When to arrive?

[toni nicole]

If our port arrival time is 11 30, what time would you suggest planning on getting there by? We're driving from West Palm so planning on about a 3 hour drive.

 

[allears]

11:30

 

[Dug720]

11:30

This. It is in the name of the time. Port ARRIVAL Time.

The time you select is the time you should plan to arrive.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

For the most part, I agree, especially since it is a good time, not to early, not too late, but I just want to point out that if you "arrive" at 11:30, you won't be walking into the building or walking up to the counter at that time. You have to park, go through security, then wait in the check in line. So if you really want to walk up to the counter at 11:30, you'll want to get to the port sooner than that. Plus, things happen, if you leave your house at 8:30 for a 3 hour drive, something might go wrong along the way and you could get there later. This happened to us, we got near the port and BOOM huge line, not moving. Lucky for us, the jam up was for the Carnival ship next door, and there was a cop there on the shoulder coming up to each car and asking which ship they were for. If you were for DCL, they told us to drive on the shoulder and get past the backup.

Of course, if everything goes smoothly, you'll be parked, through security, signed in, and then have to sit around until your boarding group is called. Just remember, if that happens, it means everything went smoothly.

 

[Billinaz]

They arent really into enforcing the PAT's. I usually get there at 10-1030. My vacation starts when I get to the terminal!

 

[squirk]

If our port arrival time is 11 30, what time would you suggest planning on getting there by? We're driving from West Palm so planning on about a 3 hour drive.

If you define "port arrival time" as when your car gets off 528/A1A and onto 401, then get there at 11:30.

If you define "port arrival time" as when you physically set foot in the terminal, I'd say get there at 11:00 to drive through the security check, drop off your bags with the porter, park, gather your carry-on stuff, secure your car and walk to the terminal.

Since they really don't enforce the PATs, as @Billinaz said, bear in mind that arriving late - like, after 12:30 - has its perks. You may need to park near the top of the garage, but the lines at security and check-in will be very short, and you can almost just walk onto the ship without dealing with the crushing horde.

Plus, Cabanas will have thinned out so you'll have plenty of seating options, and by the time you eat, your cabin should be ready. No wasting away with fifty of your best friends in the muggy stairwell waiting for the belt barrier to come down.

All that having been said, if this is your first Disney cruise, you are probably chomping at the bit to get on the ship ASAFP. We understand; we've all been there.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Plus, Cabanas will have thinned out so you'll have plenty of seating options, and by the time you eat, your cabin should be ready. No wasting away with fifty of your best friends in the muggy stairwell waiting for the belt barrier to come down.

I agree with this, and want to expand upon it. I know everyone is itching to drop their carry-ons and unpack, but the problem is that EVERYONE is itching to drop their carry-ons and unpack. We ate a good breakfast and brought a little snack food (sealed, prepackaged) with us, so we weren't' starving. When we got on the ship, we got a few chairs on a deck somewhere for a while. While part of our group sunned themselves and relaxed (while watching our bags) the rest of us took care of reservations and strolled the ship. During that time, I saw some of the "hoards" waiting in the hallways and stairwells to get to their cabins.

At about 1:00, my group met up at the chairs by our luggage and we went to Cabanas for lunch. Shortly after we got there, they announced that the cabins were open and that you could go to your rooms. The place EMPTIED out IMMEDIATELY. We had no trouble getting our food or seats at Cabanas. Then, after a relaxing lunch, we headed to our rooms. The halls and stairways (and elevators) were empty.

I would definitely do it that way again.

 

[RedSox68]

Not for everyone -- but we like arriving about a half an hour before our PAT time -- we like being at the port late morning and experience the excitement of the crowd and the hustle and bustle of it all. Even after 16 cruises (on various ships), we like to arrive when all the excitement is going on and everyone is checking in. So if your PAT is 11:30, I would say you could arrive anytime after 11 a.m.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

I'm jumping on this thread because I don't want to start a new one for my similar question.

I booked a last minute for my first ever cruise, it's leaving tomorrow (Dream) and my PAT is 2:15 pm.
I knew it would be a late time due to the last minute booking, which is fine, but I've read a while about on the boards that around 1:00 or 1:30 pm they start letting everyone who's check in and ready at the terminal on board. Is this true?

 

[Dug720]

I'm jumping on this thread because I don't want to start a new one for my similar question.

I booked a last minute for my first ever cruise, it's leaving tomorrow (Dream) and my PAT is 2:15 pm.
I knew it would be a late time due to the last minute booking, which is fine, but I've read a while about on the boards that around 1:00 or 1:30 pm they start letting everyone who's check in and ready at the terminal on board. Is this true?

As long as the terminal is not full, you can enter and check in. Your Boarding Number will be tied to your PAT, so it will likely be much higher than someone next to you checking in at/closer to their PAT.

Boarding usually starts around 11:30. It will go by numbered group until the numbered group being called matches the number being handed out for that PAT. At that point they go to open boarding, so even if they are not to your number you may board.

 

[kiford]

I'm jumping on this thread because I don't want to start a new one for my similar question.

I booked a last minute for my first ever cruise, it's leaving tomorrow (Dream) and my PAT is 2:15 pm.
I knew it would be a late time due to the last minute booking, which is fine, but I've read a while about on the boards that around 1:00 or 1:30 pm they start letting everyone who's check in and ready at the terminal on board. Is this true?

Typically open boarding will be about 12:30-45 so no need to wait until 2:15 to show up.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

At that point they go to open boarding, so even if they are not to your number you may board.

Typically open boarding will be about 12:30-45 so no need to wait until 2:15 to show up.

Thank you both!

 

[RedSox68]

Typically open boarding will be about 12:30-45 so no need to wait until 2:15 to show up.

Agree. Arrive closer to 1 p.m. and you shouldn't have any problems. The worst that could happen is you wait an hour to board. But if they have open booking, you'll be there already.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Things went great! We arrived at the parking garage at 12:30 pm, had a short line at check in and then walked right in. Thanks guys!