Ahoy, Jasmin!
Thanks for cruising by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question.
When you book a Disney Cruise Line vacation, and the time comes to complete your Online Check-In (75 days prior to your sail date for first-time cruisers), you'll be asked to choose a Port Arrival Time. Disney Cruise Line has guests choose a time to arrive at the port so arrivals at the Port Terminal are spread out throughout embarkation day. Can you imagine if all the guests sailing on your ship showed up at the same time to board?
You'll choose a
Port Arrival Time as you complete your online Check-In. Once you arrive and check in at the port, you'll be given a boarding number. Boarding usually begins around 11:00 or 11:30, and guests will board the ship when their boarding number group is called. Guests who arrive at the port after 1:30 will typically go straight from check-in onto the ship, and will not have to wait to have their number called.
All-Aboard time is usually 3:45, so you'll definitely want to make sure you're at the port and checked in by that time, or the ship may sail without you! Once onboard, all guests will attend a Mandatory Guest Assembly Drill before the
Sail Away Celebration on the pool deck. A few minutes into the party, the horn will sound, and off you'll go on your magical Disney Cruise Line vacation!
I hope this helps with your planning. Have a magical day! - Diane W.