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How to Check-In for Your Disney Cruise

Updated January 25, 2024.

Online check-in is similar to pre-COVID sailing. You can begin using either the webpage or the app at 12:01 am Eastern Time. Your check-in date is based on your Castaway Club status.

• Pearl – 40 days before sailing
• Platinum – 38 days before sailing
• Gold – 35 days before sailing
• Silver – 33 days before sailing
• First-Time Disney Cruisers – 30 days before sailing

What Do I Need to Check in for My Disney Cruise?

If you haven’t downloaded the app, now is the time to do it; you will use it for most things on board. The biggest recommendation is to gather all your documents and take all your pictures BEFORE you start completing the form s. Have any flight and hotel information handy.

Guest Information

You will need to provide personal details, including address, contact info & emergency contact. You will need to include a clear image of your passport or proof of citizenship.  Also, you will need a photo/selfie of each guest for your onboard account security photo. The photos must be an image file like a jpg or a png. If you are taking your photos with your iPhone, you will need to export your photos as jpg . 

You will need a picture of the photo page of your passport. If you’re using a driver’s license, you will need to have a photo of the front and the back of it .

If DCL doesn’t accept your passport/proof of citizenship or security photo, they will email you to inform you that a new one is required.

Security Photo Tips

This should be a recent colour photo of you facing forward, from the shoulders up, with no filters . Your face should be fully and clearly visible; please remove eyewear that prevents your eyes from being seen and any items on top of your head . There should be no other people or objects included in the photo . We took ours in front of an empty wall.

It may take some time for your online check-in to change from pending to approved. Most are approved a few days before the sailing .

Onboard Account

You will need information on how you plan to pay your stateroom charges. Your credit card or debit card numbers and expiration dates. At this point, it will ask you which members will have charging privileges. If members of your party are paying for their own charges, you can enter their card information. You can not put a dollar limit on charging privileges.

Travelling With Children

Children under 3 years old can be registered for the Nursery if they cruise after October 2022 . If you are sailing before that date, you must sign up for the nursery once you are onboard. You can register kids ages 3-12 for the Oceaneers Club/Lab during check-in. Pre-teens and teens, they will register once you are onboard at the Edge and/or the Vibe.

Travel Plans

You will need information about your plans before & after the cruise. If you are flying in for the cruise, you need your flight details, including Airline, Flight Number, Departure Time, and Arrival Time. Also, you will need your plans to leave the port after the cruise.

PAT (Port Arrival Time)

This is why you are filling out this information at 12:01 am and not waiting until morning. It is your chance to choose your arrival time at the port.

Most people want to spend as much time on the ship as possible and are trying to get the earliest PAT. On our upcoming cruise, the earliest PAT was 10:45. We took Disney Transfers and received boarding group 3 with a PAT of 11:00 – 11:15. The earliest PATs depend on the port you are sailing out of; some ports have guests arrive later than others. Concierge Guests do not need to select a PAT.

Since Covid, they have been much stricter about arriving at your PAT. If you arrive earlier, you will likely be turned away .

Cruise Contract and Boarding Pass

Read & agree to the cruise contract and print or email the contract. You will be given a Boarding Pass with a QR Code when complete. You can add it to your Apple wallet.

You will need it throughout different stages of the boarding process. It is a good idea to have a printed copy if you encounter any technological problems. The QR code will be used to board the ship because you have not yet received your KTTW cards. Keep reading for details.

KTTW (Key to the World) Cards and lanyards will await you at your cabin in your Fish. You will no longer get your card at the desk in the port and use your QR code to board the ship.

Optional Forms

During check-in, you will also find some optional forms. They include authorization to administer an epi-pen , special services form , and authorization for minors travelling without a parent or legal guardian .

Bring your patience; the website can be glitchy, especially when check-in first opens, with many people attempting to check in. If you are using Disney transportation and are not concerned with an early PAT , it might be best to wait and check in later.

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Disney Cruise Line Check-in Process Online: Everything to Know

We recently went through the Disney Cruise Line Check-in process and wish we knew everything we're sharing below ahead of time. It would have avoided confusion and cut down on the time it took to complete it all. Alas, we're smarter and wiser now!

Luckily, we're sharing our valuable knowledge with you , including screenshots of the check-in process (which we did on a mobile phone) and what to expect.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We truly only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Creating a Smoother Check-in Process for You

In order to create the smoothest check-in process possible, we are also sharing what you need to have ready ahead of time . Additionally, we'll tell you the info we wish we knew in advance that will help you for your own Disney Cruise Line (DCL) check-in.

Get excited because you'll know what time you can arrive at the port to start boarding your Disney cruise after you complete the check-in process! Woohoo! (We'll also explain why that Port Arrival time is important.)

Towards the end of the post, we'll share what you can do after you check-in in the days leading up to your cruise.

⭐️ Preparing for your Disney Cruise Line Check-in

Check-in opens to passengers a minimum of 30 days before embarkation. It must be completed by one day before your sail date. Only guests in good standing who have paid the balance of their cruise booking can proceed with checking in.

Castaway Club Perk: Earlier Check in

If you are a member of Castaway Club, which you are automatically enrolled in for free, after your first Disney cruise, you can check in according to the following:

• Silver: 33 days before the cruise
• Gold: 35 days before the cruise
• Platinum: 38 days before the cruise
• Pearl: 40 days before the cruise

Disney Cruise Line Concierge Guests Check In

It does not matter when concierge guests check in as long as they do so before the cut off date for online check in. This is because they get Group One boarding anyway.

➜ Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

First, you want to ensure you have the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app downloaded on your phone for your online check-in. You will want the app for your cruise anyway since it allows you to text with fellow passengers while on board, free of charge or free of an internet plan.

You will find links to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app here via the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android users.

If you have never downloaded the app, you'll also need the following to log in :

• Disney Cruise reservation number
• Your Disney Cruise account login info (username and password)

You can do other things in the DCL app, including:

• Manage your reservation.
• Explore & book activities.
• View additional cruise options, like adding air or ground transportation and adding dining or special requests.
• Onboard chat (the free text messaging we mentioned above), which allows you to chat with fellow passengers or a crew member – the most fun part of this is the cool Disney emojis in the chat feature.
• Access your cruise calendar and things like menus for each restaurant during your cruise.
• View your cruise statement balance.
• See DCL's latest cruise specials and offerings for your next vacation.
• Explore the ship with the app's deck-to-deck plan, bow to stern .
• View the ports of call and daily itinerary, like what time you dock and what time you need to be back onboard before the cruise departs for the next destination.

⬇︎ Download our free check-in printable!

Download our free Disney Cruise Line Check-in Cheat Sheet

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

➜ What You Need to have on Hand, Ready to Upload for Check-In

• Photo of every traveler's passport .
• A clear photo of each passenger , solo.
• A credit card that you'll use for purchases while you're on the cruise.
• Flight information (if you're flying to the port) .
• Hotel information for before/after your Disney cruise (if applicable).

☆ It's important to have all of the info above handy when you arrive at your Port of Embarkation too. Do not put them in any luggage you'll pass off to the crew curbside.

Keep these things in your carry-on bag that you're going to have on you at all times.

➜ Checking in Large Groups of Travelers

If you're checking in a lot of travelers for your cruise – for example, eight, ten, or more – one person can check everyone in.

Link all the reservations into one account so you can change between them easily. Then make sure the one person checking everyone in has EVERYTHING needed to do it, which is referenced in this post. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.)

Our check-in printable has a checklist to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that through this post.

⭐️ Be sure to download our free printable Disney Cruise Line Check-in Cheat Sheet, in the box above or here , so you're fully prepared, including a checklist of what you need for a smooth online check-in! ⭐️

Below, we'll go into depth about each item you need to check-in, in the bulleted list above.

➜ Photo of Your Passport

You'll need a photo of every traveler's passport, taken one at a time (not a group photo of the passports). It has to be a clear, unobstructed, glare-free photo. Alternatively, a Passport Card may be acceptable if you travel between the United States, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

This is harder to get than you would think! We recommend taking the photo during daylight, near a window with natural light. Turn off any artificial light in your home. Then take your photo.

If you can't get the light coming in from your window to stop reflecting on your passport, try closing the blinds a little or closing a shade that still allows light to come through.

You'll upload citizenship documents for check-in if you don't have a passport.

Check-In Tip:

Passport Card

You can use a Passport Card to check in if you are traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, in lieu of a passport. They may be easier to photograph.

You cannot use this option if you're cruising elsewhere, including Europe.

If you're cruising between the United States and the Caribbean, including Castaway Cay, you can use your Passport or Passport Card.

➜ Solo Photo of Each Passenger

Disney wants a photo of each passenger for their onboard account. It should be taken from the shoulders up, looking straight at the camera.

It cannot be the same exact photo as your official ID. (In other words, you cannot simply take a photo of the image in a passport.) However, use that photo as guidance for what they want.

Think of your passport or driver's license photo. This is the type of photo DCL is looking for of each passenger to identify him/her upon check-in/out of the ship at ports.

We simply looked for a photo of us from vacation without a crazy background, where we were looking at the camera straight-on. This doesn't have to be a glamour shot – it simply has to show what you look like, without a face mask or sunglasses , looking directly at the camera.

There is a size limit to how large the photo can be (minimum and maximum size). Be sure that it meets these requirements before you upload it. The process will move along quicker if it's not huge (especially because cameras take huge-sized photos these days in terms of storage space).

The check-in website may crash if the photo is beyond the photo size limits it states. (Trust us – it crashed a few times for us because the image was too big. It stopped crashing when we reduced the file size.)

➜ Proof of Vaccination (No Longer Required)

Before November 2022, you needed to have a photo of vaccination cards for any vaccinated passenger. While this is no longer required, regulations/requirements can change anytime.

➜ Credit Card

You'll input the info of a credit card you want to use for purchases while onboard during online check-in. Have one handy.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay for cruise expenses in cash. If you do so, you'll have a credit limit depending on the length of your cruise. If you reach the limit, you'll have to go to guest services to pay off the bill (in cash) before you can charge more to your account.

➜ Flight Information

Have your flight info ready to input so you don't have to search for it. If you are driving to the port, then you do not have to enter this info. (You simply check “No” when they ask, “Are you flying in for your cruise vacation?”)

➜ Hotel Information

This includes any Orlando hotel (for example), Port Canaveral area hotel, Air BnB, VRBO, etc. that you may be staying at before or after your cruise.

If this does not apply to you, then you do not have to input this information.

⭐️ Check in to Your Disney Cruise Line Sailing 30 Days Prior to Embarkation: Timezone Info

Online check-in is available for your sailing 30 days prior to the day you board the ship. We thought this was according to the time in the same time zone as your port of embarkation.

However, it's not. It is at midnight EST, regardless of where you are or what timezone you're sailing from.

Why does this matter? Because if you live in England but your cruise leaves from Port Canaveral , Florida, you can check in at midnight EST . You cannot check in at midnight BST time (England's local time).

We tried to check into our cruise while we were enjoying a barge cruise in France. Dan and I specifically stayed up late just in case the countdown showing in the app was correct.

Forcing myself to stay up until midnight in France, I realized that somehow the Disney counter switched to local time in France during the trip. The countdown was incorrect .

Imagine our disappointment (and exhaustion) when we realized that we could n ot check in at midnight. Instead, I set an alarm for 6:00am (six hours later) to check into our cruise at midnight EST . And voila, we could check-in.

➜ So, if you're wondering, “Is the 30 days local time for Disney Cruise Line, or is it my local time where I live?” The answer is that it's Disney Cruise Line's headquarters local time, midnight EST. Disney Cruise Line officially confirmed this for us via email correspondence with their PR team.

Check-in, and any modifications to your check-in, must be completed by the day before you sail.

⭐️ Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Process

➜ begin check-in.

When you open the DCL Navigator app at any time before your cruise, you'll see an awesome countdown to your sailing. We love that they use emojis in the counter. They sub out a lot of the zeros for fun Disney characters. (A lot of the characters are also available in the app chat feature while you are on your cruise.)

When you can check in, you'll see that a little button that says “Begin Check-In” appears in the app (screenshot below, right). This button will not appear until 30 days before your cruise, at midnight EST.

You can see that our Online Check-In screenshot says “6:00” on the upper lefthand corner because we were in France at the time of check-in; it was 12:00 midnight EST.

⭐️ Complete Check-In Items on the Overview List

When you hit the “Begin Check-In” button, it will take you out of the app. It opens an internet browser window to begin checking in.

You will see a checklist for what you need to do to complete check-in. The icons, which are silhouettes of the faces of classic Disney characters (like Goofy, Donald, and Minnie) are not filled in if you haven't completed the task.

But as you fill in the information, you'll see the faces start to fill in with more graphic and colorful drawings. So cute, right?

In the screenshots below, you'll see the top two don't have the faces filled in yet. In the bottom two screenshots, the faces are filled in, which indicates we completed those tasks for check-in.

