Question - boarding the Dream

missycourteau · Jul 27, 2016

What is the process like of boarding the ship? I'm sure we will be at the port earlier than we will get on the ship, but it sounds like there is paperwork and stuff to go thru at the port. What is that like and about how much time does it take from the time you start until the time you get on the ship. Thanks!!!

DynamicDisneyDuo · Jul 27, 2016

The only real paperwork is the health questionnaire. Then you go check in and have your picture taken for your KTTW card. The actual process takes less than 10 minutes but the waiting in line can make it much more.

You enter the port and go through screening. Fill out health questionnaire and get in line to check in. Check in. Wait for your boarding number to be called. How long it takes to get on the ship depends on when boarding actually starts. If you are absolutely the first person in, it could be an hour or more until boarding starts.

missycourteau · Jul 27, 2016

DynamicDisneyDuo said:
The only real paperwork is the health questionnaire. Then you go check in and have your picture taken for your KTTW card. The actual process takes less than 10 minutes but the waiting in line can make it much more.

You enter the port and go through screening. Fill out health questionnaire and get in line to check in. Check in. Wait for your boarding number to be called. How long it takes to get on the ship depends on when boarding actually starts. If you are absolutely the first person in, it could be an hour or more until boarding starts.

Thank you!! Do you also have the option of signing the kids up for the Oceaneer Club/Lab here also?

PrincessShmoo · Jul 27, 2016

missycourteau said:
What is the process like of boarding the ship? I'm sure we will be at the port earlier than we will get on the ship, but it sounds like there is paperwork and stuff to go thru at the port. What is that like and about how much time does it take from the time you start until the time you get on the ship. Thanks!!!

When you arrive at the terminal, you will go through a security check.

pc 2014 terminal entrance 14030 P1020150 1500.jpg

All metal objects in a plastic bin and carryons will be scanned through a scanner (much like the ones at the airport). Takes about 5 minutes, but depends on how many people arrived the same time you did. Then up the escalator

pc 2014 escalator top 14032 P1020152 1500.jpg

to the check in lobby where you'll find a friendly CM with health forms for you to fill out, before heading to the check in counter. Filling out the health form = couple of minutes.

Check in counters are on the left (first is the Castaway Club returning cruise counter, then the regular check in counter). Depending on how long the line is it can take 5 minutes through the line or 20 minutes.

pc 2014 check in line 27021 P1030888 1500.jpg

pc 2014 check in lines 27023 P1030870 1500.jpg

There they will process your paperwork. You need passports (ID), signature sheet, and health form, along with all people in your group to do this. Check in process takes about 5-10 minutes.

Once checked in you will have a boarding number. Boarding begins around 11:15-11:30 with Concierge guests, followed by Platinum Castaway Club members (#1). Then they announce boarding numbers about every 5-10 minutes.

pc 2014 boarding number sign 14054 P1020175 1500.jpg

You line up to head through the ears

pc 2014 mouse ears doors 27042 P1030873 1500.jpg

and onboard the ship. This can take 5-20 minutes, depending on how many people are crowding the line.

If you finish your check in before the actual boarding starts, you find a place to sit (not a whole lot of seating) and wait

pc 2014 seating area 14042 P1020166 1500.jpg

The Sasquatch · Jul 27, 2016

missycourteau said:
Thank you!! Do you also have the option of signing the kids up for the Oceaneer Club/Lab here also?

you have the option but they have their own line for that and it can be quite long. There will be another line onboard if you prefer

PrincessShmoo · Jul 27, 2016

missycourteau said:
Thank you!! Do you also have the option of signing the kids up for the Oceaneer Club/Lab here also?

The kid's club registration desk is on the far right after you reach the check in lobby, just before the Concierge/Platinum check in desk.

pc 2014 youth activity check in 27034 P1030890 1500.jpg

missycourteau · Jul 27, 2016

PrincessShmoo said:
When you arrive at the terminal, you will go through a security check.
View attachment 184322
All metal objects in a plastic bin and carryons will be scanned through a scanner (much like the ones at the airport). Takes about 5 minutes, but depends on how many people arrived the same time you did. Then up the escalator
View attachment 184313
to the check in lobby where you'll find a friendly CM with health forms for you to fill out, before heading to the check in counter. Filling out the health form = couple of minutes.
View attachment 184315
Check in counters are on the left (first is the Castaway Club returning cruise counter, then the regular check in counter). Depending on how long the line is it can take 5 minutes through the line or 20 minutes.
View attachment 184316 View attachment 184317

There they will process your paperwork. You need passports (ID), signature sheet, and health form, along with all people in your group to do this. Check in process takes about 5-10 minutes.

