What do I need to have prepared for online check-in?

[DianeW]

Yes! Just make sure to have copies of all documents in advance!

Thanks!!

 

[Blueringtail2]

Hello,
Question about online check in time. When we are talking “midnight” does this mean midnight EST? We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale.

Follow up question…the time you get assigned to check in, is that that the time you arrive at the port? Or what are your suggestions about this?
Thank you! I haven’t been on DCL since 1999 and things are so different

 

[dreamer17555]

Hello,
Question about online check in time. When we are talking “midnight” does this mean midnight EST? We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale.

Follow up question…the time you get assigned to check in, is that that the time you arrive at the port? Or what are your suggestions about this?
Thank you! I haven’t been on DCL since 1999 and things are so different

Yes- EST.

And the time you are assigned is your Port Arrival Time. It is the time to arrive at Port.

 

[RedHead0186]

Hello,
Question about online check in time. When we are talking “midnight” does this mean midnight EST? We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale.

Follow up question…the time you get assigned to check in, is that that the time you arrive at the port? Or what are your suggestions about this?
Thank you! I haven’t been on DCL since 1999 and things are so different

Yes, Midnight Eastern (technically it's either EST or EDT depending on the time of year).

PAT is the time you arrive at the port. You should not plan to arrive at the terminal before that, as you may be asked to wait.

 

[tntstults]

It's crazy to me that we can't enter in most of this stuff before the 30 day mark. Why do we have to wait?

 

[RedHead0186]

It's crazy to me that we can't enter in most of this stuff before the 30 day mark. Why do we have to wait?

Because DCL has made it part of the benefits of their Castaway Club program. The higher status you are, the sooner you get to do online check in. Not saying I agree with it, but that's what DCL is choosing to do, unfortunately . . .

 

[BrianLa]

Because DCL has made it part of the benefits of their Castaway Club program. The higher status you are, the sooner you get to do online check in. Not saying I agree with it, but that's what DCL is choosing to do, unfortunately . . .

I think the point is that you should be able to upload all of your documentation and credit card info beforehand. There is no reason you should have to do that at midnight at 30 days

 

[tntstults]

Because DCL has made it part of the benefits of their Castaway Club program. The higher status you are, the sooner you get to do online check in. Not saying I agree with it, but that's what DCL is choosing to do, unfortunately . . .

I'm not so sure about that. I am gold. Yes I was able to log on and make dining reservations and port adventures earlier. But everyone has to log on 30 days prior to check in and get a port arrival time. I don't believe there's a benefit to castaway cay club level for that.

 

[awrites]

I'm not so sure about that. I am gold. Yes I was able to log on and make dining reservations and port adventures earlier. But everyone has to log on 30 days prior to check in and get a port arrival time. I don't believe there's a benefit to castaway cay club level for that.

Perhaps you’re thinking of the Royal Gathering booking, which is at 30 days for everyone? As a Gold you should be able to check in and get your PAT 35 days before sailing.

I’m a lowly Silver and I was able to check in for my upcoming cruise 33 days before embarkation. Our cruise FB group had Pearl people who were talking about getting their PATs 40 days out. Then we had the newbies who were managing both check in and Royal Gathering at 30 days.

Edit: actually isn’t tiered check in something DCL finally restarted after the pandemic? I seem to recall reading that they’d stopped it for a while but went back to it. It is the current policy, though.

 

[RedHead0186]

I'm not so sure about that. I am gold. Yes I was able to log on and make dining reservations and port adventures earlier. But everyone has to log on 30 days prior to check in and get a port arrival time. I don't believe there's a benefit to castaway cay club level for that.

Online check-in is tiered just like the online activity booking is. The dates/timing is different, but your online check in/PAT selection is done by CC status as well.

 

[RedHead0186]

Perhaps you’re thinking of the Royal Gathering booking, which is at 30 days for everyone? As a Gold you should be able to check in and get your PAT 35 days before sailing.

I’m a lowly Silver and I was able to check in for my upcoming cruise 33 days before embarkation. Our cruise FB group had Pearl people who were talking about getting their PATs 40 days out. Then we had the newbies who were managing both check in and Royal Gathering at 30 days.

Edit: actually isn’t tiered check in something DCL finally restarted after the pandemic? I seem to recall reading that they’d stopped it for a while but went back to it. It is the current policy, though.

Yes, for a while it was 30 days for everyone. Then they brough back the tiered online check in, but it's been that way for a little while now IIRC.

 

[tntstults]

Online check-in is tiered just like the online activity booking is. The dates/timing is different, but your online check in/PAT selection is done by CC status as well.

Thanks for the explanation! I didn't realize this. Maybe I was thinking of before the pandemic.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Last cruise we booked our info was already "on file" and it went really smooth.
A tip we got for way less "paperwork" and answering endless questions was check you'll be picked up at the dock.
Believe me, it made a HUGE difference.