Port Arrival Time question...

[ANGRebel]

I originally was going to take a town car to the port for our cruise, and have a PAT of 1:00. I changed my transportation to DCL transportation from the airport. The cast member on the phone told me that I can arrive at the airport at like 9:45 and go ahead and take a transfer to the port. My question is if I do that, will I still have to wait until 1:00 to check in? Or can I go ahead and check in and board earlier than I would have with the 1:00 PAT?

Thanks in advance, sorry, new cruiser and need some info!

 

[DISGRL13]

You will be able to check in as soon as you arrive at port. When you check in they will give you a card with your boarding number. This number may still be a higher number, so you might have to wait a while, but am pretty sure you would be boarded before 1:00.

 

[ANGRebel]

You will be able to check in as soon as you arrive at port. When you check in they will give you a card with your boarding number. This number may still be a higher number, so you might have to wait a while, but am pretty sure you would be boarded before 1:00.

Thanks for the info! It would be nice to have breakfast at the hotel, go to the airport to catch the bus, then make it on the ship in time to eat lunch around 12:30-1:00 instead of checking in at 1:00 and not getting on the ship till 1:30-2:00.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I originally was going to take a town car to the port for our cruise, and have a PAT of 1:00. I changed my transportation to DCL transportation from the airport. The cast member on the phone told me that I can arrive at the airport at like 9:45 and go ahead and take a transfer to the port. My question is if I do that, will I still have to wait until 1:00 to check in? Or can I go ahead and check in and board earlier than I would have with the 1:00 PAT?

Thanks in advance, sorry, new cruiser and need some info!

Have you checked to see whether you can switch to an earlier PAT time? If you can that might help you get a lower boarding number and reduce your wait in the terminal. Either way, I agree with the PP that you'll likely board before 1.

 

[Dug720]

Have you checked to see whether you can switch to an earlier PAT time? If you can that might help you get a lower boarding number and reduce your wait in the terminal. Either way, I agree with the PP that you'll likely board before 1.

Yes. If you want to be sure you get on earlier, I'd see if there's an earlier PAT available. Because your boarding number IS related to your selected PAT. In February, there was a family on the first bus from MCO with me who clearly had a later PAT as they received boarding group 20-something even being the first group in the terminal. (They were at the check-in computer next to me and I couldn't help but overhear them asking why their number was so high and it was explained that they had selected a later arrival time and that is how the boarding groups are determined.)

 

[Trera]

Yes. If you want to be sure you get on earlier, I'd see if there's an earlier PAT available. Because your boarding number IS related to your selected PAT. In February, there was a family on the first bus from MCO with me who clearly had a later PAT as they received boarding group 20-something even being the first group in the terminal. (They were at the check-in computer next to me and I couldn't help but overhear them asking why their number was so high and it was explained that they had selected a later arrival time and that is how the boarding groups are determined.)

Agree with this. We always book the first arrival time if we are not concierge that way we are in boarding group 2. It makes it much easier to get princess meet tickets and start the vacation before the boat gets too crowded.

 

[Dug720]

Agree with this. We always book the first arrival time if we are not concierge that way we are in boarding group 2. It makes it much easier to get princess meet tickets and start the vacation before the boat gets too crowded.

I had PAT, but due to a big number of Platinum cruisers, ended up in Group 3. It wasn't that much of a difference though - I'd say they called Group 3 within a couple of minutes of calling Group 2.

 

[tinkerone]

i thought that if you were arriving on dcl transfers you didn't need to pick a pat. has this changed? not our last cruise but the one before, this is what we did and got boarding #3 without a pat.

 

[Dug720]

i thought that if you were arriving on dcl transfers you didn't need to pick a pat. has this changed? not our last cruise but the one before, this is what we did and got boarding #3 without a pat.

I've used DCL transport form MCO both of my last cruises and was required to select a PAT.

 

[ANGRebel]

There isn't an earlier PAT available. We may just try to catch a bus around 10:30-11:00. Then we would be at the port by 11:30 or 12:00. Maybe we could get through check in and board by 12:30 or so. That would still be in time to have lunch at a decent time.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yes. If you want to be sure you get on earlier, I'd see if there's an earlier PAT available. Because your boarding number IS related to your selected PAT. In February, there was a family on the first bus from MCO with me who clearly had a later PAT as they received boarding group 20-something even being the first group in the terminal. (They were at the check-in computer next to me and I couldn't help but overhear them asking why their number was so high and it was explained that they had selected a later arrival time and that is how the boarding groups are determined.)

