EMBARKATION NYC:

This will require a lot of patience on the part of the passenger. If you have any leg, hip, or back problems it can become a nightmare. First of all we signed up for the 9:00-9:30 arrival time. This is a misnomer. They did not even begin security check in until 9:30 or later. We arrived at 8:50 and waited in an already decent size line of people until they opened up security at a little after 9:30. Once it was opened we were through security in about 15 to 20 minutes. Just an FYI there are 2 additional security lines (one to the left for supposedly walker, wheel chair, and scooter people) and one to the right for Haven people only. Once through security because this was a Bermuda cruise there is an additional checkin. This line was the longest and most frustrating. There is also no perk here for platinum and up members or people who paid for priority access (we are platinum); the only people with a perk are the aforementioned walker, wheelchair, and scooter people, and Haven people. The other difficulty with this line is no one is monitoring the line. So all of a sudden you had people who were at the back of the line but saw a friend or family member at the front jump the line to these people making this checkin take even longer (they now became groups of 8-14 people). At this check in they are checking Bermuda TA, Vaccinations, COVID 19 testing, and that you are booked for the cruise. Have all paperwork out and ready to go as this does speed up the process. They will put a sticker on your passport if you have met all of the requirements. Then you move to a 3rd and final check in area (pre-covid this was the only checkin area you had after moving through security) this provides the perk for Haven, Disabled, Platinum and up, and Paid priority. That said it really didn't matter as there were no lines here because it took so long in the previous lines. Very quick here and were seated in the priority seating. Sat for maybe 5 to 10 minutes and then boarded at that point. So patience is the key for getting through the first 2 areas and soon you will be relaxing on board with a drink in hand.

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