➜ Moving Through the Steps of DCL Check-In

You'll be glad you will have already gathered what we recommended to have on hand, ready to go, as you move through the Disney Cruise Line check-in steps. Things will move as efficiently as possible this way.

Each step is sequential. You cannot jump ahead to the Port Arrival Time, for example, then go back to filling in your contact information. You must fill in your contact information first before it lets you move to the next step.

As you can see from the screenshots below, we filled in the information for our Travel Plans, picked our Port Arrival Time (the BEST part of check-in), accepted the terms of the Cruise Contract, and we were done.

All DCL guests, including Platinum Castaway Club members , need to select a Port Arrival Time.

➜ Port Arrival Time

The Port Arrival Time is a timeslot you are given or select during the check in process. This is the time you are able to arrive at the cruise terminal to board the ship on embarkation day.

It's an important timeslot! If you're able to, given how you're arriving at the port (especially if you're driving yourself) you'll want to select the earliest available arrival time.

This is the time you can arrive at the port and drop your luggage off, curbside. (The luggage is delivered to your cabin later in the day.) Then you go inside the terminal to continue your check-in, in person, and you get your boarding group. The earlier the boarding group, the earlier you get on the ship. This means the longer your cruise is, even if that's just hours longer.

Disney has a lot of shorter cruise itineraries that are three or four days that head to Castaway Cay and Nassau, then head back to Florida. This Port Arrival Time particularly matters for shorter cruises. Why not maximize your time onboard a Disney ship if you can?

If you want one of the earliest arrival times, it's imperative you check in for your cruise at midnight. Being one of the first to check in means you will increase your chances of being able to select an early arrival time.

For Guests taking Disney Cruise Line Transportation

The caveat to the Port Arrival Time you get during check in is if you are taking DCL transportation from your Orlando-area hotel. This is especially true for resorts that are on-property at Walt Disney World. If this is the case, your Port Arrival Time doesn't really matter because you will arrive at the port when the bus drops you off.

➜ Disney Cruise Line Website Delays During Check-In

We're not going to sugarcoat this: Disney websites are notoriously slow and buggy.

It's not uncommon to get an error message that the website is experiencing complications during check-in. This is very frustrating when you feel like you're racing against the clock to get your earliest Port Arrival Time and have to do the steps sequentially as the app presents them.

Trust us, we know, and we can relate. We were on vacation overseas the last time we had to check-in for a Disney cruise…at 6:00am local time! It wasn't what we wanted to deal with. Alas, we are all at the mercy of Disney.

The good news is that Disney periodically saves your work. If you need to reload check-in, simply re-open the app. Log in again. Then click “Complete Check-In,” and it will take you back to the check-in website.

You may lose some check-in work (we did), but not all of it. It usually doesn't take much time to re-enter the info.

⭐️ Confirmation You're Checked-In for Your Cruise

When you have successfully completed the online check-in process, you'll see the message in the screenshot below, that says, “You're All Set to Sail!”

An important note is that while it says you're set to sail, your online check-in may still show as “ Pending Review “. This is because a Disney Cruise Line cast member has to check the photos you submitted (a real human, from what we understand), and it's a long process.

It could potentially say “Pending Review” until you sail. If it does, don't worry. We have heard that this is common. In our case, our account said “Pending Review” up until the day we embarked on our cruise.

As long as you bring all the documents with you that you uploaded to the app, you should be golden when you arrive at the port to embark on your Disney Cruise. (Remember you must keep all of these documents in a carry-on bag with you at all times during embarkation.)

➜ Disney Cruise Line Port Arrival Cards for your Digital Apple Wallet

If you have an iPhone, one of the coolest things you can add to your Apple Wallet after check-in is your Port Arrival Form QR codes. This makes it extra easy to find those important QR codes you need when you get to the cruise terminal to embark on your Disney Cruise.

We're not 100% sure if the same cool feature is available to Android phone users with Google Pay. But if you know (because you use an Android and you've gone through the check-in process with Disney Cruise Line, firsthand) please let us know in the comments!

➜ Your Check-In Should be Good to Go!

Though there used to be another step to clear “Safe Passage by Inspire Diagnostics” (aka: “Safe Passage”) through the end of September 2022 for some of the Disney Cruise Line ships (Disney Dream, Wish, Wonder, and Fantasy) and through November 7 for Disney Magic, you no longer need to do this.

The official statement from Disney Cruise Line to its guests was the following:

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing.

The Safe Passage portal is no longer available as of January 1, 2023.

Visit DCL's “ Know Before You Go ” page for the latest updates.

➜ How long did the Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Process Take Us?

It took us 50 minutes to complete the DCL online check-in process. In an ideal world, it should have only taken 20 minutes. But it is what it is.

To reiterate a sentiment we mentioned earlier: we're all at the mercy of Disney Cruise Line's website speed and how well it works – or doesn't work – when you check in.

Our fingers and toes are crossed, and we're knocking on all the wood for you that the website is working and it's quick and painless when you go to check in! If it's not working, simply keep logging back in and refreshing things.

⭐️ Important Information Regarding your DCL Port Arrival Time and Sail-Day Embarkation

There is nothing quite like the morning you board a Disney Cruise ship. The excitement is almost unbearable!

I always look forward to driving to Port Canaveral from Orlando and seeing that first glimpse of the iconic DCL cruise ship stack in the distance. It comes into view as you cross over the second bridge on A1A to get to the port.

The most important thing to know about arriving at the terminal is that you can only arrive within your Port Arrival Time window . This is the 15-minute time block that you chose when you checked in.

Don't arrive an hour earlier, hoping they let you embark early. Though we have heard if they are running ahead of schedule they might let you arrive early, it would be a bummer if they say no and then you have to find something to do to kill thirty minutes or an hour of time. Especially because it's not quite enough time to explore Cape Canaveral .

If you forget your Port Arrival Time, you can easily view it on your Port Arrival Form. It's also in your iPhone Wallet if you added the cards to the iPhone Wallet app.

If you arrive early, they will tell you to come back later during your scheduled time. They might tell you to come back later after several other time blocks clear if you arrive late.

⭐️ Disney Cruise Line Check In FAQs

✦ if one reservation in our traveling party has concierge but the rest of us don't, can we get in with the concierge guests.

No, there is no formal way to do that. But we have heard that once you're at the port, you can simply ask someone who works there if they'll allow you to board as a group at the earlier boarding time. Sometimes they say yes.

✦ I accidentally only registered half of our party for check in, then realized later and now my group has two different Port Arrival Times. Can I change the later ones to be earlier?

The answer is no, you cannot change the later time to be earlier. But you can arrive later than your Port Arrival Time and board as a whole group with later group.

✦ We're doing a closed-loop cruise and don't have a passport. What do we need to upload for documentation proof?

You must have a photo or scan of a birth certificate and photo ID ready to upload upon check in if you don't have a passport. Note that this is only true of a cruise that starts and ends in a US port and goes to certain areas.

If you have a passport, then — without a doubt — upload that as your photo documentation.

✦ We will be checking in ten people for our Disney Cruise. Would it be best for three people to do 3 or 4 check ins so that we can get the same boarding time?

One person can do all the check-ins for your cruise. You can link all the reservations into one account and change between them easily. Just make sure the one person who is checking everyone in has everything we mention that you need to do it. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.)

Our check-in printable has a checklist on it to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that.

✦ When in the process of doing the check-in steps. Do you need to go through them in order or can you jump ahead to selecting the Port Arrival Time first and then go back and fill the rest?

The system will not allow you to select a Port Arrival Time until you’ve completed the previous steps.

✦ Can you take photos of your passports and upload those photos when checking in? Or do you actually need to create a file (pdf)?

You can take photos of the passports on your phone to upload. Just make sure that the photos you create are glare-free and all the information is legible.

✦ We’re staying at Walt Disney World before and after our cruise. Should I mark “no” when it asks if we’re flying in?

Our Disney Travel Agent, Becca Plans Vacations , helped us with the official answer to this question. If you won’t have a car at the port, say you’re flying in even if it’s at the start of your WDW trip.

✦ Is it best to check in on the app through your phone or on a computer?

It's best to do it in the app on your phone. However, we know some people check in through their computers, especially if they need bigger fonts for eyesight reasons or they have trouble pressing small links and buttons on their phone.

Some people even have their phone and computer in front of them to see what's faster. Do what's best for you, but we personally stick to the app.

✦ What happens if you arrive 30 or 40 minutes prior to port arrival time?

If you arrive before your Port Arrival Time , ask the staff if they'll let you arrive early. If they're running early that day they might, but they may also tell you that you have to come back later.

✦ How long does the security check usually take at Port Canaveral?

We have embarked at Port Canaveral many times. It usually takes about an hour or less from parking our car to getting inside the terminal. Twenty to thirty minutes is a good approximation for the security line itself. However, that's just getting through security.

The time you board the ship is dependent upon the boarding time you receive once you arrive at the port and go through security.

⭐️ What to Do After You Check-in for Your Disney Cruise

➜ mark your calendar with important dates.

You'll want to mark your calendars with the date below. (Don't forget to get our Free Check-in Cheat Sheet Printable if you haven't already, which makes counting the days super easy.)

• After check-in, before you sail: Enjoy booking things like special dinner reservations at Enchanté , Palo, or Remy's, depending on the Disney Cruise Line ship you'll be on. You can also book spa treatments in the app and schedule gifts, like flowers or chocolate-covered strawberries, for delivery to your stateroom. (Read our “Start to Pack for Your Disney Cruise” info below for great things to purchase and bring onboard to decorate your room.)
• 3 days before your cruise is when online bookings for cruise activities close, like spa treatments and dining reservations.
• The day before you sail : mark your calendar to buy wine or beer if you want to bring some onboard. But seriously…mark your calendar to go to a local wine/beer store if you want to bring some on board. This way, you won't have to worry about it the day you embark! Disney's policy is as follows:

Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle. Disney's Policy stated on their website

• Date for the day you sail . (Just in case you haven't already marked it in your calendar!) You'll also want to set a reminder to complete the Pre-Trip Embarkation Health Questionnaire , which is available in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on your embarkation day.

If you need to figure out any dates above, simply Google, “What day is __ days before [enter your sailing date]” and Google will show you the date in its results. It's a beautiful thing.

➜Start to Pack for Your Disney Cruise

When we come back from one trip, we're always excited for the next. Whether you're cruising as adults only on Disney Cruise Line or looking forward to a DCL sailing with the entire family, we know it's never too soon to think about packing.

If you're going to the theme parks before or after your trip, be sure to check out our Ultimate Year-Round Walt Disney World and Universal Packing List , which includes a helpful printable.

➜ Order Cruise Essential Items in Advance

This is because you may need to order some cruise items ahead of time, which might take time to ship. Such things as Blissets (which are awesome and fashionable anti-nausea bands ), or perhaps custom Disney Cruise Line attire on Etsy , take time to arrive at your doorstep.

Other things may be available on Amazon, where you can use Prime to ship within days. If you don't already have a Prime account, now is the perfect time to sign up for a free 30-day trial so you'll get free shipping.

We also have a list of Cruise Essentials for you to browse in our Amazon shop , from handheld fans to beat the heat to Apple AirTags if you're checking luggage, to reef-safe sunscreen, and more.

➜ Get Trip Insurance

If you didn't opt for Disney's trip insurance but still want to explore covering your trip, it may not be too late! We never get trip insurance through the cruise line because it's more cost affective to get it elsewhere and we like what third-parties include.

⭐️ Disney Cruise Activities: Make any Desired Reservations from Dining to the Spa and Port Excursions

As your cruise countdown continues, you can do some additional things in the app. For example, you can make reservations or appointments for dining and the spa ahead of time. You can access this online app feature up to three days before your cruise.

If dining (like Enchante on the Disney Wish , for example) is showing as unavailable, that usually means there are no more advance reservations available. (In that case, you'll want to ask about how to make a reservation while on board the day you embark.)

Port excursions and spa reservations can also be made in advance from within the app.

If a spa treatment, or appointment for Hook's Barbery on Disney Wish , is showing as “Sold Out,” you may want to check about availability once you board the ship on embarkation day.

Cruise Essential FOR YOUR TROPICAL VACATION:

The only thing we have tried that gets rid of bug bites from your skin is The Bug Bite Thing . This item is a MUST pack when we travel. We always pack one in our backpack/day bag and another in our luggage. Don't travel without it!

⭐️ Things to Do Nearby in Port Canaveral

If you are sailing from Disney Cruise Line's Port Canaveral Terminal and are looking for things to do nearby, we've got you covered!

There are many great activities, whether you have a few hours, half a day, a full day, or multiple days.

Check out our recommendations for things to do near Port Canaveral and make the most of your trip to the Florida coast! (Or “Space Coast,” as it's called!)

