Ahoy, David! Welcome to planDisney and thank you for bringing us your Disney Cruise Line question.
When you arrive at the port on embarkation day, there will be porters to assist you with your luggage. Prior to sailing, you will receive
luggage tags by mail (except for sailings aboard the Disney Adventure) to attach to each of your bags that indicate your name, stateroom, sailing dates, and ship. You should attach those luggage tags to each bag prior to giving them to the porters. If you accidentally leave the mailed luggage tags at home or need extras, the porters will also have them available. Once your bags are properly tagged, the porters will take all of your luggage and make sure that it is all loaded onto the ship. Although not required, it is customary to tip the porters a few dollars per bag.
Once your luggage is loaded onto the ship, it will be sorted and then delivered later that night to your stateroom. It can take several hours for all of the luggage to be delivered, so it is important to keep a carry-on bag of some kind with you for any necessities that you will need throughout the day. Most importantly, make sure that you keep all
required travel documents and
DisneyBand+ for all members of your sailing party with you for check-in at the port. Additionally, make sure to keep any medication, glasses or contact lenses, or other must-have items with you. For more packing recommendations, you can check out Disney Cruise Line’s official packing lists
here.
Remember that once you arrive at the port, you are officially on vacation! Some families like to pack their swimsuits in their carry-on bags, so that they can get to the pool as soon as possible. If you’re not looking to make a splash quite yet, I highly recommend checking the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App to see which options are available for lunch. Typically, one of the rotational dining restaurants offers a sit-down lunch on embarkation day, which can be a nice way to relax away from the busy buffet after a morning of travel.
Disney Cruise Line truly is where magic meets the sea, so I know you will have a memorable vacation no matter which activities you choose. If you have any other questions, we are always here and ready to help at planDisney. Happy sailing!
Catherine