Different PAT’s

[ajmomouse]

We are cruising with friends. We are gold they are silver. I assume this will mean different PAT’s. Will they let them board earlier with us or will we have to wait for their PAT?

 

[Sytrace]

We are cruising with friends. We are gold they are silver. I assume this will mean different PAT’s. Will they let them board earlier with us or will we have to wait for their PAT?

Not necessarily going to be too much of a difference in PAT from yours. They still might be able to get one close to yours or exactly at yours. And as you know the PAT is tied to your Boarding group number, so they might end up being with you that way as well.

However, if this does not work when they do their on line check in, you could ask the CM if they could board with you, and if not then wait for them so you can board together.
It really is the discretion of the CM.

 

[ajmomouse]

Not necessarily going to be too much of a difference in PAT from yours. They still might be able to get one close to yours or exactly at yours. And as you know the PAT is tied to your Boarding group number, so they might end up being with you that way as well.

However, if this does not work when they do their on line check in, you could ask the CM if they could board with you, and if not then wait for them so you can board together.
It really is the discretion of the CM.

That’s what I figured. I guess we can try when we board and the worst thing they can say is no. I also think that maybe when that initial crowd gets through they may let them on even if it’s a bit early

 

[Sytrace]

That’s what I figured. I guess we can try when we board and the worst thing they can say is no. I also think that maybe when that initial crowd gets through they may let them on even if it’s a bit early

Did you already book your PAT's for you and did they book theirs?

 

[ajmomouse]

Did you already book your PAT's for you and did they book theirs?

I booked ours (earliest PAT) silver isn’t for 2 more weeks. Another hope I have is that there does not seem to be a ton of Castaway members on this cruise, Bermuda out of NY lots of first time cruisers so maybe as silver they will still get a decent time.

 

[lanejudy]

We were able to select the earliest PAT for our first cruise - and it wasn’t even until afternoon that I remembered to do it. So you may well be able to get the same. If they do end up with a PAT after your’s, you could try to change your’s to match their’s. And as mentioned, boarding number is determined by PAT and more likely to be a problem than entering the port together with different PATs.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[disneysophie]

What's a PAT? And how/when do I select it? (FYI-I'm booked on a 3 night for January)

 

[lanejudy]

PAT = Port Arrival Time
You’ll select one when you do online check-in, as a new cruiser that is 75 days prior to your cruise. PAT is just that, the time you expect to arrive at the port. It was instituted primarily for the Dream class ships at Port Canaveral because the terminal can’t handle that many passengers if they all arrived at once (due to fire code). But PAT is used for all ships and all embarkation ports now. Your boarding number is given when you check-in at the port and is directly tied to PAT (earlier PAT gets lower boarding numbers, later PAT gets higher boarding numbers). It’s all intended to control the crowds.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[southerngirl528]

PAT = Port Arrival Time
You’ll select one when you do online check-in, as a new cruiser that is 75 days prior to your cruise. PAT is just that, the time you expect to arrive at the port. It was instituted primarily for the Dream class ships at Port Canaveral because the terminal can’t handle that many passengers if they all arrived at once (due to fire code). But PAT is used for all ships and all embarkation ports now. Your boarding number is given when you check-in at the port and is directly tied to PAT (earlier PAT gets lower boarding numbers, later PAT gets higher boarding numbers). It’s all intended to control the crowds.

Enjoy your cruise!

Really nice explanation of PAT, lanejudy!

 

[Sunshine2U]

If it's important to board together you can arrive together at the later PAT and assume you will have boarding numbers close to each other, depending on the check in process. Then once again, you wait until the later number and board together. Doesn't that work?

 

[lady9]

We were silver and our friends were first time cruisers. We had different PAT times, can't remember for sure but think more than 45 minutes apart. When we arrived at the terminal, we asked a CM what the protocol was for different PAT times. She escorted us to the Castaway check in desk and they allowed both of our families to check in there. Then they said we could board. I would ask a CM when you get there what you should do.