"Extending" your stay...

[mgg42]

Okay, I'm not trying to start a flame war here. This actually just crossed my mind while reading a thread where someone asked what was the latest they could get off the ship.

 

The problem with debarkation day is that they kick you out of your rooms super early, so you might as well have breakfast and be on your merry way.

 

So, if you were in no hurry, and you had a nice stateroom, perhaps hanging out there would be the most appealing.

 

What I'm wondering is this. Has anyone ever greased the palm of their room steward to hold onto the room a little longer (say, 9:00 or so)? I know they don't service all the rooms at once. And with so many rooms, you know the supervisors aren't checking to make sure all the rooms are empty (I assume they are busy enough shuffling guests out of rooms that are still occupied).

 

Do you think it's even possible, if you developed a good rapor with your steward, to give him or her a little extra to say "I just want a place to relax in the morning"?

 

Again, this just kind of popped into my head, and yes, I realize if a bunch of people did it, it would undermine the whole process. I'm just wondering if anyone has ever considered it or done it.

[Desert Cruizers]

They requier everyone out of the rooms by 8 so they can prepare them for the next group of passengers, however you are free to stay on board, a little longer if doing self disembarkation. Check with guest relations on how long you may stay, or call RCL

[andrzej5914]

I believe that RC announced a late departure, for a fee. Not sure when it will take effect. Do a search. but no matter what you will have to leave the cabin no later than 10am. The stateroom attendant could lose his job if you guys are sitting around after 10am. You ask how? the mini-fridge person, the maintanance people, the stateroom section manager or ultimately the big guy.

 

With the late departure, they will hold your luggage and you can enjoy the pool area deck and WJ for few more hours.

 

Hope this helps.

[sf2]

FYI - the ship has to wait for every passenger to get off the ship to be 'cleared' - so . . . the crew who signed on the cruise before and those very impatiently waiting to go home can't get off the ship until the last passenger has cleared. . . . and then the next cruise's passengers, back to back peeps, and new crewmembers can board.

 

Being a shipboard employee . . . I've been standing at the gangway for 2 hours waiting for a errant passenger to be found and brought to the CPB. Wasn't too happy bout that ;-(

[mgg42]

I think maybe I was unclear. I'm not talking about trying to stay on board later. I'm simply wondering about staying in cabin until debarkation time. Some debarkation times are after 9am, and it seems like you're supposed to be out of your stateroom by 8am or so.

 

I was just wondering, since obviously the attendant can't be in all the rooms at once, has anyone ever given the attendant a little something extra to let you remain in the cabin that extra hour until it's time to get up and walk off?

 

It wouldn't slow down clearing the ship, as it's not staying on any later, it's just having a place to hang out until it's time to go.

[cruisenfever]

I think maybe I was unclear. I'm not talking about trying to stay on board later. I'm simply wondering about staying in cabin until debarkation time. Some debarkation times are after 9am, and it seems like you're supposed to be out of your stateroom by 8am or so.

 

I was just wondering, since obviously the attendant can't be in all the rooms at once, has anyone ever given the attendant a little something extra to let you remain in the cabin that extra hour until it's time to get up and walk off?

 

It wouldn't slow down clearing the ship, as it's not staying on any later, it's just having a place to hang out until it's time to go.

That's why with the new debarkation system, there are assigned lounges where you can hang out. There are no more announcements by way of the PA system. You are given a certain colored luggage tag and the staff member assigned to the lounge with that colored tag gets his/her instructions by way of walkie talkie from someone on the pier. When it is time to disembark all folks with a particular colored tag are escorted off the ship.

 

When you boarded the ship, your room was ready at 1PM. You really want the embarking pax to be able to access their room at the same time, don't you??:) And your cabin attendant has many other duties to perform besides getting cabins cleaned and ready by 1PM.

[reeran]

I think maybe I was unclear. I'm not talking about trying to stay on board later. I'm simply wondering about staying in cabin until debarkation time. Some debarkation times are after 9am, and it seems like you're supposed to be out of your stateroom by 8am or so.

 

I was just wondering, since obviously the attendant can't be in all the rooms at once, has anyone ever given the attendant a little something extra to let you remain in the cabin that extra hour until it's time to get up and walk off?