Going on a Disney Cruise? Read this next:

• Best Disney Cruise Ship, According to DCL Experts
• Experiencing a Disney Cruise without Kids
• Anti-Nausea Medication and Other Cruise Sea Sickness Solutions 

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30 comments.

When in the process of doing the check-in steps. Do you need to go through them in order or can you jump ahead to selecting the Port Arrival Time first and then go back and fill the rest?

Great question, Sebastian. Unfortunately, it will not allow you to select a Port Arrival Time until you’ve completed the steps before it!

We will be checking in ten people for our Disney Cruise. Would it be best for three people to do 3 or 4 check ins so that we can get the same boarding time?

Hi Kathryn – One person can do all the check-ins for your cruise. You can link all the reservations into one account and change between them easily. Just make sure the one person who is checking everyone in has EVERYTHING you need to do it, which we reference in this post. (Security photos, passports or birth certificate info, etc.) Our check-in printable has a checklist on it to ensure you’re prepared for check-in! Be sure to download that through this post. – Mikkel + Dan

We just finished our check-in. There were five people in our party, and we got it done in about 30 minutes, and got an 11:30 port arrival time! I’m pleased.

One hint: if you have a choice between using normal passports or passport cards, keep in mind that passport cards are really easy to photograph, because they lay flat like a credit card or driver’s license. You’ll need to take pictures of both the front and back, but that’s easy.

There are five in our party. Four had passport cards, and one had only a regular passport book. The passport cards worked beautifully, and the app was able to read them to determine the passport numbers, expiration dates, birthdates, names, etc. But the check-in app was unable to read our (admittedly imperfect) photo of the regular passport, so I had to manually read and type in all that info. The passport cards were much easier to deal with.

The passport book is required for international air travel, so everyone in our party has one of those. I was glad that most of our party additionally had the passport cards.

Thank you so much for your comment, Rich! This is very helpful to know. I’m going to add it to the post, but note that passport books are only good for certain countries, just in case someone checking in is going to Europe, for example, for their cruise. I’m glad most of your party had the passport cards too. Great tip! – Mikkel

Can you take screen shots of the passports and upload those photos when checking in or do you actually need to create a file (pdf) for the passports and such? Thanks for the information!

You should be able to if you give the app access to your photos.

We’re staying at Disney World before and after our cruise in April. Should I mark “no” when it asks if we’re flying in? It asks where you’re staying after the cruise but not before, so do we not need to put that anywhere? We’ll be using DCL transportation coming and going.

Hi Jillian! Our Disney Travel Agent, Becca Plans Vacations, helped us with the official answer for you. DCL transport overrides port arrival time so don’t stress about the time you get when you do Disney Cruise Line check-in, in the DCL app. If you won’t have a car at the port, say you’re flying in even if it’s at the start of your WDW trip.

Is it best to do this on a phone or laptop/desktop (actual computer) ?

It’s best to do it on the app through your phone.

I found when checking in several people, it was easier to use my computer to quickly find all the photos to upload. My chubby fingers easily make mistakes on my iphone.

Thank you for that tip, Barb! Have the best time on your Disney Cruise!

What do you do if you arrive 30 or 40 minutes prior to port arrival time?

If you arrive in your own car or private shuttle, you can try to see if they’ll let you come in early but they may turn you away. It could depend on the day or who you talk to. If you arrive in a DCL shuttle (Disney-owned) then they will let you come into the port when you arrive.

Is the check-in 12AM EST when the app clicks to 30 days, or is it technically 12 AM EST when the app clicks to 29 days? I’m getting conflicting information between the app and the web site. The website says 30 days, and the app says a date that’s 29 days left.

Hi Dan! Go by what the app tells you when you’re logged in, which should be the first minute of 30 days before cruise embarkation day. Hope that helps! – Mikkel + Dan

We are a group of 11 people from 3 family groupings. If one person checks all of us in, and gives one credit card, is it possible to change the credit card information after check in so that each family can use a separate credit card?

Hi Marie! We recommending checking in with 1 credit card. Then, after you’re onboard, go to Guest Services to divvy up the accounts and corresponding credit cards as you wish! Hope that helps. – Mikkel + Dan

How long does the security check usually take? We have an arrival time of 12:30, and a massage booked for 1:30 (the only time available for day 1). Is that cutting it too close? I’ve seen some say it was backed up, but that was also during the first few sailings so I’m hoping the kinks are worked out.

Hi Matt! Great question. The security line is pretty fast. It’s usually 10-20 minutes. The only delay we had last time, and why it took more than 20 minutes, was because the US Coast Guard made a surprise visit to the port/ship which delayed their boarding process, which backed up security a little at 11:30 am. This was before guests could board. But it’s pretty rare that happens. Don’t hesitate to tell people that you have a massage booked at 1:30 pm on the ship, just like you’d tell airport TSA if your flight was boarding sooner than later. Everyone at the port is very nice! A lot of FL retirees are working there and they’re very kind and understanding. 🙂 If you arrive at 12:20/12:30 pm for your 12:30 pm port arrival time and head to security efficiently, tell the person who gives you the boarding group number – in particular – that you have a massage. That may help! You could even say “I don’t know if you have any pixie dust on you today, but we’re trying to make a massage for the only time they had left onboard and it’s in less than an hour.” kind of thing. Good luck! Enjoy the massage! – Mikkel

I found your site a few days ago and came back to tell you thank you! This post was incredibly helpful and our checkin process was flawless. I had all the photos ready and waiting on my phone, edited to the correct size. Well written!

Thank you so much, Amber! Comments like yours make us smile from ear to ear and are exactly why we post the content we do…to help other cruisers!!! – Mikkel + Dan

Is a photo with Minnie ears on acceptable for the check in photo?

That’s a good question, Bri. We haven’t tried, so we’re not sure. It’s kind of like a headband so I would think as long as it’s not obstructing your face it is okay. If you try, let us know! – Dan + Mikkel

hello! Did the photo work? with ears? Thank you!

That’s a great question! We don’t know because the person didn’t write back after trying. We’re not even sure she tried!

Just curious if the check-in time you mention is Eastern Time bacause that is the time zone the cruise leaves from. We are cruising out of San DiegoWill the check-in time still be Eastern Time, or will it be Pacific Time?

Hi Pam – please refer to the section in this article that is titled “⭐️ CHECK IN TO YOUR DISNEY CRUISE LINE SAILING 30 DAYS PRIOR TO EMBARKATION: TIMEZONE INFO” – it explains that check in is always EST. Hope that helps – Happy cruising!

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A Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In Cheat Sheet

5/3/2023   |   Cruises

It’s almost here! You have been dreaming of setting sail on your Disney cruise for months and months, and the time has finally come!

Soon you will be able to complete your online check-in. To keep you from being one of those frustrated sailors in your Facebook group, we are going to prepare you for smooth sailing through the online check-in process by making sure you are armed and ready with everything you need!

Check-In dates vary by your Castaway Cay level or if you are sailing Concierge:

- Pearl / Concierge Level = 40 days prior to sailing - Platinum Level = 38 days prior to sailing - Gold Level = 35 days prior to sailing - Silver Level = 33 days prior to sailing - First time Disney Cruise Line cruisers = 30 days prior to sailing

Before Your Online Check-In Date:

- Confirm the exact spelling and full name of each guest between your Disney Cruise Line reservation and the government-issued identification you will be using for boarding. (Passport, birth certificate, etc.). They must match exactly. - Confirm the expiration date of the government-issued identification you will be using for boarding. - Be sure you have already created your DisneyCruiseLine.com and have linked your cruise reservation(s). - Download the official Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and checked for any updates.

- Make sure you have linked any other friends’ or family’s reservations to your reservation so that you are seated together at dinner and can book activities together. - Confirm that you have booked your on-board activities and shore excursions. (The booking window for this also varies depending on your Castaway Club status or if you are sailing in a concierge stateroom. If you are unsure of the date, you can start booking, pull up your reservation on DisneyCruiseLine.com).

You can cancel activities and excursions up until 3 days before your sailing.

Triple check your Online Check-In Date on the app or at DisneyCruiseLine.com. Remember: the check-in time is Midnight Eastern Time on your check-in day. Meaning, if your check-in date is Tuesday April 18, you can start the check-in process at midnight Eastern on Monday night.

Important: Online check-in closes at midnight the day before your cruise. If online check-in is not completed by then, you may be denied boarding.

What to Have Ready at Check-In*:

- A clear photo of each passenger’s passport. Be sure there is no glare and that you can easily read the passport number, name, issue and expiration date, and the photo is clear.

- Passports need to remain valid for a minimum of 6 months after your debarkation date and have at least a few blank pages available. (Requirements can vary by country).

- A clear photo of each passenger. This should be different than the passport photo and should be a solo photo of the guest from the shoulders up. Select a photo that has a plain background.

- Flight information (even if you are not using Disney transportation)

- Pre- and Post-Cruise hotel information

- A credit card to keep on file for onboard purchases

- Name and phone number of an emergency contact not traveling with you

* I recommend having copies of your passports and photos on both your computer and phone in case the website or app is not working for you. This will reduce possible delays in having to transfer the information over while checking in.

At midnight Eastern time on your online check-in date:

Remember: the check-in time is Midnight Eastern Time on your check-in day. Meaning, if your check-in date is Tuesday April 18, you can start the check-in process at midnight Eastern on Monday night.

You will be able to log in to your Disney Cruise Line account (I personally prefer the app), select your sailing, and click on “Begin Check-In.” Click through each step in order. The icons on the right will fill in as each section is completed.

- Guest Information - Onboard Account - Travel Plans - Port Arrival Time

Port Arrival Time (PAT). Most people will select the earliest time available so there is more time to explore the ship before you sail away. You will also be automatically assigned a Boarding Group.

Note: if you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel and have booked the Disney Cruise Line transfer, you will not be asked to select a Port Arrival Time.

- Cruise Contract

Once you have completed your Online Check-In, you will see the message “You’re All Set to Sail!” You can check back periodically before your cruise to ensure your documents have been reviewed by a cast member and your check-in has been upgraded from “Pending” to “Complete.”

Be sure to print out (and you can also add it to your digital wallet on your iPhone) your Port Arrival Form.

At the 30 day mark, you will also be able to:

- Book the Princess Gathering. This princess meet-and-greet is included in your cruise fare, but it requires a reservation and is limited due to the popularity. - Purchase a photo package. Purchasing in advance will be the least expensive pricing available. You can opt to purchase once on-board at a higher price. Disney Visa holders get a discount on-board, but the pre-purchase price that is offered to all guests will be the best pricing.

Make sure to add any special requests which is very easy to do directly in the app. This can include things like: high chairs, bedrails and cribs; dietary requests; celebration planning. This should be done at least 5 weeks prior to your sail date. Additional requests for food allergies and accessibility assistance/medical equipment can be requested on the Special Services Form.

Website Glitches:

Remember: technology is not perfect. If you are getting an error message in the app, try the website. If you are getting an error on the website, try the app. If neither works, try an incognito browser/window on your device.

Disney Cruise Line can be reached at 800-951-3532, or contact your Me and The Mouse Travel Specialist. (Please note - Disney Cruise Line will not answer specific questions regarding your reservation or make any changes for you if you are booked with a travel agent).

Special Situations:

- What if we have multiple staterooms to check in?

If you have several staterooms to check in, you can opt to have each stateroom have their own account and try to coordinate as best you can with Port Arrival Times.

Alternatively, you can link the reservations to one account so that one person can be responsible for checking everyone in. That person would need to have all the information ready for each stateroom. They will still need to toggle between each reservation.

With either method, you likely will not get the same PAT. If this is the case, you can all arrive at the latest PAT time to board together.

- What if we do not have passports or are traveling on Visas?

For complete details on proper documentation for sailing on a Disney cruise, please refer to the official Disney Cruise Line website .

I strongly, strongly urge you to have a valid passport for everyone in your traveling party in case of emergency.

Just a few weeks to go!

Now that you're checked in, you can make a packing list, start putting your vacation essentials together, place your travel documents/Port Arrival Form/passports in a folder in a safe place, and look forward to stepping on board your Disney cruise!

Other helpful hints: Packing List Prohibited Items Alcohol Policy

Nancy loves sailing with Disney Cruise Line and would love to help your family plan their next adventure!

Tagged: cheat sheet , Disney Cruise , Disney Cruise Line , online check-in , Planning , Travel , trip , Vacation

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Disney Cruise Online Check In Process Explained

Are you looking for tips and information on navigating the Disney cruise check in process? The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App really comes in handy while sailing, but it also simplifies the registration and planning process before your trip even begins!

In addition to displaying the really exciting cruise countdown, the DCL Navigator App allows you to view the details of your reservation and book activities for your upcoming Disney cruise.

In this post, I will walk you through the Disney Cruise Line online check in process using the features of the Navigator App. We will discuss what time online check in begins, and I’ll give you tips on how to secure an early port arrival time along with coveted reservations.

