This was our first time cruising on an "upscale" trip.
We boarded the ship at Athens. The baggage transfer was smooth and efficient. The check in process took all of about 10 minutes.
Having been on 3 day "cattle car" cruises where the check in procedure took over an hour or more, this was a pleasant surprise. We checked in early so our cabins were not ready, however, the ship offered a buffet lunch (which I think is standard) until our cabin was available.