LA boarding help

[never2muchdisney]

Quote from Disney Cruise Site:
Checking in at the Port of Los Angeles
The Cruise Terminal opens at 10:30 a.m. and boarding begins around 1:00 p.m. At check-in, you need to present all required documentation, and proof of citizenship for each member of your party. Disney Cruise Line representatives will be on hand to direct you to the appropriate check-in station. Additionally, on the day of your sailing, all Guests must board the ship no later than 3:45 p.m. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail with us.

Questions:

1. Do we need to be at the terminal at 10:30?
2. How long is the norm check-in time?
3. Do you leave your luggage during check-in time?
4. Is it a mad rush on the ship during the 1:00 boarding time?
5. Once we check-in, do we sit in a waiting area to board?
6. Will our luggage be in our room or do we need to pick it
up somewhere on ship?
7. Any tips for a newbie on checking in and boarding?

Thanks.

 

[CruzTerri]

Hi there,

While we are booked for our first Disney Cruise, we have sailed over 15 times on other cruiselines.

See answers below.

Questions:

1. Do we need to be at the terminal at 10:30? If you arrive about this time, you'll generally board before their 1:00 PM boarding time.
2. How long is the norm check-in time? This can be quick or may take awhile depending on the number of people checking in at the same time.
3. Do you leave your luggage during check-in time? When you arrive at the pier you'll drop your luggage off with a porter (be sure you put your luggage tags on your luggage). You can take some carry-on items with you. However, since you may not be able to go to your cabin until 1:30 or 2 PM you may want to keep the number of things you carry to a minimum.
4. Is it a mad rush on the ship during the 1:00 boarding time? This could be consider "peak" boarding time.
5. Once we check-in, do we sit in a waiting area to board? Yes, this may happen. Many times check-in will actually start before they open the ship for boarding. Boarding times will begin once they determine all the cruisers from the previous cruise have left the ship and open public areas are ready for the next set of cruisers.
6. Will our luggage be in our room or do we need to pick it
up somewhere on ship? Luggage will be delivered to your room. Some lines will have the luggage placed inside the cabin, some will leave it at the door of the cabin.
7. Any tips for a newbie on checking in and boarding? Earlier is better, gives you more time on the ship the first day.

Thanks.

Remember you're on vacation, relax and take it easy. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[7evans]

I am a first time DCL'er, and this was very helpful! Thank you !

 

[never2muchdisney]

Remember you're on vacation, relax and take it easy. Enjoy your cruise.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the information. Very helpful! And I will take your above advise for sure. Thanks again.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Quote from Disney Cruise Site:
Checking in at the Port of Los Angeles
The Cruise Terminal opens at 10:30 a.m. and boarding begins around 1:00 p.m. At check-in, you need to present all required documentation, and proof of citizenship for each member of your party. Disney Cruise Line representatives will be on hand to direct you to the appropriate check-in station. Additionally, on the day of your sailing, all Guests must board the ship no later than 3:45 p.m. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail with us.

Questions:

1. Do we need to be at the terminal at 10:30?
Need to be there at 10:30, no, many people like to get there early because they want to board as soon as possible. Boarding usually begins about 11:45 (not sure why it says 1:00 on the website)
2. How long is the norm check-in time?
It depends on how long the line is in front of you, I'd say on average you're in like for 20 minutes or so. Check in itself should go quickly if you've got all of your paperwork filled out and printed ready to go, they'll just check it over, verify passports/ID and take pictures.
3. Do you leave your luggage during check-in time?
The porters at the port will take your luggage, you should get tags in your cruise documents that have your stateroom number on them (like the ones at airports) just make sure each bag you are checking has a tag. You'll want to keep a daybag/beachbag with anything you want with you until your bags are delivered later that day (could be 2:00, could be 8:00), we usually go with basics like toiletries and such since we're not much for the pools).
4. Is it a mad rush on the ship during the 1:00 boarding time?
No, when you check in, you'll be given a boarding number, the people with boarding #1 are called first, #2 second, etc. That's why folks like to get to the port early, to try and get a low boarding number.
5. Once we check-in, do we sit in a waiting area to board?
Yes, in Port Canaveral, they have a terminal with TVs that show cartoons and models of the ship, when we sailed in the Med last summer it was simpler, but there was still that waiting area. You don't have to stay in the waiting area, but if you leave, you'll need to go back through security.
6. Will our luggage be in our room or do we need to pick it
up somewhere on ship?
See #3, they'll place them outside your door (usually, there may be instances where a steward will bring them in, but few and far between)
7. Any tips for a newbie on checking in and boarding?
I think it depends on who you ask. 1 tip, make sure you've got all of your paperwork and IDs, another tip, you don't have to wait in the huge line to get wristbands for your kiddos if they're going into the lab or club, you can do this on the ship much faster.
Thanks.

