Don't fret! You can still arrive at the terminal early. The port arrival times are more like a suggested time. Only if the terminal building reaches capacity (fire code safety regulations) will you be denied entry to the building. I have never heard of this actually happening. When you check in at the port, because your arrival time was a bit later, you might be given a higher boarding group number than another guest checking in at the same time who has an early port arrival time. This isn't the rule but I've heard of it happening. Once they begin calling boarding group numbers, usually around 11:30 give or take, the group numbers will progress quickly. Usually it takes less than an hour for guests in the terminal with assigned boarding groups to be all caught up and open boarding to begin. Its fast. If you want to get there early go ahead. You just may have to wait a few minutes extra before your group number is called to board.Urgh...this is my first Disney cruise and when I got the email telling me I could do the online check in from Costco, I didn't immediately go do it since I didn't have my passports with me and wanted to be able to enter everything in at that time. By the time I did complete it, the earliest time slot was 11:45-12:00. Boo! Next time I know to do it immediately. Any guesses on when we should be able to get on the ship? Any recommendations on how early to show up? Thanks!
... the earliest time slot was 11:45-12:00. Boo! Next time I know to do it immediately. Any guesses on when we should be able to get on the ship? Any recommendations on how early to show up? Thanks!
10:30am
With a 10:30 arrival time, you'll have an early boarding number, so as soon as boarding starts you'll be on pretty quick.
I think this is the nicest post! Other forum areas on this site can be a little more passionate if you will (LOL) but the cruise forum has stayed pretty friendly. Definitely a tribute to my fellow DCL cruising pals here which I do appreciate. I should say it more often because this is a great little group here. And we all love to share the love with as much info and as many perspectives as possible. So glad you're here with us!
Is it me or was boarding like one of the fastest things of DCL? When we went we had boarding number 5, literally 5 minutes after they called boarding numbers we where getting our picture taking and our name announced as we boarded. The greatest experience ever!
Is there such thing as a cruise ship being TOO big?I don't wanna be the downer but on the efficient boarding of the guest masses I can't not say how impressive the process was in Ft. Lauderdale boarding the Allure of the Seas. Their terminal isn't as pretty IMO and it can never be the magical experience of boarding a Disney ship. Buuuuuuut, for efficiency in the flow for processing and boarding up to 2200 more passengers than the Dream class ships (Dream class holds up to 4000 guests max, Allure up to 6200 guests max) I was pretty blown away. RCI has this process down to a science for their 2 big girls, that's for sure. FYI, I'm waiting for a couple more pics from my BiL then I can get started posting my Allure report.
Yes. I spent a week on it for Thanksgiving.
