Cruising - Embarkation Day

 Revised on 01/29/26

Embarkation Days are Controlled Mayhem.

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.


Luggage Tags.

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.

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 or wearable device.  This card or device 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.  

Note: For many cruises, the cruise line's onboarding process has people pick up their cruise cards placed conveniently at the cabin door.


Boarding the Ship. 

Once you have your cruise card or wearable device, 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 follow the line to board the ship.


Once on the Ship.

There two things you will need to do when once on the ship.  First, one will go to one's cabin and view the safety presentation on the in-room TV.  After viewing the video, one will take their cruise card (or wearable device) to the muster station to finish the mandatory embarkation day safety process.

Note: On some ships, the safety process will involve a mandatory visit to the muster station to watch an in-person safety presentation.

Other things to take care of.

At this point, all formally required tasks are complete.  However, there are other tasks that may be taken care of at this time, such as making dining and entertainment reservations (if not done before the cruise) and purchasing shore excursions which may not have been available for purchase before the cruise.  If one is having trouble with the cruise line’s app, the ship’s internet services desk should be able to resolve any problems, 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.