Information on Boarding Numbers

[sorul82?]

Or they could enforce the arrival time from online check in. If people know they couldn't get in early, they wouldn't show up early, thus causing a huge reduction in port traffic.

That would be nice, wouldn't it?

 

[abacab]

What happens if you show up at the port LATER than your assigned time?

 

[atinkerbellmom]

What happens if you show up at the port LATER than your assigned time?

They check you in and you get your boarding number... No problems.

 

[amysuch]

I could be wrong here, but I am guessing the reason Amysuch's parents got #2, is that they must have been Platinum CC members. That would totally explain the difference in numbers in this instance. Please correct me if I am wrong though.

Nope. It was 1st Disney cruise for all of us. They were cat 7A and we were 11A, but I don't think that would make a difference in boarding #s...

 

[sbtrfly74]

Nope. It was 1st Disney cruise for all of us. They were cat 7A and we were 11A, but I don't think that would make a difference in boarding #s...

My question is did you book and pay off your cruises at the same time? Only reason I'm asking is the "rumors" flying around about when you paid off and how early you booked the cruise theory have been tossed around.

 

[smb6]

Or they could enforce the arrival time from online check in. If people know they couldn't get in early, they wouldn't show up early, thus causing a huge reduction in port traffic.

The idea is nice; and it would work for some people- but could be a major inconvenience for others....

Some people are flying in the day of the cruise, and then take a car service to the port. If they arrival time they desire is not available when they check-in; they are not going to change their flights around- they would either have to hang out at the airport or show up early...
Some people drive to the port. It is impossible to guess within a 30 minute time frame what time you may get there if driving from a longer distance... Traffic and stops to consider.... If they arrived before their scheduled check-in, they certainly don't want to just sit in the parking lot waiting for their check-in time...
Some people book cruise shuttles from the hotel. I did this. The cruise shuttle fills up well before the day I could check-in for my cruise. I am scheduled on a 10:30am cruise shuttle and I have 11am check-in. So, it worked out well for me, but may not work that way for others.
I just don't think this is the kind of thing that would be fair to enforce; there are simply to many factors to take into consideration....
At the parks there is a hotel check-in time; but if people arrive early they are able to hang in the lobby. In this case- the terminal is the lobby- and not allowing people in would be inappropriate IMHO.

 

[RedSox68]

If they are basing boarding numbers on the time you selected during on-line check-in, it could be another perk for returning cruisers. On-line check-in opens earlier for castaway members, so the earlier times are available then. I'm a gold member, and my earliest check-in time was 10:30-11:00--that was 90 days before sailing. It sounds like those who do their check-in closer to the sail date are not having the option of the earlier check-in times.

Seems pointless if they are letting 1 p.m. people check in at 10 a.m. and giving them the earlier boarding numbers anyway. So the online check-in accomplishes nothing basically and it's still a free-for-all when you arrive at the port

 

[amysuch]

My question is did you book and pay off your cruises at the same time? Only reason I'm asking is the "rumors" flying around about when you paid off and how early you booked the cruise theory have been tossed around.

Everything was booked and paid off at the same time... I honestly have no clue why there was such a difference in the boarding numbers.

 

[Mmketeer]

This would not work. Many many things come up. Also that means they would have to perdict how long it will take people to get through the check-in process at the port, a month ahead of time. I think that would be just You would have people with #4 arriving as they are boarding #10 and a lot of confusion.

To me, it only appears to be a problem with the PORT stalkers. The ones that arrive there when the darn thing opens and want to get on-board that moment. Not remembering that the last passenger is just getting off th freakin' ship the hour prior. DCL actually says no baording until Noon (even though we know it happens before then). It always makes me laugh when people say "But I arrived at 10AM but could not get on the ship until 12:10. I waited with my kids for 2 hours.). Oh boy, that is the way the time goes. I really think DCL did this for them. To give them an idea of how many people at what time. Not to really interfere with your boarding numbers. I do not mind it either way. It has worked the same for us ALL cruises (except land/sea). This has to do with the fact we do not arrive to the port until after all of the Port Stalkers have started to board. I have a child that does not do lines well, so we adjusted ourselves to be able to just walk on the ship. 3

3 weeks ago, there were Gold members, Silver Members & First timers in the line with me. We ALL got the same boarding pass number at the AIR PORT. I paid our trip off at the last minute. So I really think this is a DCL thing for themselves. It "APPEARS" to me the only people that are having issuees/comcerns are those that arrive to the port time it opens or before & of them the ones thaqt think they should get on the ship right after check-in. Maybe if so many people were not sleeping at port or standing in line at 9AM as the disembarkation cruisers were leaving.... the boarding times would have never come to be. Just my thoughts...

You know, Disney is not the only cruiseline that people arrive early for. I live about 30 min from the Tampa cruise terminal and I always arrive to the port here early too. My last cruise on the Carnival Inspiraton I got to the port at 10:30am and went through the security, waited in line at the terminal check in line and then got right on the ship. No boarding numbers, no waiting for hours to board. Yes, this is a small ship, but I have been through this same process with other ships including the Mariner of the Seas when it was the biggest ship at sea. Personally, I think it's the fact that Disney wants you to sit in the terminal and wait in it's lobby type setting that is throwing it all off. That's great for newbies, but if you've been there down that and aren't insterested in the character greetings it's a bit annoying having to wait in the terminal. I mean the model is still the orginal ship right? Not the Dream. Gosh you can only stare at that so long and take just so many pictures of the terminal. They have lines for everything else when it comes to Disney, I say let's just go with the line thing and a "FastPass" for the been there done that crowd. I have even been known to skip the boarding photo for the ships. LOL!

