We start the embarkation process early, like about 9:30 AM.  I want to be one of the first on the ship and we usually are.  If we've booked a category 11 or 12 cabin we can take advantage of the Skippers Club which features expedited checkin at the pier.  This usually doesn't save us all that much time though but it would if we came later and there was a long line.  This is where its important that our cruise documents are completely filled out.  For the most part this is a fun bunch of people, full of expectation and excitement now that the cruise is finally here.  But they'll turn on you pretty darn quick if you've not filled in a blank or two and hold up the line.

Each port is a little different though, kinda like airports.  They all have airplanes but they all look and operate a little different.  While similar to the relationship an airline has to an airport, cruise lines differ in one important way:  They might not be the only line to  use a particular pier.  For example, at Port Everglades in Ft Lauderdale, at the time we took our first Carnival Legend cruise, Carnival used the facility just occasionally.  It was not their  place.  When they had a ship scheduled there they had to "set up shop" to handle the crowds, supplies and fuel for the ship, and all the other stuff that goes into it for that one sailing.  I was totally impressed with the job they did, you'd have thought they were there everyday.