Ahoy there, Brigit!
Welcome aboard planDisney! Being less than a month away from your Disney cruise is exciting enough, but sailing back-to-back is like unlocking a bonus level in a Disney game. You’re not just extending the magic, you’re letting it roll right into a second happily-ever-after.
I’m not totally sure what kind of snag you might be hitting during Online Check-In, so if something truly isn’t cooperating, I do recommend
giving Disney Cruise Line a call. A friendly Cast Member can help get everything sorted so you’re back on course and ready to sail smoothly into vacation mode.
Now, since back-to-back sailings are one of my favorite ways to cruise, let me share a few things that might be causing the hiccups. The biggest thing to remember is that you’ll
complete Online Check-In twice, once for each sailing. Each cruise has its own check-in window, even though you’re staying on the same ship. For the first sailing, I always treat it like a race through Radiator Springs. I stay up until midnight Eastern time so I can grab the earliest Port Arrival Time available. I make sure passport photos, headshots, my credit card, and flight info are ready to go so I can breeze right through once the window opens.
When it’s time to check in for the second sailing, you’ll follow the same steps with one key difference. I don’t stress about staying up late for this one because the Port Arrival Time doesn’t really matter. When you get to that screen, you can choose any time, and I usually select a later one so an early slot can go to another Guest who needs it more.
You might be wondering why Port Arrival Time isn’t important for the second cruise, and this is where the Disney magic really shines. Toward the end of your first sailing, Guest Services will
deliver a letter to your stateroom with detailed instructions for embarkation day. You’ll be told where and when to meet, and a Cast Member will escort all back-to-back Guests off the ship for a brief stop ashore before bringing you right back onboard. The whole process typically takes about an hour, and you’re usually among the very first Guests welcomed back for the next voyage. It feels a bit like sneaking backstage before the curtain goes up again.
I hope this helps as you prepare for your double dose of Disney magic at sea. Back-to-back cruising can feel like living in a montage where the fun never fades out, and once you’ve done it, it’s hard to go back. Wishing you smooth sailing, easy check-ins, and twice the memories to bring home.
Sea ya real soon as the adventure continues into a bright new year,
Dustin