So, continue reading below to find out all the tips and hacks you need to know for the Disney Cruise Line online check in process!

Disney Cruise Countdown

Once you download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App, you will be prompted to login to your DCL account. This is where you can create an account or type in your current login information.

The screen should then display the reservation for your upcoming cruise. After clicking on your reservation, you will see a countdown calculator similar to the one pictured above.

This countdown is a super exciting reminder of how many days you have until your cruise. It’s also a really important feature since some important deadlines occur before your cruise embarkation day .

When can you check in?

While on the Disney Cruise Navigator App, you can scroll down below your stateroom information to find the important steps you need to take for planning your Disney cruise. We will go through each of these My Reservations sections below:

My Reservations

In the spot labeled Cruise Essentials , you will find important things like your Disney Cruise Line balance and your reservation information. You will also see the online check in button in this section.

If you are a first time cruiser with Disney Cruise Line, you may check in 30 days prior to your sail date as long as you’ve made your final payment. If you have previously sailed with Disney Cruise Line, the check in days for each Castaway Club level are as follows:

• Silver Members – 33 Days before Sailing
• Gold Members – 35 Days before Sailing
• Platinum Members – 38 Days before Sailing
• Pearl Members – 40 Days before Sailing

What time does Disney cruise online check in start?

Once you arrive at the 30-day mark before your scheduled cruise (or sooner depending on Castaway Club level), you may be wondering what time you can actually complete online check-in for your Disney Cruise Line vacation. Online check-in should open at midnight EST (12:00 am Eastern Standard Time).

What do you need for online check in?

When you are ready to fully complete the Disney cruise check in process, you’ll need to have several items on hand. Below, I will list each of these so that you are prepared once your online check in window opens up.

First, you will need to have your official identification documents handy. We highly recommend cruising with a passport even if it is not necessarily mandated for your itinerary.

Even though many cruises sailing from the United States and back allow U.S. citizens to travel with a birth certificate instead, you will need a passport in the rare (but possible) event you have a medical emergency overseas.

To view a full list of the travel documents required for your sailing, you can check out the DCL website here . During the Disney cruise online check in process, you will need to submit a photo of each passport/birth certificate. Each image should be free from glares and clearly show the information.

Credit Card

You’ll need to assign a credit card to your Disney Cruise Line account. This is the card that you will use onboard when charging things through your Key to the World Card or DisneyBand+. If you need to change the card once onboard, you can visit Guest Services for help.

Flight and Hotel Information

Disney Cruise Line will request that you fill in your pre and post cruise travel information. So, you will want to have your reservation info. for flights and hotels handy to type in.

Photo of Each Passenger

Disney Cruise Line used to take photos of cruisers at the port during your cruise terminal check in process. However, you now need to upload a photo of each person in your travel party. These selfie style photos need to clearly show each passenger’s face above the shoulders in a similar style to a passport or driver’s license photo. (Although, they should not be the same photo that is on your ID.)

Disney Cruise Check in Process

When you are ready to fully complete the Disney cruise check in process, you’ll want to set aside close to an hour (if it’s your first cruise) to give yourself enough time to cover all the parts. I will go over each section of the tedious online check-in process below.

Once your window opens up for checking in, your Navigator App screen will include different sections like Guest Information, Onboard Account, Travel Plans, Port Arrival Time, etc.

You will need to go through each of the tabs to fill out the relevant information. While this can be a time consuming process; once you complete it, Disney saves your information for your next cruise.

I will explain each section in more detail below:

Guest Information

This is the section where you fill in your personal information and your passport/identification info. If you have previously sailed with Disney Cruise Line, this should already be completed for you. If your contact information or your passport information has changed from what is shown on your account, you will need to update it.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

Guests also need to upload a security photo (personal selfie) for each individual in your travel party. In addition, Disney Cruise Line requires guests to upload photos of their citizenship documents (birth certificate, passport, etc.).

Onboard Account

You will need to add a credit card to the Onboard Account section. While on the cruise, DCL charges gratuities and anything extra you choose to purchase to your online account. In this section, you can also choose whether or not to grant charging privileges to your family members.

Since my kids were 6 and 1 during our last sailing, they were not allowed to charge anything to the onboard account. If you have older kids, you can change this option to meet your needs.

Travel Plans

The Travel Plans tab asks for very specific information about your pre/post cruise plans. This includes the name of your hotel, flight information, etc. You can fill this out to the best of your ability during the check-in process. If you don’t yet have all of this information, you can always go back later and correct it. For example, you can choose to arrive by car if you don’t have your flight information yet.

Port Arrival Time (PAT)

Next, you will choose your Port Arrival Time. Once you click on this tab, you will see a list of times available for you to ARRIVE at the port. This is NOT the time that you will board the ship.

For example, if you select a Port Arrival Time of 11:00, that means you plan to show up at the cruise terminal at 11:00. It has been my experience that boarding does not typically begin until at least 11:30, so you shouldn’t expect to be on the ship immediately after arriving for your 11:00 PAT.

It’s also been our experience that if you purchased Disney Cruise Line ground transportation , you will not be prompted to choose an arrival time. Instead, you will be permitted to enter the cruise terminal once the DCL transfer shuttle drops you off at the port.

Cruise Contract and Port Arrival Form

Once you have completed online check in for your Disney cruise, you will be prompted to review the cruise contract. Then, your last step is to print the Port Arrival Form in the bottom tab. You will need this form on embarkation day when you arrive at the cruise terminal.

Note that you can save the Port Arrival Form QR Code to scan on your phone at the port. However, we like to also have a printed copy of the form and prefer to print it as well.

The Port Arrival Form now shows your Muster Station and Boarding Number. (In the past, you did not get this information until you received your Key to the World card in the terminal.)

After choosing your PAT, you can register your child for the kids club appropriate for his/her age. You may also note special needs or dietary restrictions for your child in this section. Additionally, you will need to choose who your child is permitted to disembark the cruise ship with.

Children are not allowed to get off the ship without an adult. However, there may be an adult in a different stateroom with whom your child is permitted to debark. For example, you can choose to allow your child to get off the ship with a grandparent staying in a different stateroom. You may choose to allow this at EVERY port, at just Castaway Cay, or not at all.

More App Features

In addition to the check in process for Disney Cruise Line that we discussed above, the Navigator App is a great resource for additional trip information and tasks.

Cruise Options

In this section of your account, you will see some of the options that were available for you to choose during your Disney cruise booking. This includes your dinner seating time, trip insurance, Disney cruise ground transfers, and special requests.

Note that if you are not happy with your dining time, you can call Disney Cruise Line to ask the cast members to move you to a different seating. If you booked through a travel agent, the agent will need to call to do this. Additionally, you can regularly check the app to see if a more desired seating opens up.

Finally, you can often switch seating times onboard the ship by meeting with crew members in the dining room during the specified changing time. You can find more information in my post: Disney Cruise Dining Rotation Explained .

The next section of your Navigator App displays the itinerary for the cruise you booked. This is where you will see your cruise broken down by day. Some of the important events available onboard will be listed here.

Once you book your activities, you will see them listed in this section as well. You can also click on the Add Activities button on your itinerary to add certain items to your plans.

Disney Cruise Onboard Activities Booking

If you are a first-time cruiser with Disney Cruise Line , you can book some of your cruise activities 75 days before sailing. Under your cruise itinerary on the Navigator App, you will see a section that looks like this:

You can click on each of the categories listed to book cruise activities offered. I will walk you through each of these below.

Disney Port Adventures

When you click on the section for port adventures (aka shore excursions), you will again see your cruise itinerary. Here, you can click on the ports you are scheduled to visit on your cruise. The app then takes you to a page that lists all of the available Disney port adventures at that location.

For example, if your cruise is visiting Castaway Cay , you will see excursions like bicycle rentals, parasailing, fly fishing, etc. After clicking on the port adventure that you want, you will be able to choose the family members that want to take part in that excursion.

Most of the options for port adventures have age restrictions. If you are cruising with a toddler , your available excursions will be narrowed down quite a bit.

The age restrictions are prominently displayed, and you won’t be able to click on the name of any family member not meeting the requirements. Next, you will see the available times for the excursion that you want to select. Choose the time that works best for you, and you’re finished!

Disney Spa & Fitness

When you click on the Spa & Fitness tab, you will be directed to your cruise itinerary. You can then select the day that you would like to book a fitness and spa appointments. Disney Cruise Line offers many activities in this section including facials, massages, manicures, personal training, etc.

Just like the section above, you can choose the activity and time that works best for you!It’s important to note that these appointments come with an additional cost and are not included with your cruise fare.

Onboard Fun

Under Onboard Fun in the Disney Cruise Ling Navigator App, you will find activities like wine tasting, Royal Tea, and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

The princess meet and greet and the Frozen Gathering are also located in this section. These two events are free on your Disney cruise, but you must book a time to attend the character meet and greets because they are so popular.

After clicking on the activity, it’s super simple to choose a day and available time to attend the event. It will then show up in the itinerary section of the app.

When you get on the ship, you just show up at the meet and greet during your scheduled time slot. The cast member at the character meet should have your name on the list.

Adult Dining and Nursery Times

These two sections work the same way as the above activities. Here, you can select the date that is appealing to you. You will then be directed to choose a time for your specified activity, but you should note that you do not pay ahead of time. So, once you book your appointment, it should show up on your itinerary without any further steps.

Final Thoughts on the Disney Cruise Online Check-In Process

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and the Disney Cruise Line website are really helpful tools to use for online check-in. Whether your travel plans include leaving from Port Canaveral, Miami, or another cruise port, the Disney cruise online check in system works the same.

The only difference you may find is that port arrival times can vary depending on the port you are sailing from. We highly suggest downloading the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App prior to online check in since it allows you to easily access your reservation and book cruise activities. 

Once you are on the cruise ship, the Navigator App has even more helpful features, including texting! Once you complete each section in the app as described above, you should see a message that your checkin is pending .

Disney Cruise Line will review the information you entered along with your uploaded documents before confirming that your checkin is complete. You will then be ready to set sail to enjoy your cruise vacation.

We hope you have a magical time onboard the cruise ship and at your ports of call!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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Thank you for such detailed information! I have two rooms to get checked in…do you think I could do both at the same time, just on two different devices? Also, if I leave travel info blank to start (to fill back in later) would I be able to still get a PAT?

I have never checked in for multiple rooms with Disney Cruise Line, but I linked my two rooms on a different cruise line in order check in for both. I just had to toggle back and forth between the two rooms. You will need to fill out the travel info in order to advance to the next page. But, I would fill out the least amount of info as possible in order to advance. Then, I would go back later and correct it all. For example, you could choose the cash option instead of typing in credit card information. And you could select arriving by car rather than typing out all of your flight information. Just don’t forget to go back and update information later. Have a great trip!

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The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

A First Look at Disney Cruise Line’s Revised Online Check-In Process

August Disney Cruise Line sailings are on the horizon (at least as of publication), and guests are entering the 30-day online check-in window for their scheduled voyages. That’s right, you can check-in for your Disney Cruise 30-days prior which is different from the tiered activity booking window based on your Castaway Club Status… I forgot, and while I was prepared to share my experience last night I was quickly reminded of the 30-days so we booked our onboard activities and called it a night.

Thankfully, a friend was actually hitting the 30-day window last night, and offered to share his experience in the event we had different screens based on our Castaway Club statues… Well, kudos to Eddie for saving the day since I completely forgot about the 30-day window for the check-in process.

When you hit that 30-day window and you’ve paid in full, begin the check-in process by filling out cruise documents, registering the kids for youth clubs and selecting a port arrival time, as you’ll need one before you make your way to the cruise terminal. The process begins with you completing the guest information details.

This was the only spot where the process had some issues. The upload photo feature was not working, but Eddie reported he was able to use his webcam to take a photos to complete this section. This could be a browser issue specific to Safari, or just one of those things that still needs some work behind the scenes.

Port Arrival Time

The current earliest time to chose for port arrival was 1:00 PM which placed you in boarding group 3. Until we hear from more readers, it is unclear, but I suspect boarding groups 1 and 2 may be reserved for concierge and Platinum Castaway Club members. The time however, will likely stick around for a while as the resumption of cruise operations roll out as there will undoubtedly be extra sanitation measures required between guest debarking and the embarking passengers. Alternatively, with the new online check-in process and the uploading of travel documents and security photos, we may just get to enter the terminal and if all is in order, walk directly on the ship beginning at 1:00 PM.

At the end of the process, you are provided the Port Arrival Form which the ability to add to a mobile wallet.

Below is a look at the mobile wallet complete with QR code which will surely speed up the port arrival process.

Following the online check-in, it appears you will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line confirming your completed online check-in with a note that they will review the information and will contact you by email to let you know if you are all set to sail, or if they require additional information.

Have you gone through the new online check-in process? What did you think?

