What do you do if you have a later PAT time?

[dwg]

I will be up at midnight Friday evening completing the online checkin for our November Wish cruise. With everyone else doing the same what is considered an early PAT time, around 11:00? We will be staying in Cocoa Beach so only about a 10 minute drive to the port. Not sure of the current procedure but if I remember correctly the last time we sailed we went straight into the parking lot and lined up in front of the bridge in the parking deck that took you to security. While we waited in line the stevedore took the luggage that we were checking, we went through security and waited in the lobby. Obviously things have changed so here are some questions I have about the process. I would really appreciate someone walking through the port process so we have some idea what to expect. Thank you in advance.

Do you still start out by driving into the parking lot and checking your bags with the stevedore?

What happens if you arrive early? Do they not allow you into the parking lot? Do they direct you to another lot where you wait with your car?

I am assuming that you can arrive a few minutes early compared to your PAT time. Is that true and what would be a save time? No more than 15 minutes?

How has not having to test at the port changed the process?

If you have a later PAT time what were some of the things that you did to spend time until it was ok to arrive at the port? The obvious one for me is find a diner or fast food place to have breakfast.

 

[Clarkson U]

I will be up at midnight Friday evening completing the online checkin for our November Wish cruise. With everyone else doing the same what is considered an early PAT time, around 11:00? We will be staying in Cocoa Beach so only about a 10 minute drive to the port. Not sure of the current procedure but if I remember correctly the last time we sailed we went straight into the parking lot and lined up in front of the bridge in the parking deck that took you to security. While we waited in line the stevedore took the luggage that we were checking, we went through security and waited in the lobby. Obviously things have changed so here are some questions I have about the process. I would really appreciate someone walking through the port process so we have some idea what to expect. Thank you in advance.

Do you still start out by driving into the parking lot and checking your bags with the stevedore?

What happens if you arrive early? Do they not allow you into the parking lot? Do they direct you to another lot where you wait with your car?

I am assuming that you can arrive a few minutes early compared to your PAT time. Is that true and what would be a save time? No more than 15 minutes?

How has not having to test at the port changed the process?

If you have a later PAT time what were some of the things that you did to spend time until it was ok to arrive at the port? The obvious one for me is find a diner or fast food place to have breakfast.

Let me see if I can help.

Often times a PAT before 11 or 11:30 is not even possible right now due to Concierge and many of the early spots reserved for those on DCL transportation. That way 11, 1130 or even 12 is a good PAT. Don't sweat it if you have issues with online checkin this Friday. That seems to be the norm now-a-days and for our sailing on the Wish for tomorrow, we could not get a PAT at midnight ET and gave up. I got up at 430 ET instead and just did my online check in and got a 12 Noon PAT - so I was plenty happy with that.

You still drive into the terminal area, pull up to a number they tell you to go to and then drop off your bags with the porter (checked bags only). After tipping the porter you drive off to the parking garage. You pay first and then enter the garage and park. then walk over to the terminal and wait to be admitted to the area where check-in happens. Generally within 15 minutes has been the rule of late for admission into the DCL terminal area, luggage drop off area and parking garage. We sailed this summer with no testing at port (with few exceptions) and it was fine from a parking perspective. No change that I noticed except now not parking on bottom floor of garage, no nose swabbing and then waiting up to park.

If you are at Cocoa Beach with a later PAT, go and check out Kennedy Space Center (depending on how late of a PAT), walk the beaches and of course, find a nice diner to just chill at and have a nice breakfast before the cruise. Or sleep in so well rested for the cruise.

Good luck Friday!

 

[dwg]

Let me see if I can help.

Often times a PAT before 11 or 11:30 is not even possible right now due to Concierge and many of the early spots reserved for those on DCL transportation. That way 11, 1130 or even 12 is a good PAT. Don't sweat it if you have issues with online checkin this Friday. That seems to be the norm now-a-days and for our sailing on the Wish for tomorrow, we could not get a PAT at midnight ET and gave up. I got up at 430 ET instead and just did my online check in and got a 12 Noon PAT - so I was plenty happy with that.

