A completely different disembarkation plan - with no lines! It works!

[TripleU]

I think even more don't follow the embarkation appointment time as it's a joke.

 

 

First time cruisers do. On our first cruise, we were told 2pm, so that's when we showed up. I was so confused why there were so many people already onboard. Then I joined CC, and now I know better. Hahaha.

[TripleU]

Can we carry our own luggage off at any time? We just moved to Houston and will be taking our first cruise out of Galveston. I'm not going to be in a hurry to get to home, so can we take our time in the AM with our luggage? I don't mean wait to be the last one off - just not in a hurry. I'm not a fan of putting my luggage out the night before - so just wondering what the rule is.

[Clarea]

Can we carry our own luggage off at any time? We just moved to Houston and will be taking our first cruise out of Galveston. I'm not going to be in a hurry to get to home, so can we take our time in the AM with our luggage? I don't mean wait to be the last one off - just not in a hurry. I'm not a fan of putting my luggage out the night before - so just wondering what the rule is.

You will get a flyer towards the end of the cruise entitled "As You Depart" with all the rules about disembarkation. If you need clarification, see Guest Services.

Edited February 23, 2016 by clarea

[boulders]

I tried the OP's method on my last RCCL cruise, 5 years ago in Bayonne. We left our cabin around 8:40 am. We didn't get out of the port until noon. There were lines everywhere. We didn't even get a taxi to ourselves. The person in charge of the line had to call in shuttle buses to get people to the airports because the local taxis had stopped showing up. Luckily our flight wasn't until late afternoon.

 

Now I do self disembark and leave early.

[3Blessings]

We self disembarked off Adventure in October, and were 5th off the ship. No customs lines, nobody at the airport. That was the best disembarkation I have ever experienced. I am also not someone who can sit around and wait. When vacation is over and its time to head home, I have to get moving. I booked the family in the RFS on Freedom next year and I am excited to self disembark while using the luggage valet. Walk off the ship first with no luggage and go find a beach to hang out at for a few hours while we wait for our flight.

 

On Adventure in July we decided not to self disembark since we had a later flight and boy did we regret it.. Went down to claim our luggage and we couldn't find it no matter how many time we and Royal looked around the terminal. Then trying to get through the LONG line of customs. getting a porter after waiting 45 minutes and not moving. They finally found our luggage and brought it to the airport but we will always self disembark from now on.

[grandgeezer]

That's funny...I thought the main benefit of doing a B2B is that you get an extra week of cruising! I stand corrected: now I know most people do B2Bs for that awesome and relaxing quiet time on turnaround day. :o

 

You thought? You could have fooled me. Nowhere did I say getting back on the ship early on a turnaround day was the main reason we cruised. It's a nice benefit, to us, of doing one.

It's awful nice of you to stay on the ship well past final call so people with early flights could make them. Just a guess, I would think people with early flights would do the walk off if they had an early departure time.

If everybody would have the common courtesy to get off when scheduled this would have never come up. There will be times when it's backed up but it's not predictable.

[micmacmissy]

Nowhere did I say getting back on the ship early on a turnaround day was the main reason we cruised.

 

Umm....

 

The two benefits of doing a B2B is not having to pack the night before and getting back on an empty ship.

[Royal2464]

If you are B2B why can't you be the last off and first back on? :confused:

 

That's exactly how it works for B2B, but not until ALL other passengers are off the ship. When the crew has to hunt them down and escort them off the ship it is an inconvenience and unnecessary delay for everyone. It's simple. Would you rather sit and wait while they hunt down the inconsiderate slackers or go through the turnaround process and lie out by the pool. I prefer the latter.

[micmacmissy]

You thought? You could have fooled me. Nowhere did I say getting back on the ship early on a turnaround day was the main reason we cruised. It's a nice benefit, to us, of doing one.

It's awful nice of you to stay on the ship well past final call so people with early flights could make them.

 

"Well past final call"??? Seriously???

 

I never stayed on the ship well past final call, nor did I advocate anyone else doing so!

 

Don't worry, sometimes I scroll around on Cruise Critic without my reading glasses, too. ;)

Edited February 23, 2016 by micmacmissy

[peymas]

Should the disembarkation from Independence be faster if they are the only ship scheduled on March 17? The ship port schedule page for port everglades shows only one ship. Should it be at pier 18? Maybe we won't have to wait long to get off. We do not do self disembarkation.

[Clarea]

Should the disembarkation from Independence be faster if they are the only ship scheduled on March 17? The ship port schedule page for port everglades shows only one ship. Should it be at pier 18? Maybe we won't have to wait long to get off. We do not do self disembarkation.

If she is the only Royal ship in port that day, she should be at terminal 18.

[Keith1010]

Good information.

 

Keith

[GUT2407]

So many threads about disembarkation, lines, and getting to the airport. Thought I would share how we do it:

 

This only works if you can book a flight that leaves at or after 12:30pm. Put your luggage out the night before (no dragging it through and off the ship with this plan! No packed elevators!). Don't worry about what number you are assigned. Better yet, ask to be assigned to the LAST group!

