A Guide to Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In

This week we have for you a post that will help to walk you through the important and always anxiously anticipated Online Check-In for your Disney Cruise Line vacation!

We’ve mentioned Online Check-In before, but we haven’t ever really talked too much about it. So, what do you need to know before your check in day arrives?

What is it? And what can you do?

Online Check-In allows you to complete all of the important paperwork – including adding citizenship and passport information to your reservation, securing a port arrival time, and registering children for the youth programs. Additionally, you can also book onboard activities likes beverage tastings, adult-only dining, ticketed meet and greets, nursery times, spa services, and shore excursions on the day that you can being online check-in.

When can it be done?

Guests can complete Online Check-In based on their Castaway Club level. Guests booked in Concierge rooms and those that are Platinum level Castaway Club members can complete check-in starting 120 days prior to their cruise date. Gold Castaway Club members can complete check-in starting 105 days prior to their cruise date. Silver Castaway Club members can complete check-in starting 90 days prior to their sail date. And finally, those sailing with Disney for the first time can complete check-in starting 75 days prior to their cruise date. Online check-in can be started only after your reservation has been paid in full. Check-in can be started at midnight eastern time.

How do I do it?

You’re in luck! Just last night I stayed up to complete online check-in for my next sailing!  

Step 1: Log in to your account on the Disney Cruise Line website. Select your cruise reservation.

Step 2: Normally I start off by booking activities like Palo, ticketed character meet and greets, excursions, and nursery times. Once that’s all done I move on to completing the actual check in process. If you decide to book your activities first you can do so my selected Book Now under activities and selecting time slots that you would like.  

Step 3: Select Check In

Step 4: Verify Guest Information

                Names - Make sure that the names of all guests match the identification that will be used to board the ship.

                Birthdates – Make sure that these match IDs as well.

                Verify that no one sailing will be 24 weeks pregnant at sailing

               

Step 5: Add Identification Information

                Here you’ll select the type of identification that will be used for each guest – there are two options, photo ID and birth certificate or a passport. If using a passport you’ll need to enter the passport number and its expiration date.

Step 6: Add Pre/Post Cruise Info

                Flight Information - If you’re flying in before the cruise or out after the cruise you’ll add this information here.

                Another Cruise? - Not flying? Are you taking another cruise right after? (Back to backs are amazing!) Enter this information here so that Disney knows!

                Disney Resort – Or does your path take you to a Walt Disney World Resort hotel next? If so you’ll note this here.

                Transportation – The final part of this step is to note the type of transportation you’ll be using to get to your destination. (Cruise shuttle, personal car, rental car, etc.)

Step 7: Set Up Your Onboard Account

                Here you’ll select the payment option you would like to use while onboard the ship for things charged to your onboard account. The options are credit card or cash.

                If you are using a credit card you will add your card information here.

                You’ll also be reminded, and need to acknowledge, that your onboard account balance will be charged to your card each time it reaches a certain amount. This amount varies by length of cruise [2-5 days ($300), 6-9 days ($500), 10+ days ($700)].

                               

Step 8: Select Port Arrival Time

                Here you’ll select the time slot that you would like for your Port Arrival Time. Port Arrival Time is the time that you arrive to check in at the port. This is not a boarding time! Boarding, however, is completed by group number that is determined based on assigned port arrival times.

Step 9: Youth Activity Registration

                The next step is to register any little ones, or not so little ones, for the onboard Youth Clubs!            

Add any nicknames that your child goes by.

                You’ll also need to select whether your child(ren) can eat in the clubs. This is also where you will enter any other important information like allergies or anything that the Youth staff will need to know.

                You will also set up your Secret Word here. This word will need to be something that you can remember! This word will need to be spoken to the Cast Member every time you wish to pick up a child from the Clubs.

Step 10: Travel with Minors

                Are you traveling with other family and friends? Or is your family staying in two different staterooms? If so be sure to fill out all of the required paperwork so that children under 18 may disembark from the ship with those that are not in the same stateroom.

Step 11: Cruise Contract

                Here you can sign and print your cruise contract or you can acknowledge it and send it in an email to yourself. It is now required to be taken to the port.

Step 12: Port Arrival Form

                The last step! Be sure to print your port arrival form before you leave for the cruise port! You can log in again and print this form out at a later date if you wish to. 

It seems like a lot, but the process is actually pretty simple. You can begin the process and come back later if need be – it does not all need to be completed at once.

We hope that this has helped, and prepared you for online check-in!

Are you ready to start planning your next magical vacation? I’d be happy to help! Contact me at miriyawhitaker@worldofmagictravel.com for your FREE quote and to start planning your next trip on land or sea. For more Disney and travel information follow me on Facebook.