Hi there Cherie and welcome aboard planDisney!
I’ve just returned yesterday from my most recent cruise on the
Disney Wish and am happy to help you and your family as you prepare to set sail on your upcoming Disney Cruise Line adventure together! On this occasion, I carefully observed the embarkation and debarkation process and asked the Cast Members and crew at the terminal about your specific situation and here’s what they shared with me:
At the current time, families and those staying in the same stateroom were being informed that they were required to remain together as they
embarked onto the vessel in their assigned Boarding Group. The Cast Members working in
Port Canaveral let me know that as you drop off your family, they’ll be able to hand all of your luggage to the porters and proceed through security to await you in the terminal. They did however also inform me that their policies and procedures are always subject to change without prior notice, and may vary depending on your
Port of Departure. I did observe a number of families this week reuniting with the rest of their parties prior to boarding, so just in case I would definitely recommend that you have your own copy of your Port Arrival documentation and that you hang onto your
required travel or citizenship identification.
On the morning of debarkation, parties were being instructed to only enter the line with their entire party together as they made their way off the ship. (I also observed a number of families waiting in lounges as a member of their party was still paying off or settling their onboard account, and it would make sense for customs officials to want your entire family together in the terminal as you see an agent on the way out.) It might be worth confirming with the Guest Services team on board the night prior just in case any Express Walk-Off policies have changed by the time of your voyage, or whether they are different wherever you debark your vessel; though I have seen exceptions in the past where folks have been able to debark separately, they have been for emergencies and special situations.
Hope this was helpful to you Cherie, and in the meantime don't hesitate to
sail on back over to us here at planDisney for any more advice, tips or tricks ahead of your voyage!
Here's to floating along with the family on the Beautiful Briny Sea!
Prince