 

Here's what you do the last day of your cruise:

1) Sleep in! Well, sleep in til 7 or 7:30.

 

2) Head to MDR (if open) or buffet as late as possible for breakfast.

 

3) Linger and enjoy your last breakfast! Watch everyone scrambling around like crazy. Yes, the buffet will be packed- but so what? You're not in a hurry!

 

4) After breakfast, find yourself a cozy spot. A seat up on an outside deck, the promenade is nice, or maybe a soft comfy chair in a lounge somewhere. (Some areas may be off limits the last day, but that's ok- you'll find a spot.)

 

5) When the very last group is called to exit (maybe around 9:30 or so), wait another ten minutes, then begin to make your way out. You'll be among the last hundred or so people off the ship. Lines will be moving along as the bulk of the passengers are gone!

 

6) When you get to the luggage claim area, there will only be a few dozen suitcases left. So EASY to spot your own! Plenty of room to wheel/negotiate. No lines going through customs, either!

 

7) Arrive at the airport AFTER the morning rush. A much better way to end your cruise!

 

Now this won't work for everyone...but it's our preferred method! Just thought I'd share!

 

We've done that a few times.

[alaska_planner]

So many threads about disembarkation, lines, and getting to the airport. Thought I would share how we do it:

 

This only works if you can book a flight that leaves at or after 12:30pm. Put your luggage out the night before (no dragging it through and off the ship with this plan! No packed elevators!). Don't worry about what number you are assigned. Better yet, ask to be assigned to the LAST group!

 

Here's what you do the last day of your cruise:

1) Sleep in! Well, sleep in til 7 or 7:30.

 

2) Head to MDR (if open) or buffet as late as possible for breakfast.

 

3) Linger and enjoy your last breakfast! Watch everyone scrambling around like crazy. Yes, the buffet will be packed- but so what? You're not in a hurry!

 

4) After breakfast, find yourself a cozy spot. A seat up on an outside deck, the promenade is nice, or maybe a soft comfy chair in a lounge somewhere. (Some areas may be off limits the last day, but that's ok- you'll find a spot.)

 

5) When the very last group is called to exit (maybe around 9:30 or so), wait another ten minutes, then begin to make your way out. You'll be among the last hundred or so people off the ship. Lines will be moving along as the bulk of the passengers are gone!

 

6) When you get to the luggage claim area, there will only be a few dozen suitcases left. So EASY to spot your own! Plenty of room to wheel/negotiate. No lines going through customs, either!

 

7) Arrive at the airport AFTER the morning rush. A much better way to end your cruise!

 

Now this won't work for everyone...but it's our preferred method! Just thought I'd share!

 

yup...we did this in vancouver after our alaska cruise this past summer...

we weren't heading to the airport, but rather to the car rental desk...

and we had lots and lots and lots of time to drive down to seattle...

we were only flying out the next day and were planning on a scenic drive, with no specific destination that day (the only thing on our schedule was a boeing factory tour the next day)..

 

since i wanted to be able to go back to the room after breakfast, i took the last timeslot for leaving the ship....

 

we had a nice leisurely breakfast, went back to the room....sat on the balcony a while....then when it was time to leave the rooms, we headed up and found a nice area to sit while we chatted with the wonderful cruise directors staff (they were outstanding)....after a short while, our number was called so we said our last goodbyes to the crew and headed out....

by that time, there were about 20 suitcases left so ours were very easy to spot...

grabbed ours and headed for alamo...

since we had a car reserved, there were no worries about being last rather than first..

you can't pick your car there anyway, so there's no incentive to be off first...

 

it was our most relaxing disembarkation ever!!

Edited February 24, 2016 by alaska_planner

[island lady]

yup...we did this in vancouver after our alaska cruise this past summer...

we weren't heading to the airport, but rather to the car rental desk...

and we had lots and lots and lots of time to drive down to seattle...

we were only flying out the next day and were planning on a scenic drive, with no specific destination that day (the only thing on our schedule was a boeing factory tour the next day)..

 

since i wanted to be able to go back to the room after breakfast, i took the last timeslot for leaving the ship....

 

we had a nice leisurely breakfast, went back to the room....sat on the balcony a while....then when it was time to leave the rooms, we headed up and found a nice area to sit while we chatted with the wonderful cruise directors staff (they were outstanding)....after a short while, our number was called so we said our last goodbyes to the crew and headed out....

by that time, there were about 20 suitcases left so ours were very easy to spot...

grabbed ours and headed for alamo...

since we had a car reserved, there were no worries about being last rather than first..

you can't pick your car there anyway, so there's no incentive to be off first...

 

it was our most relaxing disembarkation ever!!

