Some rookie-ish questions

[jimim]

So we have not been in a Disney Cruise since their first 2 years out.

We r doing the October 2020 Halloween 5 day Bermuda one in the magic.


We r silver members. 3 cruises.

1. At 90 days I book any character tickets, tours, Palo. But also at 90 day I do checkin for port right? How does that work? Does everyone get on the ship at one time or is it a rolling boarding process based on when you check in online? Also do u get a time to checkin at the port?

2. Do you guys do all ur documents online now? Or do we do everything at the port. I’m confused on this?

3. When will the list of excursions come out and things to do on the ship?

4. Dining. Our travel agent mentioned about the dining rotation that I know about but she also said if u didn’t like a place one night you can change it to another place? Not Palo. One of the other 3 places in the rotation.

Ok that’s what I got so far. My head is kinda spinning.

So much different than the parks. Maybe cause we don’t cruise every year like we are in the parks. It just seems a lot different than it used to be.

Thanks!
Jimi

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So we have not been in a Disney Cruise since their first 2 years out.

We r doing the October 2020 Halloween 5 day Bermuda one in the magic.


We r silver members. 3 cruises.

1. At 90 days I book any character tickets, tours, Palo. But also at 90 day I do checkin for port right? How does that work? Does everyone get on the ship at one time or is it a rolling boarding process based on when you check in online? Also do u get a time to checkin at the port?

2. Do you guys do all ur documents online now? Or do we do everything at the port. I’m confused on this?

3. When will the list of excursions come out and things to do on the ship?

4. Dining. Our travel agent mentioned about the dining rotation that I know about but she also said if u didn’t like a place one night you can change it to another place? Not Palo. One of the other 3 places in the rotation.

Ok that’s what I got so far. My head is kinda spinning.

So much different than the parks. Maybe cause we don’t cruise every year like we are in the parks. It just seems a lot different than it used to be.

Thanks!
Jimi

1. When you do you online check in, you select a Port Arrival Time. Once at the port you check in there and will receive a boarding number. Starting around 11:30, boarding begins with Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club members. Then they start calling boarding numbers, upping the number about every 5-10 minutes. Generally most cruisers are onboard by about 1:00-2:00.

2. After you've checked in online, the only "documents" you need will be your citizenship ID (passports or birth certificates/government issued photo ID) to enter the terminal. You will be mailed luggage tags about 30 days out from your cruise.

3. You can check on the DCL website now for the possible excursions that might be available on your cruise. The actual excursions & excursion times & costs won't be visible to you until your booking window opens.

4. No. Your dining rotation is your dining rotation. If you don't want to dine in a specific dining room when you are scheduled there, you can go to Cabanas (not a buffet for dinner, but a sit-down table service). Or use the quick serve dining locations on the pool deck. Or use room service.

 

[fredandkell]

Here's a link to the Bermuda port excursions: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/bermuda/list/kings-wharf-bermuda/

 

[lady9]

You can book your activities on board at the 90 day mark. Be aware some may be full by then. If it is, you can always keep trying to see if your activity has a cancellation and opens up later. If it doesn't, you can try to book it once on board or get on a wait list.

You should download the cruise app. You can use it onboard. It will give a list of all the activities, dinner menus, meet and greets, shows, etc. going on each day. You can mark the activities you are interested in and a reminder will be sent to your phone 15 minutes before it begins. The app replaces the paper Navigator (you can still get a paper one from guest services but we found we really liked the app). If you are concerned you won't like a menu in the restaurant you a assigned that night, you can view the menu on the app. The app won't work until you are onboard.

A tip-once you choose your port arrival time, don't try to arrive earlier. If the terminal is full, you may be asked to wait outside. Your boarding number is tied to you PAT so even if you arrive early, you won't necessarily board earlier. You'll be stuck standing around as there are few places to sit.

Try to relax and enjoy the planning and especially your cruise!

 

[jimim]

Ok everyone that pretty much answers everything. I’m totally not going to stress about planning. This was a thrown around idea that stuck. We r doing this cruise cause we can drive to the port vs fly and it will be a shorter cruise to see if the kids even like them. I don’t even care if we leave the ship do excursions. Our last Disney Cruise my wife got badgered so bad first day off the ship in the straw market we didn’t get off he rest of the trip and we were totally fine with that. The ship was perfect and that was before they had all they do now. So this time it should be even better on the ship!

I can’t wait for meals. What I remember years ago was the food. I remember eating my face off. I hope the food is still just as good.

Thanks so much for the info the port was why I was worried about the most.

Thanks for the app tip. I didn’t even realize about it.

thanks so much again!

 

[Mommb]

Cruises are indeed difference from park visits, but I find it is easier to plan for cruises because there are fewer decisions that have to be made. It’s still possible to have a great cruise without booking anything (except maybe escorted excursions) in advance.

The main change over the past 10-15 years is the increasing reliance on the Internet to make plans. There are two separate activities that you can complete when your check-in date arrives.

On-line check-in typically opens a few hours before midnight 90 days before your cruise. After you enter identification, transportation, and payment information for everyone on your reservation, you will be asked to select a Port Arrival Time, as PrincessShmoo described. You now “sign” the cruise forms online. I think for our cruise last month I had a Port Arrival form to print out and show to enter at the terminal, but all other paperwork was completed digitally.

After midnight on your booking day, you will be able to book excursions and on-board activities, including Palo dining, spa treatments, Frozen and Princess character meets, beverage tastings, and nursery times. You can also register kids for the kids’ clubs if you have 3-12 year olds.

Although you can’t see exactly what’s available until your window opens, you can look at the activities listed on the Disney Cruise website to see what is typically offered.

Happy planning!