Self-debarkation ?

[RSLeesburg]

If you plan to walk off with luggage after cruise, do you need to carry all your bags in one trip? Are there luggage carts, or can you make multiple trips? I think we can do it in one trip, but have seen how many bags my wife will have :rolleyes:

[Clarea]

If you plan to walk off with luggage after cruise, do you need to carry all your bags in one trip? Are there luggage carts, or can you make multiple trips? I think we can do it in one trip, but have seen how many bags my wife will have :rolleyes:

There are no carts and you need to carry everything off in one trip.

[RSLeesburg]

There are no carts and you need to carry everything off in one trip.

 

Thanks Bob. I will make sure we limit the number of bags we take...lol. We are driving to port, so we can take as many as we want, but I am glad I asked this question :D

[sailingawaysoon]

We always self disembark when cruising and we have 3 larger bags and one small carryon type bag. My husband takes the two large suitcases and I roll the smaller one and carry on bag. There is an area in most ports that has an elevator for people with luggage they are carrying off. We prefer this process because we are off the ship quicker and we don't have to search for our luggage after our cruise. I wish they would allow us to carry on all our bags, but they are too large. Once you do the self disembark, I think you'll prefer this process, especially if you have an earlier flight. Happy cruising!

[Ferball35]

Do you need to get special permission to self disembark? Do I have to go to guest services for a special ticket?

[Clarea]

Do you need to get special permission to self disembark? Do I have to go to guest services for a special ticket?

I've not yet seen a ship require permission to self-disembark.

[msw1023]

just realize that the elevators are very crowded and you may end up carrying your luggage down some stairs. If you have tons of stuff you may want to rethink it

[GTO-Girl]

I know at Port Canaveral you are not allowed on the escalators unless you have one hand free to hold the rail. otherwise you are made to wait in line for the elevator......

[mistshar]

On Princess you have to sign up for a specific time span to use self-embarkation and I believe they only allow a limited number of people to do this. As far as I know, Princess is the line that does this.

[garycarla]

You can not leave a bag onboard.

Once you leave, you are gone. No going back.

 

Strap your bags together if you need to.

[cb at sea]

Pack lightly if you plan to do this. They can't force you to put your bags out, to assist you off the ship. But, you must be able to handle every single item, with no help, so pack carefully!

 

If you have to be off the ship early, it's much easier to put some of your stuff out at night....keep what you need for that night and the next morning...and let them do the schlepping! About midway thru the cruise, they will ask those with early flights to inform them, so they can get you in one of the 1st groups off.

[galavant3]

just realize that the elevators are very crowded and you may end up carrying your luggage down some stairs. If you have tons of stuff you may want to rethink it

 

Very good point. Be prepared to carry your luggage down the stairs! Last time we did self disembarkation there were many people that could not manage their luggage (even though it was made quite clear that stairs would likely be involved...)

[spookwife]

If you plan to walk off with luggage after cruise, do you need to carry all your bags in one trip? Are there luggage carts, or can you make multiple trips? I think we can do it in one trip, but have seen how many bags my wife will have :rolleyes:

 

pretty much everything in one go with no help or equipment to aid you. once you are bonged off, you ain't getting back on.

[spookwife]

Do you need to get special permission to self disembark? Do I have to go to guest services for a special ticket?

 

not really. you just do NOT put your luggage outside your stateroom the night before and you need to be down at the disembarkation area right on schedule.

[DonnaK]

Do you need to get special permission to self disembark? Do I have to go to guest services for a special ticket?

 

They usually ask you to register in advance at guest services, or using a form that is delivered to your cabin mid-cruise. On some ships, they limit self disembarkation to a certain number of passengers. Of course, there's really nothing to stop unregistered guests from walking off the ship if they didn't put their luggage out.

 

On our Celebrity cruise, the cabin steward got a list of who is self-disembarking and who is not, and he said that he was responsible for making sure he received luggage the night before from all those not registered to self-disembark.

