Ahoy and welcome back to planDisney, Brittany! It won't be long before you are cruising on island time. I'm so excited your first cruise has stops at
Castaway Cay and
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. I can think of no better itinerary for your introduction to
Disney Cruise Line.
Thirty days before your cruise, you can begin your online check-in. You can do this on the website under "Already Booked" or on the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. As part of check-in, you will upload your
required travel documentation (pictures of your passports or birth certificates and photo IDs), photos of each passenger, your travel information to the port and after the cruise, and your preferred form of payment.
You can easily change the form of payment at Guest Services while on board the ship. We frequently travel with Disney gift cards we've received and member rewards from using our
Disney Visa card. During the cruise, we take these to Guest Services and have purchases or
Port Adventuresapplied to these, offsetting what goes to the form of payment at the end of the cruise. You could also do the same with a credit card.
Once on board, you can check your cruise folio at any time on the Navigator app. You have to be on the ship and connected to Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi, but it is great to know you can see what charges you have accumulated at any time. You can also stop by Guest Services 24/7 for a copy of your bill. I highly recommend not waiting until the last day on the ship. The line gets really long, and I'd rather enjoy the amenities on the ship than stand in line to talk about a bill. I find early mornings or mid-afternoon to be the best times to visit.
One first-timer tip, "Cay" is pronounced "key." It's a little thing, but it always feels good to be able to talk like a local (and not glance sideways when what you hear does not match what you have been saying in your head).
Please come back to
planDisney with any other questions as you plan your cruise. We are here to help ensure smooth sailing for you.
Bon Voyage!
Jana