 

It wouldn't slow down clearing the ship, as it's not staying on any later, it's just having a place to hang out until it's time to go.

 

 

I don't think a stateroom attendant could make that decision and if they did it could put their job in jeopardy. As someone in the past post stated, there are regulations that have to be adhered to at debarkation. All I could say is try it and see if it works. If it does come back and tell us!:D

[mgg42]

Oh boy, I think this might be going downhill, so I should probably just leave it alone. I don't even think I'll bother to do this, it was more of just a thought that popped into my head. And of course I wouldn't want to delay the cabins being ready for the embarking passengers.

 

I was really just pondering. Does someone (besides the stateroom attendant responsible for the cabin) actually come by at 8am to make sure they're all empty? Or, with his or her blessing (i.e. greasing the palm) could you maybe say to the attendant 'I know you've got a busy day, and a lot of cabins to get to. Here's a token of my appreciation (wink, wink), why don't you start with one of the other cabins and come back in an hour?'

 

Like I said, I was just wondering...

[cruisenfever]

Oh boy, I think this might be going downhill, so I should probably just leave it alone. I don't even think I'll bother to do this, it was more of just a thought that popped into my head. And of course I wouldn't want to delay the cabins being ready for the embarking passengers.

 

I was really just pondering. Does someone (besides the stateroom attendant responsible for the cabin) actually come by at 8am to make sure they're all empty? Or, with his or her blessing (i.e. greasing the palm) could you maybe say to the attendant 'I know you've got a busy day, and a lot of cabins to get to. Here's a token of my appreciation (wink, wink), why don't you start with one of the other cabins and come back in an hour?'

 

Like I said, I was just wondering...

The Housekeeping Supervisor for that particular section of the ship will be out and about during the turn around process.....and yes, they will be checking.......and sometimes even helping out.

[mgg42]

The Housekeeping Supervisor for that particular section of the ship will be out and about during the turn around process.....and yes, they will be checking.......and sometimes even helping out.

 

 

Thank You!!! That makes perfect sense! Like I said, it wasn't that I was advocating this, but just wondering if there was something in place that makes it unlikely to work. And you have provided a great answer!:)

[madforcruising]

While the cabin attendants of course can´t be in all rooms at the same time, they are not working on them like starting with room A and finish this one before going to room B.

 

First thing is they strip the beds, get all the towels out of the room etc. because they have to turn in the dirty stuff to the laundry to get clean linens / towels etc. back.They have to do that first thing.

 

 

ETA: Even on NCL, where they allow you to stay in your cabin until debarkation the cabin attendant came in to strip the beds, take the towels etc. The cabin was not the place to be anymore.

[Schooner Bar Girl]

I don't think a stateroom attendant could make that decision and if they did it could put their job in jeopardy. As someone in the past post stated, there are regulations that have to be adhered to at debarkation. All I could say is try it and see if it works. If it does come back and tell us!:D

 

LOL......I can answer for you. Last cruise had a very very late night........well one could actually even say morning. I got back to the cabin at 5am then fell into bed, woke up at 9am and quickly packed and was out of the cabin by 10am just in time to be one of the last to debark. Did anything happen.......NO. My stateroom attendant laughed when she saw me in the hall and said that she was thinking that I decided to stay for another week. I was on for 2 weeks so we had a good rapport.:) Then when I was walking down the promenade to leave I passed by the HD and GR manager. The Hotel Director and GR manager laughed and said heck I should have known that you would be the one to be last off the ship.:p:D

 

Oh boy, I think this might be going downhill, so I should probably just leave it alone. I don't even think I'll bother to do this, it was more of just a thought that popped into my head. And of course I wouldn't want to delay the cabins being ready for the embarking passengers.

 

I was really just pondering. Does someone (besides the stateroom attendant responsible for the cabin) actually come by at 8am to make sure they're all empty? Or, with his or her blessing (i.e. greasing the palm) could you maybe say to the attendant 'I know you've got a busy day, and a lot of cabins to get to. Here's a token of my appreciation (wink, wink), why don't you start with one of the other cabins and come back in an hour?'

 

Like I said, I was just wondering...

