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Early flight Debarkation question AND a Embarkation question NEW CRUSIER ON THE BLISS


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Booked on NCL Bliss to arrive back in Seattle at 6 a.m. from an Alaska cruise- my flight leaves at 10:30 a.m. I'm going to self-assist debark (carry my luggage off).to get off of the ship first thing in the a.m. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE and have only cruised once before 10 years ago -

  1. can a seasoned cruiser tell me that this is possible? The service rep of NCL says I will be fine. This is 4.5 hours TO get me off of the ship and to the airport.
  2. What time will I need will I need to be up and out of my cabin?
  3. What time can I be down at the gangway to leave the ship?
  4. Will breakfast be cooking at 5 a.m. in the morning - YES I'M GOING TO WANT TO EAT ;p

GETTING ON THE SHIP - I KNOW THIS SHOULD BE FIRST, RIGHT :hearteyes:, I'm more worried about catching the flight home though.

  1. The ship is scheduled to leave Seattle at 3:30 - how early should I arrive at the pier to get in line, how early will they let us on the ship? I want to go EARLY AS POSSIBLE :*
  2. I would like to carry my luggage on the ship and take it straight to my room. Will they let me so that? I realize they may still be cleaning it, but I thought I could tip them and they would put my luggage on the balcony or something?

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Well - I have not purchased the flight yet - BUT, THAT is the flight I want to purchase. - they say about 5 hours from when the boat arrives back, right? Which she is scheduled to get back at 6 a.m. flight leaves at 10:30...

NCL rep stated that I could request first off ship/self assist and should be fine. I HAVE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SELF-ASSIST - is this a quick route?

 

Self assist cruisers HELP :)

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10:30AM flight ?

You’re a gambler at a level that I couldn’t conceive and I enjoy my casino action.

What’s your backup plan?

I HAVE NOT PURCHASED TIX YET. Have you self-disembarked before? do you make it to gangway at say 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. which is when the boat is supposed to arrive? I have not self assisted before - so i don't know how early you go...

 

I hope someone will answer the questions ;)

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It’s a ship not a boat.

Nowhere does it say that the ship is guaranteed to return on time.

Even if the ship does return on time, you can’t get off the ship until it is cleared by US Customs.

TSA and security at SEATAC is crap on cruise day. Traffic could be more crappy than it already is.

 

I just think you’re counting on too many things going right.

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It’s a ship not a boat.

Nowhere does it say that the ship is guaranteed to return on time.

Even if the ship does return on time, you can’t get off the ship until it is cleared by US Customs.

TSA and security at SEATAC is crap on cruise day. Traffic could be more crappy than it already is.

 

I just think you’re counting on too many things going right.

 

 

Thank you, this is what I need to hear - I have never been to Seattle, not aware of traffic, airport traffic, DID NOT REALIZE I called the ship a boat :rolleyes:, do not know if ships are customarily late returning to home, I'm a newby, that is why I asked specific questions in numeric order, because I don't know - I NEED THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I'm not counting on too many things going right I'M ASKING FOR ANYONE'S EXPERIENCE and DETAILS WITH Self-Assist Disembarkation/Early Flights and how long it takes. That is what this board is for, right?

 

If you have experience with self assist and the length of time it took you to get off of the ship that would be great to hear how long that took? Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to help me - I really do appreciate it :)

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SEA is my home airport. It can be an absolute zoo on cruise days, especially the Southwest counters. And the security lines can be terrible.Previous posters are correct; you can't get off the ship when it first arrives.

 

I don't know if you can make that flight if not. Possibly. I only know I wouldn't necessarily believe what a cruise line phone agent, who has probably never been on a cruise, tells me.

 

Please dont type in all caps; that's shouting.

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SEA is my home airport. It can be an absolute zoo on cruise days, especially the Southwest counters. And the security lines can be terrible.Previous posters are correct; you can't get off the ship when it first arrives.

 

I don't know if you can make that flight if not. Possibly. I only know I wouldn't necessarily believe what a cruise line phone agent, who has probably never been on a cruise, tells me.

 

Please dont type in all caps; that's shouting.

I'm so sorry for the caps - I'm learning all new things here today - Thank you for your patients. I was not shouting at you, just trying to let you know I really wanted that read. So sorry again!!!! Well - My urgency with the 10:30 flight is it is Alaskan Airlines and they have very cheap First Class seats and Non Stop flights and they only come to our home town at 10:30 a.m. - I don't want to stay over night as we are touring Seattle prior to the cruise. But - we might have to for piece of mind :)

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If everything worked perfectly in this definitely not perfect world, you might make your early flight. I wouldn't try it, since any one of many things that could go wrong might happen. We once sat several hours waiting for the ship to clear customs. A passenger had died the last day out, and that slowed things down.