 

 

Looking forward to our relaxing disembarkation day also on Radiance this year in Vancouver. While most everyone is getting off the ship, looking for luggage, trying to score transportation, etc. Then later new passengers boarding (including little sister and fiance), waiting to get inside their cabin, hopelessly looking for their luggage....Hmm....I will already be unpacked and ready to go again! Nice! ;)

 

First B2B...and looking forward to it! :D

Edited February 24, 2016 by island lady

[island lady]

If she is the only Royal ship in port that day, she should be at terminal 18.

 

Someone on our last Serenade roll call thread posted we would be the only ship in port on disembarkation day. Not sure where he got his information, since there were 7 large ships in port that day!! :eek: Customs agents were spread thin. :(

[alaska_planner]

Looking forward to our relaxing disembarkation day also on Radiance this year in Vancouver. While most everyone is getting off the ship, looking for luggage, trying to score transportation, etc. Then later new passengers boarding (including little sister and fiance), waiting to get inside their cabin, hopelessly looking for their luggage....Hmm....I will already be unpacked and ready to go again! Nice! ;)

 

First B2B...and looking forward to it! :D

 

lucky you!!!!! a back to back!!! wow!!! i'd LOVE that!!!

my dream - do a week before the alaska cruise....then B2B...then another week in alaska after the cruise!!! .....hopefully one day

Edited February 24, 2016 by alaska_planner

[kmorg1234]

We self disembarked off Adventure in October, and were 5th off the ship. No customs lines, nobody at the airport. That was the best disembarkation I have ever experienced. I am also not someone who can sit around and wait. When vacation is over and its time to head home, I have to get moving. I booked the family in the RFS on Freedom next year and I am excited to self disembark while using the luggage valet. Walk off the ship first with no luggage and go find a beach to hang out at for a few hours while we wait for our flight.

 

We were not able to use the luggage valet last November on the Adventure since it departs and arrives in San Juan. Seems luggage valet was for the continental US ports only. Don't know whether that has changed or not, but we were disappointed.

[Hotel CA]

We did the luggage valet service for the first time a couple weeks ago. Only one of us had to pay the $20 to have our 2 large cases (Southwest Free) transported. Will never do it another way!

 

Completely agree-- really works well--just put them out the night before and get them at baggage claim upon arriving home

[island lady]

lucky you!!!!! a back to back!!! wow!!! i'd LOVE that!!!

my dream - do a week before the alaska cruise....then B2B...then another week in alaska after the cruise!!! .....hopefully one day

 

Hmm...not really lucky, but expensive. :eek: Wow, those Alaska cruises have gone up in price over the years! But then again, supply and demand, and only about 4 months to make the tourist $$ up there.

 

Happy to have the same cabin for both legs. :)

[mil76]

There's no guarantee that this idea works.

 

We tried this on Navigator in Galveston last Easter when the ship was about 35% Mexican nationals, which threw the whole process into chaos. We were not flying out until late so were in no rush and decided to take our time getting off.

 

When they called the last numbers we basically stepped off the ship and walked about 10 feet to the end of a two+ hour nightmare queue. You know that great feeling you get as you practically run through the glass bridge from the terminal to the ship with all the anticipation of starting your cruise? Try standing in that for 30 minutes 3-4 wide with no AC while the sun is baking you.

 

And all the advice to get a porter...worthless...as it was about an hour and a half before we even got to an area where you could get a porter, and by that time the porter line was mayhem as well. We had many frantic calls to our shuttle driver to Hobby begging him not to leave us behind. It was the worst disembarking experience ever. B2B cruisers need not worry about this family impacting their changeover utopia ;), as we'll be in line early carrying off our luggage from now on.

[BillOh]

I tried the OP's method on my last RCCL cruise, 5 years ago in Bayonne. We left our cabin around 8:40 am. We didn't get out of the port until noon. There were lines everywhere. We didn't even get a taxi to ourselves. The person in charge of the line had to call in shuttle buses to get people to the airports because the local taxis had stopped showing up. Luckily our flight wasn't until late afternoon.

 

Now I do self disembark and leave early.

 

I've only had the opportunity to try the OP's "method" once and that was my 2007 cruise on Majesty out of Miami. It was the only time I could get a flight that left MIA at a reasonable time (noon) I usually end up with an early flight that requires rushing or a late flight that would leave me at the airport for 8 hours. We do a lot of post cruise excursions just as time killers. The one time on Majesty we asked for the last group, got it., waited with our carryons by the pool until they called the last group and leasurily walked off. I think that was a weekday disembarkation so we were able to get a decent flight.

[FSUNole]

I'll bet it's not bad if you are one of the first to get off. Plus, Indy can use terminal 18 if not Saturday or Sunday.

 

My Indy cruise finishes on Thursday and either the Oasis or Allure are in port that day...

[FSUNole]

My Indy cruise finishes on Thursday and either the Oasis or Allure are in port that day...

 

Oh wait, now its showing as the only ship... hopefully this means a better disembarkation process...

[janetz]

If we don't use luggage valet here is what we do.

Enter the luggage terminal, hold up a ten, grab a porter who gets our luggage, brings us through any line very quickly, and grabs us a taxi. ;)

Edited February 24, 2016 by janetz