We like to get to the port around 12:30, we usually check in quickly, little or no line, and then get on the ship quickly, within 30 minutes or so, and we haven't had to sit around and wait for 2 hours, but for a lot of people, that's part of their cruise experience and tradition, so it's all what works for you! Have a great time!

 

[twindaddy]

Thanks everyone for the LA info, hard to find around these boards.

I have questions, to help plan me in surprising my family...Can someone list the very specific steps going from your car to in the ship.

1. park / drop off
2. Give luggage to porter, tip a few bucks
3. This is where I need info, do they check a manifest before you go in? And then the security screening / metal detector?
4. Check in, get boarding number and KTTW card.
5. Do they announce boarding numbers? Show it on a screen?
5.5 At the LA port, not canaveral, is the place big enough I could walk in an check in without someone who has already checked in seeing me? We plan to be there when the place opens....
5. I have seen youtube video of the gangway and them checking something while you are walking up it, what are they checking? Your boarding pass? And then its walk on the ship?

I am a type A planner, and also trying to figure out my surprise timing, thanks for the help

 

[LKFan]

Thanks everyone for the LA info, hard to find around these boards.

I have questions, to help plan me in surprising my family...Can someone list the very specific steps going from your car to in the ship.

1. park / drop off
2. Give luggage to porter, tip a few bucks
3. This is where I need info, do they check a manifest before you go in? And then the security screening / metal detector?
4. Check in, get boarding number and KTTW card.
5. Do they announce boarding numbers? Show it on a screen?
5.5 At the LA port, not canaveral, is the place big enough I could walk in an check in without someone who has already checked in seeing me? We plan to be there when the place opens....
5. I have seen youtube video of the gangway and them checking something while you are walking up it, what are they checking? Your boarding pass? And then its walk on the ship?

I am a type A planner, and also trying to figure out my surprise timing, thanks for the help

This is how it played out in 2/2011

1. Drop off family and luggage at curb
2. One adult has porter take luggage while other adult parks car.
3. Walk into terminal - they glance at your papers as you enter and hand you a Navigator
4. Go upstairs
5. Fill out paperwork about recent illness
6. Check in and receive KTTW cards
7. Take picture with MR backdrop
8. Proceed through security
9. Sit and watch TV, take picture with Mickey/Minnie, register for kids club etc. until they call your boarding number.


They announce boarding numbers over the PA system.

It is a relatively large terminal. I'm not sure who you are trying to hide from but I'm sure there is a way. You could always check in and not proceed through security but wait on the side where check in is located.

They check your boarding pass as you walk out of the terminal. The gangway is long and has lots of turnbacks. They, of course, have to scan your KTTW card as you board the ship.

 

[LKFan]

Quote from Disney Cruise Site:
Checking in at the Port of Los Angeles
The Cruise Terminal opens at 10:30 a.m. and boarding begins around 1:00 p.m. At check-in, you need to present all required documentation, and proof of citizenship for each member of your party. Disney Cruise Line representatives will be on hand to direct you to the appropriate check-in station. Additionally, on the day of your sailing, all Guests must board the ship no later than 3:45 p.m. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail with us.

Questions:

1. Do we need to be at the terminal at 10:30?


Thanks.

I don't know if things have changed but for the MR cruises earlier this year, the terminal opened at or around 9:30. That's when you could walk into the building, go upstairs and wait for check in to begin. Check in opened at or around 10 am and boarding began closer to 11:45 am.

We arrived at the port early with the hopes of getting an upgrade. We were up and ready to go and waiting anxiously at our house. We only live 15 minutes away so decided that we might as well wait anxiously at the port rather than home. Others prefer to wait and arrive later. It is very much a YMMV type of situation.

 

[LimoFam5]

For LA cruises during your online check in you will select a PORT check in time. Check in times start at 10:30am.......
Check in times are first come first serve....so it is possible that if this is your first cruise you will get stuck with a later PORT check in time.
You can arrive at the terminal any time you like to hang out and relax however you will NOT receive a boarding pass or be permited to check in until it is your assigned time.

 

[never2muchdisney]

For LA cruises during your online check in you will select a PORT check in time. Check in times start at 10:30am.......
Check in times are first come first serve....so it is possible that if this is your first cruise you will get stuck with a later PORT check in time.
You can arrive at the terminal any time you like to hang out and relax however you will NOT receive a boarding pass or be permited to check in until it is your assigned time.

