How early to get to the ship to board

[Disfan454]

Hello Everyone, first time cruise for the entire family. Since we are noobs, we have the late boarding time of 1:30. How early should we get to Port Canaveral where the ship is leaving from if our boarding time is 1:30. Is it like an airport where you get there almost two hours before? We have passports if that makes a difference. I am not sure if it does.

 

[Travel60]

I would aim for 12:30-12:45. That will give you time to hand over luggage, park car if you are driving, and get through security. Once upstairs you get in line for checking in then just wait to be called. Since it is your first cruise, you may enjoy seeing the large model of the ship while you wait.

 

[sethschroeder]

I am a noob as well. Reading others comments it sounds like around 12:30 is when boarding becomes "anyone can board". It can be sooner or later but sounds like you can show up earlier and likely get on. Others wait until a little later to avoid the crowds and have a more peaceful boarding experience.

Downside of late boarding is for us noobs if we want to get something that we couldn't reserve ahead of time its more likely to be gone. aka Character Breakfast, Palo Brunch, ect

 

[Marc D]

Hello Everyone, first time cruise for the entire family. Since we are noobs, we have the late boarding time of 1:30. How early should we get to Port Canaveral where the ship is leaving from if our boarding time is 1:30. Is it like an airport where you get there almost two hours before? We have passports if that makes a difference. I am not sure if it does.

1:30 is not your boarding time but your PAT - Port Arrival Time. It is when you are expected to show up. Disney scatters guests throughout the day, between 10:30 and 2 (I think), so they do not all show up at the same time and clog the terminal. Boarding itself begins around 11:30 on a normal day.

When you check-in at the terminal, you are assigned a boarding group number. That number is tied to your PAT, so if you show up at 10:30 but with a later PAT, you’ll be ‘penalized’ by being issued a high group number.

At 11:30, they start calling groups. By 12:30, all groups have usually been called and they move to open boarding. Anyone can board from that moment. If you want to grab lunch onboard and maybe shoot for a special reservation, I would arrive around noon. By the time the luggage has been dropped, the car parked, the security cleared and check-in done, you should be able to walk onboard immediatel.

 

[keodark]

Also a newbie here. Is there any benefit to showing up super early (10:30? 10?) even if you have a later boarding time? Assume the party is willing to stand around and wait. Do you still get in earlier than 12:30 even if you're "penalized"?

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Also a newbie here. Is there any benefit to showing up super early (10:30? 10?) even if you have a later boarding time? Assume the party is willing to stand around and wait. Do you still get in earlier than 12:30 even if you're "penalized"?

You can arrive at the port as soon as it's open. No one will stop you from entering or checking in regarless of your PAT. You'll be assigned a boarding number based on your port arrival time. The lowest numbers board first. Since you have a later PAT, you should receive a higher boarding number. But boarding numbers don't take much time to get through, and open boarding (no numbers at all needed- everyone just walks onboard upon checking in) will probably begin around noon. So no need to confine yourself to a late arrival time if you want to board early. We always like to board early. The benefits of early arrival to us are getting to the pools and water slides before they get crowded (before lunch), getting to go to Dining Changes early to make special requests, and just getting to savor the excitement of the cruise by arriving early enough to watch the boarding process begin. There's lots of energy in the room at that point, which we enjoy. Some people don't like the crowd at the port before boarding begins, so they purposefully board late to avoid that. It's all a matter of priorities and preferences.

 

[Garyjames220]

What time does lunch stop in cabanas

 

[Marc D]

What time does lunch stop in cabanas

Around 3:15.

 

[Marc D]

Also a newbie here. Is there any benefit to showing up super early (10:30? 10?) even if you have a later boarding time? Assume the party is willing to stand around and wait. Do you still get in earlier than 12:30 even if you're "penalized"?

Like PP said, most times, you can still show up early if you are willing to wait around. However, if there is a special situation, like a late ship arrival, a Coast guards inspection, etc. and boarding is pushed back, they might enforce the PAT at the door and ask you to wait outside.

When you will board depends on how fast things are going that day. Most times, open boarding is called between 12 and 12:30. But it could also be as late as 1 or 1:30. If you have the last boarding group number and show up at 10:30, you could therefore wait around three hours in the terminal.

 

[Garyjames220]

Around 3:15.

great I’ll be having my second lunch seating by then

 

[fredandkell]

Also a newbie here. Is there any benefit to showing up super early (10:30? 10?) even if you have a later boarding time? Assume the party is willing to stand around and wait. Do you still get in earlier than 12:30 even if you're "penalized"?

There is zero benefit to showing up early. All you will do is sit around the terminal, waiting for your boarding time, while your kids whine.
If you have a couple hours to kill and a rental car, go to Cocoa Beach while you're waiting. Much better to wait on a beach than in a big, impersonal cruise terminal where there is nothing to do.

 

[lanejudy]

That number is tied to your PAT, so if you show up at 10:30 but with a later PAT, you’ll be ‘penalized’ by being issued a high group number.

Do you still get in earlier than 12:30 even if you're "penalized"?

i wouldn’t really consider it as being “penalized” - simply waiting for your assigned slot, and you’ve chosen to wait at the terminal vs waiting elsewhere. Later PAT gets a higher (later) boarding number. Early arrivals aren’t “rewarded” with earlier boarding, at least not prior to the open boarding call.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Donna M]

We arrived a little later for our first cruise and in hindsight I thought it was a great way to begin a first trip. The terminal was empty so we were able to check in and head right into the ship, very relaxing. We went to lunch, and it didn't seem too crowded. We didn't need to be early to change any requests or kids' club.

