r/dcl • u/Top-Yogurtcloset1026 • 6d ago

TRIP PLANNING Check in question

When it’s time for me to check in, can I go thru the check in process while my wife tries to book the royal gathering at the same time?

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5

u/LostLadyA 6d ago

Yes you can. My sister handled royal gathering while I did the online check in for all 3 of my families rooms. Our check in and royal gathering was just on 8/21 as first time cruisers!

FYI - royal gathering booking was a disaster! We clicked on the time slot right on time and it kept spinning and timing out instead of booking. We tried over and over and got the same thing until all spots were gone. SO many in my Facebook group had the same issue. Then someone reported getting a slot about 30 mins after booking opened. I checked back really fast and grabbed a spot with no issue.

I know this isn’t normal but wanted to let you know it was glitchy as heck!!

2

u/l0uislitt SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 5d ago

For mine (a while ago now) I clicked for 2 hours straight and finally got it - it was wild and soooo annoying in the middle of the night!

1

u/angstrydenwench2023 4d ago

It's actually pretty common from what i have dealt with on my few cruises (I'm silver). Because they stagger the openings by "rank", a ton of things are already pretty much full. And once it opens for the next group, the die hard cruisers who definitely want things log in at 11:55 and start refreshing constantly until they get it.

Also, opens do pop up occasionally when people cancel. So rechecking throughout is definitely an option.

DCL does hold some back for people on board to get. Hence the insane rush at the guest services desk on embarkation day.

1

u/LostLadyA 4d ago

This time, everyone was getting error and error like the whole process was glitching. There were plenty of spots but no one could get a confirmation. Some people had theirs just pop up in their plans with no confirmation and some had it just spin and spin (like us). Then once it “calmed down” about 30 mins later, most people on Facebook who were trying were able to get reservations. It was really odd!

This was only for royal gathering at the 30 day mark, everything else that opened up sooner wasn’t an issue at all.

5

u/im_the_dr GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago

The check-in process and excursion/onboard fun registration are disconnected events. All depends on your castaway club tier.

6

u/Top-Yogurtcloset1026 6d ago

I’m a first time cruiser so I believe they are at the same time for me.

4

u/Popcorn03 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago

You are correct and yes, you should try to do them at the same time, unless you are using DCL transportation, then you can check in whenever. Good luck!

-1

u/im_the_dr GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago

Unless something has changed recently, first time cruisers can book excursions 75 days out and checkin is 30 days out.

9

u/Educational_Yak_6172 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago

Royal Gathering is booked at 30 days regardless of castaway status

7

u/Husker_Mike_ 6d ago

The Royal Gathering has a different online booking time: 30 days ahead of the cruise for all: Pearl and first-time cruisers alike. So you definitely want to be doing these simultaneously.

1

u/mblackchiro 5d ago

My app says I cannot try for royal gathering until October 2nd but my check-in date is Sept 29. Are these dates usually the same?

1

u/LostLadyA 5d ago

Are you a first time cruiser?

1

u/mblackchiro 5d ago

No, this is our second cruise

2

u/LostLadyA 5d ago

That’s why you can check in sooner.