Disembarkation What Am I Doing Wrong?

[Cinders411]

We have taken 2 RC cruises and LOVED them both. However, disembarkation was a nightmare both times. Sailed on FOS out of Port Canaveral & VOS out of Tampa. Clearly we are doing something wrong. We tried both times to get off fairly early. We have to wait in the (always) long, cab line outside to get to the airport. Our flights are generally around noon. We have ended up both times standing in a line that just goes round and round and round the ship. Surely there must be a better way? If we try to wait until the mob goes will there still be plenty of cabs? I need the guidance of frequent RC cruisers to give me some of their wisdom. We sail on BOS in Oct and am hoping for a less stressful result. Thanks in advance for any helpful replies. :)

[CntPAcruiser]

Disembarkation always seems to be a nightmare, or at least just plain stressful. We've done regular group disembark and, more recently, the early off where you carry all your luggage. The self-disembark maybe was a bit better. The cab/shuttle situation depends on the port, of course, but it's usually always crowded and somewhat disorganized. Some ports do better than others. For Canaveral we've used a shuttle, either booked privately or RCI's transfer. At least we didn't have to rely on a cab there.

[hancogran]

After doing self disembark for the first time (on QM2) this past June, we will definitely be trying this on our next RCL cruise. We were off the ship and in a taxi within 5 minutes, believe it or not.. and that's including going through immigration.. no lineups at all. I'm sure all ports won't be like this but this was our experience in New York (Brooklyn). :)

[Blondynka]

We always walk off early with our luggage, never had an issue out of Port of Miami, Port Everglades or Bayonne. The earlier you can get off the better, because the port vicinity gets busier later in the morning as the new people start to arrive in addition to those who are disembarking.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Blondynka

[CaptData]

Pre-book a car service or shuttle. Then you know that you have to be off the ship by that time say 9 am. Go to guest services and get new tags with the earliest number possible. Your off the ship and waiting for your ride. Phone your ride if you are early and they will get there as soon as they can.

Edited September 21, 2015 by CaptData

[LuvBNatC]

I've had good luck with securing a porter on the pier who helps me find my luggage, walks me through customs, and then cuts through the crowd to get me into a cab. I tip him $5 and I'm on my way to the airport.

[Big_G]

Use the porters. They have their own line in Tampa and I hear they have their own line now in PC. Haven't confirmed the latter.

 

 

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[EGG]

Sometimes self disembarkation works fine. But usually it involves getting to the meeting room very early or having to deal with waiting ages for an elevator and still having to carry your luggage down that last flight of steps. We like to have breakfast first if we don't have a flight so we often wait so long to get an elevator and off the ship we end up with people who do not have luggage. I am just saying this because it is not as easy as some people make it out to be.

 

The shorter the ship, the more people take self debarkation because they have less luggage.

 

What is going to happen is that as cruise critics tell people to use a porter, they will shut down the fast line for people who really need it. There are many people who cruise who cannot handle their luggage and cannot stand on line for an extended amount of time. When we cruised with an elderly aunt, we had to wait on the ship for a good hour or more for a wheelchair to take her off. Those of you who saw the porter walk us through immigration did not know that we had waited so long on the ship because there are a limited number of escorts for people in wheelchairs. If you feel you need a porter, then use one, but please do not advise people to use a porter to avoid the lines and make those who really need porters wait.

[cb at sea]

About midway thru the cruise, they ask those with early flights to tell them....do you? If you do, you get a very early number, so you can get off in one of the 1st groups. That's what we do...and the wait for a cab has never been THAT long....maybe you've just had bad luck....

[nivek82]

So now there should be limitations on who can get a porter?

[Merion_Mom]

We have taken 2 RC cruises and LOVED them both. However, disembarkation was a nightmare both times. Sailed on FOS out of Port Canaveral & VOS out of Tampa. Clearly we are doing something wrong. We tried both times to get off fairly early. We have to wait in the (always) long, cab line outside to get to the airport. Our flights are generally around noon. We have ended up both times standing in a line that just goes round and round and round the ship. Surely there must be a better way? If we try to wait until the mob goes will there still be plenty of cabs? I need the guidance of frequent RC cruisers to give me some of their wisdom. We sail on BOS in Oct and am hoping for a less stressful result. Thanks in advance for any helpful replies. :)

 

I have never cruised out of Tampa, so I can't respond to that.

 

But the only time that I was SO fed up and wanted to bite the head off a bat was in Port Canaveral. The so-called port "workers" control the flow of the cabs and shuttles, and to say that they do a LOUSY job is the biggest understatement that I can make on a family forum.

 

So, my advice is: Cruise out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Although some debarkations are easier than others, never have I wanted to bite the head off a port worker or a bat there.

 

:)

[LuvBNatC]

 

What is going to happen is that as cruise critics tell people to use a porter, they will shut down the fast line for people who really need it.... If you feel you need a porter, then use one, but please do not advise people to use a porter to avoid the lines and make those who really need porters wait.

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with hiring a porter standing in line on the pier, because they are obviously NOT being enlisted by the cruise line to help passengers with special needs.

 

Your beef is with the cruise line, not with fellow passengers seeking the most efficient way to disembark.

