IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW AND REMEMBER FOR YOUR DISNEY CRUISE

IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW AND REMEMBER FOR YOUR

DISNEY CRUISE

 

 These are important dates you should know.

Some are based on your Castaway Club Level. Some are not.

 

Pay in Full Date:

·        Depending on the length of cruise it could be 120 or 90 days before sailing.

·        This information is on your Cruise Confirmation from Disney.

·        This is the LAST day you can pay without Disney Canceling your cruise reservation.

·        If you are a Castaway Member you must Pay in Full by your booking date to be able to book when your booking date opens.

 

Booking Opening Dates:

This is the date you can book Port Adventures, Adult Dining, Spa, Mixology, Tastings, and other things. You MUST be Paid in Full (PIF) to start booking. Dose not matter if the PIF date has arrived or not. It is important to book as soon as you can because many adventures fill up fast! If port adventures and adult dining are not important to you then wait until the last day if you wish.

 

·        1^st time Cruisers:

o   75 days before sailing.

·        Silver Castaway Club Level  (2-5 DCL Cruises):

o   90 days before sailing.

·        Gold Castaway Club Level (6-10 DCL Cruises):

o   105 days before sailing.

·        Platinum Castaway Club Level (11-25 DCL Cruises):

o   120 days before sailing.

·        Pearl Castaway Club Level (26+ DCL Cruises):

o   123 days before sailing

o   Pearl Castaway Club Level is a NEW club level just announced! Added May 1^st, 2024.

 

Online Check-In:

·        What is Online Check-In?

o   This is the date you do your online check-in. You do NOT need to do it on that date. You can wait until you get to the port to do check-in, but it will delay your boarding.

o   Suggest you do it early to make sure DCL has time to check documents and you can upload it again if needed.

o   This is when you will get your Port Arrival Time (PAT).

o   The earlier you do your Online Check-In the earlier PAT and boarding group you will get.

·        Check in date is now based on your Castaway Club Level

·        Pearl Castaway Club Level

o   40 days before the cruise.

·        Platinum Castaway Club Level

o   38 days before the cruise.

·        Gold Castaway Club Level

o   35 days before the cruise.

·        Silver Castaway Club Level

o   33 days before the cruise.

·        1^st time Cruisers:

o   30 days before the Cruise.

·        3 days before your cruise:

o   Last date to do online check-in.

o   Waiting until the last day means you do not get your pick of PAT. You get left overs.

o   Not doing the online Check-In will slow down boarding and delay you getting onto the ship.

Disney Cruise Line Adds Pearl Castaway Club Level, Makes Changes to Booking Windows and Online Check-In Policy!

Disney Cruise Line Adds Pearl Castaway Club Level, Makes Changes to Booking Windows and Online Check-In Policy!

Fun changes are rewards are here for returning Disney Cruisers!! Let me share some updates to Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club!!

Disney Cruise Line’s Loyalty program for returning cruisers is called the Castaway Club. The program now has 4 levels as of May 1^st, 2023!

Castaway Club Levels:

Silver: You have sailed 1-5 Cruises {Starts on your 2^nd Cruise)

Gold: You have sailed 5-10 Cruises (Starts on your 6^th Cruise}

Platinum: You have sailed 10-25 Cruises {Starts on your 11^th Cruise)

Pearl: You have sailed 25+ Cruises (Starts on your 26^th Cruise)

Here are the most important things to know about Castaway Club Benefits!

At Home Castaway Club Benefits:

Booking New Cruises:

Silver: 1 day before general public

Gold: 2 days before general public

Platinum: 3 days before general public

Pearl: 4 days before general public

Booking Window Opens for Port and Shipboard Adventures:

If your cruise is Paid in Full you can start booking the extra fun things to do!

First Time Cruisers: 75 days before sailing

Silver: 90 days before sailing

Gold: 105 days before sailing

Platinum: 120 days before sailing

Pearl: 123 days before sailing

Online Check-In Dates:

When can you do your Online Check-In to get your Port Arrival Time!

