Contrary to expectation, this morning’s online check-in went perfectly! I had both my laptop and the DCL App open to “My Plans”/Day 3 (our Nassau Day) to refresh for the Royal Gathering right when my window opened. It loaded slightly more quickly on the laptop than on the App, so I selected all 8 of us and was offered a drop down of times, from which I selected 9.30 (we have some late sleepers in our group) and then saw “Royal Gathering” populate for this time and day in “My Plans”. Score!
Very happy with that, I moved on to another window that I had opened on the laptop with the check-in link, and started clicking through the different categories and passengers. Thanks to the great tips here on the Forum (and on Disboards) I had all Passport Page photos (along with the ESTA for my auntie who is traveling on a German passport) and head shots ready for upload, and just skipped through the other sections as quickly as possible (leaving payment details, kids club infos, arrival/departure logistics to be completed later).
It took me around 10 min to complete the first stateroom, at which time the earliest available PAT was 12.15 (BG15). By the time I finished the second state room, PAT was up to 12.30 (BG16), though interestingly by the time I completed the third one I was once again offered a PAT of 12.15 (BG15). My only objective was to get us onto the ship before lunchtime, so I logged back out happily.
Even though we have slightly different PAT/BGs, I figure they’ll let us board if we arrive some time between 12.15 and 12.30? I’m willing to play the card of my auntie celebrating her 80th birthday on that very day (I’ll have to get her birthday button or something! Any other ideas for special onboard ways to celebrate? I think being there is exciting enough for her already.)
If you momentarily set aside the insanity of me setting an alarm for 3.50am (I’m in UTC time zone) in order to do all of this, I think you could call it a successful morning.
Just 29 days till embarkation!!!