Disembarkation nightmare

[jebye]

My family was on the IOS in December for a 5 night cruise. The cruise was wonderful except for the disembarkation process. We are diamond members and we usually disembark early. This is the first time we experienced such a delay in disembarking the ship. We needed to wait for all the passengers that were self-disembarking (carrying their own luggage) before we could leave. It seemed that more than half of the ship passengers were self disembarking that day. We observed many passengers leaving the ship without luggage. There was a large back up of passengers by the stairs and near the gangway. Passengers were getting very upset and yelling. We were delayed by over 2 hours. Instead of leaving the ship at 8:30 we did not get off until close to 11 am. We were tired of waiting and decided to just walk down with the rest of the passengers who said they were self disembarking. The staff said that they underestimated how many were self disembarking that day. Has anyone experienced this? We have another cruise planned this summer on the Oasis and do not want to go through this again.

[emory2001]

This is the second mention I have seen of Indy's disastrous self-disembarking. I'm sailing her in two weeks and not looking forward to this mess, but I'm glad to have the heads up to prepare myself mentally.

[Setting sail for fun]

My family was on the IOS in December for a 5 night cruise. The cruise was wonderful except for the disembarkation process. We are diamond members and we usually disembark early. This is the first time we experienced such a delay in disembarking the ship. We needed to wait for all the passengers that were self-disembarking (carrying their own luggage) before we could leave. It seemed that more than half of the ship passengers were self disembarking that day. We observed many passengers leaving the ship without luggage. There was a large back up of passengers by the stairs and near the gangway. Passengers were getting very upset and yelling. We were delayed by over 2 hours. Instead of leaving the ship at 8:30 we did not get off until close to 11 am. We were tired of waiting and decided to just walk down with the rest of the passengers who said they were self disembarking. The staff said that they underestimated how many were self disembarking that day. Has anyone experienced this? We have another cruise planned this summer on the Oasis and do not want to go through this again.

 

We had the same experience (12-2015). It was terrible and we have never seen anything like it. People were on the steps for a very long time- no direction or help given by the Staff. There was even a fight that erupted due to the frustration. I am a big fan of RCCL and a stockholder but I rated this experience as terrible on the survey. Was never contacted by anyone at RCCL to follow up.

[goldgirl2]

We have a 2:00 flight home so we are in no hurry to disembark. I would prefer to not be a part of this mess. What is the latest time we can vacate our cabin?

[Retired LEO]

I knew what ship it was before even reading your post. Fun wasn't it?

[goneclear]

I guess being a 5 day cruise a large percentage of people will do self disembarkation as they may not have to much luggage. I guess the system should have some kind of review as its not in Royals interest in upsetting and frustrating their regular and loyal guest.

[Retired LEO]

We have a 2:00 flight home so we are in no hurry to disembark. I would prefer to not be a part of this mess. What is the latest time we can vacate our cabin?

 

You need to be out of your cabin by around 8:30

[leosmom08]

Huh, we were on her in October and had no trouble getting off. We did not self disembark. We had a nice breakfast in the MDR and waited a few minutes after they called our numbers (About 10 am). We literally walked off the ship and were at the cab station in less than 15 minutes.

 

Sorry to hear of other people's frustrations.

[MaizerDay]

We had the same problem disembarking from the 12/18 sailing. We went to get in line at 7:30 and studio B was completely packed. Our spot in line was at the bottom of the stairway. We did not move for over an hour. People were angry! We heard a fight broke out. People tried to cut in line and were yelled at by crowds! It was kind of entertaining! We made it out to a taxi at 9:20. Some cruises we had to fill out a paper with our plans for disembarking and this never happened so they really had no way to know how many people would be walking off.

[emory2001]

What is the latest time we can vacate our cabin?

 

I was thinking the same thing. I won't be in a hurry to leave and stand in a stairwell for two hours.

[Artemis908]

We did the Luggage Valet on Oasis and were pretty much told we could leave whenever we wanted. The lines to leave the ship were insane, I couldn't believe how long they were. We decided to wait it out at one of the lounges and just watch the line to see if it would dwindle down. When we finally decided to leave, there was a back-up and they actually stopped anyone from leaving the ship. Then once we finally got off the ship there was a huge line and little organization, even though we weren't getting luggage. I actually don't think the Valet saved us time, just didn't have to fuss with finding our luggage.

 

At the airport we had to stand in line anyway for our boarding passes and they wouldn't even allow anyone 2+ hrs early through the security. I would say Oasis/Ft. Lauderdale was probably the least organized disembarkation I have ever been through.

[RocketMan275]

We have another cruise planned this summer on the Oasis and do not want to go through this again.

 

We were on Oasis last November. We drive to the port and we have a 14 hour drive back home so hitting the road as soon as possible is important.