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If everything worked perfectly in this definitely not perfect world, you might make your early flight. I wouldn't try it, since any one of many things that could go wrong might happen. We once sat several hours waiting for the ship to clear customs. A passenger had died the last day out, and that slowed things down.

Oh my stars, that is horrible :eek: - thank you for the reply!!!!

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Well - I have not purchased the flight yet - BUT, THAT is the flight I want to purchase. - they say about 5 hours from when the boat arrives back, right? Which she is scheduled to get back at 6 a.m. flight leaves at 10:30...

NCL rep stated that I could request first off ship/self assist and should be fine. I HAVE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SELF-ASSIST - is this a quick route?

 

Self assist cruisers HELP :)

 

SELF Assist means you have to carry ALL of your luggage off the ship. This could mean taking it down stairs too.

 

Also, unless you are ONLY bringing a carry-on. Check your luggage with a porter. Tip them a couple bucks and you will see your luggage at your room when its delivered.They don't want all 4k passengers taking their luggage thru the halls to find out the steward is cleaning and you cant drop it off.

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SELF Assist means you have to carry ALL of your luggage off the ship. This could mean taking it down stairs too.

 

Also, unless you are ONLY bringing a carry-on. Check your luggage with a porter. Tip them a couple bucks and you will see your luggage at your room when its delivered.They don't want all 4k passengers taking their luggage thru the halls to find out the steward is cleaning and you cant drop it off.

When you say "check bags with a porter" is the porter there when we sign in at the port to get on the ship? what time will they deliver them to the room? Do you tip them immediately? Is it $2/bag?

 

I do know self assist is carrying luggage off - my question with this is the debarkation time - do self assist people just go to the gangway at 6 a.m. to get in line to go through customs? Thank you....

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Thank you, this is what I need to hear - I have never been to Seattle, not aware of traffic, airport traffic, DID NOT REALIZE I called the ship a boat :rolleyes:, do not know if ships are customarily late returning to home, I'm a newby, that is why I asked specific questions in numeric order, because I don't know - I NEED THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I'm not counting on too many things going right I'M ASKING FOR ANYONE'S EXPERIENCE and DETAILS WITH Self-Assist Disembarkation/Early Flights and how long it takes. That is what this board is for, right?

 

 

 

If you have experience with self assist and the length of time it took you to get off of the ship that would be great to hear how long that took? Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to help me - I really do appreciate it :)

 

 

 

Sounds like you keep asking for someone to verify that your poor planning (i.e., zero buffer for debarkation problems OR land issue in an often congested city like Seattle) is OK so that you can spend a few dollars less on airfare. That someone may have made the connection previously says zilch.

Any seasoned air traveler will agree that a 10:30 AM flight out is lunacy.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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When you say "check bags with a porter" is the porter there when we sign in at the port to get on the ship? what time will they deliver them to the room? Do you tip them immediately? Is it $2/bag?

 

....

 

The Porter will be outside of the port, collecting bags. Yes, you tip them when you hand them your bags. And NO, there is no specific time that the bags will be delivered. They had to deliver all those bags to rooms so no set time. The ship will make an announcement of when your room is ready but that doesn't mean your bags will be there.

 

What I would do is put a change of clothes, a swim suit if you want one, ANY MEDICATION, glasses, personal items etc or anything super valuable in your carry on.

 

I would also do some searching on the internet, on how being a first time cruiser. Looks like you need a lot of help.

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Sounds like you keep asking for someone to verify that your poor planning (i.e., zero buffer for debarkation problems OR land issue in an often congested city like Seattle) is OK so that you can spend a few dollars less on airfare. That someone may have made the connection previously says zilch.

Any seasoned air traveler will agree that a 10:30 AM flight out is lunacy.

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The Porter will be outside of the port, collecting bags. Yes, you tip them when you hand them your bags. And NO, there is no specific time that the bags will be delivered. They had to deliver all those bags to rooms so no set time. The ship will make an announcement of when your room is ready but that doesn't mean your bags will be there.

 

What I would do is put a change of clothes, a swim suit if you want one, ANY MEDICATION, glasses, personal items etc or anything super valuable in your carry on.

 

I would also do some searching on the internet, on how being a first time cruiser. Looks like you need a lot of help.

 

Thank you - I'm going to watch some you tube videos

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Sounds like you keep asking for someone to verify that your poor planning (i.e., zero buffer for debarkation problems OR land issue in an often congested city like Seattle) is OK so that you can spend a few dollars less on airfare. That someone may have made the connection previously says zilch.

Any seasoned air traveler will agree that a 10:30 AM flight out is lunacy.

 

 

I did put quite the reply here - but I erased it. Have a blessed day.

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