Embarkation change DCL Treasure 10/18/25

[Girl of the South]

Maybe RCCL is better at shooing people off the ship.

 

[rhit2004]

Just a heads up for people driving to the port to sail the Treasure. We had an 11:45 PAT on 10/18. They did not let us in the terminal until almost 12:00.

So you got into the terminal less than 15 minutes after your scheduled time? Seems like a minor issue.

Having a Port Arrival Time (PAT) opposed to a Boarding Time does confuse people (not saying you are one of them). It is not uncommon that people think the PAT is the time you can expect to get onto the ship ---- when it is actually the time you are allowed to enter the terminal to start the check-in process.

 

[DCLMP]

Maybe RCCL is better at shooing people off the ship.

The last group disembarks at 915. I believe they give you a disembarking time. I don't think they have scheduled breakfast times so leaving the ship is a little more staggered.

 

[DCLMP]

So you got into the terminal less than 15 minutes after your scheduled time? Seems like a minor issue.

Having a Port Arrival Time (PAT) opposed to a Boarding Time does confuse people (not saying you are one of them). It is not uncommon that people think the PAT is the time you can expect to get onto the ship ---- when it is actually the time you are allowed to enter the terminal to start the check-in process.

On some cruise lines that is the time you check in and walk on the ship. I could see where that could be confusing if you are not used to the way Disney does it.

 

[DCL58]

So you got into the terminal less than 15 minutes after your scheduled time? Seems like a minor issue.

Having a Port Arrival Time (PAT) opposed to a Boarding Time does confuse people (not saying you are one of them). It is not uncommon that people think the PAT is the time you can expect to get onto the ship ---- when it is actually the time you are allowed to enter the terminal to start the check-in process.

About to become Pearl with DCL, so we are well aware of the difference in PAT and BG. We sail out of PC multiple times per year - 4 times so far this year for 29 nights.

Every other time we have sailed in the last 3 years, our PAT group has been allowed into the terminal before the actual time on our boarding pass. Most cruises, way before PAT. Until last Saturday. It was a drastic change from our other experiences. Even the port workers commented on the mob of people in lines outside the terminal.

Just a heads up to others - as this seems to be a change since our last cruises in July.

 

[DCLMP]

About to become Pearl with DCL, so we are well aware of the difference in PAT and BG. We sail out of PC multiple times per year - 4 times so far this year for 29 nights.

Every other time we have sailed in the last 3 years, our PAT group has been allowed into the terminal before the actual time on our boarding pass. Most cruises, way before PAT. Until last Saturday. It was a drastic change from our other experiences. Even the port workers commented on the mob of people in lines outside the terminal.

Just a heads up to others - as this seems to be a change since our last cruises in July.

I've been on 34 DCL cruises and I've had 5 or 6 really bad boarding experiences. All of them with the BG 1 or 2. I haven't cruised 34 times on another line to know if this is statistically normal or not. I wouldn't necessarily say it's a change. It's most likely just a one-off.

 

[DCL58]

I've been on 34 DCL cruises and I've had 5 or 6 really bad boarding experiences. All of them with the BG 1 or 2. I haven't cruised 34 times on another line to know if this is statistically normal or not. I wouldn't necessarily say it's a change. It's most likely just a one-off.

The workers all said it was a recent DCL change. Not my words. Theirs. All were unhappy with the change since it was such a madhouse outside. There were 4 lines of people with my same PAT. They ran out of space and had people lined up in the sun beside the terminal. May be a temporary change, but it was a change to keep fewer people inside the terminal.

 

[sponica]

The workers all said it was a recent DCL change. Not my words. Theirs. All were unhappy with the change since it was such a madhouse outside. There were 4 lines of people with my same PAT. They ran out of space and had people lined up in the sun beside the terminal. May be a temporary change, but it was a change to keep fewer people inside the terminal.

Honestly, when we sailed the treasure in August, embarkation was a hot mess. We arrived via DCL transfer before the terminal was opened, they had just started letting people in the terminal when we were getting off our bus. Getting through the check-in/security was a breeze and we were probably upstairs by 1015/1020. Where we proceeded to wait for over an hour. I'm not sure what time they called our BG (5), but literally we were sitting in Coco at almost the exact same time as we were sitting in Arrendelle when we arrived to the Wish in Feb 2024 via transfer closer to 1130.

 

[DCLMP]

The workers all said it was a recent DCL change. Not my words. Theirs. All were unhappy with the change since it was such a madhouse outside. There were 4 lines of people with my same PAT. They ran out of space and had people lined up in the sun beside the terminal. May be a temporary change, but it was a change to keep fewer people inside the terminal.

Gotcha, well that's unfortunate. In FLL they designated lines outside and it's pretty much the norm in San Diego. Maybe when the complaints start coming in and showing up on social media they'll figure out a way to fix their boarding issues. If Royal can start boarding a ship at 10am I don't see why they can't figure it out.

 

[DCLMP]

Honestly, when we sailed the treasure in August, embarkation was a hot mess. We arrived via DCL transfer before the terminal was opened, they had just started letting people in the terminal when we were getting off our bus. Getting through the check-in/security was a breeze and we were probably upstairs by 1015/1020. Where we proceeded to wait for over an hour. I'm not sure what time they called our BG (5), but literally we were sitting in Coco at almost the exact same time as we were sitting in Arrendelle when we arrived to the Wish in Feb 2024 via transfer closer to 1130.