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38 Replies to “A First Look at Disney Cruise Line’s Revised Online Check-In Process”

Our family is checked in the August 9th sailing. We are taking the Disney bus transportation to the port, so weren’t given a time versus picking one. They have assigned us to group 2. Not that we really know what that means at this point, but that is what we were given!

Are you either platinum or concierge status? That may explain your group 2. How exciting to be checked in!

Nothing about a vaccination card?

that’s for the 15 day check in for safe passage

We just got checked in for our August 9th cruise!!!!!

Scott – Do you know if you can use a copy of your passport photo to satisfy the photo upload process?

Based on the the the wording –> “cannot be the same photo used on any of the identification documents”, I’d say no. This is the photo they’d typically take with the hand held web cams at the check-in desk at the terminal. Sounds to me they’d prefer a recent photo.

We wonder if DCL will still mail out the cruise booklets? Perhaps this new process eliminate the booklets, we always look forward to those in the mail.

Thanks for notification new checkin is live, very similar to previous online checkin. Fingers crossed we will be sailing again soon.

We were on one of the DCL ships when the Captain made the announcement that when we reached port in a few days all cruise including DCL were being suspended. Very surreal experience! DCL had notified us 2 days before boarding that we could cancel without penalty by just calling a number by the day before sailing. The ship seemed to be about 65% full from normal. Several other passengers said they had tried to cancel but the phone line was busy, so they hoped the ship wouldn’t be crowded. Everything went as normal, there was no issues with our ship but news reports said after the fact but there was with the cruise from NO that went thru PC.

As we lined up to board our ship, they took temperatures and did pull several kids in front of us over for high temps. We had seen them running around while waiting for their time to board. The temp check (contractors) allowed the very distraught boys to wait (under observation) for a few minutes before rechecking their temps. We later saw them on board and all they had needed was a few minutes to cool off after all the running around.

It was hard leaving the ship knowing all the crew members were facing some level of uncertainity. Also there were no people outside the terminal waiting to board the next cruise. We had been notified by our employers the we had to work from home quarteened for 2 weeks because we had “been on a cruise ship!” before returning to the office. Grocery shelves were bare, no toilet tissue, etc. The world had drastically changed while we were on a cruise ship. One year and four months later we’re still working remotely.

Really looking forward to walking through the cruise ship portal so we can return back to the world we left mid-March 2020. Safe and Happy Sailing everyone!

For those of you going on 8/9 cruise, I am super happy for you! I hope it goes well and that we can safely resume sailing in a way that doesn’t shut the place down again. I am pulling for you as we want to go on our cruise later this year.

I meant to include that… I’m just silver!

They stopped mailing the booklets a while ago. For my 2019 cruise we just got an envelope with our luggage tags

When signing up for kids’ clubs, is it as it’s always been, or are they requiring you select specific days and times?

Do we still get to book onboard activities and cabanas at 120 days out for platinum even if we can’t check in until 30 days?

Yes. I’m booked on an October cruise and I was able to book onboard activities and port adventures last month (120 days out).

So, can you use the mobile wallet card/QR code as your Port Arrival Form, or do you still need to print out, sign and bring the form with the bar code at the top, as you did pre-COVID?

Sounds like a very similar check in process as per the UK Staycation cruises. They used a separate company called prenetics to oversee the proof of vaccination (Over 18s), and proof of negative PCR test (under 18s). Though arent I correct in saying that these US cruises dont need proof?

That is currently specific to Florida sailings, but there are workarounds.

We don’t know yet, DCL hasn’t said anything about the USA cruises.

It’ll be interesting to see.To me, it makes sense, however It seems to be a more politically sensitive/contentious topic in the states (at least that is how it is portrayed to us Brits in the media)

Hi, has anyone gotten their luggage tags for the 8/9 cruise? We haven’t gotten ours yet.

What time does check-in start? is it midnight eastern?

Thanks! My window is next week!

what are the cruise protocols, hope no mask requirements on the ship, compared to Carnival, mask not required

These details have not been announced by DCL for U.S. sailings.

What about those who do not wish to upload pictures?

While I do not know for sure, I suspect, you will need to go to a designated check-in line at the port to have the same photo taken.

We checked in for a Disney Magic At Sea UK cruise last week…. it took 7bhiurs ti check in 3 rooks because of the uploading photo issue. We used chrome,;safari, Samsung Internet and Internet explorer…. it was a long day!

Thanks. I realize I will have to sacrifice getting an earlier time slot for boarding, but I just do not have the ability to upload copies of documents or photos. Someone in a fb group mentioned that they didn’t think there was an option for those in my position. In the past we were able to type in our id numbers.

Even pre-pandemic I was given the option to not upload documents/photos on RCCL when they had already had the options in place for those who wanted faster check in.

Do you know someone who could help with that, maybe with a cell phone or with a web cam? Even if they could take the picture and email it to you, it might work that way.

Thank you Beth. I am just not sure I want to send photos of my documents over the internet.

Thank you for posting these screenshots, as they provide far more detail than what Disney is providing to us (even as a TA). I heard the photos have to be JPG; is that true?

Is it possible to upload photos at a later time, or is it required to go to the next step? Looking to focus on PAT and kid club reservations and get that done.

I just checked in for the Thanksgiving week cruise from Miami. The preview was a great help. One item I didn’t have prepared was picture of the passport. The form would suggest it is optional, but the process would not complete without it. FYI, I signed in the first hour of 30 days prior and have a 10:30 arrival and group 3 boarding. My daughter completed her checkin about 6 hours later and has an 11:00 checkin and group 6 boarding. We received the email and completed onboard activity booking but the status is still pending. I expect they are swamped with everyone signing in at 30 days

I don’t have those screens and my 30 day opened today at midnight. I was up until 4am trying to check in and I still cannot check in. It’s been paid in full for months and now I’m on an 81 min. hold with Disney to try and find a solution.

You may be a day early. This happened to me, and I realized my countdown was showing 30 days, but in reality it was still over 30.# days. At the next midnight, it worked.

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Passport photo upload question

• Thread starter jmclester
• Start date Sep 9, 2021

Disney Deddy

• Sep 9, 2021

Anyone having issues with passport upload? Mine has been rejected twice. Cruise leaves on Monday! Any tips on uploading? Lighter or darker background? It doesn't say why it was rejected. I'm about to make a phone call.  

DIS Veteran

They can do it at the port if you never get it to go thru during online checkin. I just snapped a pic with my iPhone and it was accepted.  

Thanks! Hope it doesn't affect my port arrival time. Stayed up til midnight a few weeks ago to get 11am!  

aka WALTSGIRL

I choose to actually scan ours on our printer and saved on my PC. Then emailed to myself to save on my iPad. I noticed too much glare, so scanning didn’t have glare. My passport scans have been accepted on two cruises now.  

OK I will try that if the 3rd attempt doesn't go. Thank you!  

Disneyland_emily

Dumb question- are you including both pages? one of my coworkers only put the picture page and not both pages (picture & signature) once she did that it cleared  

Disneyland_emily said: Dumb question- are you including both pages? one of my coworkers only put the picture page and not both pages (picture & signature) once she did that it cleared Click to expand...

I called DCL and a very nice CM fixed the pictures for me by removing the border that the passport cards were laying on when the picture was taken. She said all was well and sent me a new port arrival form. She said the website would show us cleared for sailing but as of yet it does not. What happens if I get to the port and my online check-in isn't complete?  

• Sep 10, 2021

jmclester said: I called DCL and a very nice CM fixed the pictures for me by removing the border that the passport cards were laying on when the picture was taken. She said all was well and sent me a new port arrival form. She said the website would show us cleared for sailing but as of yet it does not. What happens if I get to the port and my online check-in isn't complete? Click to expand...

Everything was approved, even our headshot photos, except for the passport photo upload three days ago. I keep getting a "Caution: the photos do not meet the requirements........" message. This is even after the DCL CM logged into my account and "fixed" it. Port Arrival form is printed with our QR codes so I suppose that is the important thing. I'm guessing that the Navigator app won't acknowledge us until our online check-in is showing complete. Just one more stressor that I'd like to put to bed before leaving home tomorrow!  

I will continue to try to resolve this and post how it all plays out at the port on Monday because I'm pretty sure we are not the only ones who will experience this.  

It is now put to rest. It was my oversight. In the dropdown menu I had selected "PASSPORT". I have a passport card. The computer CM was recognizing the wrong format. So, once the selection was changed to "PASSPORT CARD" everything took like it was supposed to and I already have the clear to sail email from DCL. Now we just have the port Covid test to sweat! Hope my oversight will help someone on the boards! Thanks to all and pray for safe passage (literally!)!  

BuzzLightyearInTampa

Kwami said: If you got to the point where you can print an arrival form, you're OK. They can rescan your passport at the terminal if they need to. They can take a new photo of you, too. Some folks in another thread were saying that their photos weren't approved until 1-2 days before departure. I have a cruise on 9/20 and the photos that I uploaded almost two weeks ago haven't been approved, either. Patience, I guess! Click to expand...

• Nov 26, 2021
• Nov 27, 2021

hotblooded said: To clarify, it worked when she used both pages (picture & signature)? Click to expand...

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11 Things to Do at Your Disney Cruise Online Check-in

Disclosure: This Disney Cruise online checkin page contains affiliate links. Read  full Disclosure Policy .

You can book activities and reservations for your Disney Cruise online 75 days prior to sail date (if you’re a first time guest) and you can do the official online “check-in” 30 days before your cruise.

These online check-ins for a Disney Cruise are very important steps in making your cruise as magical as it possibly can be. Get this right and you’ll be off to a great start for your cruise !

For simplicity sake, I will refer to this entire process as  online check-in.

I’ve also made an infographic checklist, located at the end of this article.

>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INFOGRAPHIC CHECKLIST BELOW <<

Here are the 11 most important things to do at the time of your Disney Cruise online check-in . Follow these steps to make your check-in smooth and easy.

THE PREP WORK

1. gather this information one day before check-in.

Take some time the day before your Disney Cruise online check-in to gather the following information.

You’re going to need to have it to complete your Disney Cruise online check-in. So it’ll be helpful to have it at-hand.

• Disney Cruise website login and password
• Passports for all cruisers
• Your flights
• Your hotels or Airbnb you will be staying at before and after your cruise
• Credit card to add for incidentals and gratuities 
• File folder or accordion folder (like this ) to store all your important cruise documents

2. Be at Your Computer 5-10 Minutes Before Midnight (EST)

Mark your calendar and make sure you are near a computer at midnight (EST) on your online check-in date.  

Note: Remember this is midnight Eastern Standard Time, so if you are in California that is 9:00pm PST the night before your check-in date.  (e.g. Check-in date is July 3rd at midnight EST would be July 2nd 9pm PST)

3. Login to Disney Cruise Site BEFORE Midnight

Go to the Disney Cruise website and login to your account BEFORE  your cruise online check-in opens at midnight (EST). When midnight strikes, do the following:

• Hover over “My Disney Cruise” tab on the right side of the page
• Then click on “My Online Check-in”
• Now just follow the steps. If you don’t have all your travel information (passports, flights or hotels) at the time of check-in, that’s okay too. You can add it at a later date.   

THE ESSENTIALS

4. select the earliest possible port arrival time.

You can choose your Port Arrival Time. This is the time you should arrive at the terminal port. You’ll go through security, drop off your luggage, and physically check-in for your cruise.

This is the number one thing you can do to ensure you’ll get on the ship as early as possible. Why do you want to be on the ship earlier? To beat the crowds! You and the kids will have the water slides and pools to yourself for awhile. You can get to Guest Services before anyone else. You’ll enjoy exploring the ship with no crowds.

5. Print Your Contract Signature Form

Print it and put it in your Disney folder. You need to take this with you on the cruise.   Tip: I like to use this for all my important documents such as these signature forms, passports, flight itineraries, cruise document booklet etc.  

6. Print Parental Debarkation Authorization Form (if needed)

Disney Cruise Line uses a security system that prohibits children under the age of 18 from getting on/off the ship unless accompanied by an adult in the same stateroom. The Parental Debarkation Authorization form allows you to list all adults that you think might possibly take your child off the ship (e.g. grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings over 18, family friends ). Print it and put in your Disney folder. You can turn it in at physical check-in on your day of sailing.

7. Book Character Meet and Greets

Now go to the “On Board Fun” section and reserve your spot at the Princess Gathering and the Frozen Meet ‘n Greet. These character greetings are free to attend, but you must have a ticket. You’ll meet Disney princesses like Belle, Cinderella, Tiana, and Ariel at the Princess Gathering. At Frozen Meet ‘n Greet, you come face to face with Elsa and Anna. These tickets sell out quickly, so if you’re on the fence, just do it. You can always cancel later.

Also, if you are unable to reserve a ticket at a time you prefer, don’t fret. Disney Cruise Line holds some tickets in reserve to give out once you are on the ship. (These will go fast, so make a visit to Guest Services immediately once you board.)

