Overnight in Final Port

My upcoming cruise ends in Buenos Aires; the ship arrives on December 22nd to Buenos Aires, but the cruise does not end until the 23rd. I am considering staying in a hotel in Buenos Aires the evening of the 22nd - as I see a few advantages (close to the activities I have planned in Buenos Aires, able to sleep in later on the 23rd and able to store my luggage during the afternoon of 23rd before heading to the airport for an evening flight). Is it easy to arrange to check out (off the ship) the evening of the 22nd when a ship overnights in it's final port, or does this require advance planning? Again, I am not looking to debark in a different port than planned, but the ship is docked overnight in Buenos Aires at the end of the cruise and I may want to debark the the final night (rather than the next morning). .

Thanks for any information!

Also (in case we decide not to stay in a hotel on the 22nd), does anybody know of anywhere near the cruise port where we could safely store our luggage for several hours on the 22nd?

Dont know what year you are traveling, the port is not far from the popular hotels. However it depends upon what day of the week your arrival falls on. We have done two days in the final port a few times and the weekends are the discriminating factor ie rush hour and business traffic. Check your sites that you wish to visit vs the port location on google. For instance the Presidential Palace where Eva Peron reigned is pretty close to the port less than 2 miles

I think you will need agreement with the ship prior to disembarking so that they can adjust any required paperwork on their part in advance as well as arrange for a final bill to be settled. But otherwise I'm not aware of any reason that would prevent you from doing so.

We are getting off early on our upcoming cruise (We are getting off in Melbourne rather than continue on to Sydney so that we have more time to see Melbourne then fly into Sydney on our own). We had to let Celebrity know in advance and pay $65 for their trouble. Not sure why you would make that same choice in the port you are in - would have to pay for a hotel and perhaps a meal or two while gaining just a bit of convenience -- but you need to talk to the emergency planning people (or something very similar) at Celebrity in advance if that is your choice.

We are getting off early on our upcoming cruise (We are getting off in Melbourne rather than continue on to Sydney so that we have more time to see Melbourne then fly into Sydney on our own). We had to let Celebrity know in advance and pay $65 for their trouble. Not sure why you would make that same choice in the port you are in - would have to pay for a hotel and perhaps a meal or two while gaining just a bit of convenience -- but you need to talk to the emergency planning people (or something very similar) at Celebrity in advance if that is your choice.

There are multiple reasons I'd like to do it. First of all, there are restaurants in Buenos Aires far superior to the cruise line cuisine - so I will not be eating on the ship regardless if I sleep on the ship or land. I probably will be in the city until after midnight the last night of the cruise, so for me would be far more convenient to walk a couple blocks to a hotel and be able to sleep in the next morning then to cab back to the ship and have to be up early to vacate my suite for debarkation. The cab back to the ship late at night, and then back into the city the next day would cost nearly as much as the hotel (there are excellent hotels in nice areas of Buenos Aires for under $100/night). Also will be nice to have a place to store my luggage the day the cruise ends since my flight is not until 9:30pm that evening.

Since the ship is overnighting in the port where the cruise ends, am hoping it is a simple process and not one that requires advance planning or extra fees to arrange. Am hoping someone has firsthand experience of leaving the night before the cruise officially ends when the ship is already in the port of debarkation. I would think this is a very different process than debarking in a different port from where the cruise ends (which does require advance planning, approval and incurs a fee), but am not certain.

You most definitely must confirm this ahead of time to see if you can do this and if you can get it in writing.

Keith

On our last cruise we overnighted in Yokohama. The departure documentation asked if we were leaving the day of arrival or the next day.

You most definitely must confirm this ahead of time to see if you can do this and if you can get it in writing.

 

Keith

Which port did you have firsthand experience with this?

On our last cruise we overnighted in Yokohama. The departure documentation asked if we were leaving the day of arrival or the next day.

Thanks, hopefully will be the same on my cruise.

They ship can't really stop you. It's more of a concern for the local customs and immigration authorities. Obviously the ship would prefer you let them know so they can manage the logistics of getting people (and luggage) off the ship, even if you are carrying your luggage yourself.