 

I'm sorry the ship didn't provide you with the special help you needed, but porters are available to all, and no one should try to guilt us out of hiring them.

[pinkrosesdeb]

We always find a porter and have them cart our luggage to the shuttle. If we could manage all our bags on our own, we would just walk off the ship. We have been able to do that the last couple of cruises and it worked pretty well but if we send luggage down the last night it is because we feel we couldn't carry everything on our own. I never realized some people thought porters were just for them.

[MonDreamr1]

For PC we rent a car. The shuttle to the car rental is quick.

 

Booking private or shared transfers ahead of time.

 

I don't know if Uber/Lyft are allowed (officially or unofficially) in Tampa/PC. Check with local sources. We've found Uber to be quick and easy in other areas. In some areas there is UberTaxi.

 

 

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Edited September 22, 2015 by MonDreamr1

[BonTexasNY]

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but try sailing into Galveston. It can be a total nightmare especially with the Roatan/Belize itinerary. Last cruise we waited on line after getting our luggage for approx. 2 hours until we cleared customs. Couldn't snag a porter. None were available. Line for self assist before us snaked all through one deck inside and out. It seemed endless. I can't imagine what time the last passenger got out. We were no where near the back of the line :eek:

[perkli25]

We have only had an issue on 1 out of 8 cruises. In that case we were actually late to arrive to Tampa and almost missed our flight. On our most recent cruises we've been doing self disembarkation and we've basically walked right off the ship. When we were doing traditional disembarkation, we would just find a comfortable place to wait and read until our time was called. The solarium is usually a good place to wait for us.

[Big_G]

 

What is going to happen is that as cruise critics tell people to use a porter, they will shut down the fast line for people who really need it. There are many people who cruise who cannot handle their luggage and cannot stand on line for an extended amount of time. When we cruised with an elderly aunt, we had to wait on the ship for a good hour or more for a wheelchair to take her off. Those of you who saw the porter walk us through immigration did not know that we had waited so long on the ship because there are a limited number of escorts for people in wheelchairs. If you feel you need a porter, then use one, but please do not advise people to use a porter to avoid the lines and make those who really need porters wait.

 

Sorry if I was under the mistaken impression that Cruise Critic was designed to be helpful to other cruisers. The porters are there for those who want their service and not just for those that 'need' their service.

[Doggielover68]

We always have some sort of prescheduled transportation to the airport, usually a shared shuttle van. Usually they are already there waiting for you as soon as you get off the ship. We also take our own luggage with us.

 

 

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[cincicruisers]

See if your ship/airport/flight time are eligible for luggage valet. The will pick up your luggage the night before and the next time you see you luggage is your final destination. Cost is $20~free if your in a suite.

[m*u*g*]

Might be a port dependent thing.

 

We just self disembarked Allure in Barcelona.

 

We walked off with luggage around 6:45am and was in a cab by 6:50am.

Very short cab line and plenty of cabs. Maybe because the fee was a flat $39 to the airport? .

[John&LaLa]

Laura did self disembark in PC this past Sunday and was off the ship at 6:55. Easy Peasy

[kalliekae]

After doing self disembark for the first time (on QM2) this past June, we will definitely be trying this on our next RCL cruise. We were off the ship and in a taxi within 5 minutes, believe it or not.. and that's including going through immigration.. no lineups at all. I'm sure all ports won't be like this but this was our experience in New York (Brooklyn). :)

 

We used self disembark from the Oasis twice and walked right off and into a cab with no waiting. Of course, it helped that the customs line went fast and we were one of the first ones in line. We have an upcoming cruise in November and will be doing the same thing off of Allure. Hopefully, it will be just as easy.

[kalliekae]

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but try sailing into Galveston. It can be a total nightmare especially with the Roatan/Belize itinerary. Last cruise we waited on line after getting our luggage for approx. 2 hours until we cleared customs. Couldn't snag a porter. None were available. Line for self assist before us snaked all through one deck inside and out. It seemed endless. I can't imagine what time the last passenger got out. We were no where near the back of the line :eek:

 

I've heard several people say that Galveston is a nightmare. Why?? I know my cousin had a problem in July. Stood in line for 1 1/2 hours to get off and it was extremely hot. Is there no air conditioning in the terminal? We were considering a cruise out of Galveston, but decided on FL instead.

[George C]

If your in a suite getting off is a breeze we were in Galveston, concierge escorted us to luggage ahead of everyone except people that carried own luggage, loads of porters to help since we were 1st, another suite perk.

[js]

I have never cruised out of Tampa, so I can't respond to that.

 

 

 

But the only time that I was SO fed up and wanted to bite the head off a bat was in Port Canaveral. The so-called port "workers" control the flow of the cabs and shuttles, and to say that they do a LOUSY job is the biggest understatement that I can make on a family forum.

 

 

 

So, my advice is: Cruise out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Although some debarkations are easier than others, never have I wanted to bite the head off a port worker or a bat there.

 

 

 

:)

 

 

I am getting off Breeze in FLL and need to get to an early flight in Miami. This will be a Sunday. I plan on self walk off. If Im one of the first grouping to get off, would you advise using a porter?

 

Thanks so much to you and all!