Hi there!
As of late summer 2023, the way to find out what time you should arrive for your Princess cruise has changed.
I had a Princess cruise embarkation day in September 2023, and I was clicking all over to try to figure out what the boarding time is!
And well, once you know where to look, it’s easy!
Of course, the difficulty is in knowing where to look!
But, I will show you!
I found the boarding time for my cruise by logging into my account at princess.com.
I am not sure if there is a way to check on the Princess app.
So this is how it was for my cruises in September 2023.
How to see what time you can board your Princess cruise ship:
- Go to princess.com
- Log into your account
- Go to “my account”
- Go to “manage this booking” for the cruise you want to find the check-in time for
- Go to “itinerary”
- Look for the boarding time under day 1 of your cruise itinerary!
ð Once you are logged in at princess.com, go to: my account > manage this booking > itinerary
ð The cruise itinerary for a cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver showed that check-in at Whittier cruise port is between 12:30pm and 8pm. See more about embarkation day on a Princess cruise.
ð Although the boarding time did not apply to me since I was doing this as the second part of a back-to-back cruise, this cruise itinerary for a cruise from Vancouver showed that check-in at Vancouver cruise port is between 12:30pm and 4pm. See more about a Vancouver cruise embarkation day and a Whittier cruise disembarkation day.
How to use the Princess app to complete check-in process before embarkation day
Before you get on your cruise, you will want to fill out the required travel information.
The best way to do this is through the Princess app.
You can search for “princess medallion app” in your app store.
If you already have the app, it’s still good to go to your app store and search for the princess app to make sure you have the latest version.
If it gives you an option to update… then update!
In the Princess app, look for the “travel checklist” and complete the “personal information and documents.”
ð Fill out “personal information and documents” in the princess app. It is a clickable link.
See more about boarding day and getting on the cruise ship: Princess cruise embarkation day
Do you need the app to do the check-in process for a Princess cruise?
No, you do not need the app or a smart phone to start the check-in process before your Princess cruise.
You just need to go to the website version of the Princess app.
If you or someone you are traveling with does not have a smart phone, you can start the check-in process online at princess.com.
Once you are logged in at princess.com, go to: my account > manage this booking
Once you “manage this booking” this brings you to a summary page.
You can scroll down and it says “Check-in with the MedallionClass App.”
Then you will see 3 steps:
- Download the MedallionClass app
- Get OceanReady
- Make Plans in Cruise Personalizer
Under step 1 “Download the MedallionClass app,” in small print, it says “Don’t have a compatible device? Try our web version.”
This is where you go to start the Princess cruise check-in process from your desktop computer.
“Try our web version” links to a website where you can start the check-in process as you would on the app.
Green lane vs blue lane for Princess cruise check-in
Before your cruise begins, you will be given a color.
The fastest is green lane.
To my understanding, you will be in the “green lane” if you have filled out all the required information AND you have had your Princess medallion sent to your home.
If you haven’t done this yet, you can do so on the Princess app, if there’s still enough time before your cruise.
I understand it’s only possible to have the medallion shipped to you if you live in the US.
Having the Princess medallion sent to your home is not a requirement.
But, it makes things go faster on embarkation day once you are at your cruise port.
If you do not get your medallion sent to your home, then you will be in the “blue lane.”
This means that you will stand in a line to pick up your medallion.
For my 3 Princess cruises in early 2023 which all started in the US or Canada, I picked up the medallion at the cruise port, and it wasn’t much of an issue.
But, the more non-Americans that are on your cruise (which is more likely if you are on a cruise that starts outside of the US or Canada), the more people there will be who have not had their medallions sent to their home.
This means that more people need to pick up their medallions at the cruise port, and the line to pick up the medallion may be longer.
More for your Princess cruise:
- Sample embarkation day:
- Sample disembarkation day
- Dinner food menu on my Princess cruise (+ how to see the menu once you’re on the cruise ship)
- TV on a Princess cruise ship
- More Princess cruise tips
- Alaska cruise tips
HAPPY ARRIVING AT YOUR PRINCESS CRUISE FOR YOUR BOARDING TIME!
ð
FOR THE ARCHIVES! Are you reading old posts around the internet about people talking about finding out arrival times for a Princess cruise?! This is how boarding a Princess cruise used to be!
aka this is the old post. I had 3 Princess embarkation days in early 2023 and I used the Princess app for those cruises to look for arrival times.
It took me forever to figure out how to go back and check the arrival time I selected, and I know I’m not alone!
