Years ago, embarking on a last-minute cruise would never have been the kind of vacation I’d be planning. Maybe a camping trip or a quick weekend, a few hours away from home, might have been more up our alley; a staycation, if you will.
Nowadays, more and more folks are taking advantage of the lower-priced, last-minute cruise fares that Disney Cruise Line offers, as they make it far more affordable than the same itinerary would be if you’d booked it a year ahead of time. There can sometimes be caveats with last-minute cruises, such as guaranteed fares that don’t allow you to choose your stateroom location on the ship. Follow this link to read more about guaranteed rates. Whatever the reason may be, planning for a cruise is kind of a big deal, and you don’t have a lot of time before embarkation day, so let’s get started with the basics.
GATHER THE ESSENTIAL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
You aren’t going anywhere without the required travel documents, so the first thing you need to do is ensure you have them in hand. Additionally, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to not only board the ship but also to enter each of the countries on your specific cruise itinerary.
Please note that different requirements apply to each sailing, so we provide a general guideline below. You’ll need to check http://www.travel.state.gov for the most current requirements for your cruise. You also need to keep in mind that everyone in your traveling party must have the required documents, including infants.
- For sailings that sail out of and return to the same port (commonly known as closed-loop sailings), you can bring either a passport or a state-certified birth certificate along with a government-issued ENHANCED photo ID. If you are not a U.S. resident, you’ll need to check with your local government agency or consulate to determine the appropriate documents required in your situation.
- The preferred form of identification is a passport, rather than a birth certificate, because in the event of an emergency that necessitates a flight back to the US, birth certificates are not accepted as a form of documentation for re-entry into the country.
- For anyone over the age of 16, a government-issued photo ID is also required (i.e., an enhanced driver’s license). Those individuals must have a passport or birth certificate, as well as another government-issued photo ID, such as a Learner’s Permit or an enhanced driver’s license.
- Additional documents may be required depending on the embarkation port and ports of visitation. We recommend checking with your travel agent or visiting the site linked above for all official details.
BOOK YOUR CRUISE WITH A TRAVEL AGENT
Anytime you’re booking a big vacation, having someone in your corner who knows the ropes is invaluable. A travel agent can be your key to ensuring that you don’t miss anything that’s important to you. While your time and knowledge about this experience may be limited (or not in many cases), your travel agent is well-versed in what needs to happen, as this is part of their job every day. The best part? You won’t pay a penny more to utilize a travel agent than you’d pay if you’d booked directly with Disney Cruise Line. Use this to your advantage. Your travel agent will guide you through all the details, check in with you, and work out any issues if needed, ensuring you have the vacation of your dreams. Many things change over time, so even experienced cruisers will benefit from using a professional travel agent.
When you book your cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel – the official sponsor of DCL Fan – you will receive an exclusive gift basket filled with items that will come in handy during your cruise. We call it the “What you didn’t know you needed on a Cruise Kit.”
An additional advantage of booking your cruise with a Dreams Unlimited Travel agent is that you will receive a “shipboard credit” to use during your sailing. Dreams Unlimited Travel will add the credit amount (based on the cruise price) to your shipboard account, which can be spent in various ways during the duration of your cruise. The best part is that it doesn’t matter when you book. You will receive the credit regardless of how soon your embarkation date is. It’s an incredible perk and serves as the icing on the cake for booking through Dreams Unlimited Travel.
CHAT WITH OTHER CRUISERS
There may be occasions when you have questions that you don’t want to bother your travel agent with, although let me assure you, they won’t be bothered at all. Let’s say you need some suggestions on what to do while you are onboard, which cruise merchandise isn’t worth its price tag, or which shore excursions have the best reviews. There is another fantastic resource for finding answers quickly, the Disney Cruise Line forum. This is the place where people like you and I have already asked many of the questions, and the answers are all right at your fingertips. Use the “Search This Forum” button to find the exact information you need without any hassle. If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to post your question in a new thread, which will likely garner answers (usually within minutes) from many different individuals who have “been there and done that.”
Recent DCL Threads on DISboards.com
COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE CHECK-IN
Once you’ve got your cruise booked, you’ll want to visit www.disneycruise.com to register for the site – this will be the same login information that you’ll use for the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app as well. There are many benefits to doing so, such as:
- Booking and modifying shore excursions
- Reserving and revising spa treatments and fitness activities
- Making and updating dining reservations at the onboard adult restaurants
- Registering children for kids’ clubs
- Reserving babysitting for the littlest cruisers
More importantly, you must complete your online check-in. Disney Cruise Line requires guests to provide all necessary cruise documentation prior to embarkation. You must read all communication from Disney Cruise Line carefully and follow the directions provided. When you fill out all the required information before reaching the terminal, it will save you time, ensure that your information is accurate, and simplify your boarding process when you arrive at the port.
WHAT TO PACK
The things you need to pack may differ from the things you want to pack, but basic necessities include casual clothing, bathing suits, sunscreen, sandals, and toiletries. Many folks prefer to bring two outfits per day; one for daytime activities and another for dinner. If you are dining at one of the adult-exclusive restaurants, be sure to check out the dress code policy. There is a plethora of thorough packing lists available online, but rest assured that just about anything you might forget can be purchased on board the ship. There is no need to panic over the idea of leaving something behind. Be sure to attach the luggage tags provided by the cruise line to your bags before arriving at the port. Doing so will help ensure that your bags arrive at your stateroom.
It is highly recommended that you pack a “day bag” with any essentials to keep with you until you can access your checked luggage. Staterooms are typically not ready for new guests on embarkation day until around 2:00 pm, and your luggage may not be delivered until late in the afternoon. In your day bag, pack anything you may need to have access to, such as medications and swimwear, if you plan to relax at the pool before being allowed into your stateroom. Basically, if you can’t do without it for a few hours, put it in the day bag, and the day bag stays with you.
COME PREPARED WITH CASH AND NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
This may seem obvious to some, but we’d like to share a few essential reminders in closing. You’ll need cash to tip the people checking your bags; we recommend a minimum of $2 per bag. The prepaid gratuities that you may have opted for when booking only include your head, main, and assistant servers, in addition to your stateroom host. The people who handle your luggage, among others, are not beneficiaries of the prepaid gratuities. You’ll want to have some cash on hand for this reason. Also, be sure to have the necessary physical documents readily accessible in your purse or day bag on embarkation day. Your passport, enhanced driver’s license, and birth certificate are all things that you will be asked to present, so don’t pack them away in your checked luggage.
If you can manage these basics, you’ll be in relatively decent shape for your cruise. Don’t sweat the fact that you are throwing it together at the last minute. We’ve discussed the things that you HAVE to know, and the rest will fall into place. The good thing is that anything you miss, you can catch on your next cruise.
Request a Quote Today