First Time Cruisers: 30 days before sailing

Silver: 33 days before sailing

Gold: 35 days before sailing

Platinum: 38 days before sailing

Pearl: 40 days before sailing

All Castaway Club Members have:

There is also Castaway Club Communications to keep you up to date on things happening with the Disney Cruise Line.

Dedicated Castaway Club Phone Number – 1-800-449-3380.

Welcome Back Aboard Gift. This will be in your cabin when you board. It does change with your Castaway Level.

Pearl, Platinum and Gold Members also get Onboard Discounts and an Onboard Reception on 8 night or longer cruises.

Platinum and Pearl Members also get free Brunch or Dinner at Palo.

Disney Navigator App

Disney Navigator App

DCL requests you download this app no later than 3 days before your cruise. Honestly, I think you should download it as soon as you book!! Let me share what the Navigator App does, both at home and on the ship. You can download it to your mobile phone or tablet. I’ll also share the problems I’ve had with it myself.

 

At Home:

• It acts as a count down clock to your cruise! It counts down to 12AM the day you board the ship.
• It gives you a day-by-day itinerary, telling you what port you will be in on what day or if you will be at sea.
• It gives you a quick link to go to the website to explore and book Port Adventures when your time comes to do so.
• It gives you a quick link to go to your Online Check-In when the time comes.
• It gives you a quick link to the Safe Passage website for uploading your Covid Vaccination Card and pre cruise testing.
• It allows you to shop for gifts to be delivered to your, or other cabins. There are some very nice gifts ranging from cabin decorations to celebrate birthdays or wish a bon voyage. Beautiful plush robes for one two people. There are wine, champagne, and non-alcoholic cider options along with fruit platters and candy.
• You can put onboard credit on someone’s shipboard account. Have a friend in another cabin you would like to give a little gift to? Maybe you want to put some spending money for your tween or teen. Here is the place to do it.

 

On the Ship:

• The Navigator App is your buddy and guide on the ship. It gives you a map that can help you find your way around the ship.
• It gives you the itinerary for each day of your cruise. You can look at it the first day and set reminders for things you don’t want to miss. You can check to see if an activity is offered more than once during the cruise and make better choices that way.
• If you book Palo or a Port Excursions those will show on the app.
• It tells you when restaurants and shops will be open.
• It allows you to sign up for Virtual Queues when necessary.
• It tells you what characters will be where that day if you wish to take pictures.
• It tells you waht your dining rotation is and what table you will be at each night.
• You can view the menu for the restaurants you will be in on the app. If that is a problem for you, they have single use menus upon request. Honestly, I request the paper menus to take home! It is also easier on my eyes.
• The Navigator App has a Texting feature. You can keep in touch with your friends and family while on the ship. You can also send and receive text messages from Guest Services and other crew when they need to talk to you. This is VERY handy when you drop your littles off in the Kids Clubs. If there is a problem the Crew can let you know right away.

 

Problems with the Navigator App:

• Bandwidth is low, especially on the Classic Ships (Magic/Wonder).
• It would often just drop off the network for no reason and we would have a hard time getting it to reconnect.
• Text Messages do not always work.
• Sometimes it gives you erroneous information. Like telling you the wrong restaurant to go to.

 

Coming on the Wish:

• The Wish is adding new features to the app when you are on that ship! It has AR Augmented Reality feature.
• You will walk up to artwork on the Wish with the AR and see different things in the art. It takes the Enchanted Art of the Dream and Fantasy to a new level.
• When walking on the deck and other places on the ship you and access the AR and see Disney Characters around you.

 

No matter what problems the app has I find it important to have.

Here is a link to the app on the Disney Cruise Website:

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/featured/navigator-app/

Do you want to book a Disney Cruise Line vacation? Let me know!

 

Carolyn@EliteMemoriesTravel.com

https://www.facebook.com/CarolynsPixieDustedMemoriesAtEliteMemoriesTravel