All our subsequent trips we arrive for the first PAT and try to get in as early as possible, (10ish to the garage), since we have a plan of what to do that first day, but it is very crowded with little to do. We bypass the photographer, head right to Cabanas when it opens, then up to the adult section to lay in the loungers to start our vacation.

 

[TeamRipper]

You can arrive at the port as soon as it's open. No one will stop you from entering or checking in regarless of your PAT. You'll be assigned a boarding number based on your port arrival time. The lowest numbers board first. Since you have a later PAT, you should receive a higher boarding number. But boarding numbers don't take much time to get through, and open boarding (no numbers at all needed- everyone just walks onboard upon checking in) will probably begin around noon. So no need to confine yourself to a late arrival time if you want to board early. We always like to board early. The benefits of early arrival to us are getting to the pools and water slides before they get crowded (before lunch), getting to go to Dining Changes early to make special requests, and just getting to savor the excitement of the cruise by arriving early enough to watch the boarding process begin. There's lots of energy in the room at that point, which we enjoy. Some people don't like the crowd at the port before boarding begins, so they purposefully board late to avoid that. It's all a matter of priorities and preferences.

I am sorry, but please don't do this unless you have an early PAT. It is a recipe for disaster. As mentioned previously, your boarding group is tied to your PAT. Although it is true that around 1230 open boarding will begin, if you are in the terminal at 1030 with a late PAT you will simply be adding to the crowded atmosphere. There is very little seating and literally nothing to gain. This is only about an hour after the first boarding group begins so you are not losing much "ship" time over having an earlier PAT.

In my opinion, arriving at the port around noon with the PAT you have would allow you to drop your bags, move through security, get to the checkin desk and probably be able to walk on the ship with no waiting or crowds - a much more seamless process than standing around for 2 hours. You will still have plenty of time to eat lunch at Cabanas, use the AquaDuck and the pool. Don't forget to carry on a backpack with your change of clothes for the water. Your room will probably not be ready until 130-2pm and your bags may not arrive in your room for an hour or so after that.

 

[squirk]

I totally understand the desire to get to the terminal early and get your cruise vacation started ASAP, but once that rush of getting into the terminal and getting checked in is over, it’s then just a lot of sitting around and waiting.

You look at the model of the ship, you take a picture with Mickey/Minnie, and ....... that’s 10 minutes. There are a few TV’s playing Disney cartoons; not sure how long something like that will hold your kid’s attention.

If you are driving, the one benefit of arriving early is a good location in the garage or on the premium lot. Otherwise, be prepared for a bit of “idle time”.

As others have said, arriving early does not get you on the ship any earlier. Having passports doesn’t accelerate anything, either.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I am sorry, but please don't do this unless you have an early PAT. It is a recipe for disaster. As mentioned previously, your boarding group is tied to your PAT. Although it is true that around 1230 open boarding will begin, if you are in the terminal at 1030 with a late PAT you will simply be adding to the crowded atmosphere. There is very little seating and literally nothing to gain. This is only about an hour after the first boarding group begins so you are not losing much "ship" time over having an earlier PAT.

It is not a recipe for disaster- what hyperbole that is. Some people like to & can arrive early, regardless of PAT. Some people arrive later. It's already like that on every cruise & has never led to a disaster. Yes, it's fairly crowded before boarding begins. Nothing new about that. If you hate crowds, arrive after noon. If you don't mind them, feel free to arrive at port opening if you want.

 

[hcox31]

There is zero benefit to showing up early. All you will do is sit around the terminal, waiting for your boarding time, while your kids whine.
If you have a couple hours to kill and a rental car, go to Cocoa Beach while you're waiting. Much better to wait on a beach than in a big, impersonal cruise terminal where there is nothing to do.

There is very little to do in the terminal. And very little seating. We had the first PAT on our first cruise, arrived at 10:30 (that was our PAT) and still waited in a jam packed terminal for boarding to begin around 11:30 with two tired and hungry kids. NEVER again. Our last 3 cruises we've arrived around noon and just walked on the ship after checking in. SO much better.

 

[ScooterScott44]

You can do what you want. As mentioned you can arrive before your scheduled time. Things to consider, some already mentioned.

- even if the boarding process is on the “normal” timeline there is not much to do and very little seating while waiting for boarding.
- if there is something unusual that delays boarding there will be further delays, sometimes outside.
- remember rooms are not ready until at least 1:30, (except concierge rooms) not the worst thing but the later you arrive the less you have to drag you carry on around.

Many people state they want to “start” vacation as early as possible. You have to evaluate how much the extra time standing around waiting to board benefits you for what amounts to maybe an extra hour on the ship. You could trade the hour or more of waiting to something productive and board around 1:30 -2 and go right to your stateroom.

 

[otten]

We arrived just before 10am for our first cruise because that's when the hotel shuttle got us there. It worked out for us because we got selected as family of the day so we got to board much earlier than we would have if we'd arrived later. We boarded right before they started calling boarding numbers.

More likely though you'll just spend a lot of time waiting.

 

[SL6827]

I know they let CL board first, right? But I think that military families should be right there with them, boarding right after them if not at the same time. Just a thought.