Pearl tier not required to select a port arrival time.

[sponica]

Just get rid of this nonsense and automatically assign boarding times based on tiers. Pearl may start boarding at X, platinum at Y, Gold at Z, etc. You can always board later than your tier so long as you are there by the all aboard time. It would be one of the few benefits that had any real meaning for many people, and would actually incentive people like me to want to have a higher tier status, which I couldn't care less about right now. It would also cost Disney nothing extra and make the load on their MIS systems lighter. What downside am I missing? A little less predictability on when people will show up? I suspect 90% of people would board in their window, and windows could be adjusted in length based on how many are sailing in each tier for a particular cruise.

That would get wacky with port transfers though, especially for the 3/4 night cruises out of PC which are a high number of first time cruisers.

 

[brentm77]

That would get wacky with port transfers though, especially for the 3/4 night cruises out of PC which are a high number of first time cruisers.

Do you mean DCL port transfers? They are already exempt from requiring a boarding time, so they could just keep that exemption, right? Because having people log in at midnight and get a random time doesn't help with the port transfer situation either.

 

[sponica]

Do you mean DCL port transfers? They are already exempt from requiring a boarding time, so they could just keep that exemption, right? Because having people log in at midnight and get a random time doesn't help with the port transfer situation either.

My brain isn't working today. Clearly.

 

[pachy25]

Glad to see that at least Pearl is getting this perk but not happy that they did not bring this perk back for Platinum. Before COVID Platinum was also able to board behind Concierge. This is a perk that doesn't even cost Disney a penny but is important as it alleviates the need to stay up until midnight to fumble through the online check in so you can secure a decent PAT time. I guess too many platinum now.

Feel lucky, other cruise lines changed their requirements for different levels. Disney could have changed the Platinum level to 20 or so cruises.

 

[insureman]

Update from Disney Cruise Line blog

Castaway Club Benefits Updated – Pearl Members No Longer Required to Select a Port Arrival Time​

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Scott Sanders — Leave a reply
Disney Crusei Line confirms Pearl Castaway Club members are no longer required to select a Port Arrival Time (PAT) when checking in for an upcoming sailing. Pearl Castaway Club Members will automatically be placed in the first boarding group for their cruise.
Disney Cruise LIne’s Castaway Club has not been updated to reflect this change and still states “Select port arrival times and complete online check-in 40 days prior to sailing” under the Pearl Member highlights. However, this update along with are reminder of the tired online check-in groups presented below was shared to travel agents on Friday afternoon.
The tiered Online Check-In windows are as follows:

• 40 Days Prior: Pearl Castaway Members/Concierge, Weddings/Vow Renewal, VIP, Media, and Make-a-Wish Guests
• 38 Days Prior: Platinum Castaway Club Members
• 35 Days Prior: Gold Castaway Club Members
• 33 Days Prior: Silver Castaway Club Members
• 30 Days Prior: All Guests

Please note, all other Guests will still need to follow the current process of selecting their Port Arrival Time during their Online Check-In window.
Earlier this week, we shared that Pearl Members have been encountering this as an unofficial benefit since early July.

 

[n2mm]

Do you mean DCL port transfers? They are already exempt from requiring a boarding time, so they could just keep that exemption, right? Because having people log in at midnight and get a random time doesn't help with the port transfer situation either.

I’m on a 9/2 cruise and people taking bus transfers are getting later BG numbers now. Looks like they are getting BG 3-7 now, then platinums are getting #8. New cruisers logged in this week and are getting BG # 17 or higher.

 

[CarolynU]

So I see that as a definite downgrade for platinum from check in anytime and turn up at the port when you are ready (now Pearl,) to a check in and then will secure a boarding group 8 minimum!

 

[o&smom]

Ridiculous to not allow this for platinum as well, as it used to be. Nice of Disney to remove a perk. Pearl should be given first boarding group, and platinum should get 2. Fair.

 

[where's_my_prince]

i will say i had my platinum check in thursday night, this was my first cruise with platinum being able to check in 38 days before embarkation. i was there exactly at midnight EAT and got boarding group 5 10:45 PAT, by far the best boarding group i’ve gotten.

 

[CarolynU]

i will say i had my platinum check in thursday night, this was my first cruise with platinum being able to check in 38 days before embarkation. i was there exactly at midnight EAT and got boarding group 5 10:45 PAT, by far the best boarding group i’ve gotten.

My problem is that I’m in the uk and midnight your time is 5am my time, so as I now need to select a PAT unlike previously I’m having to set an alarm for 04:30, get up and make sure devices are ready and the DCL website is actually working!
Being bleary eyed watching spinning wheels is not pleasant. Then I’m checking in four people.
Since the new system I have only managed boarding group 7 and at the ports of Southampton and Dover they haven’t had dedicated platinum check in desks either.
I understand that the change is not major but to some of us it’s a reward that we enjoyed above all else, and the midnight/5am gamble scramble was avoided.
I’m afraid that I do see it as a downgrade.

 

[CamColt]

While I am happy they are giving this back to Pearl, I do agree this is a downgrade to Platinum. For my last few cruises we had to stay up til midnight then deal with all the craziness, just to try to get what we had had for many years/cruises....and we didn't get close to it. It stunk!

My question is when exactly does this start? We were in the group who had to go through the usual check in, got 11:45 BG6, then automatically got changed a week later. My form still shows the changed time 11:00-11:15 BG2. We sail the 19th. Will we be put in BG1 or wait for 2. I wont complain about 2, after originally getting 6, but Im curious if there is a specific date this starts?

 

[CarolynU]

Well, not of course that DCL will care less, but taking this loyalty reward away does matter to me, so for the first time in as long as I can remember I have not sailed DCL this year nor have I got a DCL cruise booked next year either.
I simply can’t be bothered with getting up at 04:30!
I have sailed Princess twice this year, and mighty fine it was too. Check in was so so simple and boarding so so quick! Maybe it was beginners luck!

 

[shananigans]

After we cruise in Sept, we will be Platinum. My guess is Disney heard people complaining about the photo package being the “only” new perk for Pearl and sweetened the pot a bit with no PAT as a perk for them.

This is why we have been sailing concierge … but we have one cruise in Oct out of NY that isn’t concierge so I’ll be up until 11 pm on Day 38 hoping I can snag better than boarding group 10.