will Disney Cruise let you on at next port if you missed embarkation?

[ytcc]

Hello,

 

This is our 1st cruise ever (with our 2 girls 12, 15).  We are going on DCL dream with stops at Grand Cayman then Castaway Cay.  We fly into Miami 1 day early; Friday eve, and our scheduled time for embarkation is Sat 11:30am, with 5pm the latest to embark.

 

If somehow our flights gets cancelled or delayed such that we miss embarkation, will Disney allow us to get on at George Town Grand Cayman?  We are banking on travel insurance can pay for the flight to catch up to the ship.

 

thank you,

 

YT

 

 

[LHT28]

Probably not

If you think your flight will be cancelled  have a plan B  ready

The airline should get you to MIA  but the problem is  if they have availability  on the next flight

[Philob]

1) Pre-Covid, if you booked your (cruise) air through Disney and the flight is delayed, Disney will try to make arrangements to have you catch up. Y? most likely a busload of other folks on that flight is also on your cruise.

 

2) If you do end up flying to the Cayman's, EVERYONE must have a passport.

[ytcc]

We purchased the cruise thru Costco Travel, and the airfare directly from JetBlue.  We will have our passports with us.

 

so if there were seats on the next flight, and we get to Caymans, there is no guarantee that Disney would let us board the cruise correct?

 

Travel insurance would not pay for the cost of the cruise because their obligation in this situation was to let us catch up to the cruise.  so we would be stuck in Caymans and hope for a hotel, and need to purchase return flight back to Miami?

 

hmm what would a plan B be in this case?

enjoy Miami or something in Florida?  goto the Caymans if we can find accommodations etc...

 

 

[mom says]

The only obligation the airline has is to get you to Miami on the next flight with available seats. Disney has no obligation to you if you miss your embarkation due to flight disruption, since you didn't get your flights with them. Since COVID, downline embarkations have been difficult or impossible on many cruiselines due to covid entry restrictions at the Ports of Call.

 

Your best hope is that you can get a flight later that day or the next morning to Miami, in time before embarkation ends. If that fails, you can try calling the cruiseline to see if they will allow a downline embarkation  in Grand Cayman. But you also will need to fulfill all of the requirements for entry into the Caymans, which includes an online form, proof of vaccination and health insurance, and a negative covid test taken within one day of your departure to GC. You may or may not be able to achieve all this in the time available. Why would you fly there without first being assured of embarkation by Disney?

 

Costs would be borne by you, with a chance you might get reimbursement for part or all, depending on the type of insurance you have. 

 

Plan B: 1. Move your flight to an extra day early.

2. if your flight is canceled and you can't get another flight in time- stay home.

3. If you gamble on a late flight but miss embarkation- stay in Florida and enjoy the beaches .

[ytcc]

Thanks everyone for the help. For future trips, I should get a flight 2days in advance, and I think the general feeling is to book both the cruise and air directly with the cruise-line (or book both with the airline) - is that correct?

 

thanks!

Edited June 7, 2022 by ytcc

[Shmoo here]

1 hour ago, ytcc said:

Thanks everyone for the help. For future trips, I should get a flight 2days in advance, and I think the general feeling is to book both the cruise and air directly with the cruise-line (or book both with the airline) - is that correct?

 

thanks!

Maybe yes, maybe no.  We find using cruise line flights, the cost and flight times are not to our liking.

 

But, SOMETIMES, it's best to use the cruise line flights.  Generally if there could be connection/arrival issues to actually board the ship.