FINAL STEPS

8. book the special character breakfast (if applicable).

9. Get Palo Reservations (and any other premium dining reservations)

Palo is a premium dining experience on-board every Disney Cruise ship. An additional fee per person is charged and only adults 18 and over are allowed. The food is incredible and the experience is worth it, but seating is limited.  I recommend securing a reservation just before sunset (after dark, you don’t see much) because the seascape and sunset is spectacular.

10. Book Excursions

If you would like you can also start booking your excursions now. Disney will list available Port Adventures and you can secure your spot at online check-in.

11. Reserve Your Spot at It’s a Small World Nursery

Kids ages 3 and under are both cared for and entertained by Disney counselors at the It’s a Small World Nursery . Naps, games, crafts, and movies are all part of the nursery activities. 

Unlike the other clubs, an additional fee applies for the nursery. Currently rates are $9 per hour for the first child, $8 per hour for any additional children in your family. Reservations are required, but you may cancel without penalty up to four hours before your reservation. So you might as well lock up your Nursery times early. 

Here are some times that makes sense to have a nursery reservation:

• During the nightly shows. If you think your little one might be fussy, just get a reservation so you don’t miss the show.
• Palo or Remy reservations. No kids allowed in these premium dining experience.
• Spa treatments.  This should be obvious.
• A day at sea to yourself. How about scheduling some “downtime” just for you?
• Castaway Cay. Sometimes the little one doesn’t enjoy the sand and sun as much as you do.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

You’re putting so much time, planning, and money into your Disney Cruise vacation that it just makes sense to master this really important step of your Disney cruise online check-in. By following each of the 11 steps listed above,  you will be way ahead in your planning for your Disney Cruise.

PRO-TIP: PIN FOR LATER

Below, you’ll find my infographic checklist to print to have by your side on the day of your Disney Cruise online check-in.

If that’s a long ways out, I suggest you add it to your Pinterest board for later (you do have a Disney Cruise board on Pinterest , don’t you??)

Since the restart, everyone does online check-in 30 days prior to their sail date

Photo Packages on Disney Cruise Line – Frequently Asked Questions

You’re going on a Disney Cruise. Yayyy!

Most folks are going to want to document some of that fun with photos. You can, of course, use your own phone or camera to take pictures, but like the Disney theme parks, there are professional photo packages available. Here’s what you need to know.

Do I have to have my photo taken while on a Disney Cruise?

Currently, no onboard DCL photo is mandatory. If you hate being photographed, or are 100% certain that you will never buy a photo, then feel free to wave off the photographers and go about your business.

That being said, there may be some situations where it’s simply easier to smile and say cheese rather than go into a lengthy explanation about why you think your hair looks frightening when exposed to salt water. If you don’t opt to buy the pictures, they’ll simply be deleted at the end of your sailing and no one will see them

Why would I want someone else to take my photos?

A few reasons why you might want someone else to take some of your vacation photos include:

• You want everyone in your party to be included in the photos.
• You know that you’re not a good photographer.
• You want to have your photos printed with special Disney borders.

How much do DCL photo packages cost?

Just like in the Disney theme parks, you’re welcome to pose for photos for free. But if you want to download any pictures or keep any of the images taken by the onboard professional photographers, you’ll have to pay.

There are a variety of price points, but the most common is the all-inclusive photo package. These packages include the digital files of all the photos you have taken onboard. Depending on the length of your sailing, the size of your party, and how aggressive you are about putting yourself in front of the photographers, this could be anywhere from a dozen to several hundred pictures.

Prices vary based on the itinerary and number of nights of the cruise. In recent months, I’ve encountered prices of $349.95 for a six-night sailing and $229.95 for a three-night sailing.

Note: package prices are per stateroom, or possibly per two staterooms if you’re traveling with minor children (more on this below).

That seems like a lot, are there ways to make the photo package less expensive?

The prices above are the rates for photo packages purchased onboard the ships.

There is a small price break (often 10-15%) for buying your photo package online in advance of your trip. You can do this in the Cruise Activities activities section of the DCL website after you’ve paid in full for your sailing and your activity booking window has opened. (Activity booking windows are based on your Castaway Club status .) Advance photo booking must be completed at least three days prior to sailing in order to get the price break.

Pearl Castaway Club members (guests who have completed 25 or more sailings) are given a free photo package as part of their benefits, but other than that there are no discounts other than the early purchase rate.

You can, however, make the package more valuable by taking advantage of the photographers as much as possible. My family tends to buy the photo package on every second or third sailing. On sailings where we know we’re buying the package, we make a game of seeing how many photos we can have the onboard photographers take of us.

Will taking lots of photos take too much of my time?

Depending on the itinerary and your interests, it might.

Let’s say you’re on a three night sailing with no sea days and you have lots of things to do in port. In this case, you’ll have limited hours on the ship itself. Do you want these hours to be consumed primarily with finding enough photo opportunities to make your package “worth it”?

At the other end of the spectrum, you might be on a 12-night repositioning cruise with half a dozen sea days and not much of import on your agenda. In that case, you might end up acquiring dozens or even hundreds of photos with barely a blip in your day. Most cruisers are somewhere in the middle.

Is this a once-in-lifetime family reunion during the holidays? Probably buy the package.

Are you couple of frequent DCL cruisers on a quick 3-night jaunt. Maybe don’t buy the package.

The choice is up to you.

I’m traveling with a larger party, can everyone be included in my photo package?

Not exactly.

In most cases, photo packages are allotted one per stateroom. However, cruise staterooms are tiny. It’s common for even small parties to book multiple staterooms to give everyone more personal space. And of course larger parties may be booked across a similarly large number of cabins.

Let’s start with the easiest example, two parents and two or more minor children staying in two staterooms. If you have two staterooms as part of the same booking, and guests under age 21 are in the second stateroom, the photos for both staterooms will show up in one package. This should happen automatically, but in my experience it often takes a trip to the onboard Shutters photo desk to make it happen.

In another example, I recently traveled on the Disney Wish with friends. They were in one stateroom and I (an adult) was in my own stateroom, but our reservations were linked and we ate dinner together and participated in some Port Adventures together. My friends opted to purchase the photo package and I did not. During our sailing, I posed in many photos with them. The pictures of us together (with me in them) were included in their photo package. Photos of just me were not included in their package. Once my friend downloaded her photos, she was welcome to share them with me, but none of these would be my own individual shots because I did not opt to buy them.

The upshot is – a purchased package is exclusive to the stateroom, but other people can be in the image. As long as at least one person from the stateroom with a purchased package is in the photo, then that photo will be included in their purchase.

My own children are now all over age 21. If my husband and I were traveling on DCL with them and we were in one stateroom and they were in another and I bought the photo package, their pictures would not be included in my package unless my husband or I were in the photo. If I wanted to get their pictures as well, I could do this at 50% discount (off the onboard purchase price) by stopping at the Shutters photo desk during my sailing.

Are there options if I just want a few photos?

DCL offers different sizes of photo packages. Depending on the sailing, you may be able to buy a package of just 10, 15, or 20 pictures, rather than an unlimited package.

You can also buy individual pictures, though the fewer shots you buy, the higher the per-photo cost will be. If you’re waffling between a total photo package and a smaller package, take a minute to look at the pricing for your sailing and figure out the break point number of photos you’d have to take to make the full package “pay out”.

Typically single photo downloads cost about $21, packages of 10 cost about $150, and packages of 20 cost about $250.

How does Disney get the onboard photos into your account?

Two ways. For many photos, you’ll tap your DCL Key to the World Card (room key) or DisneyBand+ on a reader held by the photographer. In other cases, DCL will automatically link pictures to your account via facial recognition. There can be glitches with this leading to either missing or extraneous photos. If you have an issue that needs to be resolved, stop by the Shutters photo desk during your sailing.

Can I get prints of my photos onboard?

Pre-pandemic, onboard photos were routinely printed for all guests.

Currently you can buy prints of your photos, in a limited number of sizes and quantities. You’ll likely save money by buying the digital files and printing them at home yourself or having them printed via any of the dozens of places that do photo printing: CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc.

How are the photos formatted?

Standard aspect ratios of photos in the US are 4″x6″, 5″x7″, or 8″x10″. If you you print photos via any of the services above, those will likely be your options. DCL takes many of its photos in a 6″x8″ ratio, this means that there may be some unintentionally wonky cropping when you have your pictures printed.

Additionally, Disney slaps some sort of border or identifying information on every photo it takes. In some cases this will be a teeny trademark symbol, but most of the time the border is a larger, showing the name of the ship, the location your sailing to, a holiday or special event that’s being celebrated onboard, or the name of a ship’s restaurant.

Can I get my photos without the DCL borders?

Nope. Disney reeeeeeealy wants their logo on your pictures. That said, once you have the digital download in your possession, you’re welcome to crop out their border/logo. Depending on the picture, this may be easier said than done.

Am I better off ordering a photo book?

DCL does offer a photo book product, typically priced at $149.95 regardless of the length of your cruise. Photo books can include up to 34 pictures. This seems like it would be a good deal, you get to have 30+ images for the typical price of a ten image photo download package. However, I have heard near universal complaints about the photo books – everything from missing pictures to extremely poor image and paper quality. You may just be better off buying the downloads and making your own photo book via one of the photo printing services mentioned above.

If you choose the photo book option, the book will be delivered to your home several weeks after your sailing, adding a level of challenge to any remediation you might need.

Are there other photo products available for purchase?

Yes, DCL offers mugs, mousepads, plaques, and other items imprinted with your photos. You can order these on the ships or via the DCL photo website. In either case your items will be delivered to your home several weeks after you disembark.

If you’ve purchased a digital download of your photos, you’re also welcome to order similar products from any of the many independent photo printing services, typically at a lower cost.

Where are the onboard photos taken?

You’ll begin encountering photographers even before you board. Expect to find photographers in the embarkation port terminal. They’ll be stationed in front of DCL logoed backdrops.

On many cruise nights, you’ll find stations for general family photography. These are either staged photos opportunities in a dramatic setting (the lobby atrium stairs) or staged photo opportunities with a Sears-Portrait-Studio-style fabric backdrop. Backdrops range from inoffensive and nondescript solid colors, to in-your-face (literally) photos of the ships.

Photographers will visit also every restaurant on the ship on select nights. This usually includes formal night and pirate night (if there is one), plus additional nights on longer sailings or specially themed sailings. They’ll stop by each table and will take as many shots as you want. Feel free to ask for group and individual pictures.

Photos are taken during meals? Won’t we get lots of gross half eaten food in the shots?

The photographers are quite good at capturing faces without getting a lot of visual noise in the shot. They’ll often tell you to move some glasses to reduce clutter in the frame. If you see a photographer coming, you can help by moving some of your meal detritus out of the way.

Are there character photo opportunities on the ships?

Of course there are! (It’s Disney, what did you expect.) Character meet & greet photo opportunities are listed on daily Navigator app and on video screens around the ship’s lobby.

With some exceptions, the character photo process is essentially the same on the ships as it is in the Disney theme parks. Guests form a queue to meet the character. When it’s your turn, you approach the character, pose, and the photographer takes your picture. The photographer will scan your Key To The World card (your stateroom key) or DisneyBand+ to link your photo to your stateroom account.

If you’re interested in the complete scoop on onboard characters, check out our full FAQ post on this topic.

Are there any places off the ship where I’ll find ship photographers?

Weather permitting, there will be at least a few photographers available when the DCL ships dock at Castaway Cay (and presumably at Lighthouse Point when it opens). On rare occasion, you may find a DCL photographer stationed outside the ship in another port. For example, during a Mediterranean voyage, I encountered DCL photographers on the disembarkation pier when leaving the ship at Villefranche and Civitavecchia.

Are photos taken on my excursions included in my photo package?

Many guests choose to take Port Adventures (excursions) while they’re docked in port. Some of these excursions may include a photography element. For example, if you’re swimming with dolphins, the tour provider will almost certainly have a photography component of the event. Be aware that these photos will NOT be included in your DCL onboard photo package. Unless your Adventure description specifically states that photos are included in the excursion price, the photos will be an extra charge (sometimes a substantial extra charge) over the price you’ve already paid for the excursion.

How can I look at the photos taken on board?

Every DCL ship has an area of electronic kiosks where you can view your pictures. In addition to the kiosks, there is a Shutters photo desk on every ship. You can tap your Key to the World Card or DisneyBand+ on the kiosk reader and you’ll be able to view the shots taken during your sailing.

During Shutters open hours (which will be posted on the Navigator app and on the Shutters desk), you can ask questions or buy products in person.

How can I access my photos once I buy a package?

DCL now uses an electronic download system.

If you’ve purchased pictures, go to https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/photos and you’ll be able to access your photos and download them to your phone, tablet, or computer. Log into this site with your Disney web credentials. Click the Link option at the top right of the screen. Enter your Castaway Club ID and click the Link Photos button. Everyone is automatically assigned a unique Castaway Club ID number during their first DCL cruise.

