margoula Posted November 1, 2015 #1 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Trying to disembark....utter chaos..... No organization Been on BA three times never saw such a horror...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Nahoumi Posted November 1, 2015 #2 Share Posted November 1, 2015 We would never attempt to do self disembark. It's easier to choose a later flight, train, or car service and be one of the last ones off of the ship. Crowds are gone, and luggage is easier to find. Never in any hurry to go home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moby0215 Posted November 1, 2015 #3 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Trying to disembark....utter chaos..... No organization Been on BA three times never saw such a horror...! What's the horror? You just take your bags, walk off and go through customs. What other organization is needed? Unless maybe it is just that crowded? And if so, well, there is nothing anyone can do about that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted November 1, 2015 #4 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Seems like every Sunday morning this same complaint gets posted. NCL allows a free for all off a mega ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinaLC Posted November 1, 2015 #5 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Too often people chose to self disembark with luggage that they really can't handle, jamming elevators and stairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfin55 Posted November 1, 2015 #6 Share Posted November 1, 2015 An entire week of vacation, and that is your complaint. I'd say that's a much better week then all of us had working this week. Always something to complain about... Hmmmm. A real tragic event. Thank you for keeping us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaShark Posted November 1, 2015 #7 Share Posted November 1, 2015 The problem with Easy Walk Off is that many people choose to use it thinking that it means they'll be the first ones off of the ship. They forget that the thousands of other people on board can also make that same choice...then they try to act surprised that things are slow because of the large number of people. Barb hit the nail on the head with this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thiswillbefunnj Posted November 1, 2015 #8 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Trying to disembark....utter chaos..... No organizationBeen on BA three times never saw such a horror...! I was on the Breakaway 10-4 to 10-11 & was a Suite/Haven guest -I paid for an easier way to embark/disembark & never got it. Embarking consisted of being taken with 40+ other Suite guests onto elevators (of course not everyone can get on just one elevator) to the Haven restaurant. But no one waited by the elevators for the rest of the guests to show us where to go. Many just walked away to their cabins. Getting off the ship was worse. Get on an elevator & the Concierge points to a door to walk out of. The line of passengers waiting to get off was enormous. No signage for the 'priority' service I paid for. Finally found a crew member who said -stay to the right for Haven guests. Thankfully we were able to bypass most if the line. A sign near our exit telling Haven to 'stay to the right' would have been nice. It was chaos & uncalled for. No one seemed to know where to go & there weren't many employees directing passengers. This Haven experience & paying for services I didn't receive throughout the cruise caused me for the first time not to place a deposit on another. I do hope you enjoyed your cruise -although getting off the ship caused you some trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maywell Posted November 1, 2015 #9 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Too often people chose to self disembark with luggage that they really can't handle, jamming elevators and stairs. That's why I purposely take wheeled carry-on and backpack only for Caribbean trips - easy to deal and walk down the stairs with. Especially when customs want to take their sweet time processing people... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted November 1, 2015 #10 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I was on the Breakaway 10-4 to 10-11 & was a Suite/Haven guest -I paid for an easier way to embark/disembark & never got it. Embarking consisted of being taken with 40+ other Suite guests onto elevators (of course not everyone can get on just one elevator) to the Haven restaurant. But no one waited by the elevators for the rest of the guests to show us where to go. Many just walked away to their cabins. Getting off the ship was worse. Get on an elevator & the Concierge points to a door to walk out of. The line of passengers waiting to get off was enormous. No signage for the 'priority' service I paid for. Finally found a crew member who said -stay to the right for Haven guests. Thankfully we were able to bypass most if the line. A sign near our exit telling Haven to 'stay to the right' would have been nice. It was chaos & uncalled for. No one seemed to know where to go & there weren't many employees directing passengers. This Haven experience & paying for services I didn't receive throughout the cruise caused me for the first time not to place a deposit on another. I do hope you enjoyed your cruise -although getting off the ship caused you some trouble. This is exactly why I love sailing on the smaller ships. On each of my cruises, we were asked to meet in a particular room and then the concierge escorted us off the ship right after all the easy walk offers were done. When we got to the luggage, there wasn't any one else there looking for their luggage and our bags were really easy to find and going through customs has always been a breeze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted November 1, 2015 #11 Share Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) Folks who travel light and have tight ground transportation to make to fly home, etc. or otherwise feel the need to rush home to see their pets :D or feed their goldfishes are typically good reasons to join the herd of 500 to 1,000 pax rushing to get off the ship ... There are numerous bottlenecks along that pathway out to 12th Avenue ... not being among the first in line at 5:30 AM (skipping breakfast) ;) or foot traffic backing up on the gangways (2 of them for the *Away class ships) and the lines into the CBP for one-stop immigration & customs screening, not to mention those ship elevators jammed pack with folks lugging their 28" rollers & spinners plus backpacks in tow, or the escalators. But, I can't be sure if today's famous, annual NYC Marathon had anything to do with outside matters, far beyond NCL's control or staffing issues inside the terminal. Using the porter's services (and, tipping) is a well-established fast track to get thru some of the bottlenecks. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a slight shortage of taxis and car service, even those "ride-sharing" services being unavailable (or surge pricing) - as the runners are on the pavement now on their 26 miles road course thru all 5 boroughs ... and drivers are known to take a "break" as it's not worth the trouble in sit in bumper-in-bumper traffic going nowhere with upset riders. I would think that OP being from Astoria, NY & 30 to 45 minutes from Pier 88 would've been an informed local CC traveler ... sit back, relax & wait for the cattles to exit while enjoying a full breakfast onboard. We find it a lot more civilized when we are not in a "must" to hurry off the ship on disembarkation morning, our luggages are usually ready & waiting for us in the color coded section downstairs, neatly lined up for us to find - and it's a breeze pulling our 22" rollers (expanded) thru the terminal. It helped a little bit that we have been Platinum & get priority disembarkation tags. Easy doesn't translate into a fast track - better luck next time or try not to rush off (our BIL/SIL were the impulsive type who used to joint the let's hurry & get home "mob" ... and they learned their lessons standing in those lines for 90+ minutes :p ) Edited November 1, 2015 by mking8288 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaja Posted November 1, 2015 #12 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Only going to be worse.....today is NYC marathon...many street closures:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwsster Posted November 1, 2015 #13 Share Posted November 1, 2015 On the GEM they asked for those walking off with all of their belongings to start leaving the ship. My DH and I did so and met several "Salmon" going back up the gangway from the port as they were turned back by the port people. They were asked "Do you have all of your suitcases and belongings" Some thought that they could take a shortcut and get their checked luggage and leave early. People don't listen and follow directions. This clogged up the whole process having to walk back up the whole gangway. Once we got past the gate checker and "Salmon" it was an easy walk off. That being said, NCL could do a better job coordinating walk offs, but with some passengers it would be like herding cats. What's the horror? You just take your bags, walk off and go through customs. What other organization is needed? Unless maybe it is just that crowded? And if so, well, there is nothing anyone can do about that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyto3nj Posted November 1, 2015 #14 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Hurry up and get off. I'm waiting to get on lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCLfamily Posted November 1, 2015 #15 Share Posted November 1, 2015 If you're walking off with your luggage (which I always do) be prepared to queue. Use the stairs rather the elevator. Simples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstuff1 Posted November 1, 2015 #16 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Trying to disembark....utter chaos..... No organizationBeen on BA three times never saw such a horror...! what time was this? on the gem and BA this past july, I ate breakfast first, then walked off. walk off the ship was easy. the bottleneck I encountered both times was customs, mainly the line to the escalators that leads you into the customs area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moby0215 Posted November 1, 2015 #17 Share Posted November 1, 2015 On the GEM they asked for those walking off with all of their belongings to start leaving the ship. My DH and I did so and met several "Salmon" going back up the gangway from the port as they were turned back by the port people. They were asked "Do you have all of your suitcases and belongings" Some thought that they could take a shortcut and get their checked luggage and leave early. People don't listen and follow directions. This clogged up the whole process having to walk back up the whole gangway. Once we got past the gate checker and "Salmon" it was an easy walk off. That being said, NCL could do a better job coordinating walk offs, but with some passengers it would be like herding cats. Doesn't sound like utter chaos at all, just some rude, non-direction following passengers. I have walked off the breakaway twice and never had any issues other than having to wait in line. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted November 1, 2015 #18 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Customs on a Sunday tend to be shorter staffed. Add the NYC marathon into the equation... It once took us hours to self disembark on the Jewel. We had no problems on the BA - guess everyone showed up for work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Shippy Posted November 1, 2015 #19 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Just think of the man power it saved the ship collecting the luggage the night before. I think it worked great for about a year. Now so many people want to do this that it is chaos on most cruise lines. We now try and find out the night before where exactly the exit door will be. I KNOW they assign you to wait in a certain area but so many people do not do this so if you do....you get trapped in a bottleneck when it is time to go. We usually have a fairly early flight so want to be sure to get off early. Also, we have seen where right after you get off there becomes some kind of backup in customs. Then you can really get delayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laszlo Posted November 1, 2015 #20 Share Posted November 1, 2015 The horror? :eek: We have always done easier walk off.......and it was always and easy walk off with one exception and that was Tampa. Customs did not have enough people working. We down the elevator (early) around 7:15-7:30 and get in line. The three times in NYC we were off the ship and driving away by 8:15am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margoula Posted November 1, 2015 Author #21 Share Posted November 1, 2015 By the way did I forget to mention my husband and I were traveling with two disabled people... One in a wheelchair and the other in a scooter...the problem also was no crew assisting....took us THREE HOURS to disembark....no matter what I don't think this is acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaja Posted November 1, 2015 #22 Share Posted November 1, 2015 By the way did I forget to mention my husband and I were traveling with two disabled people... One in a wheelchair and the other in a scooter...the problem also was no crew assisting....took us THREE HOURS to disembark....no matter what I don't think this is acceptable. so sorry for the hectic end to your cruise...while I am sure fellow PAX were a big problem as others have said...NCL should have had crew to assist you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieshops Posted November 1, 2015 #23 Share Posted November 1, 2015 By the way did I forget to mention my husband and I were traveling with two disabled people... One in a wheelchair and the other in a scooter...the problem also was no crew assisting....took us THREE HOURS to disembark....no matter what I don't think this is acceptable. we were with my MIL 2 weeks ago on the BA, and we had to request wheelchair assistance off, they told us where to go and we were escorted off the ship. Did you request assistance or just went off yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvtheships Posted November 1, 2015 #24 Share Posted November 1, 2015 We would never attempt to do self disembark. It's easier to choose a later flight, train, or car service and be one of the last ones off of the ship. Crowds are gone, and luggage is easier to find. Never in any hurry to go home. Or self walk off at 7:30am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvtheships Posted November 1, 2015 #25 Share Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) By the way did I forget to mention my husband and I were traveling with two disabled people... One in a wheelchair and the other in a scooter...the problem also was no crew assisting....took us THREE HOURS to disembark....no matter what I don't think this is acceptable. While this is in no way a comment on your 2 disabled people.....but one has to admit that this did make your exiting the ship more complicated and I think that is the reason you had a difficult time Fwiw. You might have mentioned this is your op as well as mentioning if you requested assistance but just didn't receive it. Makes a huge difference. Edited November 1, 2015 by luvtheships Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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