Boarding Day for a Disney Cruise! What to know!

Boarding Day for a Disney Cruise! What to know!

First make sure you have everything you require to board. These are things to have in your Carry-On bag:

Citizenship Documents, either your Passport or your State Issued ID and Birth Certificate. You will need these documents to enter the terminal so have them handy.

Boarding PAT and Group information. You can put a copy on your phone/tablet or carry a printed copy.

Valuables (money, credit cards, jewelry

and electronics)

Extra clothes if desired (swimsuit if you wish to swim and maybe something for dinner that night. Sometimes luggage does not get to your stateroom until after dinner.)

Bottled Watter (You may not pack this in your checked luggage! You must carry it on.)

Up to 2 bottles of Wine or 6 bottles of beer per adult. (This is the allowed limit for Disney.)

Snacks for waiting in the Terminal, (Food will be available when you board the ship.) Everything must be in sealed packages and no homemade goodies.

Medications, both prescription and over the counter.

Anything you may need before dinnertime.

 

What NOT to bring:

The list is long so I’ve put a link to the Prohibited items here. If you have a prohibited item your luggage will be delayed getting to your cabin. The item will be confiscated and returned to you at the end of the cruise. You will have to stop in the port to pick it up at the end of the cruise.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/prohibited-items/

 

Here are some highlights of what not to bring

Weapons

Pointed scissors (rounded kid scissors are allowed)

Illegal drugs, including medical marijuana

Prescription medication in original labeled bottles

Hair dryers, Irons, Steamers

Check the list of Electrical items allowed and not!

Surge protectors

Extension cords

 

Do not pack valuables, electronics or fragile items in your checked bags! I’ve known of bags to get dropped overboard accidentally while being loaded onto the ship. The items inside were ruined. Do not risk it!

 

Arrive at the port shortly before your PAT (Port Arrival Time). Have those Citizenship Documents handy to show the Customs /TSA workers. Have that PAT paperwork handy as well to show what time you are scheduled to arrive.

 

I always try for an early PAT so I can enjoy my time on the ship. I board early and enjoy a meal, swim, explore and check out the Navigator App for the schedule of events for the entire cruise. That way I can plan! It also gives me time to stop at Guest Services if I need to work something out, like dining time, dining rotation or Brunch at Palo!

 

Before boarding stop and get a picture at the port backdrop! You can have the Shutters Photographer take it with their camera or with yours. If you pre-ordered the photo package I strongly suggest stopping for that picture!!

 

When you board they will stop you at the door to the ship and ask your family name. You can choose to be “announced” as the “Jones” family or some other way. We have been called by our nick names, Sparky & Tinky as well as Queen Mum and her court. Once on the ship stop at Guest Services to fix any issues, check your kiddos into the kids club and enjoy looking around!

 

By 1:30-2 your cabin should be ready for you. Your Key to the World Card will be on the Message Fish next to your door. You can use it to open your door of if you have a Magic Band+ or DisneyBand+ and had it programed for the cruise you can use it to open the door.

 

Drop off your Carry-On Bags and check your space out! At 4:30 there will be a Muster Drill. The Muster Drill is mandatory, and you must go. You will find your Muster Station on the ship map on back of your cabin door and on your Key to the World Card. If you have issues with doing stairs head up at least 30 minutes early, they will shut down the elevators during the drill.

 

After the Muster Drill head to the pool deck or the deck above where you can see down on the deck and watch the Sail a Wave Deck Party! Enjoy the fun and dancing as the ship starts to sail away.

 

There are two dining and show times. If you have the early dining you will go to the restaurant between 5:30-5:45 pm. You will find out what restaurant to be at by looking at the Navigator App. After your meal you will see the show in the Walt Disney Theater. If you have second seating you will see the show around 5:30 and go to dinner around 8:15-8:30.

 

After dinner and the show kids are welcome to go to the kids club and adults can go and enjoy some adult shows or get a drink.