Ahoy there Linda, and welcome aboard planDisney!
For many longtime Disney Cruise Line landlubbers or
seasoned Castaway Club sailors alike, the importance of being prepared for the Check-In process cannot be stressed enough. In fact, some seafaring folks have it down to a science in the way that they meticulously prepare and count down to the moment they can complete their Online Check-In as efficiently as possible, swifter than a coursing river. Whether
it's your first time sailing with us or if you haven't embarked on a Disney Cruise Line vessel for some time, I'm happy to shed some light and walk you through the process since I'm also getting ready to do so myself for an upcoming voyage:
- I recommend familiarizing yourself with the Disney Cruise Line website in order to know where to go when it's time for you to complete your Online Check-In, which varies depending on your Castaway Club membership level. (For example, Pearl members who have completed 25 or more sailings can complete their online check-in as early as 40 days prior to their embarkation as opposed to the 30 days for first-timers.)
- Here you'll be able to see an "Online Check-In" section which will show a link to View Required Citizenship Documents; when the window in which you can begin completing your Online Check-In opens, another link will show up in this section that says "Check In". Accessing this link will then begin the process for you where you'll be prompted to provide a number of things including: a photo of your travel documentation, an image of your face for onboard security and identification purposes, payment information for your Onboard Account and very importantly, select your Port Arrival Time from the slots available to you.
It's important to note that so many folks and families value snagging an earlier Port Arrival Time for the benefit of boarding sooner, and many anxiously wait until just past the stroke of midnight for their chance to set their cruise vacation on the right course as early as possible. (This is why you might hear of special strategies to maximize your efficiency when completing the Online Check-In that range from deciding whether it's better to use a computer or a phone, having files ready to go across multiple devices to optimizing your images to be pre-cropped and in a format easier to upload.)
However you choose to do so, I do recommend downloading the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App sooner either way so that you've got it ready for your voyage! I hope these were a few helpful pearls of watery wisdom for you Linda, and feel free to
come back to planDisney again for more advice or information ahead of your next adventure.
Here's to smooth sailing ahead!
Prince