There’s no reason to remember what time you selected, because you can always go back and easily figure it out later, right?! ðĪŠ
It actually IS quite easy to figure out what the arrival time is on the app… if you know what you’re looking for!
But it sure wasn’t easy for me at first!
Since it seems to be a common problem for people to not be able to find their arrival times easily, it’s possible that the app may change to make it easier.
But this is how it was for me on a recent cruise!
Okay so first.
Let’s say you selected your arrival time but you don’t remember what time you selected… or it was selected for you.
When you open the app, you will see your group arrival time, but there is no time listed.
The most obvious app improvement would be to list the time right here… Maybe it will come in the future…
But well, as of May 2023, all you see is your arrival group letter.
ð Okay great, you know that you are arrival group C. But what time is arrival group C?!?!
So…
What are the Princess arrival group times?
IMPORTANT: Princess arrival group times vary based on your cruise!
Below will also show you how you can check the group arrival times for your cruise!
But just to give you an idea, these were the available group arrival times for my Majestic Princess cruise in May 2023.
- Group A arrival for my cruise was at 11am to 11:30am
- Group B arrival for my cruise was at 11:30am to 12pm
- Group C arrival for my cruise was at 12pm to 12:30pm
- Group D arrival for my cruise was at 12:30pm to 1pm
- Group E arrival for my cruise was at 1pm to 1:30pm
- Group F arrival for my cruise was at 1:30pm to 2pm
- Group G arrival for my cruise was at 2pm to 2:30pm
- Group H arrival for my cruise was at 2:30pm to 3pm
- Group I arrival for my cruise was at 3pm to 3:30pm
Again, it may be different for your cruise!
The group arrival times for my Sapphire Princess cruise departing in April 2023 were different.
For that cruise the group A arrival time started at 11:30pm.
The last group available was group H with an arrival time from 3pm to 3:30pm.
How to see your arrival group time on the Princess medallion app
In short, here is how to see your Princess arrival group time:
- Open up the Princess app
- Look for “Ocean Ready Travel Checklist”
- Look for “Your arrival status”
- Look for “personal information & documents”
- Tap on “personal information & documents”! It’s all easy from here!
- Scroll down and look for “suggested”
- Look for “arrivals”
- Tap on “arrivals”!
- Tap on your cruise
- Your arrival group time will appear!
ð My problem was that I did not think that “personal information and documents” was a clickable link. But, it is! So as I was clicking around everywhere to figure out my arrival time, I clicked nearly everywhere, but there! Once you know that you can click on personal information and documents… everything to do with figuring out your arrival time and changing it is easy! I do believe you need to complete the documents checklist before can select your arrival time.
ð Next screen: Scroll down and select “arrivals”
ð Next screen: Select your cruise
ð Next screen: And there’s the spot that lists your actual boarding time!
Then from here, you can also change your boarding time, if there are other times available.
How to select or change your arrival group time on the Princess medallion app
In short, here is how to change your Princess arrival group time:
- Follow all of the above for “how to see your arrival group time”
- Once you see your arrival group time, tap on “manage” arrival group!
If you can’t select one of these boarding groups, it means that it’s full.
ð Each group has a limited amount of space. If you want a particular group arrival time, it’s better to get on the app to select your arrival time sooner rather than later!
ð How early can you arrive for your Princess cruise? You’ll check the app for the Group A arrival time!
ð You can arrive in the middle of the day to board your Princess cruise!
ð How late can you arrive for your Princess cruise? You’ll check the app for the last group arrival time!
And if it’s still awhile until your cruise, then you may not be able to select your cruise boarding time at all.
What if you don’t select an arrival group?
According to the Princess app:
Green lane guests will be auto-assigned to an arrival group prior to sailing.
Read more from Princess before arriving for your cruise:
What if you show up to check in for your cruise too early or too late?
And finally… what’s the reality?
Well, different cruise ports may operate differently.
I had one cruise from San Diego cruise port, and I did show the Princess app to a security guy in order to enter the cruise terminal.
I’m not sure if he was just checking that I had a cruise to allow me to enter the terminal, or if he was looking specifically for my arrival letter and time.
He seemed to more be looking to check that I was a Princess cruiser, but I am not sure.
For my most recent cruise from Vancouver cruise port, I don’t recall showing my phone (app) to anyone.
Still, the whole point of selecting an embarkation time is to minimize our wait time on embarkation day.
So, it’s best to arrive at your designated time!
That said, if something changes at the last minute and you find yourself arriving way early or way late, it doesn’t seem like it’s something to stress about it too much!
This is based on my cruise experience from early 2023! Your experience will vary!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.