Disney Cruise Line - Return to Sail!

So excited to share that our owner of Ears of Experience has just returned from the fourth sailing of the Disney Dream!!!

We're so excited to let you know some of the new protocols and procedures as Disney Cruise Line "Returns to Sail"!!!!!

Pre-Arrival
There were a good amount of pre-arrival tasks which is awesome because you get a lot done before arriving at the pier.

If a guest is fully vaccinated, they do not have to do the testing before arrival, nor do they have to test when they arrive.

If not vaccinated, guests have to test ahead of time and submit that into the Safe Passage Portal - and then test again at the port. The whole process was very streamlined and organized.

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​The port arrival form has a QR code that the guest gets before arrival. This QR code is presented upon arrival at the port and guides the guest’s next steps. Either to the testing area or to check-in if you are vaccinated. You move right through all the stages with just a quick scan of a QR code.

Arrival
Porter Service to take your luggage at the beginning of your stay is the same process. You can leave your luggage with Dock porters, and it will arrive outside your stateroom later.
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Once you get to the gangway, the cast welcomes you aboard, and the ship’s announcement of your arrival is the same.

Disney Cruise Line is only allowing about 12 families into the atrium at a time. There are circles on the carpet in the atrium. Each travel party has their circle, and they watch Mickey and Minnie welcome them aboard and do a mini-deck party dance. There is also a cast member there that is dancing with the characters. This is about a minute long and sets the mood of “you are on vacation. Let’s go have fun.” 

There are totally lunch options available!!! Cabanas opens at about 2:30. And that particular day, Animator’s Palate was open at one. Right now, the first port arrival time is one o’clock; you have to abide by whatever port arrival time you signed up for to help with crowds. So if you have a 2:00 port arrival time, you cannot enter the port area until 2:00.

Just like always, staterooms are available around 2:30. However, they now have the “Key to the World” cards outside the stateroom. We were told we could get the Key to the World card before our rooms were ready. The doors to the hallways were closed, but our “Key to the World” was outside our door. We then went to lunch just as before. By the time we had lunch, our stateroom was ready. While no deck party, the top decks are full of energy waiting for departure!!

The muster drill is incredibly easy. We really feel that this is a great change and hope it does not go away!

First, you have to watch a video. This video is on the app and the stateroom TVs. You then go to your muster station before departure, which can be found in your app.

Once you arrive at your station, a cast member checks your travel party off as completing the visit.  By intentionally having to find your Muster Station instead of having a mass amount of crowds and people just funneling down the outer deck, this can cut down on some of the confusion that can accompany this process.

​On Board
Technology is your friend - the app is your power tool throughout your cruise. It shows you what your dining times are and your rotation of restaurants.This can be found in your “My Plans” section. You still have this information on your “Key to the World” card as well.

The app also tells you what’s going on around the ship. The navigator paper that used to be delivered to the stateroom daily is now on your TV. Some of the activities are on the app, but not everything; definitely check out the TV for all the events around the ship.

Every menu of every restaurant is also on the app. You do have QR codes in the actual restaurants to use as well. But I like how to see the menu for the restaurant that you may be visiting that night.

The app also has access to add youth activities. Unfortunately, you can only do a set amount of times for the kids’ clubs before you board. And once you board, you can go in and book more times. We spoke to people who could secure many more times once they were on board, and our ship was at less than 50% capacity.

You can talk to guest services and ask them any questions via a virtual queue. There never seemed to be more than 15 people ahead of your chat and it only took a couple of minutes. You can schedule an appointment to go down to guest services as well and talk.

​The virtual queue for getting off the ship at a port is new; you can enter the queue via the app one hour before the ship is ready to disembark. For example, if you were able to get off the boat at 9:30 - the virtual queue opened at 8:30. 

If you aren’t in a rush to get off the ship, we suggest waiting for the first round of passengers to go out so you’re not standing in a line at the tram. 

You do have to wear a facial covering inside and some places on Castaway outside where groups can gather too close - like in line for lunch or the tram. If you are sitting at a table in a dining venue, you can take your mask off. 

Fireworks

​Another difference was fireworks; there are now two times to give opportunities for everyone to see the displays in a more physically distanced way (EX: 8:30pm and 10:30pm). There are circles on Decks 11 and 12 where your travel party stays to watch the fireworks.  I guess that it would be to avoid a bunch of people in the stairwell simultaneously. Clients of Ears of Experience will have some tips on unique, special places to watch the shows!!!

​Character Meet and Greets

The character meet and greets are different, just like they are at Disney World. But as we  said with Disney World, we're seeing that the interactions are much more intentional.
​ You are notified through the app when and where the character experiences will occur. You are, of course, distanced from each other but close enough to have a soft-spoken conversation. While there was no autograph, hug, or formal photo side-by-side, there was time for personal conversations that will live on in children's (and parent's!) memories!

Characters also strolled through dining rooms.  Although they didn’t stop it was a  fun surprise!

Debarkation
Disembarking is currently the same as it always has been. You can leave your luggage out, like always, the night before departure. There are dock porters in the baggage recovery area to assist you if needed.

If you are using Disney Cruise Line's transportation -- there is still only one time to board. 



In summary, Ears of Experience came off the ship wanting more days and feeling very good about the safety protocols married in a way that still felt so much like the magical Disney Cruise we have always known and loved.

​Let me know when you are ready to "Return to Sail"!!!