How do they determine boarding number?

[Zandy595]

Not sure if it has changed since Aug. 2012, but you did not need to be paid in full to do online check-in and choose your PAT. You only need to be paid in full to book things like excursions/Palo/nursery.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Not sure if it has changed since Aug. 2012, but you did not need to be paid in full to do online check-in and choose your PAT. You only need to be paid in full to book things like excursions/Palo/nursery.

That has changed. I am silver so could check in at 90 days out but PIF date was 75 days out. If I wanted to take advantage of the 90 days (which I did as I wanted an 11:00 PAT) I had to PIF first.

 

[momof2n2]

Can someone further explain this?


Say you do online check-in 75 days out and get assigned PAT of 12:45. So we arrive at PC at 12:20(?), park in garage(?), bring bags into building(?), see clock says 12:40(?), so wait five minutes to go up to CM(?). Check in and gubd them the bags(?). Then get assigned another category for boarding? So then stand around waiting for your number to be called?

What is the latest time you could be assigned? Could you miss lunch?

Thank you.

 

[lbgraves]

Can someone further explain this?


Say you do online check-in 75 days out and get assigned PAT of 12:45. So we arrive at PC at 12:20(?), park in garage(?), bring bags into building(?), see clock says 12:40(?), so wait five minutes to go up to CM(?). Check in and gubd them the bags(?). Then get assigned another category for boarding? So then stand around waiting for your number to be called?

What is the latest time you could be assigned? Could you miss lunch?

Thank you.

The PATs are on the half hour starting at 11 a.m., so 11-11:30, 11:30-12, and so on. If you arrive before your PAT, depending on how crowded the terminal is they may allow you into the terminal to check in. If you have a 1-1:30 PAT and get to the terminal at 11 yes, you could be allowed to check in then. However, your boarding number will be higher than the people who are there with earlier PATs. This will result in you sitting around the terminal waiting for them to call your number as those people board the ship before you even though you arrived at the terminal first.

It may vary by cruise, but Boarding #1 is given to concierge, #2 is given to platinum CC members. Just for example: PAT 11-11:30 #3-7, PAT 11:30-12 #8-14, PAT 12-12:30 #15-22, PAT 12:30-1:00, PAT #23-30, PAT 1:00-1:30 #31-36, PAT 1:30-2:00 #37-43. So if you have a boarding #37-43, you will have to wait for your number to be called. Once open boarding is announced you can just board the ship, but that doesn't seem to happen until 12:30/1:00. Still, you would have to wait from the time boarding starts around 11:30/11:45 until your number is called.

 

[momof2n2]

Thanks.

If I'm given a 12:30-1:00 PAT will I necessarily embark by 1:00?

 

[Zandy595]

Thanks.

If I'm given a 12:30-1:00 PAT will I necessarily embark by 1:00?

Just so you know, you're not given a PAT, you get to choose it.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

That has changed. I am silver so could check in at 90 days out but PIF date was 75 days out. If I wanted to take advantage of the 90 days (which I did as I wanted an 11:00 PAT) I had to PIF first.

Less than two months ago, for our upcoming June cruise I checked in and was not PIF. We are gold and I just did my online check in and got my PAT of 11am but did not pay off my cruise till a month later. I could do everything but book excursions and spa stuff.

 

[mmouse37]

Platinum and Concierge don't select a Port Arrival Time. They may arrive at their convenience and if boarding hasn't begun, they will be boarding groups 1 (concierge) and 2 (platinum). If boarding has begun, they can board at their convenience.

My last few times at PC we were given boarding #1 for Platinum...most recently this past Feb.

MJ

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks.

If I'm given a 12:30-1:00 PAT will I necessarily embark by 1:00?

You get to choose your PAT, at least from what's available when you do your online check-in.

A PAT of 12:30-1:00pm is great for low crowds, short lines and minimal (if any) wait at the terminal. It is after the initial rush of the early PATs, yet before the buses from WDW typically arrive. Open boarding is often called around 12:45pm, meaning it doesn't matter what boarding number you have, you may board as soon as you are checked-in and ready.

So the short answer to your question, yes it's likely you'll be onboard by 1pm.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Plaid Princess]

I've been given more preferential boarding times for special occasions/magical moments as well. Not sure how common this is, obviously they can't do it for every celebration...

We were given a number that had already been called on our honeymoon so we could board immediately (We arrived around 12:00... this was before the PAT system). We were CC, but only silver at the time.

The last time we cruised, we were cruising with first timers who ended up with a much higher boarding number than us. We wanted to board together, so we were waiting for their number to be called and a CM who we asked to take a picture for us produced a lower number for our friends so they could board with us in the earlier group.

 

[clten]

You do not have to be paid in full to do online check-in. I know I took a screenshot when I did my check-in for our upcoming May cruise if I can only find that picture because I know this gets misquoted on here all the time. You DO have to be paid in full for excursions, spa, adult dining, nursery, etc. but NOT for online check-in (which is where you would choose your Port Arrival Time).