 

Some terminals use escalators, and if you do not have one had free to grasp the handrail, then security personnel direct you to the elevator. (Witnessed this on Allure)

[CruisinCrow]

Very good point. Be prepared to carry your luggage down the stairs! Last time we did self disembarkation there were many people that could not manage their luggage (even though it was made quite clear that stairs would likely be involved...)

 

Or UP the stairs, depending on where your cabin is.

 

On our last Carnival cruise, there were some girls doing self-disembarkation and shouldn't have been. They had to keep going back and forth to move all their bags. It really held up the line.

 

We were on Enchantment last weekend and we did not have to register.

[jcl410]

Thanks Bob. I will make sure we limit the number of bags we take...lol. We are driving to port, so we can take as many as we want, but I am glad I asked this question :D

 

 

Any time I drive to Baltimore, I put my bags out the night before and do regular debarkation... here are some resaons why:

 

1) I can bring as meany bags as I want, or buy more stuff on the trip

2) no standing in lines with every one else and all our/their luggage

3) relaxing till after rush hour.... Self debarkation is always the first off - I do not fancy driving from Baltimore to Virgina during rush hour!

4) I let a porter carry the bags from the terminal right to the car.

 

I think the biggest thing for you will be the traffic.

 

Aloha,

 

John

[nanwel]

Just a suggestion - both of you go the deck that you can get off on with a small amount of luggage, do not go through the checkout point.

Then the first person stays there with whatever luggage you took.

Person 2 goes back up to the room as many trips as needed to get the balance.

Then drag it all off at once through check out - but beware, you will have to go down a long ramp, and maybe a set of steps after you leave the ship before you get to customs.

Wheeled stackable luggage would be best.

Better to suggest your wife does not overpack!! and I am sure she will gladly reduce the luggage you take to make room for her stuff:eek:

[aftop]

If you plan to walk off with luggage after cruise, do you need to carry all your bags in one trip? Are there luggage carts, or can you make multiple trips? I think we can do it in one trip, but have seen how many bags my wife will have :rolleyes:

 

You will receive written notice of self carry off procedures. However, read it carefully. On the Freedom last year I was on deck 9 towards the rear. The last night I was notified to wait in the Schooner bar on deck 4. I took the elevator to deck 4 and realized you can't get to the Schooner Bar from the aft section as the casino is locked. I needed to go back up to deck 5, cross over and go back down to deck 4. Several of us decided to just wait outside Boleros on deck 4.

 

Security was set up to process people from both Schooner and Boleros.

[riclop]

I know at Port Canaveral you are not allowed on the escalators unless you have one hand free to hold the rail. otherwise you are made to wait in line for the elevator......

Thats a good idea ive seen people take a bad tumble.

[Morecruisesplz]

They usually ask you to register in advance at guest services, or using a form that is delivered to your cabin mid-cruise. On some ships, they limit self disembarkation to a certain number of passengers. Of course, there's really nothing to stop unregistered guests from walking off the ship if they didn't put their luggage out.

 

 

We carry off our own luggage and do self disembarkation all the time and have never had to register on any RCCL ship out of 26 cruises. We just go down early and get in line. Some ships are now allowing the line to start on the outside deck which is convenient because if the line is only inside it can get very long. We have also never heard of any limitation to the numbers who can disembark this way -- everyone in Florida drives to the port and wants to be the first off the ship. We do it because we fly standby and want to try for the first flight out.

[KittyCat1Million]

We have the light weight portable luggage carriers. You put the larger bag on the bottom and the smaller bag on top. It bungee cords together and can be rolled with one hand. This way my husband can take a larger bag with a smaller or hanging bag and I can do the same. You need to put the carrier in your carryon on the plane. Works great and no worrying about finding all your luggage if you have an early return flight.

 

I too wish they would let us wheel on our own luggage if we board after 1 pm when the cabins are ready. Hate worrying if my bag will show up in time for dressing for dinner.

[pinkrosesdeb]

It seems like LOTS of people like this option now. The lines were very long last time we did it and we stood on deck for quite awhile before being cleared to disembark. People start lining up super early. And, customs wasn't really set up for us that early either so a longer delay. Maybe they have worked some of this out but when you are carrying bags standing that long can be annoying. Just be ready to hurry up and wait and please be patient!