YawningDodo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2014
Option 3 (my personal favorite): Try for the Sweet Spot in between those two options. As mentioned by @Weedy, open boarding happens usually around 12:15-12:30, so if you get to the port at about 11:45 or 12:00, much of the initial crowd will already be boarding or waiting to board. Then, when you get through security and check-in, open boarding will have been called and you will miss the crowds and walk on at about 12:30 or so. Next, DON'T go to lunch quite yet. If you have a several adults, you can leave one with the bags (and perhaps some/all of the kids) to rest on deck, while the rest of you explore or make reservations for things. If it is just you and the kids, sit for a bit, or if you don't have too many bags, explore for a bit. Then, just before 1:30 meet back up and head for Cabanas for the buffet. At 1:30, when they announce that the rooms are available, Cabanas will empty out and you can eat in peace. Once you are done eating, then you can go to the rooms without the "rope-drop" like conditions that you would find at 1:30 when people were lining up to get into their cabins.
To me, this gives you the best of both worlds, less lines and waiting, but also more time to enjoy the ship. Waiting until 1:30 for lunch is a downside for some, but we just compensate with a later or larger breakfast and bringing some (pre-packaged) snacks for people who get hungry.
Whichever option works for you, have fun!
This is really helpful, thank you! I've got a DCL transfer from Miami Airport on Sunday and so I didn't have to/get to choose a PAT. Think I'll still try to get on the shuttle at 11:00 when it first becomes available to me, but I'll think seriously about having a late breakfast (or second breakfast) at the airport so I can leave off having lunch until 1:30 and use that time to explore the ship instead of crowding in at Cabanas. I guess I don't see much reason to rush to get into my stateroom the moment it opens to me; I'm not bringing any drinks so my carry-on will be small and light.