Self debarkation pros and cons

[Virtopia]

I'll let you know next month. ;)

 

Jealous! I have to wait until September.

[Norwich Cruiser]

Yes Venice is just so easy.

Get up early watch the sail in past St Marks even better if there is a little mist around.

You will not be the only one up.

Have breakfast self assist then walk through the parking lot to the people mover a very easy flat five minutes.

Get a ticket about one euro twenty cents to Plaza Roma it is the only and last stop takes about two minutes.

From Plaza Roma the train station is ten minutes walk fairly easy but over two or three bridges.

Suggest you allow about thirty minutes from port to the train station.

[Biker19]

Self debark was easy. The first ones off were around 7:15. About a 300 yard walk to the people mover and about the same to the train station. If moving along you might make an 8 AM train.

 

 

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[GTO-Girl]

Just got off the Freedom of the Seas yesterday in Canaveral and once again we did the self assist.

 

The down side is you need to get up really, really early. We always leave our room extra early so we can get an elevator.....if you wait until closer to your debark time they will be jam packed!!

 

So.....we were on Deck 4 by 6:10am and in line at the door. Promptly as 6:45 we were let off. It was a smooth process for us because there were only about 10 people ahead of us.

 

Self assist works great if you are willing to be a very, very early bird!!

[island lady]

As far as I know, self-assist disembarkation is available on all ships. Downsides are you have to get up earlier and be able to carry off all your bags yourself, with no carts and no help from crew.

 

And those elevators are no help either since they are always packed with everyone and all their big bags. Last

cruise we saw a family bang, clunking their heavy bags down the stairs and not looking too happy. :eek:

Edited May 23, 2016 by island lady

[Ocean Boy]

Just got off the Freedom of the Seas yesterday in Canaveral and once again we did the self assist.

 

The down side is you need to get up really, really early. We always leave our room extra early so we can get an elevator.....if you wait until closer to your debark time they will be jam packed!!

 

So.....we were on Deck 4 by 6:10am and in line at the door. Promptly as 6:45 we were let off. It was a smooth process for us because there were only about 10 people ahead of us.

 

Self assist works great if you are willing to be a very, very early bird!!

It also works great if you don't feel like you need to be the first one off of the ship. If you wait a bit until after they have started letting people off our experience has been that often you can just walk right off of the ship with no line at all.

[Bookish Angel]

We pack light, never have to leave our belonging in the hall, and are off of the ship quickly because we can handlemour luggage ourselves.

[JMHDisney]

Just did it last Friday on the Explorer. On the last night info sheet they gave us, there was a meeting spot listed for self debark super early in the morning, but when we watched the departure video, they said you could just go directly off anytime between 6:30-9:30am. We went down about 7:30, no wait on elevators and no wait to get off the ship. In fact, that was pretty much one of the only things on that cruise that went smoothly!

[Eggfrmr]

We always do self debarkation. The only issue is the elevators. It's impossible finding an elevator that isn't full and can fit you and your luggage. We usually end up having to carry them down the stairs. We also never leave in the early morning, we leave as late as possible. I've noticed if we try to delay our departure the ship gets a little less busy and we have a better chance at grabbing an empty elevator.

So you are allowed to stay later and disembark when you want? We have a later flight and that would be our preference. When is everyone off by?

 

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[Biker19]

If things are on time the last luggage tag number is called around 9:30 and everyone is expected to be off by 10AM. We disembarked around 9:45 when the announcement was made to basically get off the ship - they'll come looking for you after this time. If there issues (getting in late, customs hold ups, etc) then timing could differ.

[SargassoPirate]

We try to never be in a hurry or pressed for time to catch a flight home, so we'll often extend our vacation a day or more after the cruise. We self-disembark, but at our own time and try to be among the last off the ship. We vacate our cabin so as not to hold up the room steward and find a comfortable out-of-the-way spot in one of the departure lounges to wait and maybe enjoy some coffee and a good book. We've even enjoyed the pool deck while we wait on some ships. When they start announcing last call, we are ready to go. The me first groundlings are gone, the elevators are not crowded and if we are lucky, the lines at immigration and customs are short.

 

While many scramble to be first off, there's nothing wrong with being last off.:cool:

[birdylady]

Every port we've done self-disembarkation from they emphasize not only that you have to be able to handle your luggage yourself, but you must have one hand free to hold onto the escalator rail. If you are handicapped you can use the elevator. Of course that's nice wait too as they are always amazingly slow.

 

Also, you'll find the short cruises like the 3 nights out of PC to have a large number of folks using this option. I'm guessing so they can make it to work if they live in the area. In our case, we do this from PC to hit the road for a long day's drive (SO wish RCI could sail out of Charleston).

Erika

[FLSteve11]

Every port we've done self-disembarkation from they emphasize not only that you have to be able to handle your luggage yourself, but you must have one hand free to hold onto the escalator rail. If you are handicapped you can use the elevator. Of course that's nice wait too as they are always amazingly slow.

 

Also, you'll find the short cruises like the 3 nights out of PC to have a large number of folks using this option. I'm guessing so they can make it to work if they live in the area. In our case, we do this from PC to hit the road for a long day's drive (SO wish RCI could sail out of Charleston).

Erika

 

Yes, we live outside of Ft Lauderdale, and we've been those people sometimes. We've taken a couple of weekend 3-night (getting back Monday morning) or 4-night (leave Thursday, back Monday morning), where we self-assist off the ship and head right to school (to drop off our daughter) and work. Those sailings tend to have a lot of self-assist, since you get not only a bunch of locals, but it's a short cruise so not many bags having to be brought off.

[Tripper10]

So you are allowed to stay later and disembark when you want? We have a later flight and that would be our preference. When is everyone off by?

 

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When we have a late flight we sleep in as long as we can and walk off at the end. Seems to work fine.

[packercruising]

Here is my $.47 worth. :) If you have more than one suitcase and one carry on per person, it is probably best not to do this.

 

Self Disembarking is great if you have an early flight and you don't want to wade through other people's luggage to find your own.

 

Not all terminals have carousels. There is less incentive to self disembark at the ones that do as your bags are easier to find.

[EntropyGuardian]

We've only ever done self assist. Something about leaving your luggage in the hallway while you're sleeping doesn't appeal to us.