 

We were in the line for self-debarking around 5:45. We were probably about 30th in line. They opened the doors around 6:15, there was another 100 in line. They opened the doors and we started walking. We actually didn't stop walking until we were talking to the customs agent. We walked less than a block to our car, and were packed up, paid out, and on the way by 6:45.

 

If we learned anything, it was this. Next time we'll be in line around 05:30.

Edited January 24, 2016 by RocketMan275

[h20skibum]

We were on Oasis in November too. We did the luggage valet, and walked off at the end of the self disembarkers at 7:30. We were through customs and to the airport by 8:00. Must have been the perfect time to go. No problems at all.

 

If you were walking off without luggage, they did check to make sure you were on luggage valet.

[whitshel]

We were on Oasis in November too. We did the luggage valet, and walked off at the end of the self disembarkers at 7:30. We were through customs and to the airport by 8:00. Must have been the perfect time to go. No problems at all.

 

If you were walking off without luggage, they did check to make sure you were on luggage valet.

 

Same for us on Oasis, we had a late flight and rented a car so we waited til about 30 mins til the end of self disembarkation (can't remember if it was 730 or 8) but literally walked right off the ship to customs behind 1 person. Best ever time to get off a ship.

[RocketMan275]

For those who experienced problems, about what time did you leave your room? Trying to get a feel for the best time to debarks to avoid delays.

[Clarea]

For those who experienced problems, about what time did you leave your room? Trying to get a feel for the best time to debarks to avoid delays.

Our experience is that disembarkation problems tend to get worse the later it gets. We get off the ship with the earliest luggage tags, no matter when our flight is.

[A&L_Ont]

Huh, we were on her in October and had no trouble getting off. We did not self disembark. We had a nice breakfast in the MDR and waited a few minutes after they called our numbers (About 10 am). We literally walked off the ship and were at the cab station in less than 15 minutes.

 

Sorry to hear of other people's frustrations.

 

In October we were on Indy at Terminal 18. Since Allure has returned it is my understanding that Indy is now using another terminal, almost 100% of the time. This terminal is not as user friendly for embarking and more importantly disembarking which would explain the departure issues. At least this is what I have read on CC from posters.

[BillOh]

I knew what ship it was before even reading your post. Fun wasn't it?

 

On that note, and as info for the OP, you rarely hear this about Oasis/Allure with their normal 7 day intineraries.

[MommaBear55]

We did pretty well in November on the IOTS, but had number 6 group. Now the Navigator in December with a high number (17? 26?) was an unpleasant hot mess. They called our number a half hour late, to try to make up time, so then we waited in an overcrowded hallway and stairwell. We were on a line in the terminal for over 45 minutes, so almost 1 hour 30 from the time our number was called until we were at the taxi stand., where there were no taxis. Luckily the taxis were dropping off the incoming passengers, so that wait was only 10 minutes or so. I have to figure out a way to be chill about the process so it doesn't add more to my sorrow over leaving the ship

[ronandannette]

It doesn't suit everybody's plans but for us, we ALWAYS book an excursion with airport/hotel transfers. You are assembled as a group and escorted off the ship past whatever chaos may be ensuing. Luggage is held in a specific area and is generally very easy to find. A crew member is present to assist until you are delivered to the bus lanes and in general, the process is painless. We wouldn't do it any other way.

[Toddcan]

Hmm...

 

I now wonder if I have been "cheating" on all of our cruises... Here's what we do:

 

We do not self disembark. But, we ALWAYS ask for early slots since we are either driving home to Canada, or have a flight. So, we have always received one of the early numbers. (Only had one exception - where we had a 7pm flight, and we did a Ft. Lauderdale excursion)

 

On our first cruise with Royal, we dutifully headed towards our meeting spot just before the assigned time. We had only small suitcases or a carryon with us. As we were passing by one of the deck 4 doors, which open to the outside, they opened automatically - just as they always have. We looked at the lineup of people piled on the stairs, and decided to just walk out the door - down the gangway. Our luggage was in the terminal.

 

So, every single cruise - we do the same thing. It ends up being somewhere around 7:00-7:30 when all of this is happening. Reading all of these nightmares makes me think we've screwed with the "system" - but no one has ever asked if we were self-disembark or not.. we just walked right off. We've only sailed out of Terminal 29 in FLL

[George C]

Getting on and off ship are the worst part of the cruise by far, last 2 years was great since we were in a suite and concierge took us down about 8:30, great perk

[TC1957]

I guess being a 5 day cruise a large percentage of people will do self disembarkation as they may not have to much luggage. I guess the system should have some kind of review as its not in Royals interest in upsetting and frustrating their regular and loyal guest.

 

This will sound harsh...that the highlighted portion assumes they even remotely care. All you need to do is look at their operations over the last couple of years and it is obvious they are focused on attracting NEW customers...any repeat business is gravy. Besides, as many here point out, very little credence is given to glowing and horrible reviews (assuming someone even bothers to read many reviews of a particular ship).