Golds/Platinums - when do you choose to board?

[PrincessShmoo]

Do you just leave them a cash tip if you prefer?

The servers at all the food locations are covered by the $12 a day that's added to your onboard account for each person in your room.

But, if you wish, you can certainly tip additionally.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Do you just leave them a cash tip if you prefer?

No need to tip whatsoever it's all covered in standard tipping.

 

[Jestocost]

Platinum here and I ALWAYS like to board ASAP! I like to be onboard first thing as I like to get the vacation started!!! I even like getting to the port early!!! We usually get boarding group #1 (sometimes Platinum have gotten #2) so as soon as we are onboard we go up to an empty Cabanas and enjoy lunch. Then we make any changes for Palo or dining rooms, etc. Tickets for meet and greets. Then relax.

Ask my husband...he knows I am pretty much obsessed with being at the port when it opens. I don't have to be first in line but I have to be pretty close!!! He just rolls his eyes and humors me!!

MJ

This is us totally! Arrive at the port ASAP, board with Group 1 and head straight to the buffet (maybe stopping for an adult beverage on the way). Right after that we'll do sign ups for mixology classes or other beverage tastings. I do hate the stairway wait for the cabins to open but not enough to delay my arrival until after that.

 

[joannjoe]

The servers at all the food locations are covered by the $12 a day that's added to your onboard account for each person in your room.

But, if you wish, you can certainly tip additionally.

Thank You

 

[The Sasquatch]

what is the earliest time concierge guests are allowed to board?

 

[Jestocost]

what is the earliest time concierge guests are allowed to board?

Concierge guests board first of all, so basically as soon as they open the ship for boarding.

 

[OKW Lover]

What kind of menu do they offer in the dinning room for lunch?

As @PrincessShmoo noted, its still a buffet and very much the same items as you'll get at Cabana's. The advantage of the MDR is that they seat you at a table and take your drink order. All that you need to do is go up and get your foods. This is much easier (for us) than dragging your luggage around and then searching for a table.

 

[joannjoe]

As @PrincessShmoo noted, its still a buffet and very much the same items as you'll get at Cabana's. The advantage of the MDR is that they seat you at a table and take your drink order. All that you need to do is go up and get your foods. This is much easier (for us) than dragging your luggage around and then searching for a table.

Well your allowed to go to your room first and drop off your carryon's aren't you? Then go grab some food?

 

[OKW Lover]

Well your allowed to go to your room first and drop off your carryon's aren't you? Then go grab some food?

Actually no. Your stateroom won't be open when you first board the ship unless you get on much later in the day.

 

[joannjoe]

Actually no. Your stateroom won't be open when you first board the ship unless you get on much later in the day.

Ok, What time do or are you allowed to go to your room?

 

[lorimay]

Ok, What time do or are you allowed to go to your room?

Usually 1:30pm

 

[OKW Lover]

Ok, What time do or are you allowed to go to your room?

As noted above, its usually 1:30. That's been our experience for standard 3, 4 or 7 night cruises out of Port Canaveral. By getting on the ship early (again we are Platinum so we can board right away) we have a couple of hours that we need to tend to our carry on bags before getting to our cabins. We minimize the number of carryons we have by putting tags on most stuff. However, beverages (we love our wine), medications and electronics all go in our roll-a-board.

 

[joannjoe]

Ok Thank you!

 

[clten]

We are platinum and we usually shoot to get to the port around noon. That way the crowds have already cleared in the terminal and we can check-in and board quickly. Once on board, we check the options for lunch and usually go with the least crowded -- a lot of time we skip both the buffet on the pool deck and the buffet in the MDR and just grab something from the quick serve restaurants -- normally very uncrowded that first lunch and grab an open table around one of the pools -- never had a hard time finding one (but we are only adults so we can grab tables by the Quiet Cove pool as a last resort). Usually then by time we have finished lunch and lounged for a little bit, the staterooms should be open to drop off carry-ons and start getting settled in.

We've cruise often enough that we don't feel the need to rush to wait around with the crowds. We don't see enough benefits of getting on the ship an hour or so earlier than we do. This way we have a relaxing morning with no rushing and then when we arrive at the port, we aren't starting our cruise by being in the thick of the crowds. Works for us. To each his own.

 

[Sytrace]

This is our 6th cruise so first time as Gold. So excited. Our last few cruises as Silver had our PAT at 11 to 11:30, but this time I booked us there at 10:30 PAT.
We typically go to Cabanas and have no trouble finding a table for 4. Although, this time we will try the MDR that is open, I think the last time we did this it was EG and it was lovely.
We don't have too much in regards to carryon, I have it down to 1 bag that I carry with meds, suits (if we are not wearing them) , sunscreen, electronics and flip flops. My husband might have 1 bag with liquor if he chooses to bring it along and a camera case with lenses and charger unit.
We park in the preferred lot everytime and love how easy it is to unload and park. And at the end, super easy to load and leave (although this is the sad part of the trip)
I am sure we will sit around in the boarding area until they start letting everyone on board, but we should have a lower boarding number than previous times. Our very first cruise we had a PAT of 1:30 PM and that was okay too. But now that we know all the fun to be had on a Disney cruise, we just start having fun on the drive over.
I always joke that MY vacation starts after I have unpacked everything and put it away. The others go do the Mid ship detective agency searches.

I don't know why I bother to pack suits or wear them since we don't really feel the urge to swim or go on the Aqua Duck right away. Something about swimming and then having to dress again to go to the Muster drill and then onto dinner a short time after that (we have main dining).
Sometimes we will go to the Sailaway party and sometimes just stand on the Verandah and wave at folks on the Jetty and at Fishlips. We like watching the Patrol boats too riding along with us until we are cleared.

Anyway, have a fantastic time on your next voyage.
Tracey

 

[kathi]

We are Platinum and like to be on the ship as soon as possible. Vacation starts when you get on the ship!! We never have a problem at Cabanas finding a table and then we head to the pool so our daughter can get in a little swimming before it becomes a festering stew of humanity.

 

[shelbell77]

We board as early as possible. And agree we've never had a problem at Cabanas.

 

[Four Swampers]

For us, it depends on the cruise and the departure port. For a cruise from Port Canaveral, we like to get on board as soon as possible to start using the ship. If we are cruising from a port city that is new to us, we might take time to enjoy some more of the city. This year, we walked around Copenhagen the morning of our cruise. Stopped at Nyhavn for coffee at an outdoor cafe, enjoyed the scenery, and went to the ship around 1:00. I will say, we have less need to rush to port now that we have done a few cruises. I think as we have become more and more familiar with the process, we don't need to be part of the huge line at the start of the day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are Platinum and always try to board early. We prefer to eat in whatever main dining room will be opened, so at least our drinks are brought to us. If there are tickets for an A&E meet, I'll be stopping to get them!

 

[The Sasquatch]

Concierge guests board first of all, so basically as soon as they open the ship for boarding.

That is what I am asking. What is the usual time the ship opens for boarding? I have always had a PAT