The last time I overnighted in a final port I watched a bunch of people attempting to disembark with their luggage at the same time as the crew were trying to reposition the gangways. They were delayed for about half an hour which might have caused problems for flight connections. Always best to prearrange things I think.

 

Since the ship is overnighting in the port where the cruise ends, am hoping it is a simple process and not one that requires advance planning or extra fees to arrange. Am hoping someone has firsthand experience of leaving the night before the cruise officially ends when the ship is already in the port of debarkation.

I don't have first hand experience but as posted before you would need to have prior agreement with the hotel staff to be able to arrange early final billing, for one thing. I doubt there would be any fee associated with departing early but, yes, you you will certainly need advanced planning with the staff to do so.

I would recommend contacting the cruise line and discussing this with them to determine what their policy or procedure might be for arranging this. They would be the ones to know for sure.

I have no interest in contacting the cruise line about this. Either it is a simple process that can be easily arranged once on board (in which case I'll do it) or it is a hassle, in which case I won't. My guess is it will be easily facilitated.

I have no interest in contacting the cruise line about this. Either it is a simple process that can be easily arranged once on board (in which case I'll do it) or it is a hassle, in which case I won't. My guess is it will be easily facilitated.

Only suggested contacting the cruise line to see what their policies are regarding this ahead of time so you would know. As previously mentioned, arranging it on board would most likely just be a matter of arranging for early final bill settlement.

Just trying to be helpful. Enjoy your cruise.

There are multiple reasons I'd like to do it. ...Since the ship is overnighting in the port where the cruise ends, am hoping it is a simple process and not one that requires advance planning or extra fees to arrange. Am hoping someone has firsthand experience of leaving the night before the cruise officially ends when the ship is already in the port of debarkation...

No personal experience but I would imagine this is something that is easily arranged. You are in a suite, have your butler or the MC Concierage do the leg work for you.

An alternate strategy would be to stay aboard, book a hotel room for that final day, go to the hotel first thing in the morning to leave your luggage in the room, go out and about, then back to the room to shower and change to travel clothes, and off to catch the redeye.

Enjoy!

We have an overnight in Dublin at the end of our TA next April and we've decided to book our hotel room for that last night too, but will most likely still stay on board the last night. Having the hotel the night before will enable us to move at least some of our luggage the evening before and then at disembarkation we will be able to move directly into our hotel, no waiting in the lobby for a room to be cleaned. It was worth the cost of the night in the hotel to have an easy transition and that way we will be ready for our walking tour later in the morning on disembark day with no worries of dealing with luggage, etc....

I've visited Buenos Aires twice--once on a Celebrity itinerary identical to yours [2012] and once for a mid-cruise overnight port call while cruising Azamara [2015]--and while I don't recall anyone on my Celebrity sailing having disembarked early, nor do I recall any particular obstacle [for instance, I don't remember any immigration or customs procedures at the cruise terminal] to doing so with proper notice to Guest Relations...

That said, I'll add this... The port at Buenos Aires is vast/highly industrial [there are mazes of shipping containers everywhere with substantial forklift and truck traffic within the port], the cruise terminal is--by my best recall--located about a mile from where the cruise ships dock, and pedestrian traffic is prohibited within the port... Complimentary shuttle service--fairly frequent with intervals varying by demand--is provided round-trip between the ship and the cruise terminal...

Depending upon when you plan to disembark [with luggage in tow], know that those shuttles can be frenetic [jam-packed; standing room only] at peak times [ie; first in the morning when fellow guests are going ashore after the ship is cleared; again in late afternoon/early evening when quite a few guests went ashore for dinner and/or a tango show]... The call is obviously yours but I might consider such logistics when setting a departure time...

I will say that I never had difficulty getting a taxi upon exiting the cruise terminal [when I disembarked as part of the first group with luggage delivery to the terminal on Day 2 of my Celebrity cruise, I was at my hotel across town (Plaza Buenos Aires; then a Marriott) before 7:30 AM]... But do be aware that some drivers can be unscrupulous [the "scam"--I'd read about it before I visited; sure enough it was attempted when we took a taxi from one district to another; I didn't fall for it--is that some drivers may claim that the Argentinian Peso note(s) you provide in payment is (are) counterfeit and attempt to confuse the situation so as to secure overpayment]...

