Ahoy, Lucy! Welcome back to planDisney and welcome aboard
Disney Cruise Line. There is so much magic on the horizon with your first Disney Cruise!
Let me start by saying making sure you are ready for the pre-arrival check-in is super smart! If you are prepared, it is straightforward. If you are scrambling to get photos and find documents, it can feel more daunting.
For check-in, you will need photographs of each passenger's passport or
other proof of citizenship; head shots; credit card information for onboard charges; emergency contact information; and travel plans to and from the port.
If you are using passports, getting a photograph without a glare can be challenging. It is best to take pictures in a well-lit room so you do not use a flash. If you use birth certificates and need a photo of your driver's license, photograph both sides.
Since you will upload the photographs to the site, I find it is easier to complete check-in on the app. With your first cruise, you may prefer to
check in online to read the small text. You will just need to save the pictures to your laptop to upload them easily.
The process starts with Guest Information. Here, you will be asked for information like your residential address. In this step, you upload pictures of your travel documentation and your security photos. The last time I did this, I uploaded my passport photo, and the site filled in the required information. I don't know if this is always the case, but I would try uploading the photos and then typing in the information afterward if needed.
In the section for your Onboard Account, you will be asked for the credit card or other payment method you want to use for charges. It will also ask who in the stateroom is authorized to charge the account. You will be asked to provide your travel plans, including flight information and transportation to the port.
Next, you will get to select your Port Arrival Time from a list of available time blocks. If you are using Disney Cruise Line transportation to the port, you will not need a Port Arrival Time.
The rest of the process includes reviewing and accepting the cruise contract. At the end, you will receive a Port Arrival Form to print. You can also select the option to have this Port Arrival delivered as a QR code for your cell phone wallet.
If you are traveling with minors, you can also grant permission for them to leave the ship with members of the other stateroom. If you have children going to
Disney's Oceaneer Club, you can also pre-register them during pre-arrival check-in.
Once your check-in is complete, it will go to a Pending status. It will stay pending until someone with Disney Cruise Line can review the documents and clear you to arrive at the port. Hakuna Matata! They will let you know if anything needs to be re-submitted.
With two staterooms, you will need to do this twice.
The most important last step: Put your travel documents in a folder or envelope and store them where you will not forget to pack them. You must show your passport or other proof of citizenship when you check in at the port.
Please come back to
planDisney with any other questions. We love to share what we have learned—information, recommendations, tips—and we are here for all of it!
Bon Voyage!
Jana