Ahoy, Sheila! You've come to the right place for answers to this question. I love boarding my
Disney Cruise Line ship as early as I can to take advantage of some activities before we set sail.
I always recommend that you bring a small carry-on bag with you when you board your
Disney cruise ship because it's a great time to hit the
pool. If you're onboard early, you can change into your swimsuits and be one of the first ones to hit the water slide on your ship. Lines tend to be shorter on embarkation day.
Another great thing to do is to grab lunch. Depending on your ship, usually one of the main
dining rooms will be open for a sit-down experience, or you can head to the buffet or some of the on-deck offerings.
Prior to sailing away, you'll have to complete your
pre-departure assembly drill. This drill has been done a little bit differently these past couple of years, but keep an eye on the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once you board and the
Know Before You Go section of the website to see the latest information on the drill requirements.
Sheila, there may be a ship tour you can take prior to sailing, and definitely use some time to familiarize yourself with the ship. You can usually access your stateroom around 1 PM, and they do try to get luggage delivered quickly. It's a good time to unpack, unwind, and start to enjoy your vacation!
Anna