I think for Concierge you will still have to select a PAT* as part of the online check in process, but it doesn't matter. You can show up to the port anytime after 11. (Note I have not sailed Concierge but am doing so in November, so this comment is based on my research, not personal experience).
Same here. Platinum as well and I was disappointed to get #7.We sailed from Port Canaveral on the Fantasy, on 4/15/23. At 30 day checkin, I logged in at 12:01 am and have been doing this long enough to speed through check in. I got 11:15am port arrival time, BUT... got boarding group 7!
So, what I found out on embarkation day is that people on DCL buses from the resort get boarding groups 1-6. Because I was driving to port and parking there, the best boarding group I could get was 7! I was very mad. I stayed up til midnight only to see appx 1,800 people stroll past me to board for an hour. I talked to the customer service supervisor about it. She told me I was "lucky" to get group 7.
I understand they need to turn over the resort buses, but let them use the same queue as the rest of us! I dont think this change in check in date for Platinum and Pearl is going to help, since it doesnt seem to impact boarding group (if still assigned based on how people arrive to port.) Are people "fudging" their arrival method to improve their boarding group?Thoughts?
It’s the least they could do. Royal doesn’t do boarding groups and it goes just fine. If they would get rid of the announcing your family thing it would speed up the whole process.
Do people scramble to arrive at the port hours before their boarding on Royal tho..? The rental car shuttle drivers have told us DCL is the worst for drop off back ups. I think on the other lines people just naturally stagger - we waltzed right on to the ship the two times we sailed Royal as well, no lines in PC or Vancouver. If I didn't have to go to dining changes to ascertain we got our own table, I wouldn't care when we arrived at all as long as we don't miss the ship. But as long as I have to do it that way, we'll keep trying to board as soon as possible.
I've only cruised Royal twice. We showed up at the port checked in were eating lunch in 30 minutes both times. If I remember correctly it was the same on Carnival. I don't know why Disney cruisers need to show up hours before boarding. Maybe it's conditioning from rope dropping at WDW or waking up before dawn to get a virtual queue. Do Disney vacationers always need to be first or have we just been conditioned to think that way?
I know we usually need to check or change our dining assignment. DCL also holds back some Palo and Remy reservations, and some mixology classes. People are hoping to snag some of those.
All those things are unique to Disney. Maybe it's time for Disney to revamp how they do things. Why not have waitlists like other cruise lines. There is no reason people should have to show up in person.
There are things I like to get done before 4pm.
None of that really explains why people show up hours before their boarding time.
Part of the issue is that your Port Arrival Time (PAT) is assigned, but your boarding group number doesnt tell you when you'll be getting on the ship. For example, we picked the first boarding group in Port Canaveral (11:15am), but were assigned boarding group 7. So, we arrived at PC at 11:15am. Was in terminal by 11:20. But, DCL had assigned so many people to the boarding groups 1-6 (because of how many were bussing in from the parks this sailing) we waited a very long time to board. Took about 50 minutes from boarding group 1 anouncement to boarding group 7 call to board.
I agree about the overhauling. Every cruise (4) since the Covid restart boarding has been a disaster for one reason or the other. We have always booked a lot of discounted cruises within three months. As platinum, we could just board when we arrived.
First seating and a late boarding time is stressful. You miss stuff. Lunch, meet and greets, open house at clubs. Straight to deck sail away party after rushing through the hallway to drop off your carryon luggage. And swimming is out of the question all together. What’s not to like for getting on at or before lunch?. I’m paying extra just to get an early boarding time. By extra I’m getting Disney transportation or hotel. It’s an overpriced “extra hours/bonus hours” option, but less stress for me personally.
Like I said that doesn't explain why people show up hours before boarding begins. You're not getting on any earlier. I think they try to remedy this by assigning arrival times, but people still show up hours before their arrival time. Our arrival time was 12-1230 we showed up at 1215 there were already people lined up for 1 pm and 130. It always feels chaotic.
I think some people, especially new DCL cruisers, don't understand the difference between PAT and boarding group. I think some think that PAT means you arrive at port and then immediately walk on the ship, so they arrive before their PAT to get a jump start on the process (not understanding that PAT means when you arrive and boarding group is linked, but not directly tied, to that).
Not necessarily. Are you driving to port? Guests driveing into PC are getting pushed back to later boarding group numbers. DCL is now prioritizing bus arrivals from MCO and WDW, and giving them the earlier boarding groups.
PAT AND Boarding group # should be assigned by CC status, not method of getting to port.I don't really agree to the reasoning. If I am traveling by DCL transportation from a resort, they tell me when they are getting me, I don't have a choice. If I am picked up at 9:30 and arriving at the port by 10:30, I certainly do not want to sit around till 12:30 to board because I have to wait for Silver/Gold/Platinum/Pearl to board. That makes no sense.Not necessarily. Are you driving to port? Guests driveing into PC are getting pushed back to later boarding group numbers. DCL is now prioritizing bus arrivals from MCO and WDW, and giving them the earlier boarding groups.
We are drivers to port, and Platinum, and I've been complaining about it (to DCL) for my last few cruises. Hasn't done any good yet.
