Guide
What time is all aboard on a cruise?
All aboard is the latest time you must be back on the ship in a port of call. It is not the time the ship leaves. Most cruise lines set all aboard roughly 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled departure, so the crew can count passengers, pull the gangway and prepare to sail. The exact time changes from port to port, so check it every day.
All aboard versus departure time
Departure time is when the ship plans to leave the pier. All aboard is earlier on purpose. If you arrive after all aboard but before departure, you may still get on, but the ship is not required to wait, and the gangway can already be closed. Treat all aboard as the real deadline.
Where to find the all aboard time
- The daily planner or newsletter delivered to your cabin or shown in the cruise line app.
- Signs at the gangway as you leave the ship. Many ships post the time right where you swipe your card.
- Announcements on board the morning of the port day.
- Guest services, if anything is unclear.
Take a photo of the posted time as you walk off. It is easy to remember the number and forget whether it was ship time or local time.
Ship time or local time?
All aboard is given in ship time. The ship keeps its own clock, which does not always match the port. If the two differ and your phone switches to the local network, an alarm you set on the phone can go off at the wrong moment. Confirm which clock the ship is using that day before you set any reminder.
How much buffer to leave
- Plan to be back at the pier at least 30 to 60 minutes before all aboard, more in busy ports.
- Allow extra time for security lines at the terminal, which can be long when many passengers return at once.
- Add travel time for traffic, tenders and taxis. Tender ports often need the largest buffer because boats run on a schedule and lines build late in the day.
- Stay closer to the ship near the end of the day instead of fitting in one more stop.
What if you will be late?
Call the port agent listed in your daily planner as soon as you know you may miss the ship. If the ship sails without you, you are usually responsible for getting to the next port at your own cost, so carry your passport or required ID, a card, and the port agent number on every port day.
A tool that can help
AboardAlert is an all-aboard countdown that stays locked to ship time, so your reminders do not move if your phone jumps to port time. It shows ship time and local time together, sends reminders at 2 hours, 1 hour and 30 minutes before all aboard, plus safety alarms in the final 15 minutes, and works offline. It is a personal timer, so always confirm the official time with the ship.