If you don’t have a Disney web account prior to cruising, you’ll need to create an account and link your Castaway Club ID to see your photos. To find your Castaway Club ID, log into http://disneycruise.disney.go.com . Under the Already Booked tab, click My Profile in the My Account section. Then click Membership & Passes.

Photos expire and are no longer available for download or purchase 45 days after they are taken. Note: This is not 45 days after you disembark. Photos taken on the first day of your sailing will expire before photos taken on the last day of your sailing. 

I want to have a private photo session. Is this available?

In addition to the standard photo packages, DCL also has an onboard portrait studio. Private portrait sessions photos are not included in the regular packages. Prices are steep – starting at about $600 for a just a handful of images (though there is no fee to sit for the photo session). You can book portrait sessions in the Onboard Activities section of the DCL app after you’ve paid in full for your sailing and your booking window opens. There may also be opportunities to book this experience while you’re on the ship.

Additional information on the DCL website includes:

• Private sessions last approximately 30 minutes.
• We recommend that groups larger than 6 Guests book 2 consecutive sessions.
• Portraits are professionally shot in an artistic black-and-white format (color is not available).
• There is no sitting fee and no obligation to purchase the images created.
• While many Guests prefer to schedule their shoots for formal evenings, more casual attire is perfect

I’m sailing DCL with a special event like a wedding. What do I do about photos?

There may be special rates available or required for events. Speak to your DCL event planner for details.

Do DCL photo packages ever “sell out”?

No. The photo package is available to everyone on board. The advantage of booking online in advance is simply the modest price break.

What happens if I bought the photo package in advance, but I don’t like the photos that were taken onboard?

As long as you have not yet downloaded any photos, you can go to the Shutters photo desk on your ship and you can have your purchase cancelled and refunded. Cancellations must happen on the ship.

Use the onboard photo kiosks to see whether you like the photos that have been taken.

Will the ship photographers take pictures with my camera?

The photographers themselves usually won’t do this. However, during some character greeting photo ops, there will be an assistant available who will be happy to use your camera to take a few shots. In my experience, they often don’t take much care to compose the shot well. They’ll get the job done, but it may not be pretty.

Other DCL guests are often happy to help with photography. If you want a photo of your entire group and there is no ship photographer available or you’ve chosen not to buy ship photos, then it couldn’t hurt to ask a passing guest if they’ll use your phone/camera to take a shot or two. It’s then polite to offer to reciprocate.

This topic gives me an opportunity to annoy you all with one of my favorite DCL stories. The photo below was taken on New Years Eve 2019 onboard the Disney Fantasy. The ship’s photographers (on the lower left) were still setting up and we wanted a photo with the tree in the background. I flagged down a teenage girl walking out of the Royal Court restaurant (teen girls always take the best photos) and asked her if she had a moment to take a photo of our family. As it turned out the girl was a daughter of Bobby Lopez and Kirsten Anderson-Lopez, the composing team behind Frozen and countless other musical theater masterpieces. She was happy to help, but Bobby arrived a moment later and ended up taking my phone and snapping a dozen shots for us. You never know who you’ll meet on a Disney cruise. 

How good are the onboard photos? What’s the quality like?

Quality is in the eye of the beholder. I’ve found that most of the DCL onboard photos are adequate to good, but rarely excellent.

As a compare/contrast, see the two photos below. The one with the Disney Dream logo was taken by a DCL photographer and included with the photo package we purchased. I took the non-logoed photo with my iPhone 13 about two seconds later. Neither of them are particularly good or bad.

I’m trying to book a photo package online in advance of my sailing, but it’s not available for the first day of my cruise. Does this mean those pictures won’t be part of my package?

This sometimes happens. Don’t worry about it. Just book the photo package online once, on whatever day you happen to see it. The package will include photos taken of everyone in your stateroom for the entire duration of your sailing.

Are there limits to what I can do with the photos I have taken onboard?

There is some legalese that you agree to when you buy a photo package. You should read it yourself, but the upshot is that you’re fine to use your downloaded photos for nearly any personal purpose: post them on your social media, print a photo to hang over your mantle, use the photo on your holiday card, etc.

You are not allowed to use the DCL photographer photos for commercial purposes. If you’re thinking about selling something with a DCL photographer image on it, make sure you’re complying with the legal agreement and consult counsel if necessary.

I’m doing a land/sea vacation, Walt Disney World and a Disney cruise, can I get one photo package that covers both parts of my vacation?

Unfortunately not. If you want photo plans for both halves of your travels, you’ll need to buy them separately.

I’m back at home an  have had a change of heart. Can I buy a DCL photo package after I’ve disembarked?

Unfortunately not. Once you’re off the ship, your opportunity to buy photos from your sailing is over.

If you’re looking for additional advice and planning assistance with any Disney Cruise Line sailing, be sure to check out the  Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line .

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

One thought on “ Photo Packages on Disney Cruise Line – Frequently Asked Questions ”

Photographers seemed a bit AWOL on my recent 6 night Disney Wonder cruise over New Years . I had prepaid a digital pack, and only had about 12 photos taken. The photographers missed my small family at dining and deck parties, and only took two or three photos each time we lined up to meet character (they were also not present at any Marvel character we met). When I asked about dining photos at Pirate night the photographer begrudgingly snapped one. Luckily I remembered I could cancel the package onboard. But it was a little distressing during my vacation that I had almost no photos taken.

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Disney Cruise Photo Package – What You Need to Know

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If you’re about to, or thinking about going on a Disney cruise, you may be wondering which is the right photo option for you! 

Disney cruises offer several different photo package options, and to help you out, I have put together this handy guide to tell you everything you need to know, including;

• An overview of Disney cruise photographers
• How to find your Disney cruise photos
• Whether the Disney cruise photos are any good
• How to buy Disney cruise photos 
• How much the packages cost
• The Disney cruise photo book
• How to get the most out of your Disney cruise photo package.

Let’s get into it!

Disney Cruise Photo Package Overview

Here is our complete guide to all the options of the Disney Cruise Photo Package to help you decide if it is worth it.

Learn some things along the way which will help you make the most out of your Disney Cruise Photo Package.

Disney Cruise Photographers

Even in the Disney cruise port terminal, you will have your first chance to have a picture for your Disney cruise photo package.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be there for you while you are waiting to board.

When you board a Disney cruise the first thing you do is hand your Key To The World Card to be swiped to show you have entered the ship.

I have to confess I am not the most enthusiastic person about stopping for that embarkation photo.

However, it is often the very best one we have taken for the cruise. I know that feeling of just wanting to get on board the ship as soon as possible, but take a couple of minutes to stop for a photo and you will be glad that you did.

Photographers are everywhere on the ship.

Every character greeting you go to you will find a photographer. You can always use your own camera. However, there will also be a professional on hand.

They also set up lots of photo backgrounds around the ship.

You can even have your photo taken with the captain on certain sailings!

You can see which backgrounds they are setting up so you can choose which one you like.

The lines for photography on a formal night on a Disney cruise are always the longest.

If you want a formal night photo be aware that you may be standing in line for quite a while.

101 Disney Cruise Tips You Need To Know

How Do You Find Your Disney Cruise Photos?

Disney Cruise Line makes it very easy for you to see your photos.

On every ship (exepct Disney Wish) on Deck 4, there is a Shutters photo area.

There you will find digital kiosks where you can view your photos.

All you need to do is swipe your Key To The World and all the photos which are in their system will be displayed.

How do they know who you are?

They have a digital facial recognition system which in theory puts all of your photos in your account so that you can view them on the kiosk.

I say in theory because it doesn’t always work.

If you think that photos are missing the Shutters staff can help you find them. Just inquire at the desk.

Another way to make sure that your photos definitely make it into your account is to hand the photographer your Key To The World Card.

This then links the photos with your account.

All of your Disney cruise photos used to be printed out.

This is not the case anymore.

They have gone fully digital and your photos are all available to view on the Shutters kiosk.

This is located on Deck 4 of all of the Disney ships (except Disney Wish).

Join my Disney Cruise Group for Tips and Free Giveaways!

Are The Disney Cruise Photos Any Good?

Photos are of course an amazing way to capture the memories of your Disney Cruise. My house is filled with photos from past cruises.

The photographers are generally good. Not outstanding.

However, given that they are working quickly and often with very large parties, they do a good job. They have the advantage over you in that they have worked out the lighting and the best angles.

You really should have as many photos taken as you can just so you can see which ones you like.

Having said that I am not a big fan of the backgrounds that Shutters use sometimes.

The borders around the photos are often just not to my taste.

Unfortunately, you do not have the option to choose to remove or change the borders. I am not sure why in the age of digital ease but you get what you are given with the borders.

I am sure that one day soon that will change but at the moment there is no option to choose a different one.

It’s great also that you actually get a complete family or group photo.

I know that there are such things as selfie sticks but nothing beats a great photo of the whole family having fun on a Disney cruise.

If Minnie Mouse is with you then that’s even better!

How Do You Buy Disney Cruise Photos?

There are a number of ways that you can buy Disney cruise photos.

If you know you are going to want a Disney cruise photo package then the best way is to purchase it online before you sail on your cruise.

You can do this up to 48 hours before you sail. See below for prices and the Shutters website.

You can also buy a package or individual photo at any time that the Shutters desk is open. Just like anything on a Disney cruise, the amount will be charged automatically to your onboard stateroom account.

What you absolutely must do is purchase the photos that you want whilst you are still onboard your Disney cruise.

Once you have left the ship it is too late.

There is no going back to reorder!

My advice is to choose whatever photos you want prior to the last evening on the ship.

If you try and buy on the last evening of your cruise you are going to be with crowds of people and wait in a long line.

Just really try and avoid it.

That is not how you want to spend the last evening on your cruise.

Disney Cruise Line Photo Package For More Than One Stateroom

This is where people get very confused.

However, it’s simple if you break it down!

Often families or groups stay in more than one stateroom on a Disney cruise

They want to know how to make the Disney cruise line photo package work most economically for them.

The general rule is that it is one package per stateroom. Say you have one stateroom with your kids and the grandparents have a separate stateroom.

This is a pretty common setup on a Disney cruise.

However, you can’t combine a Disney Cruise Photo Package with two staterooms (with certain exceptions I will explain below).

Say for your embarkation photo you have a group photo with all the family. Parents, kids, and grandparents. Just the parents get the package.

The picture will show up in the parent’s and the grandparent’s accounts on the Shutters kiosk.

Facial recognition or the swiping of the Key To The World will make sure they know who you are.

However, if the parents have bought a package they can get it for their account. The grandparents can’t.

If the grandparents decide to get a photo of just the two of them it will not be on the account if just the parents bought it for their stateroom.

Remember. It’s about the stateroom – if you don’t have someone in the photo who has a package it will not be included in the package.

However, if the grandparents decide to get a photo with the kids, that photo will be included on the parent’s stateroom account.

It’s all about who is in the photo.

The package is exclusive to the stateroom but just so long as someone from that stateroom is in the picture and you have bought a package, it will be available as part of what you bought.

There is an exception.

A lot of families travel with parents in one stateroom and kids in another. Just so long as there is one person over 18 in each stateroom this is allowed.

The exception for kids being in another stateroom is for any “children” aged under 21. This is a great exception if you are traveling with older offspring as well!

If you have 2 or more staterooms and your children aged 17 or under are in a stateroom they will be included in the package. That’s easy.

How does this work?

Let’s say Dad is in one room with the 5-year-old and Mom is in the other stateroom with the 12-year-old. If Mom or Dad had a Disney cruise photo package linked to their stateroom, pictures from both staterooms would be included.

To make sure this works you do have to visit Shutters on the first day of your Disney cruise. They can explain what the position is.

There is another way to get a discount if your family is traveling in 2 staterooms. The first stateroom can buy the Disney cruise photo package online.

Then once you get on board the second stateroom family can buy the package at a 50% discount.

However, this isn’t quite as good as it sounds.

This is 50% of the onboard price. Therefore you do not get 50% off the online discounted rate. You get 50% off the higher price onboard. It is still a discount. Just perhaps not as great as it seems at first.

How Much Do Disney Cruise Photo Packages Cost?

When it comes to the price of the Disney cruise photo packages, there are several different options. 

The first option is to buy individual prints. This is where Disney will print your selected photos for you, which you can take as a keepsake from your magical cruise. 

Alternatively, rather than receiving hard copies of the photos, you can opt for the digital option. This means you choose which photos you would like to buy, but they are sent to you digitally for you to print how you wish. 

Typically, both the digital and photo prints are billed similarly. The prices for the different options are as follows; 

Furthermore, if you do not wish to select just a few photos from your cruise, you can opt for a length of sailing Disney Cruise Photo Package!

