If you miss out on the Royal Gathering reservation, you can still meet Princesses throughout your sailing. The Disney Cruise Line app lists multiple Princess encounters each day, giving families several chances to line up and meet their favorites. That said, the lines can be long, especially on sailings during school breaks or holidays.
It is important to understand how the timing works. If the schedule says 10:00 am to 10:15 am, that does not mean the meet and greet only lasts fifteen minutes. It means you can enter the queue during that window. If you arrive at 10:14 am and are near the back of the line, you could easily wait up to an hour before it is your turn. On a recent winter school break cruise, nearly every Princess line was packed from start to finish.
When characters are scheduled back to back in the same location, such as Mickey followed by Donald Duck, the time you join the line usually determines which character you will meet. A cast member will announce when the line switches to the next character, so you can decide whether to stay or come back later.
To make the most of your turn, have your autograph book open to the correct page before you step forward. When you reach the front, hand it directly to the cast member assisting with the interaction. You are welcome to take photos with your own phone or camera in addition to the ship’s photographer, so have your device ready to capture the moment without feeling rushed.
