Questions on Boarding and Reservations?

[windyguy]

This is a first time cruise for my entire family we sail on the Magic on July 20th. I keep reading on this forum about paperwork at port would any experience cruiser please advise me on what is needed. Is there a mad rush to the spa booking as well as Palo's? How early should we arrive to take the best shot at getting reservations to the above. Thanks for your help...

 

[mmouse37]

There really isn't any additional paperwork to be filled out a the Port if you already filled out your documents prior to arriving at Terminal.

You book your spa and Palo ressies onboard the ship, not in the terminal. We always plan on arriving at the terminal between 10:30 and 11:00 am. They let you board about 12:15-12:30. The terminal is quite beautiful and if you arrive early you will have about a 2 hour wait in the terminal but it is not a big deal. They have restrooms, a snack bar, TV with cartoons for the kids.

We ususally take turns standing in line. There are plenty of chairs to sit in while another family member hold the place in line. The characters also come out and make a visit.

Make sure you pick up your Navigator when you check-in. This way you will know exactly when and where to go for your ressies.

We have been on the 7 day twice and never had a problem getting Palo or spa ressies.

MJ

 

[caskar]

We arrived a little after 10. The guard allowed me to sit at the gate in my car a few minutes until the "Disney people" showed up. They ask your name, to see your documents and an id. Then it is so easy from there. I couldn't believe how smoothly all of the check in and getting off the ship was. Really easy!

 

[JimB.]

Make Sure, Make Sure, MAKE SURE you have the PROPER I.D. documents. Passports/Picture I.D.'s/Birth Certificates.

Driver's License & Military ID's are GREAT picture ID's, but are NOT ACCEPTABLE for proof of citizenship. Some boneheads on the cruise I was on could not figure that out & were giving a lady at check-in a hard time because of it.

Save yourself some aggravation & COMPLETLY read and fill out all of the proper forms in your cruise documents prior to arriving at the terminal. Once again, a simple move to keep moving quickly and the aggravation factor to a minimum.

We had all these things done, prepared and easily accesible when we got to check - in and were LITERALLY done in less than 4 minutes as a result.

We did not eat at Palo's, but there did not seem to be any rush on them when we got on board, but that may vary from cruise to cruise.

BTW, the signs say check in begins at 11:00 a.m. Don't believe them. We got into line @ 10:40, and they had been going for a while already. As a result, we were about 30th in line (out of about 1,000) when boarding began at about 12:15.

Have a great time, and remember.............. it's a VACATION. Relax, have fun, go with the flow..............It's a real Blast. You'll Love It!!!


And this is from a guy that was in the Navy for 16 years and absolutely HATED ships (until I walked on board the Magic)

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

We, too, are 1st time cruisers, cruising on July 20th! We have a thread going for everyone on this cruise if you would like to join in. The thread title is "Calling all July 20th Western Cruisers". Hope to see you there!

13 days and counting down!!