Wondering how empty the ship is going to be...

[curias]

We are cruising on February 21st. I just finished doing the check-in and was given Boarding Group 2 - 10:15-10:30. I didn't even pick it. When I got to the window to pick a time it said just show up when I want up to 1 hour before we leave. Then it gave me boarding group 2. I even checked in days after I was allowed to.

 

[Kwami]

Are you using DCL transfers to get to the port?

 

[MomOTwins]

Are you using DCL transfers to get to the port?

I suspect so. We booked a cruise within 30 days, I knew from FB that the earliest available PAT was 11:44, and yet I took DCL transfers so I got boarding group 2.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I suspect so. We booked a cruise within 30 days, I knew from FB that the earliest available PAT was 11:44, and yet I took DCL transfers so I got boarding group 2.

FWIW, i checked in for the Jan 31 Dream at 30 days, and I had as early as 10:30 as an option. I chose 11-11:15 and am boarding group 8. We are driving, no Disney transport. Even right now, 10:45 PAT is still an option.

 

[MomOTwins]

FWIW, i checked in for the Jan 31 Dream at 30 days, and I had as early as 10:30 as an option. I chose 11-11:15 and am boarding group 8. We are driving, no Disney transport. Even right now, 10:45 PAT is still an option.

Yeah, true, our cruise was a lot more “full” than the ones sailing today—about 2100. I just meant it as an illustration that BG2 seems to be something of a default if you were taking DCL transfers, since I know that for self-drivers they were getting later PATs and BGs.

 

[mmouse37]

Just got off the Magic in Miami yesterday and several reports said we had approximately 650 guests onboard. It was a ghost ship it was so empty.

MJ

 

[curias]

Are you using DCL transfers to get to the port?

We are using DCL transfers. But we have done so in the past and don't arrive until after 1pm.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

My understanding is with DCL transfers you don’t need a PAT. They take you right in when you get there.

 

[Kwami]

We are using DCL transfers. But we have done so in the past and don't arrive until after 1pm.

Yeah, that's how it used to be. Lately, they've been arriving much earlier.

 

[DCLMP]

Not many families can afford a Disney cruise, to begin with, and when you add in all the "other stuff" DCL cruises may be empty for a while.

 

[TestingH2O]

Yeah, that's how it used to be. Lately, they've been arriving much earlier.

The late arrival is if you were coming from the resorts. Transfers from the airport were always been the earliest way to get in.

 

[Kwami]

The late arrival is if you were coming from the resorts. Transfers from the airport were always been the earliest way to get in.

Right, but the resort buses have been earlier since the restart, too.

 

[lanejudy]

FWIW, i checked in for the Jan 31 Dream at 30 days, and I had as early as 10:30 as an option. I chose 11-11:15 and am boarding group 8. We are driving, no Disney transport. Even right now, 10:45 PAT is still an option.

That doesn't surprise me at all. Late January is a relatively slow time for cruising anyway, plus the virus-related cancellations of the past 2-3 weeks. Your cruise is likely to be fairly light head-count.

Feb. 21st though is Presidents' Day. Granted it is the end of the holiday weekend, but lots of schools are out that week (at least here in the northeast). It's a more popular time for cruising. And they aren't within the 14-day cancellation window yet. I'm not sure OP's boarding group 2 is indicative of the expected capacity but more likely due to travel mode.

 

[CamColt]

Yes, I agree with the consensus, your BG is due to your Disney transfers. We are also on 2/21 and checked in right at midnight last Friday. We have 2 rooms, did it at the same time, and the best we both could get was 10:45, BG 6.

 

[texasbloke]

Just got off the Wonder yesterday just around 350 people onboard. It was fabulous! They made one dining time for everybody and everyone had the same showtimes. That will probably never happen again but we enjoyed having no lines and not having to wait for anything. We felt completely safe with all of the COVID Protocols, Disney Cruise Line is doing an amazing job trying to keep everyone safe.

 

[MomOTwins]

Right, but the resort buses have been earlier since the restart, too.

Our resort bus pickup in October was 8:15am so yes the resort buses are much earlier now.

 

[happycamper47]

1124 currently on the Dream.

We had a PAT of 11:15 and BG 11. When we got into the terminal they were only on BG 8, but we told to go ahead and board right away.

 

[Pixarfans]

I have a PAT of 11:30 and BG 11. Think we will be waiting awhile? I’m getting nervous the 2/19 magic will be packed. Unfortunately don’t have options to travel on none school breaks and really wanted MDAS.

 

[Calantha]

I have a PAT of 11:30 and BG 11. Think we will be waiting awhile? I’m getting nervous the 2/19 magic will be packed

For what it's worth...this was the Dream on 17 Jan - but our PAT was 10:45 and we were BG 6. The boat had about 1300-1400 or so we were told. It took almost an hour to board after we got through security...so we didn't get on until 12:35...but I didn't think there were a lot of people after us compared to the hordes in Groups 1-3.