Hi!
I will be going on DCL for my first cruise at the end of them month. It will be my husband, myself and our DD(20months). Ive been trying to google and get a complete understanding(so once I get there I know what to do and am not acting like a newb. lol). But Im still confused, from alot of peoples responses it seems like a total clusterf!ck. Like waiting in like outside for an hour.....But I will have my DD, so Im just trying to think of how to keep her happy. ![]()
Thanks!
Any tips or any insight would be sooo wonderful!
Also, can I bring a few snacks for my DD(for waiting in line and before we can get food on the ship??--she eats ALOT!
) or will they make me throw them out? what about water for her?
Re: Please explain embarkation and disembarkation to me :)
Dropped our bags off with the Disney porter and proceeded into the cruise terminal. You have to go thru an xray (no wait) then when you get in terminal, you are directed towards the left to check in. We are castaway club members so we went in that line, but the regular line had no wait either. We checked in and were giving a boarding number (18 and they were announcing for like group 6 at that point). We went and waited to have photo with Mickey, then got in line to check our daughter in a the kids club (this is the only place that really had a wait). Got her wristband, then we went to use restroom and then it was time for us to board.
Getting off was even simpler. We had main seating but didnt want to wake at early for breakfast so we just showed up for the 2nd seating breakfast and had no problems getting sat. After breakfast, we just left the ship, got out luggage and was through customs and off the ship in no time at all.
they're both easy procedures.
since it seems like your cruise is only 3 nights consider just bringing your bags on the ship yourself instead of portering. they can take hours to get to your rooms. i do this and it saves a ton of time waiting and then finding them after the cruise.
and yes you can bring a small snack for her to eat and something to drink but check the cruiselines website for what you can bring on and not. it's not like an airplane. and an hour really isn't that long to wait.....
I can't speak to Disney per se but only to cruises in general.
Your documents say boarding starts at 1. You can normally start getting on around 11 ish. There will be LONG lines & you could wait an hour or more. You will need passports, tickets, & a credit card (or a lot of cash) to register & open your on board account.
They should not care too much about what you eat / drink in line. If you have alcohol they will confiscate that.
On board water is safe to drink & tastes better than most bottled water.
You can't take food on & off the ship in other countries per USDA (or equivalent agency) regs.
thanks for your help ladies!
And an hour IS a long time to wait if/when your toddler is hot/hungry. Esp is you are just standing in a line. sooo thanks.....
My friends were able to carry on snack onto the Disney boat without any problem. Disney also currently allows you carry on alcohol in your bag (you can not send it in checked luggage).
I highly recommend checking out the cruise board on Disboards. I learned so much use information and tricks (like bring a photo mat and dropping it off at guest services to have characters sign it) off that board prior to our most recent cruise.