 

[Zandy595]

Less than two months ago, for our upcoming June cruise I checked in and was not PIF. We are gold and I just did my online check in and got my PAT of 11am but did not pay off my cruise till a month later. I could do everything but book excursions and spa stuff.

You do not have to be paid in full to do online check-in. I know I took a screenshot when I did my check-in for our upcoming May cruise if I can only find that picture because I know this gets misquoted on here all the time. You DO have to be paid in full for excursions, spa, adult dining, nursery, etc. but NOT for online check-in (which is where you would choose your Port Arrival Time).

Thank you both for confirming this.

 

[KelseyLaPerle]

We are going on our first cruise in July (Alaska), staying in Vancouver the night before. We can not check in for several more weeks. Is there any benefit to having an earlier PAT if we will not be allowed to board until likely the very last boarding numbers? If we have an early PAT (we don't want to venture around Vancouver and probably have to check out from our hotel by 10:00 or 11:00) but late boarding time, what is there to do while we wait? Is there an inside area to wait in? At which point do we check our luggage - when we arrive or when we actually board the ship?

Thanks so much - I'm a little nervous with all the unknowns to first time cruisers like ourselves.

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[PrincessShmoo]

We are going on our first cruise in July (Alaska), staying in Vancouver the night before. We can not check in for several more weeks. Is there any benefit to having an earlier PAT if we will not be allowed to board until likely the very last boarding numbers? If we have an early PAT (we don't want to venture around Vancouver and probably have to check out from our hotel by 10:00 or 11:00) but late boarding time, what is there to do while we wait? Is there an inside area to wait in? At which point do we check our luggage - when we arrive or when we actually board the ship?

Thanks so much - I'm a little nervous with all the unknowns to first time cruisers like ourselves.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I don't really understand the question. An earlier PAT will give you a lower boarding number. You only select your PAT.

You hand over your checked bags as you enter the terminal. They will be delivered to your room onboard later that afternoon/evening.

 

[clten]

We are going on our first cruise in July (Alaska), staying in Vancouver the night before. We can not check in for several more weeks. Is there any benefit to having an earlier PAT if we will not be allowed to board until likely the very last boarding numbers? If we have an early PAT (we don't want to venture around Vancouver and probably have to check out from our hotel by 10:00 or 11:00) but late boarding time, what is there to do while we wait? Is there an inside area to wait in? At which point do we check our luggage - when we arrive or when we actually board the ship?

Thanks so much - I'm a little nervous with all the unknowns to first time cruisers like ourselves.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Why would you think you would have one of the last boarding numbers? Your boarding number is directly tied to your PAT. So if you can get an earlier PAT, you will have a lower boarding group. (If you get an 11:30 PAT, your boarding group should be around 10-15, not 30-35). If your PAT is one of the last (say 2pm), then you probably shouldn't show up when the port first opens. But if you are there earlier than your PAT and they have called open boarding (say at 12:45-1:00), you most likely will be allowed to check-in and board right away or with little wait.

As soon as you arrive at the port, you can turn over your checked bags to the porters and they will be brought on board and delivered to your stateroom that afternoon.

 

[lbgraves]

We are going on our first cruise in July (Alaska), staying in Vancouver the night before. We can not check in for several more weeks. Is there any benefit to having an earlier PAT if we will not be allowed to board until likely the very last boarding numbers? If we have an early PAT (we don't want to venture around Vancouver and probably have to check out from our hotel by 10:00 or 11:00) but late boarding time, what is there to do while we wait? Is there an inside area to wait in? At which point do we check our luggage - when we arrive or when we actually board the ship?

Thanks so much - I'm a little nervous with all the unknowns to first time cruisers like ourselves.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

If you have an early PAT, you will have a lower boarding number. The terminal in Vancouver is very nice. You are inside a covered area right off the curb through the parking garage. I don't know where you check your luggage for the cruise because we stayed at the Pan Pacific and their staff came up to the room that morning and took our checked luggage for us. We next saw it in our room.

 

[KelseyLaPerle]

Thanks for your answers - it was my understanding from reading the thread that your PAT time could be chosen but your boarding time depended on your cruising level. I didn't want to arrive early (which we prefer) and have to wait hours before being able to board the ship.

I understand now. Thank you.

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[Zandy595]

Thanks for your answers - it was my understanding from reading the thread that your PAT time could be chosen but your boarding time depended on your cruising level. I didn't want to arrive early (which we prefer) and have to wait hours before being able to board the ship.

I understand now. Thank you.

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That's only if you're platinum. They get boarding number 2 or sometimes 1, I've heard. We were silver on our last cruise, I chose 11-11:30am PAT and got boarding number 3 at the terminal.

 

[cpc430]

So boarding numbers are given at the terminal? Was able to get an 11am PAT (yay!) at midnight last night!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So boarding numbers are given at the terminal? Was able to get an 11am PAT (yay!) at midnight last night!

Yes.