self disembarkation?

[titansluvr]

I'm taking a 4 day coastal out of L.A. We would like to get off the ship as early as possible and would like to know how the self disembarkation process works. Do we need to sign up for it? Any info would be greatly appreciated:)

[chrysalis]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2065251&highlight=self+disembarkation

[paul929207]

You do need to sign up for it.

You do not put any luggage out the last night.

You need to be able to manage all your luggage.

You will need a free hand for the escalator, otherwise you will have to wait for an elevator. These usually get backed up.

[2pbears]

We were just on a 3 day Coastal and we were automatically placed in a scheduled "Self Help" group and assigned a time to disembark. I think the procedures may be different for these short cruises as most people are not carrying a lot of luggage. I was surprised at how late we were scheduled to disembark even though we were carrying our own luggage (9:45 AM). Don't think we could have just walked off as soon as the ship was cleared. That said, if you are assigned a time that does not work for you Princess is usually very good about accommodating your needs for change of schedule.

Edited October 3, 2014 by 2pbears
Add information

[SoCal Cruiser78]

We were just on a 3 day Coastal and we were automatically placed in a scheduled "Self Help" group and assigned a time to disembark. I think the procedures may be different for these short cruises as most people are not carrying a lot of luggage. I was surprised at how late we were scheduled to disembark even though we were carrying our own luggage (9:45 AM). Don't think we could have just walked off as soon as the ship was cleared. That said, if you are assigned a time that does not work for you Princess is usually very good about accommodating your needs for change of schedule.

 

I just got off the Golden and, yes, procedures are different for the 3 and 4-nighters. I had this comfirmed by CS staff. They do not have you fill out a request sheet (or whatever the proper term is) for disembarkation times ahead of time as they do on longer cruises. They just go ahead and assign you based on flight info, etc., that they have on file.

 

I had luggage tags left in my mailbox, and the paperwork with them indicated a late disembarkation time. I am a SoCal local, parked at the pier, and had just one carryon bag. So I went to the CS desk, and they switched me to an 8:15 walkoff time, no problem.

 

Just a heads up on walking off the ship, though. There is a one suitcase per person rule for walkoffs that appeared to be enforced, to keep the escalators moving smoothly. I did have a small handheld tote in addition, though, and had no problem.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Ryndam2002
clarity

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

They do ask people to sign up for different time to depart the ship so that all the walk offs don't rush off all at the same time. They really don't hold you to the exact time you've asked for.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

They do ask people to sign up for different time to depart the ship so that all the walk offs don't rush off all at the same time. They really don't hold you to the exact time you've asked for.

 

The walk-offs on my recent cruise from LA were divided into six different groups scheduled to depart at staggered times. I can't speak for the other groups, but my group was held in the Princess Theatre until the appointed time, then led by staff members to the gangway.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Ryndam2002

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

The walk-offs on my recent cruise from LA were divided into six different groups scheduled to depart at staggered times. I can't speak for the other groups, but my group was held in the Princess Theatre until the appointed time, then led by staff members to the gangway.

 

We just got off this morning and all the walk off groups were seated in one of the dining rooms waiting for their number to be called. They was no check what-so-ever & if you left with an earlier number it really didn't matter. We were only seated 75 feet from the chekout station & we walked out by ourselves when they called the group letter.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

We just got off this morning and all the walk off groups were seated in one of the dining rooms waiting for their number to be called. They was no check what-so-ever & if you left with an earlier number it really didn't matter. We were only seated 75 feet from the chekout station & we walked out by ourselves when they called the group letter.

 

It sounds like the policy varies, like many other things on Princess, from ship-to-ship :)!

[cruisingberger]

What time does Princess ask you to be out of your room on disembarkation day?

[waltd]

Standard time to be out of the cabin is 8 am.

[Coveguy4]

They do ask people to sign up for different time to depart the ship so that all the walk offs don't rush off all at the same time. They really don't hold you to the exact time you've asked for.

 

In San Pedro it is not the same as Florida. I got off the Golden on Thursday AND they did check that you left at the appointed time. I saw people turned back till their group was called

[Tapi]

I got off the Golden on Thursday AND they did check that you left at the appointed time. I saw people turned back till their group was called

 

 

We also got off on Thursday. We tried to sign up for self disembarkation but they told us that they were full and had no more tags. However, they told us to go to the casino at 8:05am for the 3rd group and they assured us that we would NOT be turned away, even though we didn't have tags for self disembarkation.

 

We did as instructed and walked right off the ship. Nobody checked a thing. We were outside within 15 minutes!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[vickie_bernie]

we just did self disembarkation on Sat after the 7 day California Coastal on the Crown.

