Gold Member

[Stratus22]

We are Gold Members and have always had a single digit boarding number. Our last cruise, we had boarding number 19. There were many other Gold Castaway Club Members who also had around the same boarding number. They were just as confused as I was. The CM had no explanation. Am I missing something here?

 

[ahain]

I think it has to do with your Port Arrival Time (PAT) rather than your CC Status. I've always had the impression that CC status had nothing to do with your boarding group number unless you are Platinum - in which case you are boarding group 1.

 

[tigerchic89]

Since Gold's booking window opens earlier, you should be able to get an earlier PAT time than some Silver or 1st time cruisers. What was your PAT?

 

[AngelDisney]

Only platinum members have priority boarding (after first family of the day and concierge). Gold members still need to pick the earliest PAT for lower boarding number.

 

[kiford]

Gold has an earlier check in time and thus has the opportunity to book an earlier PAT. If you don't book an earlier time, your boarding number is higher. There's no automatic assignment of boarding time based on your CC status. I've heard recently that you aren't required to book a PAT when taking DCL transfers from MCO. We've always been required to pick a PAT even when taking transfers although we've always been coming from WDW resorts and get to Port Canaveral after open boarding. If you're taking the bus from MCO and not required to pick a PAT, I suspect it has to do with the time/order you're boarding the bus and what PATs are left. I would presume that they assign them in the background even if you don't see them and it's basically first-come-first-served. To me it would make sense. If everyone else has already picked most of the early PATs and you're not required to choose one when taking the DCL transfers from MCO, letting everyone on board the bus get on the ship early would totally negate the purpose of using PATs and boarding numbers to smoothly and evenly board everyone.

 

[Stratus22]

Gold has an earlier check in time and thus has the opportunity to book an earlier PAT. If you don't book an earlier time, your boarding number is higher. There's no automatic assignment of boarding time based on your CC status. I've heard recently that you aren't required to book a PAT when taking DCL transfers from MCO. We've always been required to pick a PAT even when taking transfers although we've always been coming from WDW resorts and get to Port Canaveral after open boarding. If you're taking the bus from MCO and not required to pick a PAT, I suspect it has to do with the time/order you're boarding the bus and what PATs are left. I would presume that they assign them in the background even if you don't see them and it's basically first-come-first-served. To me it would make sense. If everyone else has already picked most of the early PATs and you're not required to choose one when taking the DCL transfers from MCO, letting everyone on board the bus get on the ship early would totally negate the purpose of using PATs and boarding numbers to smoothly and evenly board everyone.

I figured as much. We utilized the DCL Bus so that explains that....UGH. Thanks

 

[Stratus22]

Since Gold's booking window opens earlier, you should be able to get an earlier PAT time than some Silver or 1st time cruisers. What was your PAT?

We Utilized the DCL Bus....That explains why now.