Once checked in you will have a boarding number. Boarding begins around 11:15-11:30 with Concierge guests, followed by Platinum Castaway Club members (#1). Then they announce boarding numbers about every 5-10 minutes.
View attachment 184318
You line up to head through the ears
View attachment 184319

and onboard the ship. This can take 5-20 minutes, depending on how many people are crowding the line.

If you finish your check in before the actual boarding starts, you find a place to sit (not a whole lot of seating) and wait
View attachment 184320

Being a visual person, loved the pictures! Thanks!!

Hundredacre · Jul 27, 2016

What if yoi never received the cruise document booklet/luggage tags in the mail? This is the first time we haven't received it. Will they still let you through that first checkpoint. They always look at it there.

MrsSmalls · Jul 27, 2016

Can I ask what port this was? It seems like there is a lot out there about Port Canaveral, bit not much about Miami. I'll be honest, I will be bummed if Miami does not have big Mickey ears.

PrincessShmoo · Jul 27, 2016

Hundredacre said:
What if yoi never received the cruise document booklet/luggage tags in the mail? This is the first time we haven't received it. Will they still let you through that first checkpoint. They always look at it there.

You will have to show ID to get in. But, if you don't have the book, you don't have the book.

MrsSmalls said:
Can I ask what port this was? It seems like there is a lot out there about Port Canaveral, bit not much about Miami. I'll be honest, I will be bummed if Miami does not have big Mickey ears.

This was Port Canaveral. Miami doesn't have the ears. While Disney was able to have a Disney-specific terminal built, Miami Disney just uses one of the already existing ones. They do put up some banners and stuff, but no ears.

missycourteau · Jul 27, 2016

Would you recommend us getting passports/cards? Currently my family does not have them, and it says we can use birth certificates. I'm guessing we will probably need them in the future, so wasn't sure to get them now or wait.

ILoveMyKellen · Jul 27, 2016

PrincessShmoo said:
When you arrive at the terminal, you will go through a security check.

This awesome. Thanks for the pictures! I was wondering what this was like too.

MrsSmalls · Jul 27, 2016

I am irrationally disappointed about the ears. LOL

However, I am hoping that since it is the Magic out of Miami, there might be less people/stress/confusion. (Versus one of the larger ships out of PC)

bumbershoot · Jul 27, 2016

missycourteau said:
Would you recommend us getting passports/cards? Currently my family does not have them, and it says we can use birth certificates. I'm guessing we will probably need them in the future, so wasn't sure to get them now or wait.

If you're a US citizen on a closed-loop Caribbean/Bahamas cruise you do not need the passports for the cruise.

If someone takes ill and has to fly home, however, passports will be needed. You will spend time at an embassy getting those documents, and you'll spend more money than you would have spent if you had originally gotten the passports. And I've read that emergency passports are good for only a short period of time; you don't get the full 5 years for under-16s or 10 years for 16+.

If you will be doing more traveling, you might as well get them. The passport gives you the whole world.

But if it's a short period of time before your cruise, get a second certified copy of your BCs, to make sure you have them for this cruise, if the passports don't get finished and sent to you in time.

PrincessShmoo · Jul 27, 2016

bumbershoot said:
And I've read that emergency passports are good for only a short period of time; you don't get the full 5 years for under-16s or 10 years for 16+.

Yes, emergency passports are only valid for a short time, I believe it's a year (might only be 6 months). If you apply for a regular passport within that time, the cost associated with the emergency passport will be applied to the regular one.

1 Minnie & 3 Mickeys · Jul 27, 2016

missycourteau said:
Would you recommend us getting passports/cards? Currently my family does not have them, and it says we can use birth certificates. I'm guessing we will probably need them in the future, so wasn't sure to get them now or wait.

The passport cards would not help you to fly home in an emergency situation. You would be best to get a passport book since that is needed for airline travel. Of course, this is more expensive. And as has been previously said you only need a birth certificate and ID on a closed loop cruise.

DH and I travel with passports and our last two cruises we have used birth certificates for the kids. We are cruising next month and decided to get the kids passports this time around. Something about all of the recent tragic events in the news and grandparents who are getting older made me want to have them. Just for peace of mind in case of an emergency at home or while traveling.

On a positive note we received our passports unbelievably quick. 19 days from application submission to received in our mailbox. They say 4-6 weeks...but we had ours in just under three weeks.

Question - boarding the Dream

missycourteau

Earning My Ears

DynamicDisneyDuo

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missycourteau

Earning My Ears

PrincessShmoo

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The Sasquatch

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PrincessShmoo

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missycourteau

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Hundredacre

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MrsSmalls

dreaming of the next cruise

PrincessShmoo

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missycourteau

Earning My Ears

ILoveMyKellen

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MrsSmalls

dreaming of the next cruise

bumbershoot

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PrincessShmoo

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1 Minnie & 3 Mickeys

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