I wonder how hard and fast the relationship between PAT and boarding group is. I booked a cruise in October on somewhat short notice. I think I was about 40 days out when I booked. The earliest PAT time available when I checked in was 11:45. My flight was supposed to get into MCO around 9:00 that morning and we were actually a bit early. I somehow managed to get on the first bus from MCO to the port. I got boarding group number 3, which I was not expecting given my 11:45 PAT. I'm thinking I got pixie dusted.

 

[lanejudy]

There isn't an earlier PAT available. We may just try to catch a bus around 10:30-11:00. Then we would be at the port by 11:30 or 12:00. Maybe we could get through check in and board by 12:30 or so. That would still be in time to have lunch at a decent time.

Arriving by DCL transfers, you'll be allowed into the terminal and do check-in whenever you arrive. Open boarding it typically called around 12:30pm or so, at which point boarding numbers don't matter anyway. Barring any unusual delays (something that delays the whole process for everyone), you'll be onboard and eating before 1pm!

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[tinkerone]

I've used DCL transport form MCO both of my last cruises and was required to select a PAT.

i'm thinking that i just didn't enter one for that cruise. sorry for the confusion. we did pick one for our last cruise and got boarding #2.
while pat is the most important thing, i really think the cm's have a lot of power as well. who would know if your pat is for 2 and the cm gave you boarding #4 other than the cm.

 

[lanejudy]

i thought that if you were arriving on dcl transfers you didn't need to pick a pat. has this changed? not our last cruise but the one before, this is what we did and got boarding #3 without a pat.

I wonder how hard and fast the relationship between PAT and boarding group is. I booked a cruise in October on somewhat short notice. I think I was about 40 days out when I booked. The earliest PAT time available when I checked in was 11:45. My flight was supposed to get into MCO around 9:00 that morning and we were actually a bit early. I somehow managed to get on the first bus from MCO to the port. I got boarding group number 3, which I was not expecting given my 11:45 PAT. I'm thinking I got pixie dusted.

Reports of NOT needing a PAT seem to vary -- some people taking DCL transfers are not given the option to select a PAT while others are. A good rule of thumb is to select a PAT if that screen is available during online check-in. If taking DCL transfers, your boarding number may or may not be tied to it, but I'd hate to expect it doesn't matter and end up sitting in the terminal for an hour or more.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I've used DCL transport form MCO both of my last cruises and was required to select a PAT.

Same. I think I've always selected a PAT (since that process started) and I always use DCL transfers. Even with the earliest PAT I've never gotten a boarding group lower than 3, which is fine. I'm sure because I cruise during peak times there are lots of concierge and platinum boarding before us. Not a big deal at all.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

i thought that if you were arriving on dcl transfers you didn't need to pick a pat. has this changed? not our last cruise but the one before, this is what we did and got boarding #3 without a pat.

There are a few instances where you will not select at PAT: if you are Concierge. Or if you've booked a pre-cruise stay the night before the cruise at the Hyatt MCO or a WDW resort THROUGH DCL. Other than that, you will be prompted to select a PAT.

 

[kiford]

i thought that if you were arriving on dcl transfers you didn't need to pick a pat. has this changed?

I think that only applies if you're taking DCL transfers from the resorts, not MCO.

However, in the past, although we've always taken DCL transfers (even in the Med), we had to pick a PAT even though it didn't matter. In the Med in 2013, I picked a 1 pm PAT but we were picked up at 11:30 and arrived at the port and checked in about noon. We got boarding number 11 and were allowed to board immediately. I know that it wasn't open boarding yet because we passed a lot of people waiting to board who'd already checked in.

This time for the Northern European one, I went to pick a PAT and it was greyed out and said we didn't need to pick one because we're taking DCL transfers.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think that only applies if you're taking DCL transfers from the resorts, not MCO.

However, in the past, although we've always taken DCL transfers (even in the Med), we had to pick a PAT even though it didn't matter. In the Med in 2013, I picked a 1 pm PAT but we were picked up at 11:30 and arrived at the port and checked in about noon. We got boarding number 11 and were allowed to board immediately. I know that it wasn't open boarding yet because we passed a lot of people waiting to board who'd already checked in.

This time for the Northern European one, I went to pick a PAT and it was greyed out and said we didn't need to pick one because we're taking DCL transfers.

You still have to select a PAT, even arriving by DCL transfers. However, if you arrive earlier than your selected PAT, you will be allowed entrance to the terminal. Reports as to whether you still receive the same boarding number (tied to your original PAT) or a different one (based on your actual arrival) have been mixed. Most report still receiving the same number.