Embarkation Day on A Disney Cruise Part 1

Disney Wonder, Disney Cruise,
Anticipation.

I have stated previously that Disembarkation day on your Disney Cruise is the worst. Well, the corollary is true:  Embarkation day on a Disney Cruise is the best.  It is the day that all the planning and all the anticipation finally comes to fruition. You have the whole cruise stretched out in front of you, waiting to be experienced.  We are positively giddy on embarkation day, and it’s only gotten better with each cruise.

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Before The Trip

When you do your online pre-registration for your cruise, one of the things you get to pick is your Port Arrival Time.  Since we can’t wait to get on the boat, we opt for the earliest time we can.  Generally, the earliest time is 11:00 a.m. but higher Castaway Club members (the Disney Cruise Line loyalty program for returning cruisers) snag those slots.  We’ve usually been able to get an 11:30 or 12:00 port arrival time. If you are arriving at the port city on the day of the cruise, a later time may be more practical.  The boat generally leaves at 4:00 so you will have to board before then.

Embarkation Morning

It’s time to head to the cruise ship terminal!

If you’ve stayed in the port city the night before (generally a wise move) you will need to do a repack in the morning.  Disney will have sent you special tags to put on your checked bags, and you will want to have a day bag which is the cruise equivalent of a carry-on.  It’s all the stuff you need access to before your luggage is delivered to your stateroom which could be late afternoon.  It should also contain things you can’t live without in the unlikely (but not unheard of) event that your luggage is lost or dropped in the ocean.

There are many ways to arrive at the cruise line terminal, depending on which port you are using.  Some folks will actually drive themselves. You may take Disney’s shuttle bus from some locations, or you may take a transfer purchased through Disney. Many people arrive by taxi or ride share. Another option is that your hotel may provide a shuttle.  Disney’s own transportation makes special arrangements to take care of your luggage.  If you arrive in any other way, porters will be on hand to whisk your bags away.  Be sure to tip them and to hang on to your day bag.

Your Port Arrival Time is literally the time you’re supposed to show up at the port, not when you will be getting on the ship.  There are things you will need to do once you are at the port.  The amount of time it takes you to actually get on the ship varies greatly, but it has usually taken us 30-60 minutes.

The Cruise Terminal

Canada Place, Cruise Ship Terminal
Waiting at the Vancouver B.C. cruise ship terminal.

As you enter the cruise terminal, you will be directed through security. This is a lot like international security at the airport.  Stick your bag on the conveyor belt, keep your documents handy, and shuffle along with the knowledge that you will soon be on vacation.  Once you are in the terminal proper, someone will hand you a health questionnaire, and you get in line for the check-in desks.  There are special lines for Castaway Club members and for concierge level cruisers.  The check-in desk will give you your cabin number if you don’t already have it, issue your all-important Key To The World Cards, and take your photos for ID purposes.  Finally, they will give your party a boarding group number.

Waiting

Embarkation Disney Cruise. 
 Passengers waiting to board in San Diego's Cruise Ship Terminal
When can we get on the ship? Waiting to board in San Diego.

At this point, I suppose you are supposed to sit down and relax. We’re always too keyed up to settle to anything.  There are often character photo opportunities, and if you didn’t sign up the kids earlier for the kids clubs, you can line up for that desk too.

Once you are at sea, your access to both cellular service and wifi will be severely limited or prohibitively expensive.  This is a great time to do a last catch-up of your email, or check in on your dog-sitter.  With that done, shift your mind into vacation mode by perusing the Personal Navigator someone will likely have handed you by this point.  It gives you a preview of the entertainment for the cruise, the ashore and aboard times for each day, and what type of attire is suggested for each evening aboard–and that’s just the first page!  I’m pretty sure no one has ever made it through all the information in that first Navigator before their boarding party is called.

The Big Moment

Getting ready to board the Disney Wonder in San Diego.
After your boarding number is called, your Key To The World Card will be scanned. You may experience giddiness at the sight of the beautiful ship you are about to board.

Even if it seems like forever, soon your boarding number will be called, and you’ll head for the boarding line.  Be sure you don’t leave your day bag behind and have your Key to the World Cards out.  They’ll scan these, and then you’re ready to  go!  There will be a photographer on hand to take your party’s picture.  You can always skip this if you wish.  You will also need to use the hand sanitizing station before you go aboard.

Luggage, Disney Cruise Line
Luggage handed off to the porters will be delivered to your stateroom later in the afternoon.

The next thing you know, you will be heading across a skyway to the ship.  I love that view so much that I take pictures and video there every time.  However, if you look down you’ll see less glamorous but equally interesting views of actual work being done.  We once glimpsed our luggage waiting to be loaded.  You might see crews resupplying the ship.

And then you’re there!  You’re stepping onto the ship.  What happens next?  It’s pretty important, and we’ll talk about that in Part 2.

Boarding the Disney Wonder on Embarkation Day.
It’s time to get on the ship!

Have you experienced Embarkation Day on a Disney Cruise?  What’s your best tip? Please be sure to scroll down to leave a question or comment.

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