You still drive into the terminal area, pull up to a number they tell you to go to and then drop off your bags with the porter (checked bags only). After tipping the porter you drive off to the parking garage. You pay first and then enter the garage and park. then walk over to the terminal and wait to be admitted to the area where check-in happens. Generally within 15 minutes has been the rule of late for admission into the DCL terminal area, luggage drop off area and parking garage. We sailed this summer with no testing at port (with few exceptions) and it was fine from a parking perspective. No change that I noticed except now not parking on bottom floor of garage, no nose swabbing and then waiting up to park.

If you are at Cocoa Beach with a later PAT, go and check out Kennedy Space Center (depending on how late of a PAT), walk the beaches and of course, find a nice diner to just chill at and have a nice breakfast before the cruise. Or sleep in so well rested for the cruise.

Good luck Friday!

Thank you

 

[n2mm]

Keep in mind that if you’re on level 3 bridge, that entrance is closed, so you will go down the escalator or elevator and enter the checkin terminal on the ground floor. There is also a CM at luggage drop off that will want to scan your QR code on your phone or printed PAT. It tells them your arrival time and if you completed the online health form.

 

[tee11]

Keep in mind that if you’re on level 3 bridge, that entrance is closed, so you will go down the escalator or elevator and enter the checkin terminal on the ground floor. There is also a CM at luggage drop off that will want to scan your QR code on your phone or printed PAT. It tells them your arrival time and if you completed the online health form.

If I may ask, why is it closed, and is that likely to be a temporary closure?

 

[happycamper47]

If I may ask, why is it closed, and is that likely to be a temporary closure?

It's been closed since the restart. The bridge is open, but you don't enter the terminal directly. Over down, check in, go through security and back up.

 

[n2mm]

If I may ask, why is it closed, and is that likely to be a temporary closure?

they remodeled the terminal. All checkin and security is located ground level. Only half the counter area is left in the 3rd floor terminal now and handles upgrades, changes, and problems. The lines tend to wrap for checkin now. Just make sure you get in the correct line. There are 3. New guest, return cruisers, platinum/concierge

 

[dwg]

they remodeled the terminal. All checkin and security is located ground level. Only half the counter area is left in the 3rd floor terminal now and handles upgrades, changes, and problems. The lines tend to wrap for checkin now. Just make sure you get in the correct line. There are 3. New guest, return cruisers, platinum/concierge

If the line is wrapping around how do you know which is the correct line? Are there signs indicating which line to get into?

 

[n2mm]

If the line is wrapping around how do you know which is the correct line? Are there signs indicating which line to get into?

there are several cast members at the door. They have to scan your QR code before letting you in. If something is incomplete (not doing Heath form or someone not complete in safe passage) you will not be allowed in until it’s resolved. Btw, there are always people standing to the side doing stuff on their phones. This is where you can ask which door to go in. Last time they made us go into the first timers line as the place was packed and it took me sometime to squeeze out to get into platinum line. I won’t make that mistake again.

 

[happycamper47]

Last time they made us go into the first timers line as the place was packed and it took me sometime to squeeze out to get into platinum line. I won’t make that mistake again.

If you stay to the right you can get down to the Platinum/Concierge check-in, but you usually have to ask people to move over.

 

[dwg]

These lines are in the terminal after going through security? I really miss the old days. We are platinum so we were able to get to the port early and checkin before there were any real crowds since we did not need a PAT time.

 

[PlutosMom]

And another question, please: Does everyone in the same cabin have to check-in together, at the same time? I recall pre-Covid, I would go thru check-in alone then husband would check-in after returning the rental car. TIA!

 

[happycamper47]

These lines are in the terminal after going through security? I really miss the old days. We are platinum so we were able to get to the port early and checkin before there were any real crowds since we did not need a PAT time.

Before security