Ahoy there, Mallory! Welcome aboard, planDisney!
It’s always exciting when your Online Check-In for your Disney cruise is complete and you receive that Port Arrival Time! It means that you’re super close to your sailing date, as this is one of the last prep steps! I’m sorry that you’re feeling confused about the Port Arrival Time, and I will do my absolute best to clear up that confusion and help you get excited about your upcoming sailing.
Your
“Port Arrival Time” is the time that you should arrive at the port, while your “Boarding Group Number” is the group number that will be called to board the ship. All of the other guests who are in the same Boarding Group as you will have the same Port Arrival Time. Boarding Groups are called in order from Boarding Group 1 onwards, starting at around 11:30 A.M.
If you have purchased
Disney Cruise Line Ground Transportation, you will be picked up at your hotel by Disney Cruise Line at the allotted time on the day you embark on your cruise. This time, along with a meeting place at your hotel, will be noted in an email that will be sent to you about 24-48 hours from embarkation day. You will not need to choose a Port Arrival Time during your Online Check-In because Disney Cruise Line is responsible for your arrival. Therefore, they will work to get you there as early as possible. In my experience, when taking Disney Cruise Line Ground Transportation, this arrival time is usually between 11 AM and 12 PM, though this is not always guaranteed, and your expected arrival time will be listed in the email. Your Boarding Group will be assigned to you by Disney Cruise Line, based on the time they expect you to arrive at the port.
If you did not purchase Disney Cruise Line Ground Transportation and are taking independent transportation to the port, you should choose a Port Arrival Time when completing your Online Check-In. Your corresponding Boarding Group will be based on the Port Arrival Time you choose. You should arrive at the port at the Port Arrival Time you chose during your Online Check-In.
It’s important to note that you will not be able to enter the terminal until your Port Arrival Time. You will also not be able to board the ship until your Boarding Group of 10 is called. But you should also note that boarding goes by super quickly! Before you know it, you’ll hear those beloved words of “Disney Cruise Line would now like to invite all guests in Boarding Group 10 to board the ship!” and you’ll be walking aboard!
Mallory, I hope that I was able to clarify how the boarding process works and clear up any confusion. Please sail back with any other questions, as my planDisney pals and I really want you to be excited and ready for your upcoming cruise!
You’ve Got a Friend in Me,
Rana