Couple questions

[tgrunewald]

Hi all,

couple questions:

1) We fly back home via SW on the Monday that we disembark. So, that means we have to check in the day prior while at sea. What are my options for getting doing that? Is there a flight check-in center onboard?

2) I want to do a non-Disney excursion in Nassau, but they cannot guarantee return time to the boat until 6pm and ship is saying onboard is 5:15pm. Any chance they change it? If so, how soon would I know?

Thanks again!

 

[LSUfan4444]

You won't NEED to be checked in the day before you disembark but if you want to be for earlier boarding, early bird check in done through southwest is your best bet.

If they do not guarantee to get you back to the ship by the posted departure time, I wouldn't book it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all,

couple questions:

1) We fly back home via SW on the Monday that we disembark. So, that means we have to check in the day prior while at sea. What are my options for getting doing that? Is there a flight check-in center onboard?

2) I want to do a non-Disney excursion in Nassau, but they cannot guarantee return time to the boat until 6pm and ship is saying onboard is 5:15pm. Any chance they change it? If so, how soon would I know?

Thanks again!

The only option for you checking in onboard, is if you purchase internet time. But, that can be spotty, on occasion. As noted, Early Bird Check In would be best for this.

I agree that, if a private excursion cannot guarantee that they will get you back in time for departure, don't book with them. I highly doubt that the departure time would change.

 

[sayhello]

I always do Early Bird Check In. TOTALLY worth the extra $15 per person per direction to not have to worry about checking in the day before. And you get your Number assigned before the folks who check in online.

And I agree with the others. NEVER book an excursion with a company that won't guarantee they will get you back in time for departure. Unless you really want to get left behind (you will!) and have to make your own way to the next port.

Sayhello

 

[Luvmypetz]

I have a friend who regularly uses SW and is familiar with the app. I let her know my conf # and time; she puts me in her phone 24 hrs before to check me in. Saves $15. Just a thought

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have a friend who regularly uses SW and is familiar with the app. I let her know my conf # and time; she puts me in her phone 24 hrs before to check me in. Saves $15. Just a thought

As much as I love my friends, I'm just too picky to trust it to someone else. I'd use the early bird check in.

 

[gingerfeathers]

I agree with the Early Bird Check-in. Totally worth it, even if you just do it one way. It's nice to not have to worry and know you'll be in the A boarding group.

I also agree with everyone else: Don't book an excursion that won't guarantee you're back on the ship in time. Trust me--I've seen people who were late and had to board the ship via tender, and it looks miserable and terrifying (literally jumping from one boat onto the ship while both are moving). That alone is enough to ensure I'll never miss a departure time for a cruise ship.

 

[Capt_BJ]

I have a friend check us in as well


all about trust!

 

[LSUfan4444]

if you have a child 6 years or younger you also have the option to board at the end of the A Group and before the B group as part of their fmaily boarding process:

An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.

 

[Buzzsawelp]

Flying out of MCO, I have learned that early bird check is very popular. I have checked in right at the 24 hour mark in recent years and ended up midway in the B boarding group. If you want a decent boarding pass, I recommend early bird check in for at least one member in your party and save seats for the others in the party. This is usually acceptable if everyone in the group is in the A or B boarding group. If you would not be able to check in until arriving into Port Canaveral, I would recommend all members of your party have early bird checkin since the likelihood is you would have the C boarding group and the option of saving seats gets lost late in the boarding process.

 

[cheermom2four]

We did Early Bird Checkin so we didnt have to worry about checking in the day before to get a better boarding number as there were 4 of us. We ended up with A30, A31, A32 and A33 boarding numbers

 

[gismo1554]

Disney sometimes offers a free 50MB of interenet that you can sign up to on the first day. On my cruise last year I saved this for the online checkin on the last night to ensure I had enough to use.

 

[Quellman]

I know this thread applies to Southwest, but for other reading it, the reason Southwest has to use the app, is that they are not partnered with DCL for the onboard check in program. Most all other domestic airlines are. This means Disney will check you in and handle your luggage. You will need to fill out the information in advance and let Disney know, but that is the general premise.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Flying out of MCO, I have learned that early bird check is very popular. I have checked in right at the 24 hour mark in recent years and ended up midway in the B boarding group. If you want a decent boarding pass, I recommend early bird check in

This was our experience too. On the way out, checking in right at the 24 hour mark got us about midway through B. We could get two sets of two seats together, but not all four. On the way back, we checked in about 5 minutes into the 24-hour window and got the end of B. 4 separate seats, although they happened to be fairly close to each other.

If you want to be together, the EarlyBird check in is the way to go. On the way back I swear the whole plane had either Early Bird, Family priority, or someone holding their seats farther up in line, so even the people with numbers behind us were actually ahead of us. It felt like we were the last ones on the plane, and I was only 5 minutes late in checking in.