 

LOL......don't worry.....people on this board can be overly serious at times. I've been guilty plenty of times for leaving the cabin after 8am so I would never lecture you. While it is better to be out and allow the cabin steward to get on with cleaning the rooms it does happen where passengers aren't out of the cabin and they will do the other cabins first. Do your best to be out by 8am but if you stray over a bit........don't worry......$hit happens!;)

[Mark_K]

I think you're on to something, I'm going to start marketing it:

 

Extendze for Cruise Enhancement

 

Enhance your cruising pleasure the natural way, guaranteed to temporarily extend your cruise by up to 2-3 hours.

(Warning: Immediately seek assistance from ship's medical staff if your cruise extension lasts for more than four hours.)

[ocdcruisenut]

"That's why with the new debarkation system, there are assigned lounges where you can hang out. There are no more announcements by way of the PA system. You are given a certain colored luggage tag and the staff member assigned to the lounge with that colored tag gets his/her instructions by way of walkie talkie from someone on the pier. When it is time to disembark all folks with a particular colored tag are escorted off the ship."

 

So, I HAVE to leave the ship when my color is called? I was hoping to be among the last to leave. I don't want to hold anything up just get to the back of the line. We are staying 1 night post cruise and even with early check in I didn't want to get to my hotel in FLL (from POM) before 11. Thought I would get off the ship around 9:30-10 then get the rental car and drive up A!A (the scenic route) and get to the hotel around 11:30-12. Does this sound doable? :confused:

[cruisenfever]

"That's why with the new debarkation system, there are assigned lounges where you can hang out. There are no more announcements by way of the PA system. You are given a certain colored luggage tag and the staff member assigned to the lounge with that colored tag gets his/her instructions by way of walkie talkie from someone on the pier. When it is time to disembark all folks with a particular colored tag are escorted off the ship."

So, I HAVE to leave the ship when my color is called? I was hoping to be among the last to leave. I don't want to hold anything up just get to the back of the line. We are staying 1 night post cruise and even with early check in I didn't want to get to my hotel in FLL (from POM) before 11. Thought I would get off the ship around 9:30-10 then get the rental car and drive up A!A (the scenic route) and get to the hotel around 11:30-12. Does this sound doable? :confused:

Midway through your cruise you will receive a sheet that you must fill out about your post cruise arrangements (i.e., are you a consecutive cruiser, flight arrangements, hotel arrangements, etc.). You will then get a sheet in your cabin with your luggage tags the day before debarkation and that will let you know what lounge to meet in and the approximate time you will be escorted off the ship. They base the color of your tag by the info that you provided them with.

 

Just look on this sheet for the last color that will be disembarking and go to Guest Relations and exchange the tags sent to you for the new ones that disembark later.

 

We have done this on our last couple of cruises because of doing a 1 night post cruise and have had no problem.

[pcur]

I know one of the last things they clean on debarkation day is vacumn the floors, so we always leave our hand luggage on the floor of our closet, let our cabin steward know, and go eat breakfast. Then, we go back and pick it up and go to our departure lounge. Since our lounge is one of the first to debark, I'd say our stuff is out of the cabin by 8:30 AM. We just don't want to schlepp it up to the Windjammer.

 

We've never had a problem with any of our cabin stewards over this, and they usually haven't even touched our room by the time we get back to pick up the hand luggage.

[cantw8togo]

We are recently off the IOS and I seem to recall that you can hang out in your cabin until your debarkation time. We were self disembarking so had no problem hanging out in our cabin until 10:00 and then headed down to the lounge for a 10:15 debarkation. (Another benefit of packing light.) We had a nap and put the do not disturb sign on the door for a bit of undisturbed, peace and quiet. I think we had mentioned to our steward that we were doing a late self debarkation so that he wouldn't worry that we had missed the opportunity to put out our luggage and that we would be using our cabin in the morning. I think we were the last ones vacating our cabin in our section.

 

It is my understanding that they don't want you hanging out on the ship after your luggage has been unloaded as they need to keep the luggage moving so to make room for the next load. They don't have room for the entire ship's luggage in one place and it is more likely to get lost / misplaced if you are late picking it up.

 

N.