Those starting their cruise in LA have to check-in online first to get a port check-in time? So we don't arrive to the port to check-in until our check-in time?

 

[twindaddy]

Those starting their cruise in LA have to check-in online first to get a port check-in time? So we don't arrive to the port to check-in until our check-in time?

For the record, as of this moment, from what I have read, there is absolutely zero enforcement or requirement on the port arrival time, its kinda a honor system thing. So if you show up at 10, they wont turn you away or make you wait....

 

[DVC_Corrys]

I don't know if things have changed but for the MR cruises earlier this year, the terminal opened at or around 9:30. That's when you could walk into the building, go upstairs and wait for check in to begin. Check in opened at or around 10 am and boarding began closer to 11:45 am.

We arrived at the port early with the hopes of getting an upgrade. We were up and ready to go and waiting anxiously at our house. We only live 15 minutes away so decided that we might as well wait anxiously at the port rather than home. Others prefer to wait and arrive later. It is very much a YMMV type of situation.

Were you able to upgrade??? How was that? Was it much more expensive?

 

[LKFan]

Were you able to upgrade??? How was that? Was it much more expensive?

No, unfortunately, there were no upgrades available for us. We sailed during Presidents' Day so it was a busy week. From the looks of it, there was only one upgrade available. We were the first people in line to check in but, because our CM had problem with the KTTW machine, the second family in line finished checking in before us and got the upgrade.


There is a trip report by DisneyZell that talks about getting an upgrade and has photos of the room. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2673914

 

[socababy]

I am hoping to get an upgrade in Nov. My only hope is to be one of the first ones to check in regardless of what check in time I get online right? I am more interested in getting the upgrade than being one of the first on the ship.

 

[LKFan]

I am hoping to get an upgrade in Nov. My only hope is to be one of the first ones to check in regardless of what check in time I get online right? I am more interested in getting the upgrade than being one of the first on the ship.

Yep, as far as I know, upgrades are first come, first served.

Note that you don't get an upgrade by the CM that checks you in. They have to completely check you in, make your keys, give you your lanyards, etc. and then walk you down to the end of the counter where another CM lets you know if any upgrades are available.

 

[LimoFam5]

Those starting their cruise in LA have to check-in online first to get a port check-in time? So we don't arrive to the port to check-in until our check-in time?

You can show up to port at any time and hang out as early or as late as you want to, however they will not give you a boarding group number or allow you to check in until your designated time which will be give to you when you complete your online check in.

 

[cats mom]

You can show up to port at any time and hang out as early or as late as you want to, however they will not give you a boarding group number or allow you to check in until your designated time which will be give to you when you complete your online check in.

Maybe they plan to start enforcing this when the Wonder returns in September, but it definitely was not the case on the initial sailings out of CA this year.

I believe our assigned check-in time was 11:45 am but we were trying for an upgrade, so we were at the port bright and early, we received a #2 boarding number, and we were among the first to check-in.

After checking in we actually left and came back much later to board, but that's because unlike many here we don't particularly enjoy those first few hours onboard before the staterooms are open. It just seems so crowded with everyone out and milling around all the common areas.

As far as upgrades go, there were a few available on our cruise, but not very many, none were concierge level, and I felt like the prices were higher than what I had generally seen reported here.

Note: I didn't write exact prices down, but we were quoted approx $1,000 to upgrade from a Cat 9C to a Cat 4A and there was absolutely nothing in between to upgrade to.

 

[twindaddy]

Does anyone know of or have any photos of the inside of the LA terminal? The Port Canaveral terminal looks very cool, but since DCL isnt permanent in LA, the outside looks more.....um how should we say this....rustic. I would love to see the inside too...thanks!

 

[LKFan]

Does anyone know of or have any photos of the inside of the LA terminal? The Port Canaveral terminal looks very cool, but since DCL isnt permanent in LA, the outside looks more.....um how should we say this....rustic. I would love to see the inside too...thanks!

I still don't know how to post pictures in a message but you can see photos of what the terminal looks like here: http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

This album has pictures from inside the terminal http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

And this has pictures of the Ports of Call area in San Pedro. http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

 

[twindaddy]

I still don't know how to post pictures in a message but you can see photos of what the terminal looks like here: http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

This album has pictures from inside the terminal http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

And this has pictures of the Ports of Call area in San Pedro. http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/t...otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Thanks for the links, the inside of the terminal looks nicer than I expected, but of course not as nice as Canaveral.

Wow, Ports of Call looks depressing! Reminds me of Seaport Village in San Diego, basically a dead outdoor crap fiesta. I grew up 20 minutes from San Pedro and dont think I ever visited Ports of Call.

Getting very excited to see the terminal in person next April!