WBRepo-Ship of Thieves-Remember the Magic Pt 18

[Tink rules]

Marilyn... how long are you staying for? (this time...)

 

[ibouncetoo]

Those of you with upcoming cruises:

You might want to go in and complete all your on-line check in sections. They are now asking for out to make an 'appointment' for your port arrival time. No one seems to know why, but better safe than sorry, should they decide people who check in late may have to wait for boarding.

I've sent messages to my assorted cabin mates to get on it!

....also, does not apply to concierge and platinum...as they were told "You can enter this ship whenever you arrive"

.

 

[ibouncetoo]

notes from a TA:

Each arrival time slot has a limited number of spaces. Therefore, Guest should complete their online check-in as soon as possible in order to have access to the largest selection of available arrival times.

•This is not applicable to Concierge and Platinum Guests, who can arrive at any time.
•Guest who purchase Disney Cruise Line Air or Ground Transportation will not need to select a time.
•For Guest with independently purchased air, only times appropriate for their flight arrival time will appear.

If you have already fully completed the online check-in process for an upcoming cruise (prior to these enhancements), any submitted information will be transferred over. However, Guests are encouraged to login and select a Port Arrival time.

Also

New Online Cruise Check-In Process

Enhanced online check-in process for Disney Cruise Line, “My Online Check-In.”

From DCL: You now can look forward to a more intuitive and streamlined input with improved technology that makes it easier and quicker to complete the necessary forms. In addition, a new animated video has been created featuring Goofy, who can help you walk through the process.
Here are some of the enhancements:
• More easily understood, smaller sections to simplify the process.
• Ability to easily enter information for the entire traveling party.
• Ability to enter shared information (such as home address) once and apply to additional members of the traveling party.
• If a Guest has cruised with Disney before some information automatically populates, such as address or passport information, reducing input time.



Guests are given access to “My Online Check-in” as follows:

•Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club: 120 days in advance
•Gold Castaway Club: 105 days in advance
•Silver Castaway Club: 90 days in advance
•First Time Cruiser: 75 days in advance

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Those of you with upcoming cruises:

You might want to go in and complete all your on-line check in sections. They are now asking for out to make an 'appointment' for your port arrival time. No one seems to know why, but better safe than sorry, should they decide people who check in late may have to wait for boarding.

I've sent messages to my assorted cabin mates to get on it!

....also, does not apply to concierge and platinum...as they were told "You can enter this ship whenever you arrive"

.

 

[Tink rules]

Those of you with upcoming cruises:

You might want to go in and complete all your on-line check in sections. They are now asking for out to make an 'appointment' for your port arrival time. No one seems to know why, but better safe than sorry, should they decide people who check in late may have to wait for boarding.

I've sent messages to my assorted cabin mates to get on it!

....also, does not apply to concierge and platinum...as they were told "You can enter this ship whenever you arrive"

.

Probably because there are twice as many people checking in for the Dream than for the Magic or Wonder...

 

[Bilbo UK]

Those of you with upcoming cruises:

You might want to go in and complete all your on-line check in sections. They are now asking for out to make an 'appointment' for your port arrival time. No one seems to know why, but better safe than sorry, should they decide people who check in late may have to wait for boarding.

I've sent messages to my assorted cabin mates to get on it!

....also, does not apply to concierge and platinum...as they were told "You can enter this ship whenever you arrive"

.

There were long queues to get into the terminal for the Maiden voyage, after dropping off our bags and parking the car we stood in line for nearly an hour to get back through the gate.

Ann

 

[Tink rules]

Hi Ann!!!

I hear you had a nice tea today!!!

 

[granmaz]

Obviously a lot of things have caught them unawares so some changing plans will be ongoing for some time me thinks.

To be honest the check in process wasn't good for our Wonder PC. Well not as good as all our other cruises anyway. One long line, almost out of the terminal until you reached a desk where you split to your various different counters. As Aliens we went to an empty line then but Americans just continued on the long line. Never been like that before. Seemed to take an age. Of course then we had the Esta hoohah again like in Barcelona which caught us unawares, but that is another story!!! I really had lost the magic before I had even got any that day.

Anyway, if they couldn't even cope with our measly 1800 people they are bound to have some major problems with the Dream numbers.

 

[Bilbo UK]

Hi Ann!!!

I hear you had a nice tea today!!!

Yes, thank you, nice to have a bit of elegance and good company.
Quite a contrast after our Wild Africa Safari this morning which also exceeded our expectations.

Ann

 

[Tink rules]

Obviously a lot of things have caught them unawares so some changing plans will be ongoing for some time me thinks.

To be honest the check in process wasn't good for our Wonder PC. Well not as good as all our other cruises anyway. One long line, almost out of the terminal until you reached a desk where you split to your various different counters. As Aliens we went to an empty line then but Americans just continued on the long line. Never been like that before. Seemed to take an age. Of course then we had the Esta hoohah again like in Barcelona which caught us unawares, but that is another story!!! I really had lost the magic before I had even got any that day.

Anyway, if they couldn't even cope with our measly 1800 people they are bound to have some major problems with the Dream numbers.

Translation please... what's an Esta Hoohah?

 

[Tink rules]

Yes, thank you, nice to have a bit of elegance and good company.
Quite a contrast after our Wild Africa Safari this morning which also exceeded our expectations.

Ann

Is that the new wild Africa trek? the one where you walk a bit and then have lunch/breakfast? I hear it's really cool!!!

 

[granmaz]

Your homeland security make us fill in an online form to be accepted for entry before we leave our home country. Electronic System for Travel Authorisation(ESTA) At the end on the acceptance page you get a massively long number. It says take a note of your number but you DON'T need to print anything out.