 

I noticed they said in the paperwork that it was a maximum on one bag per person (not that people adhered to that).

 

We had a medium size bag each with a knapsack each. We had no problem getting off. They had three walkoff groups.

 

We were off at 8:05 (per the schedule) and we were the third group of the three walkoff groups.

 

I was disappointed in seeing some people doing the self disembarkation who probably shouldn't. Saw a woman in a wheelchair pushing two bags, and another pushing her in the chair. Caused a huge bottleneck.

 

Some had too many bags and could not manage them.

 

Some had no problem at all and it was very efficient

[Ethel5]

we just did self disembarkation on Sat after the 7 day California Coastal on the Crown.

 

I noticed they said in the paperwork that it was a maximum on one bag per person (not that people adhered to that).

 

We had a medium size bag each with a knapsack each. We had no problem getting off. They had three walkoff groups.

 

We were off at 8:05 (per the schedule) and we were the third group of the three walkoff groups.

 

I was disappointed in seeing some people doing the self disembarkation who probably shouldn't. Saw a woman in a wheelchair pushing two bags, and another pushing her in the chair. Caused a huge bottleneck.

 

Some had too many bags and could not manage them.

 

Some had no problem at all and it was very efficient

 

Life would be much easier for the rest of us if the few would show some respect for their fellow travelers.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We also got off on Thursday. We tried to sign up for self disembarkation but they told us that they were full and had no more tags. However, they told us to go to the casino at 8:05am for the 3rd group and they assured us that we would NOT be turned away, even though we didn't have tags for self disembarkation.

 

We did as instructed and walked right off the ship. Nobody checked a thing. We were outside within 15 minutes!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

They don't use tags for the walk offs here in Florida. Just join the group and either get off when they call your letter or follow an earlier letter as they leave the DR.

[Stevesan]

I manage the stairs by having a shoulder sling for one of the bags.

 

Come to think about it, FLL is the only home port I've encountered with an elevator.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Stevesan

[OCruisers]

I was disappointed in seeing some people doing the self disembarkation who probably shouldn't. Saw a woman in a wheelchair pushing two bags, and another pushing her in the chair. Caused a huge bottleneck.

Some had too many bags and could not manage them.

 

Good Warning: Please make ABSOLUTELY sure you can manage your bags on your own.

We've seem people trying to do the self disembarkation who really should not have.

LuLu

[Sonnieb]

So, I'm understanding if we have more than 1 bag per person, we cannot do self disembarkation ? What is the procedure for 2 people, with 2 bags each ? This is my 5th cruise (3rd Princess), and we've always had transfers to the airport. Our cruise will be on the Emerald sailing to/from Houston, and we're driving to the port from North Texas.

[caribill]

So, I'm understanding if we have more than 1 bag per person, we cannot do self disembarkation ? What is the procedure for 2 people, with 2 bags each ? This is my 5th cruise (3rd Princess), and we've always had transfers to the airport. Our cruise will be on the Emerald sailing to/from Houston, and we're driving to the port from North Texas.

 

The one bag limit may be limited to L.A.

 

I have not seen it in FLL or Houston.

 

In FLL you need to use the elevator in the terminal if you do not have one hand free for the escalator.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

The one bag limit may be limited to L.A.

 

I have not seen it in FLL or Houston.

 

In FLL you need to use the elevator in the terminal if you do not have one hand free for the escalator.

 

L.A. generally has a large number of locals on the 3 and 4-nighters, in my experience, and many want self-disembarkation. I'm guessing that may be part of the reason they put a one-bag limit on it there. To keep things moving in L.A., most passengers need to use the escalators at the pier and that is difficult for many with even one bag to deal with.

 

Perhaps other ports have fewer wanting self-disembarkation, or aren't as dependent on escalators which can be a struggle even with one bag?

[Sandyrella]

We just got off this morning and all the walk off groups were seated in one of the dining rooms waiting for their number to be called. They was no check what-so-ever & if you left with an earlier number it really didn't matter. We were only seated 75 feet from the chekout station & we walked out by ourselves when they called the group letter.

 

We were on the same cruise and never even made it to the dining room to wait for our number. I went to the internet cafe to check on my kids one last time before we left and as we were leaving there, we saw that there was nobody getting off the ship so we just walked off. No problem....:)

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We were on the same cruise and never even made it to the dining room to wait for our number. I went to the internet cafe to check on my kids one last time before we left and as we were leaving there, we saw that there was nobody getting off the ship so we just walked off. No problem....:)

 

If we had gone to deck 5 as you did we probably have done the same thing but we went to deck 6 & stopped at the DR to wait with the crowd for a short while. Disembarking on deck 5 put you closer to the escalator & elevator.