That sounds about like my normal experience every cruise. As a Pearl you breeze through security and check-in, but then you wait an hour for the cattle calls to begin. Praying they at least start boarding at 1130.

 

[sponica]

That sounds about like my normal experience every cruise. As a Pearl you breeze through security and check-in, but then you wait an hour for the cattle calls to begin. Praying they at least start boarding at 1130.

They were definitely running out of room in the terminal, it was just a sea of people everywhere. The terminal was still full when they got to BG 5.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Because Disney announces each person by name and welcomes them onboard with the crew clapping for them. This is very exciting your first cruse and some continue to love it but it slows things down.
Royal has two gangways open and uses both to quickly board everyone.

Honestly? I would cringe at that sort of attention on myself and if it meant that because so many people are boarding and we have to go at a very slow pace in order to do that I would much rather not. I get it when it's about this whole "magic" biz that Disney is trying to carry through onto their cruise line but frankly people just want to be on the ship the most, just the same as they want to be in the parks the most. What happens at the entrance in the end is less important than getting the vacation actually going, to many that is.

 

[DCLMP]

They were definitely running out of room in the terminal, it was just a sea of people everywhere. The terminal was still full when they got to BG 5.

Sounds about right. When we cruised out of San Diego there was heat wave and it was 100 degrees. They had a medical emergency an elderly man passed out in line. That's not normal San Diego weather, but Florida on the other hand.,. I don't think having people wait outside is a good idea. People don't show up at the terminal with bottled water. Even WDW the lines are inside.

 

[Sleepyluke]

The biggest problem is that for so long you can pretty much show up when you wanted and if there was not a huge line they would typically let you in. Made for extra happy people. Now that they want to enforce the rules, everyone comes unglued because they have to wait until the time DCL told you to be there. As for the getting on the ship, maybe there should be a second entrance, but one of the things that sets DCL apart is the announcement of the names. Yes it takes time, but honestly makes for a great start to our cruise. This is one thing I for sure vote to keep. Not that my vote rally matters, but we like it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

As for the getting on the ship, maybe there should be a second entrance,

A totally great idea-choice there would alleviate some frustrations from some passengers.

As an aside just because something (this is a general comment) sets a cruise line apart does not mean it's actually a desired part of the cruise line most especially as time goes on. Cruise lines always have to reevaluate what is important to their guests. And what sets them apart 15 yrs ago (random number) may not be what the public is looking for now.

Surveys, ones in which you actually care about the answers, would certainly help on that front. A survey sent to passengers with upcoming reservations as well as once their cruise is over would certainly help give a picture on changing trends. I know DCL sends a survey but from reports on the DIS many don't seem to feel their voices are effectively heard and the procedure for it seems rather rushed.

 

[happycamper47]

As for the getting on the ship, maybe there should be a second entrance,

They would have to reconfigure the entire Terminal since there is only one moveable gangway. People would have to enter on either deck one using the lower water tight doors which is where they are also loading luggage and supplies for the next cruise, or raise it to deck 4 and that would make it a very steep gangway.

 

[dreamer17555]

I think the boarding with name called is iconic and honestly alleviates the crowds when you first board the ship. On other cruise lines it feels like you are about to be trampled if you just dont keep moving quickly once on the ship.

Maybe what DCL should do is space out PAT and enforce them.

 

[DCLMP]

The biggest problem is that for so long you can pretty much show up when you wanted and if there was not a huge line they would typically let you in. Made for extra happy people. Now that they want to enforce the rules, everyone comes unglued because they have to wait until the time DCL told you to be there. As for the getting on the ship, maybe there should be a second entrance, but one of the things that sets DCL apart is the announcement of the names. Yes it takes time, but honestly makes for a great start to our cruise. This is one thing I for sure vote to keep. Not that my vote rally matters, but we like it.

The solution to the problem is to start boarding the ship at 10am. They don't have to open the lunch venues just let people on.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think the boarding with name called is iconic and honestly alleviates the crowds when you first board the ship. On other cruise lines it feels like you are about to be trampled if you just dont keep moving quickly once on the ship.

Maybe what DCL should do is space out PAT and enforce them.

You'll have to ask others have they felt on Royal and Carnival, etc but you need to adjust your way of thinking about it when you say "other cruise lines" as in making it DCL vs everyone else. There's far too many cruise lines out there to be saying "other cruise lines"

 

[dreamer17555]

You'll have to ask others have they felt on Royal and Carnival, etc but you need to adjust your way of thinking about it when you say "other cruise lines" as in making it DCL vs everyone else. There's far too many cruise lines out there to be saying "other cruise lines"

How they announce guests is unique to DCL so yes, it really is how DCL does boarding vs every other cruise line.

I think too often we forget that most people do not get to cruise DCL As often as people here do. For them, it might be something that happens once a lifetime or twice. So how DCL takes a few moments to announce their guests, makes them feel special. I don't really worry much if a platinum cruiser didn't get into the terminal until 15 minutes after their PAT. I do care that the new cruiser feels some of that Disney attention to detail and guest service when they enter the ship for the first time.

I don't need to ask others how they have felt. I can just say how I enjoy things and how I felt sailing other cruise lines when boarding. I do not have to quantify my statements by running them past everyone. Do you do that with everything you post here- make sure you've gotten several people's opinions to sign off on it first prior to posting?