The day has finally come — it's time to board the ship! Embarkation day is always our favorite day, but it can also be a little overwhelming if you're not prepared or know what to expect. In this post, we're here to give you a step-by-step guide on how to make the process smooth sailing (pun toadally intended), from online check-in, to finally walking onto the ship and the things you'll want to know and do that first day onboard. Plus, score some hoppin' Disney Cruise Line savings! Undercover Tourist is now providing exclusive savings for Disney Cruise Line sailings year-round. But for a limited time, you can save some extra green on your next Disney cruise. That's right! Get a FREE in-room decor set (a $95 value) for all Disney Cruise Line bookings, courtesy of Undercover Tourist, when you book a Disney Cruise Line sailing. It's go-time, sailor!
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How to Prepare for Embarkation Day on Disney Cruise Line
Complete Your Online Check-In STAT!
First things first: Online check-in. Hop on and get it done as soon as it opens. Your online check-in date varies depending on your Castaway Club membership level. For first-timers, this is 30 days before your sail date. You can do this on the Disney Cruise Line website or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. This is super important because it lets you choose your Port Arrival Time. With an early port arrival, early birds frogs get to start their cruise vacation sooner, so if you’re like me and want to be one of the first to board, don't delay!
During the online check-in process, you'll need to upload photos of each guest in your party and your passport or government-issued ID and birth certificate. Once you finish, you'll be all set with your Port Arrival Form. Print this out and store it with your other travel docs. You can also save it to your mobile wallet, or take a screenshot and save it to your phone's camera roll. You'll be asked to present your Port Arrival Form several times before boarding the ship, so make sure you've got it with you in a way that's easy to access.
Note: whatever travel documents you upload during the online check-in process must be the same documents you bring to the port. For example, if you submitted your passport, you won't be permitted to bring just a passport card. Or, if you submitted a birth certificate, make sure to bring the same original birth certificate, not a photocopy. There's also been a recent travel documentation update — photocopies of travel documents will no longer be accepted at the port.
If you're an adult traveling with a child who isn’t your own, you must bring a completed Minor Authorization Form. This form must be signed by the child’s parent or legal guardian, giving you permission to take the child on the cruise, supervise them and allow emergency medical treatment if needed. Make sure to have this ready before boarding.
The bottom line, and we can't stress this enough, is to triple-check the official DCL passport, visas and citizenship documentation requirements before you leave for the port. Guests without proper documentation will be denied boarding.
You'll also want to confirm any reservations you may have booked for adult-exclusive dining, spa reservations and/or Port Adventures. Keep in mind that the ability to change reservations online closes three days before the cruise. However, you can email or call Disney Cruise Line before boarding or check in with Guest Services once you are onboard to make any changes.
Arrive the Day Before
If you're traveling from out of town, we highly recommend arriving at the port city the day before. This eliminates any stress about flight delays, traffic or other mishaps that could make you late on embarkation day. You wouldn't want the ship to leave without you!
Several hotels near Port Canaveral (or wherever you’re sailing from) offer shuttle services to the port. You might even score a deal that includes parking for the duration of your cruise. Of course, your favorite frogs offer discounts on hotels and car rentals, too. You can save even more green when you purchase your hotel and car rental as a bundle. Ribbit!
Attach the Disney Cruise Line Luggage Tags
A few weeks before you sail, Disney will send you luggage tags in the mail. These tags are like golden tickets for your bags — your bags will be whisked away by porters at the cruise terminal and magically reappear outside your stateroom later that day. Be sure to attach them to your luggage before you arrive at the port, so you're not left fumbling while trying to hand your bags off.
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Pack a Carry-On Bag
Since you won’t have access to your checked luggage until later in the afternoon, you’ll want to pack a carry-on with essentials. Here are a few must-haves for that first day:
- Passport, travel documentation, government-issued photo ID, Port Arrival Form and wallet
- Phone and camera
- Charging cables and external battery/charger
- Swimsuit and coverup (if you're planning to hit the pool or waterslides right away)
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses and hat
- Any medications
- Hand sanitizer
- Snacks for the kids (or you!)
- Babycare items (if needed)
- And don’t forget — alcohol!
Yup, Disney Cruise Line allows you to bring alcohol onboard, but there are a few rules. You can bring two bottles of wine or champagne or a six-pack of beer in your carry-on bag (not in your checked luggage). This isn't just limited to embarkation day, but also at any port throughout your trip. Be sure to review DCL’s alcohol policy for more information.
Haven't packed yet? We've got you covered with everything you need to know with our ultimate Disney Cruise Line packing list.
Complete the Mandatory Health Questionnaire
Early in the morning on your embarkation day, you'll receive an email from Disney Cruise Line to complete the Mandatory Health Questionnaire. This form asks simple questions like if you’ve felt sick recently or had a fever. It helps keep everyone on the ship safe. Make sure to complete it before you get to the port, as it’s required to board the ship.
Arriving at the Cruise Port
How you get to the port depends on your plans. Are you driving and parking at the terminal? Are you flying in and taking a rideshare? Or did you book Disney's Ground Transportation from the airport or a Disney Resort? No matter how you arrive, you'll want to plan ahead and communicate the plans to everyone in your travel party. If you're parking, there are on-site lots at the terminal, but they can fill up and fees can add up, so plan accordingly. There are typically third-party lots available as well. You'll want to do your homework to see which parking facilities meet your budget and needs. Rideshares and shuttles are always easy options if you want to avoid parking.
Check-In and Bring Travel Documentation
Once you're at the terminal, you'll need to check in. Be sure to have your Port Arrival Form, passport or other required travel documents ready. If the tadpoles are in tow, don’t froget their birth certificates (if they don't have passports).
