or be close to it. So you won't have to wait much once you finish check in.
Another question is how many people you have and how much carry-on luggage you will have? If you have a lot of people or not much carry-on luggage, then it isn't much of a problem and you can do other things more earlier before you go to your cabin. If you have like 2 adults and 3 kids and a lot of check-in luggage, you will want to get to your cabin ASAP.
Other things to consider is counter-programming. You are correct Cabanas will be busy for lunch, UNTIL 1:30. When we got on board we put all our carry-ons on a deck near the pool with one adult. The rest of us went off to make dinner seating changes, book alcohol tastings, check the kids in to the kids clubs etc. Then, just before 1:30 we met back up, grabbed our carry-ons and headed to Cabanas for lunch. Sure enough, at 1:30 they announced that the cabins were available and the Cabanas EMPTIED. So we ate a leisurely lunch with no crowds. Then, we went down to the cabins and the hallways (which had been jammed with people waiting for the "rope to drop" at 1:00) were now empty and we got to our cabin easily and had plenty of time to unpack and relax before the safety briefing and the sail away party.
You are right this is a bit close to early dinner (which we also had) but honestly, we ate more at lunch than at dinner, the appetizers and main courses really aren't that big. Plus, you can always find food later, you won't go hungry.
We also took advantage of a free breakfast buffet at our hotel, which we ate in the mid-morning, so we weren't too starving at 1:30.