"I am however a little worried that I will be getting them late.. "
Sorry, I have never bought a bee package in my life. For Australia
they literally fall outa the trees and are not Africanised, but of British
origins and so whilst a little antsy are quite manageable for the brood
cycle to complete in changing them out. I use linebred queens only.
I do empathise with my NH brethern and would encourage the astute
b'keep to avoid situations where packages become "the norm".
Bill