Hi, Eric!
As a fan of
Walt Disney World, you are used to booking Lightning Lane passes, dining reservations, park tickets, and more. If you can do all that, then
Disney Cruise planning is going to be a breeze! You are going to be a DCL expert in no time at all! Read through the
"Be in the Know Before You Go" for lots of great information.
When it is time for check-in, you will need to have passports, flight information, and the credit card you want on file. The one thing you will want to plan ahead for is getting a headshot of each guest you will be checking in. Nothing fancy, just grab your phone and take a picture of everyone shoulders - up, no hats or sunglasses, and a plain background. Once everyone is checked in you will select your port arrival time, print out your port arrival form and you are good to go!
Checking in for your Disney Cruise is a few more steps than you are used to with doing Online Check-in at Walt Disney World, but it will all look similar and you will use the same login information at DCL as you do with your My Disney Experience.
Just as you need the My Disney Experience App while in Walt Disney World, you will need the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App when cruising. This will be your "go to" for all the activities on the ship, dining information, and you can even check your stateroom folio for charges.
Once you complete your first Disney Cruise, you are officially a member of the
Castaway Club. You will start off at the Silver level, then jump to Gold when you complete your fifth cruise. Castaway Club members are able to book cruises before the general public, select port excursions earlier, and are able to check-in sooner allowing for better choices of port arrival times. Castaway Club members also receive a gift in their stateroom each sailing. And let's face it, Disney fans love Disney gifts! I am excited to welcome you to the club after your August sailing!
Eric, you are going to be great at cruising, and I can't wait to hear back from you on how much you enjoyed sailing with Captains Mickey and Minnie. If you have any questions before you set sail, stop back to planDisney. Our team is always here to make sure your cruise is smooth sailing!
Cathy