Tips for Embarkation Day?

[SuperV]

Navigator is an app?

 

[MKRuns 26]

Like other have said 10:30 PAT is to let Disney know when you'll arrive at the terminal, but your ship boarding time. Official boarding starts at 1:00, though sometimes earlier. The terminal is filled with activities and we always have our picture taken by the ship model.

Enjoy your cruise; you'll have so much fun!

 

[PinMan]

so 1pm is the official 1st boarding time ? how much earlier do they start ? so once on board you would secure a couple of seats by the pool and go eat lunch ? i'm a 1st time cruiser so any tips are much appreciated

 

[MPS516]

The boarding is by assigned boarding group, it does not mean if I arrive at 10:30 when terminal opens I will be in group 1. Your PAT will determine your number along with your CC (repeat cruiser) status.

You are not supposed to "save" seats. If you are getting a seat by the pool you should use it at the pool. It would not be appropriate to get seats and than leave for lunch. There are counter service choices on deck so if you prefer to sit by the pool or swim, you may want to also eat while up there.

We are never in a rush on the first day, we try to use the time to get into vacation mode. Get meet tickets, sign up for tastings or adult dining and then sit down at either of the buffets and read through our navigator. Then by the time we walk around and check out the ship it is time to get to the stateroom and get cleaned up. Most times the bags arrive and we can unpack prior to safety drill and then off to sail away party.

 

[PinMan]

so where do you sign up for tastings and adult dining ? also how long of a process is it to get on board the ship ?

 

[SuperV]

I'm wondering about that too.

 

[PinMan]

I'm wondering about that too.

going in a couple of weeks on the Wonder , you ?

 

[Weedy]

Once you arrive at the port and check in you will receive your boarding #. Your boarding # is tied to your PAT (Port Arrival time) that you will pick when your booking window opens. If this is your 1st cruise you can do this 75 days prior to your cruise. Concierge Guests and Platinum Guest get boarding #1 (and sometimes 2)

They usually start boarding 11:15-11:30 for the Dream and Fantasy 11:30-11:45 for the Magic and Wonder. Once they start calling #'s it goes very fast with the new # being called about every 5 minutes. They usually go to open boarding (you don't have to wait for a # to be called) about 12:30.

Once you start to board they have a place to stop and get your picture taken with a Disney themed backdrop. This usually backs up a little. You don't have to do this and can just walk around this area.

You will enter on deck 3 (Miami is deck 4) and they will direct you to one of two restaurants. Both are buffets. The one on the 3rd deck will have waiters that will bring your drinks to the table. The other restaurant is on the pool deck you will need to get your own drinks but can take your food out by the pools. They ask that you don't save seats by the pools. By the way be careful this is a VERY HOT topic on these boards. LOL.


When you check in you will receive a Navigator (Newsletter) or there is an app you can download that will list where to pick up tickets for the Princess meet and greets, wine tastings and other events. If you don't see what you want stop by Guest Services and they can help you out. Many of these thing need to be booked the first day so don't wait.


Here is a link to past Navigators so you can get an idea of what they look like.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

 

[MPS516]

Sorry left out the word "not" about saving seats, did edit. Yes it becomes a very hot topic. There are also tables along the outside walkways in the pool areas, it is a great place to sit and eat if you are grabbing lunch and want to be near pools. Most will sit with their carry-ons and send a couple people at a time for food to bring back. If you have a smart phone be sure to download the app prior to leaving home, it is nice to verify times and events that you are planning to attend. All DCL cast members are extremely helpful, ask them whenever you have a question. Adult dining reservations open on line and timing is listed on your my cruise web site. Tastings, princess meet and greet sign-ups must be done once aboard. Don't worry they don't fill up by the time yu will be getting aboard.

Read the Navigators - Really, Read the Navigators.

 

[kiford]

Navigator is an app?

It is now. But they still have hard copy versions around and will still leave one in your stateroom every evening. The app also allows texting between other cruisers so it's worth getting. Make sure to download before you board, however, or you will have to pay for wifi to get it. Look for Disney Cruise Line Navigator (at least in the Apple store - I assume it's called the same thing for Android).

 

[tinkerone]

so 1pm is the official 1st boarding time ? how much earlier do they start ? so once on board you would secure a couple of seats by the pool and go eat lunch ? i'm a 1st time cruiser so any tips are much appreciated

I know there have been cases where the boarding time has been this late however its not the norm. first to board are b2b's. next is concierge (about 11:15) . after that comes the rest of the passangers (about 11:30). I myself have never seen boarding start later than 11:40 for non-concierge. open boarding for anyone with later pats starts about 12:15ish.

 

[wxman0]

I know there have been cases where the boarding time has been this late however its not the norm. first to board are b2b's. next is concierge (about 11:15) . after that comes the rest of the passangers (about 11:30). I myself have never seen boarding start later than 11:40 for non-concierge. open boarding for anyone with later pats starts about 12:15ish

I was sort of thinking the same thing, our PAT was 11am. We got there a little early (10:45ish) and I dropped everyone off and then took the rental car back. There was another family traveling with us that somehow got a higher boarding number than us and I remember my wife texting me while I was at the rental place that their number had been called and I don't think it was even noon yet.

With that said, I wonder how quickly they were getting on when we left the ship 7 days later! It took us forever to get out of there. We finally got to the area where the rental car shuttles were and it was already after 11am! I read later it had something to do with Coast Guard doing some sort of check, not sure how true that is though.