If you plan on having the kiddos attend the kids' clubs, at check-in you'll provide your child’s information and approve who has the authorization to pick them up from the club (if under the age of 10). For children 3 to 10 years old, they will receive an Oceaneer Band, similar to a MagicBand that they will use to scan in and out of the club. The Oceaneer Band is free for your child to use during the cruise. However, if you choose not to return the band at the end of the cruise, a charge of around $13 will be added to your onboard account (prices subject to change). If you return the band before debarkation, there’s no fee. Many families opt to keep it as a souvenir, which is why the charge is applied if it's not returned.
After check-in, you’ll go through security (just like at the airport) and then wait in the main terminal for your boarding group number to be called. Once your boarding number has been called, you'll enter the embarkation line to the ship. Just before entering the gangway, there will be professional DCL photo-ops with fun backdrops. The Disney Cruise Line photographers will take your crew's photo here. You can view and purchase these photos onboard at Shutters Photography Shop. If you know you'll be buying a photo package, you can save a bit by purchasing online before your trip.
Connect to the Ship’s Wi-Fi
Once at the port, connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. This app will be your guide for the rest of your cruise. You can check the onboard activity schedule, your rotational dining schedule and table number, plus any Port Adventures or reservations you’ve booked. If you plan on using the internet, now is also the time to purchase an internet package which can be purchased right in the DCL Navigator app. You can also check with your cellphone provider before your trip. Many cell providers offer affordable plans for talk, text and data while out at sea.
While you're waiting in the terminal, make sure everyone in your party has the latest version of the DCL Navigator app downloaded to their phone and link up using everyone's chat IDs, so you can text each other using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
Boarding the Ship – Let the Magic Begin!
This is where the fun really starts. When it’s your turn to board, the crew will ask for your family’s name, and then they’ll announce you onto the ship. It’s a super magical moment, so make sure you know how you want them to announce you (e.g., “The Smith Family!”). This process moves quickly, so be ready to roll the video on your phone or camera!
We also recommend taking a look at the ship's deck plans before you arrive. If you've never sailed on a Disney Cruise before, it can feel a little disorientating if you don't know where you are or where to go once you enter the ship's atrium or Grand Hall.
Embarkation Day Disney Cruise Line — Onboard the Ship
Time to Grub!
After boarding, it’s time for lunch and you've got options! Head to the buffet, grab some poolside eats or enjoy a more relaxed sit-down meal at one of the dining rooms. Just as a heads up, the ship's buffet is a hoppin' spot on this first day. Since staterooms typically aren't ready until later in the afternoon, most folks tend to congregate here. If you're looking for a quieter meal, check the DCL Navigator app. It will list the dining room that will be serving lunch that day.
Explore the Ship
The ship is yours to explore! Take this time to familiarize yourself with the layout, check out the pools and waterslides or just relax while soaking in those ocean views. If you're traveling with an infant, make sure to meet with your stateroom attendant to confirm any special requests, such as a travel crib, bottle warmer or diaper disposal unit.
You'll also want to visit the kids' clubs to familiarize the little ones, stop by Guest Services to modify any dining reservations or book Port Adventures, swing by Senses Spa for some embarkation day deals and raffles or even squeeze in a character meet and greet!
Find Your Stateroom and Settle In
Your room will be ready later in the afternoon (usually around 2 p.m.ish) and you'll find your Key to the World cards clipped right outside your door. If you're a Castaway Club member, you'll have your gifts waiting for you in your room. Once you're in, go ahead and unpack, settle in and freshen up for the evening’s events.
And if you brought door decorations (which is totally a thing on Disney Cruises), now’s the time to personalize your stateroom door! Decorate your stateroom door with magnets, character cutouts or anything that gives off those Disney Cruise vibes. We've got even more Disney Cruise door-decorating tips in this post.
Attend the Mandatory Assembly Drill
Before the ship sets sail, you’ll need to attend the mandatory assembly drill. It’s a quick safety briefing where you'll learn about emergency procedures and find out where to go in case of an emergency. Sorry, you can't opt out of this one — it’s required by maritime law. But don't worry, it's over quickly, and then you can get back to the fun. You'll find your specific assembly drill location listed in the, you guessed it, Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. You'll also find it posted on your Key to the World card and Port Arrival Form. Crew members are also hoppy to assist with any questions you might have.
Wave Goodbye to the Shore at the Sailaway Party
As the ship prepares to leave the port, head to the top deck for the sailaway party! The music, the characters and the energy are the perfect way to kick off your vacation. Even this Daddy Frog gets a little emotional once I hear the ship's horn signal our cast off from the shore. Bon voyage!
Evening Fun — Rotational Dining and Broadway-Style Shows
Your first dinner onboard will be very special, so make sure to note your dining time and restaurant location. As we mentioned before, you'll also want to find your table number, also found in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. The crew will ask for it when you arrive at each dining location.
Also that first evening, head to the Walt Disney Theatre to watch the nightly Broadway-style show. If you have the late dining time, catch the early show and if you're an early diner, enjoy the late show. The live shows and entertainment vary depending on the ship. Hop to our specific ship guides for more details.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Once the ship leaves port, the onboard shops open up! If there’s a specific piece of Disney Cruise Line merchandise you’re hoping to snag, be sure to grab it on embarkation day before it sells out. (Not all merchandise sells out, but some popular items might go fast.) Throughout the cruise, note that shops are only open when the ship is out at sea and are closed when docked at any port.
Now you're officially ready for embarkation day! We hope this guide helps you feel prepared for whatever that first day throws your way. If you have any questions drop them in the comments below.
Related: Disney Cruise Line Express Walk-Off
Related: Our Top 50+ Disney Cruise Tips to Know Before Your Next Sail
Keep hopping!