Well DCL demanded print outs last September as we were actually entering the US this way. Very few folk had them printed out for the reasons above. So much time and annoyance at Barcelona terminal as folk either input their numbers and then had to print their acceptance out. One friend just couldn't get accepted. Took 2 hours. She was told on no uncertain terms that if she didn't get a print out of her form she would be offloaded mat Madeira, the last European port, and make her own way home! Fortunately then for some reason I had printed mine off, and we did receive notification from DCL prior to the cruise that we would need them. Most folk didn't think they did though.

Fast forward to this cruise. We were already in the US, accepted by Immigration, so I had decided to leave my form at home. No letter from DCL. Bad idea! We were checking in at the terminal and the guy said 'where are the rest of your forms?' 'They are all there' I said. 'Your Esta form' he said. 'We don't need them' we said!!! OK! We had to go off to the furthest desk and input our numbers. That desk wasn't manned all the time, the person went walkabouts, and the printer was behind the screen! What a flipping pain it was. My anxiety levels were rising by the minute. Nobody said sorry or anything. One supervisor did come over and said that DCL had sent letters out to us. Mmmmmmmmm. When we eventually got back up to check in(and wait again) the lady there said they had only found out that morning that LA Immigration would want to see them!! For goodness sake, we were going from the US to the US, having already been given clearance. Grrrrrr!

You did ask.

 

[Tink rules]

you need to send an email to DCL to complain that they are not notifying you accurately of what you need... if they get enough complaints... it will change...

 

[granmaz]

Well I will have the print outs for Barcelona anyway and I don't plan doing a Panama Canal cruise anytime soon. I wonder if they need them for the normal cruises in general now then?

To be fair to the cruise lines the airports had had a year or so change over time from the old green form we had to do on the flight over. For a while we had to do both until the system was in place and working. I guess nobody thought about cruises!

I guess we will just have to keep waiting to see what annoying little thing they will add for us travellers next.

 

[Tink rules]

I think it's just that they know that you want to come and live in FL permanantly...

Just think... crappy forms and an obnoxious pat down at security... Makes ya feel really welcome, huh???

 

[HollyTyler]

I will be MIA for most of the week this week, & next.

I worked 830a-9p last night, working 9a-9p tonight, & who knows what tomorrow & Friday.

Saturday I start monitoring flights for the 1800 (or so) people that are flying into Orlando for that big meeting. I'm working 9a-7p on Saturday, 8a-8p on Sunday, then am onsite at the meeting until about 5pm next Saturday. The 13th is my next day off.

I will not have access to anything while I'm sitting at the meeting. Need to see if I can get my laptop up & running so that I can play once I get back into my room (if I have any energy).

Hope all is well. Working on getting my pics onto Snapfish, then onto FB & here from the MV.

That cruise was wonderful....loved spending time w/ my friends

WOW Monica, that's crazy! But lots of overtime hours for excursions and drinks on the cruise!

 

[granmaz]

The immigration guys are much better than they used to be, though you still feel like a criminal. I think it is just the overall feeling if being treated like a criminal/terrorist until proved otherwise that is the upsetting thing.

The security folk are bad though. I think they have a bit of a jobsworth thing going on with them to be honest.

Not had an obnoxious pat down yet but had our first scan at San Diego airport last week. The security folk there were really nice though. Makes a change.

Oh and don't get me started on some of the Disney bag search folk. Some really think they are the most important folk in Disney! We all know more things can go through in those big baggy short pockets than they would ever find in an elderly lady's handbag/purse! Makes my blood boil.

 

[HollyTyler]

Your homeland security make us fill in an online form to be accepted for entry before we leave our home country. Electronic System for Travel Authorisation(ESTA) At the end on the acceptance page you get a massively long number. It says take a note of your number but you DON'T need to print anything out.

Well DCL demanded print outs last September as we were actually entering the US this way. Very few folk had them printed out for the reasons above. So much time and annoyance at Barcelona terminal as folk either input their numbers and then had to print their acceptance out. One friend just couldn't get accepted. Took 2 hours. She was told on no uncertain terms that if she didn't get a print out of her form she would be offloaded mat Madeira, the last European port, and make her own way home! Fortunately then for some reason I had printed mine off, and we did receive notification from DCL prior to the cruise that we would need them. Most folk didn't think they did though.

Fast forward to this cruise. We were already in the US, accepted by Immigration, so I had decided to leave my form at home. No letter from DCL. Bad idea! We were checking in at the terminal and the guy said 'where are the rest of your forms?' 'They are all there' I said. 'Your Esta form' he said. 'We don't need them' we said!!! OK! We had to go off to the furthest desk and input our numbers. That desk wasn't manned all the time, the person went walkabouts, and the printer was behind the screen! What a flipping pain it was. My anxiety levels were rising by the minute. Nobody said sorry or anything. One supervisor did come over and said that DCL had sent letters out to us. Mmmmmmmmm. When we eventually got back up to check in(and wait again) the lady there said they had only found out that morning that LA Immigration would want to see them!! For goodness sake, we were going from the US to the US, having already been given clearance. Grrrrrr!

You did ask.

Marilyn, what a mess! I hope you won't continue to have that much hassle for future cruises. That's enough to frustrate anybody.

 

[Frodo UK]

Is that the new wild Africa trek? the one where you walk a bit and then have lunch/breakfast? I hear it's really cool!!!

Here are a few pics

Ropebridges

Animals

Viewing Area

Food

 

[Frodo UK]

Oh and don't get me started on some of the Disney bag search folk. Some really think they are the most important folk in Disney! We all know more things can go through in those big baggy short pockets than they would ever find in an elderly lady's handbag/purse! Makes my blood boil.

Few years until you have to worry, unless you have taken to wearing baggy shorts.