Ahoy, Charlene!
Welcome aboard planDisney! Platinum
Castaway Club status and bringing first-time cruiser friends along? That is some next-level cruise mentorship right there. You are basically the Fairy Godparents of embarkation day, ready to wave your wands and show them how it is done.
Here is the honest, bibbidi-bobbidi-bummer news. Even though your reservations are linked, Port Arrival Times are assigned per stateroom and cannot be combined for early entry. Your friends will need to
arrive during their scheduled 1:00 PM Port Arrival Time and board with their assigned boarding group. Linking reservations helps with dining and activity planning, but it does not override the staggered arrival process at the terminal.
Now, you absolutely have a choice. You can board at your 11:15 AM arrival time and get a head start on the fun, or you can choose to wait and enter the terminal closer to 1:00 PM so you can all walk onboard together. There is no wrong answer here. It really comes down to whether you want those extra couple of hours to explore the ship or if making that grand entrance as a group is part of the magic for you.
When my family sailed with friends recently, we ran into the same situation. We decided to board as soon as our group was called. My wife made a beeline for
Cove Café to kick off vacation mode properly, and the kids and I headed straight for
the AquaDunk for what can only be described as a dramatic but joyful splashdown. Once our friends boarded, we met up for lunch and helped them get oriented.
I hope this helps as you
plan your embarkation strategy. Whether you board early or make it a group moment, the real magic starts once you are all standing on deck together.
Sea ya real soon with a little extra warmth, wonder, and Disney magic,
Dustin