This package gives you access to every single photo you take while on board on a USB, which can be exceptional value for money if you end up taking many photos. 

If you pay for your package before your sailing, you can expect the following prices:

However, if you pay onboard, the prices will be slightly higher: 

Disney Cruise Photo Book

Another great option is the Disney Cruise Photo Book.

The price if you buy it online at Our Cruise Photos is $139.95.

If you purchase it onboard it is $149.95

There is also a Shipping Charge of $10 for the Continental United States, Alaska & Hawaii.

All other countries are $15.

You can add up to 34 photos to your Disney Cruise Photo Book.

This is a really good way to make sure that you get a good selection of your Disney cruise photos to keep.

It’s a lot of fun putting together your Disney Cruise Photo Book. You can do this at the Shutters kiosk.

It’s easy to change photos in and out of your Disney Cruise Photo Album and arrange them on the page as you want to. Don’t leave this until the last moment.

The Shutters area on the Disney ships is very crowded on the last evening. Don’t leave it that late.

I suggest that you keep looking at your photos every day so you know what is there and start arranging them in the Disney Cruise Photo Book. You do not want to be leaving all of this to the last evening of the cruise.

Shutters will be crammed full of people on the final evening and you may feel pressured to get it done. It’s a lot easier to do it a bit at a time. You can always rearrange things if you get photos that you prefer.

I actually think that the Photo Book is a reasonable option as you do get to have a lot of printed memories for a reasonable price. However, if you prefer to put your pictures on display this is obviously not the best option as they are all in a book.

How To Get The Most Out of Your Disney Cruise Photo Package

A Disney Cruise Photo Package is pricey. There is no denying that. Some people think it is an amazing value. Others think it is a huge expense. Only you can decide which view is your view.

However, if you do decide to get the Disney Cruise Photo Package there are ways to make it more valuable.

By getting more photos taken.

It is one thing to pay $349.95 for 10 photos on a USB but quite another if you get 100 photos!

How can you maximize the number of photos in your Disney Cruise Package? There are so many photo ops you really can go all out and maximize it.

We have heard of guests having 800 photos on a 14-night cruise.

Not sure if you would actually get a chance to sleep if you were having your photo taken that many times. However, it definitely is possible.

The secret is planning.

You know that every day on the cruise there will be photographers out setting up backgrounds.

Go and take a walk before the first seating of dinner and see what your options are.

Arrive early so you minimize the time spent in line.

Sometimes the photographers will be in your rotational dining room .

They always suggest what pictures they take.

For instance, they may say a photo of you as a couple, as a family, and then separate photos of the children.

Ask for what you want. If you want extra ones tell the photographer.

It is not going to take much extra time, but it will mean that you get more photos in your account.

Disney photographers are even found on Disney Castaway Cay . 

You may be floating along in your inner tube in the ocean and see a photographer approach. Go and seek them out.

If you want a family photo then set one up.

Photo of you and your significant other? Ask for one.

The photographers want to sell as many photographs as possible so they are happy to oblige.

In my experience, a lot of people ignore them on Castaway Cay. So go for it. You may get a great Castaway Cay picture for your Disney Cruise Photo Package.

Character greetings are often the best chance you have to get a really great photo for your Disney Cruise Package.

Every day the character greetings are posted on the Navigators App.

If you want to be even more organized and plan further in advance use the Disney Cruise Navigator App so that you can see where the characters will be more than one day in advance.

Mickey and Minnie appear most often in lots of different costumes. I love the Golden Mickeys costumes for Mickey and Minnie.

However, if you want to have your photograph taken with one of the more minor characters, say Peter Pan or Captain Hook this takes a little more planning as they don’t appear as often.

If you have your heart set on a photo with Captain Jack Sparrow he appears on Castaway Cay as well as on Pirate Night.

You do need to plan ahead to seek out the Disney characters which appear less often.

It is so much easier to get a picture with a Disney character on a cruise than at Disney parks.

You can wait for less time.

In air-conditioned comfort.

Make the most of it and get as many photos as you can.

Then the value of the Disney Cruise Photo Package really kicks in.

Will you be buying a Disney cruise photo package? Let me know in the comments below.

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Monday 22nd of April 2024

I just inquired about the photo book. I was told that they no longer offer it pre cruise price of $139. We love the photo book. We have purchased the photo books on our last 4 cruises.

Wednesday 14th of February 2024

You forgot to mention the "Magic Photos" I did several on my Disney Cruise & loved them. You night feel a bit silly holding your hands out but you never know what or who will be in them later. And the multi pic is cool too

Monday 1st of January 2024

Thank you for all the information! Do you know if you have a Disney Annual Pass with the photo package, does it apply to photos taken on the Disney ships? Or will I have to buy a totally a separate photo package for on board?

Tuesday 2nd of January 2024

Glad that you enjoyed the information! The parks and cruises are separate so even as an Annual Pass Holder you will have to purchase a separate package for the cruise. You may like to join my Disney Cruise Facebook Group for lots more information about all aspects of your cruise https://www.facebook.com/groups/309675872918213

Friday 27th of October 2023

I am confused - do you have to buy the package before the cruise, or can you pose for photos, see if you like any of them, and then buy a 10-photo package?

You can buy the package up to 3 days before the cruise to get a discount. If you buy it on the cruise the price is higher. However way you buy it if you see the photos and you don't want a package any more, and you haven't downloaded any photos , you can go to Shutters on the ship and ask to cancel the package.

Tonya Moctezuma

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

Single mom, so I’m never in any pictures. So I will be buying the unlimited package, so I can have lots of photos of me and my kids.

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I have seen how to get the USB for PhotoPass in the parks, but exactly when and where would I get the USB on the cruise? And I can't seem to find the pricing anywhere. We will be doing a 4 night on the Wish this July. TIA! ”

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Things To Do Before A Disney Cruise

I f you are planning on taking a Disney cruise, it can be a little overwhelming to think of everything that you need to do before you leave. But preparing in advance will make for an even better experience, so check out this list of things to do before a Disney cruise, and get ready to cruise! Once you get on board, you’ll want to relax and enjoy your vacation.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and purchasing and/or clicking on some of the links (or calling the number) in this post may result in a commission paid to us at no additional expense to you. We have traveled on one media cruise and two cruises as part of Disney Social Media Moms. I’ve paid full price for thirteen additional cruises over the years.

Things to Do Before A Disney Cruise

Get your dining time booked.

The Disney Cruise Line offers two meal times – the main seating (between 5:45 pm and 6:15 pm) and the second seating (between 8 pm and 8:30 pm). The first seating fills up quickly, so if that’s what you want, be sure to reserve it early – when you book your cruise vacation.

A waiting list is available if you are unable to find the time you want. Additionally, you can request to switch meal times once onboard. However, it’s easiest to do it in advance.

If you don’t get the time that you want, don’t worry. We typically eat pretty early at home, and once ended up with the later time because we booked our cruise last minute.

It was fine, however. Because the nightly shows generally run at the opposite times as dinner, you’re either going to eat late or watch the show late. There are lots of places to grab a quick bite if you get hungry before your seating.

Plan Your Hotel the Night Before

If you are flying into your port of call, I recommend arriving the night before. That way, you won’t have to worry about flight delays and can schedule an earlier onboard time (if that’s something you’ll need to do). During our 2022 sailing, our bags were left behind in Boston. It was great to have that extra day to wait for them to arrive before boarding.

When staying overnight, you can choose to stay by the port, at the airport, at Walt Disney World (if cruising out of Port Canaveral), or somewhere else in the area.

When we cruise out of Port Canaveral, we stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport . See reviews on TripAdvisor .

During my cruise on the Disney Magic, we decided to stay near the Miami airport at a Homewood Suites. It had a free shuttle from the airport, and is a quick ride to the Miami Cruise Port. Alternatively, you could choose to stay in South Beach, right in the center of the action. We enjoyed our stay at the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse South Beach .

Book Transportation to the Port

If you are flying to your port, you’ll need to get to the port somehow. Disney shuttle buses are available for an additional fee (depending on the port), or you can rent a car and drive to the port yourself (remember that parking at the port is available, but costs extra).

Private transportation, including car services or Uber, is also an option. For Port Canaveral, I find that Disney transportation is the best option, because it’s easy and convenient. You can also book one-way transportation if you aren’t going directly back to the airport or Walt Disney World.

Check-In As Soon As You Can

When you complete the Disney Cruise check in process, you can choose your onboard time (those who book transportation through Disney will no longer choose an onboard time) and book your excursions and special dinners.

So, when can you check in to your Disney cruise? Silver Castaway Club members (one cruise) can check in 33 days before sailing, gold members (five cruises) can check in 35 days before sailing, platinum members (ten cruises) can check in 38 days before sailing and pearl members (twenty-five cruises) can check in 40 days before sailing.

If this is your first cruise, you’ll need to wait until 30 days before sailing. Since the earlier onboard times are typically taken first sure to check in as soon as possible.

Additionally, there’s a separate booking window for reserving port excursions (including the ever-popular Castaway Cay cabanas ), adult dining, and other onboard experiences. Silver Castaway Club members (one cruise) can book 90 days before sailing, gold members (five cruises) can check in 105 days before sailing, platinum members (ten cruises) can check in 120 days before sailing and pearl members (twenty-five cruises) can check in 123 days before sailing.

Why check in early? Some excursions and Palo times do book up in advance, so you’ll get the best availability by booking early. It’s also extremely difficult to get a cabana at Castaway Cay, so you’ll want to try for one as soon as you can if you want one.

When you check-in, you’ll also fill out the guest information form and the payment authorization form for your onboard purchases, and upload your passport and headshot. Be ready with all of those things for your entire family when you check-in.

Schedule Your Excursions and Any Special Meals

When your booking window opens, you are also able to book port excursions and meals at Palo and Remy/Enchante (if your ship has Remy or Enchante). Again, these are all limited, so book as soon as possible.

You are usually not charged right away – but confirm that when booking. Changes can often be made, but you’ll want to have a good idea of what you want to do and availability may be limited when you go back in to make changes.

I’d recommend doing some research on your ports of call well before your booking window opens. Decide what types of things you want to do at each location. You’ll have lots of options, from educational things to more adventurous activities. Some families may decide to do a mix of things during their cruise.

You don’t necessarily need to do an excursion at each port. Some people choose to stay onboard because the ship can be much quieter with most people gone.

You can also opt to do your own thing – by taking a cab or just walking around the port. Research that first, however, because you want to make sure it’s safe, that you won’t get lost, and that you can definitely make it back to the ship in time for all aboard.

Booking an excursion from the cruise line can be the safer option with regards to getting back on the ship before it leaves. It will also be refunded if your cruise has to miss that port for weather or other reasons.

Special Services

If you need special services on board, like a Sharps box, a communication kit (for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing), or a wheelchair-accessible room, you can fill out a form you’ll find online during the check-in process. Because my daughter has food allergies, I like to make sure that it is noted on our reservation.

You’ll also want to call if you have any special requests. Guarantees aren’t offered, but you can always request a specific dining rotation or server. On our second sailing of the Disney Fantasy, I called and requested our favorite server who we had on our first sailing.

He was still on the ship, and they were able to make sure we got assigned to him. Of course, crew members are always moving around, so there’s no guarantee that your favorite will still be on board.

If you have a specific restaurant you love, and your cruise is at least 4 days, you may want to request that you eat at that spot more than 2 or 3 times. My kids love Animator’s Palate, so we’ve asked to be assigned to that restaurant three times on a seven-day sailing.

Sign Kids Up for Youth Clubs

Disney Cruise Line’s kids’ club is free to attend, but you’ll save time by registering your children in advance. Don’t worry – you won’t have to select attendance times! Once your kids are registered and have their bands, they can go in and out as many times as you’d like.

There are also open house times on the first day where you can go in and see what the clubs are like.

Fish Extenders

Fish extenders are totally optional, but they are a really fun way to enhance your cruise. To participate, first find your cruise on Facebook and join your cruise group.

Then you can sign up for a fish extender exchange if someone is organizing one. Then, you’ll need to buy/make a fish extender to hang on the “fish” near your stateroom door.

Finally, you’ll need to make or purchase a bunch of fun little treats for your fellow cruisers.

My kids love prepping our fish extender gifts before we leave, and then always enjoy coming back to the room for a new surprise. It’s a lot of work, but can be rewarding.

Here’s everything you need to know about Fish Extenders .

Get Decorations for Your Stateroom Door

Lots of families decorate their stateroom doors before going on a Disney cruise, so check out my post on decorating your Disney Cruise Line stateroom door . You’ll want to purchase or make these decorations well before your sailing.

When booking a Disney Cruise, I recommend booking with Get Away Today. Plus, when you mention Family Travel Magazine, you get an extra $25 on board credit! Give their agents a call at 877-510-2929.

On a separate note: For cruises leaving from Port Canaveral, we stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport .  Check prices and reviews here .

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