Tips for Embarkation Day?

[gemduncan]

We are going on our very first cruise EVER! We will be on the Dream 4 Day to Bahamas on Feb 29th (only ~3 weeks away)! DH and I are traveling with DD7. We are flying in the day before and staying at Country Inn & Suites at Port Canaveral.

I completed the online check-in a long time ago. I selected the 10:30-10:45am boarding time.
Besides our passport and day bag, what else do I need to bring with us for embarkation day?

 

[Bishoparc]

You'll want to print off your online check-in forms and have those signed. There is also a health questionnaire that they should e-mail to you to fill out (don't worry if they don't e-mail it to you they will have them available while you're standing in line).

 

[gemduncan]

You'll want to print off your online check-in forms and have those signed. There is also a health questionnaire that they should e-mail to you to fill out (don't worry if they don't e-mail it to you they will have them available while you're standing in line).

I just printed the very last tab on the Online Check-in. It is only 2 pages with a signature required. I'm assuming this is what you're referring to? I haven't received the health questionnaire yet.

 

[jrabbit]

bring your drivers licenses - they are easier to take when leaving the ship while in port.

for embarkation day - your camera - batteries charged and plenty of free memory. The cruise terminal (in Port Canaveral) is beautiful. There is the model of the Magic in the center of the of the terminal building. Great photo op, and then Mickey, Minnie et al arrive and you can get pictures with them by the model.

If you collect "smashed pennies" there are a couple of machines in the terminal - so bring your pennies and quarters and get'um before you board because there are NOT any machines onboard.

Daybag includes swim suits and sun screen - right? RIGHT!!!

 

[jrabbit]

I've never seen the health questionnaire BEFORE arriving at the terminal - that's where you will get it. Only one person will need to fill it out / sign it for your cabin.

 

[gemduncan]

I've never seen the health questionnaire BEFORE arriving at the terminal - that's where you will get it. Only one person will need to fill it out / sign it for your cabin.

Awesome! Thanks so much!

 

[sillecruisers]

I've never seen the health questionnaire BEFORE arriving at the terminal - that's where you will get it. Only one person will need to fill it out / sign it for your cabin.

We received ours via email, I think. I was able to print it, fill it out, and bring it with us.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Since you're sailing out of Port Canaveral, I would offer this advice: the terminal is actually rather pretty as these things go. The inlaid map on the floor is particularly lovely. If you want to take pictures, do it on embarkation. When you return to PC and leave the ship you return to the terminal's (ugly) lower level luggage warehouse.

 

[scootch]

If you want to sign up for princess or Frozen meet and greet, go straight to Port Adventure Desk to get tickets.

 

[Weedy]

If you plan on using the Disney Cruise Line app on your phone download it before you leave home so that you are not using data to download it.
Then if you plan on using it to text each other take a few minutes (we do it during lunch) to set up everyones phones so you can text each other.
When you log onto the app it will walk you through how to do it

 

[Msl2004]

Are you able to chat on the app while on the ship without using/buying data?

 

[Weedy]

No voice talking only texting

 

[MPS516]

We are going on our very first cruise EVER! We will be on the Dream 4 Day to Bahamas on Feb 29th (only ~3 weeks away)! DH and I are traveling with DD7. We are flying in the day before and staying at Country Inn & Suites at Port Canaveral.

I completed the online check-in a long time ago. I selected the 10:30-10:45am boarding time.
Besides our passport and day bag, what else do I need to bring with us for embarkation day?

Your 10:30 - 10:45 is actually Port Arrival Time, boarding will be opened up when general areas of ship have turned over and in order of boarding group. Most times things go pretty quickly once they begin boarding. The Health Form is in your check in documents on line but needs to reflect your conditions on boarding day. CAMERA ! be sure to have it handy, we have some wonderful pictures of out first time with our then 8 yo DD.

 

[Laine Anderson]

I've never seen the health questionnaire BEFORE arriving at the terminal - that's where you will get it. Only one person will need to fill it out / sign it for your cabin.

Ours was emailed to us about 3 weeks prior to sailing so we filled it out and turned it in with our other documents when we checked-in.

We wore our swimsuits and cover-ups to boarding so we could head right to the pool. We also skipped the boarding photo in front of the photo of the ship as a back drop. I thought it was cheesy, we asked another passenger to shoot our photo from the observation deck at the terminal instead.That saved us at least 45 min + when boarding. The long line was for the photos, the shorter (non-existent) narrow line puts you right onto the ship without having to wait for the photo.

We also got a few seats next to the pool and headed right to the Aqua Duck so the line was super short; we split up, 2 at the pool and 2 at the slide. At it's busiest, the line is up to an hour long otherwise.

 

[cijay]

So, you don't go right to your room when you board?

 

[storknurse13]

Rooms are usually not available to enter until 1:30 or so

 

[storknurse13]

Grab lunch after boarding at either Cabanas or Enchanted Garden. Both offer a lunch buffet. Cabanas is more crowded than Enchanted Garden but EG doesnt offer the full line of buffet items.

 

[Laine Anderson]

So, you don't go right to your room when you board?

Nope, we had a check-in time of 10:45am, didn't board until 1.5 hours later and the rooms weren't ready until close to 2pm. We spent time in Cabanas getting food, and the pool swimming.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've never seen the health questionnaire BEFORE arriving at the terminal - that's where you will get it. Only one person will need to fill it out / sign it for your cabin.

That's another change. DCL now emails the health questionnaire, to be filled out when heading for the port. But, as noted, you can still pick one up in the terminal.

 

[kiford]

I've never seen the health questionnaire BEFORE arriving at the terminal - that's where you will get it.

Ours was e-mailed to us when we were on our Northern European cruise but since we were staying with family first and then in a hotel, we couldn't print them out so we just picked one up as when entered the terminal.

Are you able to chat on the app while on the ship without using/buying data?

Yes. For the Navigator app, you only need to connect to internal wifi. No data plan required.