Checking into our Disney Cruise
Our 30 day Check In window has finally arrived! It feels like we have been counting down to this cruise forever.
As this is our first cruise we had to wait until 30 days before we sail to check in. If we were Silver Castaway Cay members we could have checked in 33 days before, Gold Castaway Cay members 35 days before or Platinum Castaway Cay members 38 days before and the newest tier Pearl Castaway Cay members at 40 days before.
Why do you have to check in a month before your cruise?
Technically you don’t, you have until the day before you sail to check in however this isn’t advised as you have to upload some documents which need to be verified and this can take time. Checking in early also allows you to pick your port arrival time. This is the time when you will be allowed to enter the cruise terminal. You can arrive as early as 11am and final call is 4pm. You are not allowed to enter the cruise terminal before your boarding time to avoid any congestion.
If you are using Disney Cruise Transport, as we are from Miami International Airport, your port arrival time is flexible. Buses run frequently from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Once you get to the port you are then allowed to board the ship.
Let’s go through the whole check in process using the Disney Cruise Line app. As we have said before, make sure you have downloaded this app and linked it to your ‘My Disney Experience’ account. When you know your reservation number for the cruise you can add it to the app.
Before our check in window opened we would see the message “You’re eligible for online check in as early as May 25, 2023”. Once we got to this date we were then given the button “Check In”. When you click on this button it asks are you happy to open the web page. By clicking ‘OK’ you are taken to the Disney Cruise Line web page which is already logged in to your reservation.
This page is where you add your documentation to be reviewed. You will need a photo of everyones passport, a headshot of every member of your party and if you are travelling from the UK a photo of your ESTA (US visitors visa).
The check in process was very clear. Every time you complete a section the image of the character becomes coloured in.
Lets start with the first section ‘Guest Information’.
Once you have completed the ‘Guest Information’ for every member of your party your check list should show a coloured in Goofy and say ‘Pending Approval’. Every passport, photo and visa is then manually checked by Disney Cruise Line cast members. If there are any issues, say the photo isn’t clear enough, you will be contacted to upload a new one.
The next section to complete is ‘Onboard Account’. This is where you add a credit or debit card to your account for all onboard purchases. You also have the option of adding cash to your account when you board the ship. You can select whether each member of your party has their own card or if one card can be used by all party members. You can also select who can’t charge anything to your room.
The next section to complete is ‘Travel Plans’. This section informs DCL how you are getting too and from the port, and where you are going after the cruise. As we booked Disney Transfers to and from the port this was already highlighted for us in the ‘How are you leaving the port terminal?’.
We then get to ‘Port Arrival Time’. This is the time that you can enter the cruise terminal, not the time that you will board the ship. As we are getting Disney transport to the port our arrival time is not important, however we did still have to pick a time. Those guest with earlier booking windows has already booked the early arrival times so there wasn’t much choice left for those checking in at the 30 day mark. Once you have selected your port arrival time you will then be assigned a boarding group number which determines in what order you can get on the ship.
The final section to complete is the ‘Cruise Contract’. This is where you read and agree to all the terms and conditions of cruising with Disney. Once you have completed this section you will be given your ‘Port Arrival Form’. This form is incredibly important, you will need to print out a copy and add the QR codes (Boarding pass) to your phone. You will need these QR codes multiple times as you board the ship and also when you are at any ports of call.
The online check in process took me about 30mins this morning. You should make sure you have all your documents with you to take photos as you go or already have them stored on your phone or computer. We have been given boarding group 20, i’m not sure how long that will mean we have to wait to board this ship itself but you can follow along on our social media accounts as we go on this Berryman Adventure.