The itinerary that you're doing is one of my all-time favorites... And Buenos Aires is a wonderful and engaging city [but do be mindful of a high incidence of petty theft]... Have fun; it's memorable!

Hi Gonzo -

We are doing something similar. Except we will be staying in an AirBnB. I booked starting on 11/22.

Our plans are that we will get checked in (2:00PM) Check in time and probably move most of our luggage over to the Apartment. We thought we might actually come back to the ship for dinner, saying our good bye's to the staff and passengers we have met and hand out gratuities.

We have done something similar to your plans before. I don't know of temporary luggage near the port of Buenos Aires but most hotels will store your luggage for you until your room may be available.

As others have mentioned there may be a requirement to plan ahead if you depart and rejoin the ship at another port. We did that earlier this year when visiting the Taj Mahal. I don't believe you will need to do it in advance or pay a fee if you do it at overnight port at the end of the cruise. Also since you are in a suite you can just let Michael's Club Concierge know and she will take care of it for you with short notice.

I will check with Priscilla later today and let you know.

Thanks so much.

I have done this in Hong Kong, on a Celebrity Cruise. Just go to the guest services desk at some point (at least a few days prior to the end) and let them know of your plans.

They had us sign a form stating our intent to get off early, and that we acknowledge that we would not be receiving any refunds because we elected to leave early.

Once the ship has cleared immigration, you can leave at any time. We were in a suite and let the butler know as well, and he arranged for the cabin attendant to assist us with our luggage as you may have to carry it off yourself.

He (the attendant) brought a luggage cart and escorted us off the ship, to the terminal, and we parted ways at the immigration desks. Security asked us to confirm we were not returning when we scanned out.

Very simple process.

Now that I think about it, we did this a 2nd time in Singapore and it was the exact same process.

Thanks for the information.

I checked last evening with the Michael's Club Concierge and she explained that Buenos Aires may be different than some other ports. She did say that you need to make the ship aware of it in advance and she could take care of it for us if needed.

Your passports are taken from you when you check in for the cruise and the ship holds them for the entire cruise. When we initially arrive in Bueno Aires we are still considered in-transit and have not officially entered Argentina. The reason for the advance notice is they have to file special clearance for you to leave early and then they have to retrieve your passport and return it to you the first evening.

She did indicate that it expedites the process if you make notification prior to the cruise but that it can be done aboard.

Thanks so much for obtaining this information; it is greatly appreciated. I will discuss making arrangements with her during one of the sea days early on during the cruise.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday! :)

Jim_Iain

Could you please ask the Michael's Club concierge a question for me. We (8 adults) will be on Celebrity Eclipse ending in Buenos Aires in January 2019. We arrive on January 19 and overnight to January 20. We hope to leave early on January 20 (4:00 am) to make a 6:00 am flight to Iguaza Falls from AEP. Would this be allowed? What arrangements do we need to make? Will shuttle to terminal run at that time and will we need to go through customs/immigaration?

Any information you may get will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time.

Donna & Bill

Jim_Iain

 

 

 

Could you please ask the Michael's Club concierge a question for me. We (8 adults) will be on Celebrity Eclipse ending in Buenos Aires in January 2019. We arrive on January 19 and overnight to January 20. We hope to leave early on January 20 (4:00 am) to make a 6:00 am flight to Iguaza Falls from AEP. Would this be allowed? What arrangements do we need to make? Will shuttle to terminal run at that time and will we need to go through customs/immigaration?

 

 

 

Any information you may get will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

Thank you for taking the time.

 

 

 

Donna & Bill

Hi Donna & Bill

She said not a problem. Just let you Michael’s Club Concierge or the main Guest relations know and they will take care of it. She said most of the time they send out a questionnaire to all guest requesting your disembarkation plans.

She said when overnighting the Security is open 24 hours.

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