City Docks Encounter

[DragonkingUs20]

[Pathfinder setting]
After some work, the PCs will be hitching a ride on a ship to a major city. They are among the few that actually acquired a ticket aboard. The many refugees wanting to board the vessel will be swarming the docks in attempts to force their way on board. The city guard will be trying to allow only those with tickets to enter the vessel, but after a few rounds that will prove useless as the mob of people become more chaotic. The PCs must find a way on the vessel before its early departure. These are the possibilities i can think of..

1) The PCs try to force their way through the mob to get aboard (crowd movement as in DMG2)
2) Under construction dock that leads towards the front of the ship. The PCs will be hinted to this route by NPCs attempting to jump pole to pole and falling into the water.
3) Climbing the ropes securing the boat to the dock
4) If an ally manages to get on board, a PC may swim to the boat and have their ally throw down a rope of life preserver.

Can you guys think of anything else?

[Gildedragon]

Flight and short range teleportation to bypass the mob
Diplomancy the mob into quiessence

[Brookshw]

Flight, short range teleport. Depending on set up cranes. Stupidly high jump checks. Heck, secret smuggling tunnels or sewer entrances if you want could let them bypass the mobs to pop out next to the boat (plus a free sewer combat!).

EDIT: Summons, shadow walking / ethereal / incorpral.

[torrasque666]

Flight and short range teleportation to bypass the mob

Flight, short range teleport.

Both assume a caster over level 7(or scroll/wand). OP didn't tell us the level that they are at, and while are perfectly valid uses we should probably suggest some lower level options.

Diplomacy could be difficult(modifiers for the crown being incensed or something) Jump checks would also be hard due to the reduced movement(no running start). Climb.... maybe. Swim is a possibility. Otherwise sewers are a great option. Or bribery.

[Gildedragon]

Illusion to either disperse the mob, misdirect it (another ship taking passengers) or keep the ship in dock (rough waters, ship blocking the way, dense treacherous fogs)

[VoxRationis]

Fireball. Maybe some other AoEs for variety.

[DragonkingUs20]

Sorry for incomplete information - The players are 3rd lvl consisting of Rogue/Druid/Ranger/Cleric.

I like the sewer addition. I'd just have to arrange the landscape for it to make sense, which is definitely doable.