 

[spaddy]

I have even been known to skip the boarding photo for the ships. LOL!

I always skip that. I think I make the Disney people mad.

 

[Mmketeer]

I always skip that. I think I make the Disney people mad.

I know right! But, you haven't seen glare's until you try to skip the "Disney welcomes the ____ family." DH and I only got away with that one just one time out of the 8 times we have sailed. They really get annoyed when you brush them off. LOL!

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I thought the photo thing is mandatory.

 

[tammyj0927]

So understand and agree! We are newbie cruisers and will be on our first Disney cruise in May. While I would love to be on the ship as early as possible I also will be traveling with 2 small kids (4 & 6) so in order to make the boarding process smooth as possible.

I will be arriving at my "assigned" port arrival time. I was lucky and completed my online checkin on the first day I was allowed so my assigned time is 11:00.

I will be right there with you! 11:00 for us also!

 

[Mmketeer]

I thought the photo thing is mandatory.

This is Disney, nothing but the fire safety drill is mandatory. A simple no thank you may get you some looks (cause' you will not be doing the norm), but they will not tell you that you have to do it it's mandatory. Oh and Disney isn't as in your face about snapping your photo like some of the other lines.

Course' I guess it depends on how "randy" you are feeling. It's not always the easiest thing to "swim" against the crowd. I enjoy doing it every now and then though.

 

[sorul82?]

You know, Disney is not the only cruiseline that people arrive early for. I live about 30 min from the Tampa cruise terminal and I always arrive to the port here early too. My last cruise on the Carnival Inspiraton I got to the port at 10:30am and went through the security, waited in line at the terminal check in line and then got right on the ship. No boarding numbers, no waiting for hours to board. Yes, this is a small ship,

We just sailed on the Inspiration in October. Carnival was using boarding numbers at that time. I really liked Tampa.

 

[SnackyStacky]

This is Disney, nothing but the fire safety drill is mandatory. A simple no thank you may get you some looks (cause' you will not be doing the norm), but they will not tell you that you have to do it it's mandatory. Oh and Disney isn't as in your face about snapping your photo like some of the other lines.

Course' I guess it depends on how "randy" you are feeling. It's not always the easiest thing to "swim" against the crowd. I enjoy doing it every now and then though.

LOVE your Bostons!!!!!!!

First time we cruised, we had a VERY unhappy 17 month old - and I don't mean she was fussy and copping an attitude. I mean she was making sure EVERYBODY on that gangway knew she was unhappy.

My wife picked her up and walked QUICKLY by those photo people. They actually FOLLOWED her and tried to tell her she had to. After several polite attempts, she turned to them, my daughter still crying, and said: "No THANK you!". That did it. They finally retreated. We proceeded to Parrot Cay - where said 17 month old immediately calmed down once she had some food.

I don't think it's just that it's against the norm. Those photos are $$ (for us to buy - certainly not for them to print) and Disney probably doesn't want to miss the opportunity for you to see the picture in Shutter's and feel a strong compulsion to buy it.

 

[Mmketeer]

We just sailed on the Inspiration in October. Carnival was using boarding numbers at that time. I really liked Tampa.

Well it has been a long time since I sailed on the Inspiration and we all know everything changes. So, when did you arrive... was it early? Oh and where did they make you wait as I only remember seeing the check in lines, no waiting area per say at the terminal.

PS
I like Tampa too just cause it's so close for me and it's nice to see that NCl will be giving us a try in October.

 

[spaddy]

I know right! But, you haven't seen glare's until you try to skip the "Disney welcomes the ____ family." DH and I only got away with that one just one time out of the 8 times we have sailed. They really get annoyed when you brush them off. LOL!

I had to tell the guy my last name like 5 times and I almost gave up and walked right past him.

They were explaining to me with the photo how I have to take out my card for them to scan. The lady kept telling me it's different. It's not any different for me.

 

[sorul82?]

Well it has been a long time since I sailed on the Inspiration and we all know everything changes. So, when did you arrive... was it early? Oh and where did they make you wait as I only remember seeing the check in lines, no waiting area per say at the terminal.

PS
I like Tampa too just cause it's so close for me and it's nice to see that NCl will be giving us a try in October.

It seems like we arrived at 10:15 just seconds before the hoards of people. There was a waiting area with plenty of seating, tv's, and snack machines. As my children were lobbying for snacks, our number was called.

I have a feeling that it's going to be back to smaller ships for us.

 

[Cheloconnell]

I apologize if there is information listed somewhere else. We are taking our second cruise this July. Our first cruise was October 2010 on the Wonder. This time it is the Dream.

For our first cruise there weren't boarding times to pick online. Is this a recent change and when does that option become available? Is it at the same time I can book Palo and the excursions?

Thank you in advance for the information!