Breakaway disembarkation?

[Mr Bill 1984]

Is there less of a line up if we get a late disembark time? We went on the Breakaway when it was new and we hardly had a line doing the walk off option. Last year we did the walk off and the line went on forever. I will be parked at the terminal and I'm in no rush. Thanks

[Mom2B&Z]

IMHO there are three ways to get off breakaway quickly: get off very early, very late or be in the Haven and use the concierge.

There is definitely a much shorter line on the ship if you disembark after the initial rush. Customs lines have varied immensely in our experience, in March it was very quick, but previous up years have been much longer.

 

 

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[Chrisp2017]

We got off today from the haven was a dream.

[cdnsteelman]

We waited until the final call for debark on the March 26 sailing (April 2 debark) and while the line was quite long it moved very quickly - probably ~25 minutes from the time we joined the queue to climbing in a cab across the West Side Highway.

[Fred Quimby]

how do you disembark off the back of the ship,,i heard that was faster?

[mking8288]

how do you disembark off the back of the ship,,i heard that was faster?

True and specific for BA in NYC as we do this often enough to know ... when at Pier 88, renovated with 2 gangways for speedier mega ships turnaround.

 

Unlike embarkation, choose and go to the AFT stairs/elevators to access the gangway on the back of the ship (out into the Hudson River) ... as it is a much, much shorter walk to the "Down" escalators into the arrival/luggage hall downstairs (the bottleneck is when they start those with "accessible" needs via the elevator nearby with the attendants & long lines for it

 

Those that use the FWD gangway will move toward & joint/merge with those from AFT gangway ... Haven/suite guests will, obviously get VIP and escorts to bypass and skip ahead the masses.

 

Those traveling with loaded, expanding 25"+ rollers and spinners plus oversized backpack and generous "carry-on" items are better off NOT using the express self-walk off method ... leave them out by midnight, tag it and left them forklift into the hall for color-coded pickup.

[Mississippi1]

We waited until the final call for debark on the March 26 sailing (April 2 debark) and while the line was quite long it moved very quickly - probably ~25 minutes from the time we joined the queue to climbing in a cab across the West Side Highway.

 

So, what time is final call? Still debating whether to do self assist, first colored tag, or last colored tag. We have a driver arriving for us at 9:00 AM.

[cage keeper]

We were on the March 19th sailing. Left room at 7:25, they opened the aft just as it was our turn to go around the stairs and we were at Grand Central station by 8:00. Cab.

[njhorseman]

So, what time is final call? Still debating whether to do self assist, first colored tag, or last colored tag. We have a driver arriving for us at 9:00 AM.

 

If you have a driver due to pick you up at 9 you're going to have to disembark well before final call, which will be somewhere in the 10 to 10:30 range. You should do self assist because the first colored tag is not likely to disembark early enough to get you through customs in time for your scheduled pick up.

[Mississippi1]

If you have a driver due to pick you up at 9 you're going to have to disembark well before final call, which will be somewhere in the 10 to 10:30 range. You should do self assist because the first colored tag is not likely to disembark early enough to get you through customs in time for your scheduled pick up.

Thanks for the insight. Self assist it is, then. It's certainly a bummer to think about disembarking!

[cage keeper]

Thanks for the insight. Self assist it is, then. It's certainly a bummer to think about disembarking!

 

And be in that line before 7:30.

[Chrisp2017]

And be in that line before 7:30.

 

Haven had its meeting about deambarkment at 11am Saturday day before leaving I was heartbroken

[ChitownKaye]

Last summer disembarkation was a nightmare for us. We had a 9:30 color and didn't make it to the street until noon. Want to make it a little quicker this summer - Where are the porters to help get luggage to customs? :confused: I didn't see them last year, but always see them in Miami.

[Chrisp2017]

Last summer disembarkation was a nightmare for us. We had a 9:30 color and didn't make it to the street until noon. Want to make it a little quicker this summer - Where are the porters to help get luggage to customs? :confused: I didn't see them last year, but always see them in Miami.

When you can see all the luggages lined up they are all standing there when we got off there were dozens of them . We were off pretty early so maybe when you got off they were all helping people only way you wouldn't see them .

[ChitownKaye]

When you can see all the luggages lined up they are all standing there when we got off there were dozens of them . We were off pretty early so maybe when you got off they were all helping people only way you wouldn't see them .

Oh - Thanks! Probably at the bottom of the escalator then? I'm definitely looking for them this year and going to get off a little earlier. We actually had to wait for them to call our color last time - wasted time.

[Frogdogpal]

is there a suggested fee for the porters? Or is it gratuities? What would be

A fair price? Don't want to "stiff" anyone.

[newmexicoNita]

True and specific for BA in NYC as we do this often enough to know ... when at Pier 88, renovated with 2 gangways for speedier mega ships turnaround.

 

Unlike embarkation, choose and go to the AFT stairs/elevators to access the gangway on the back of the ship (out into the Hudson River) ... as it is a much, much shorter walk to the "Down" escalators into the arrival/luggage hall downstairs (the bottleneck is when they start those with "accessible" needs via the elevator nearby with the attendants & long lines for it

 

Those that use the FWD gangway will move toward & joint/merge with those from AFT gangway ... Haven/suite guests will, obviously get VIP and escorts to bypass and skip ahead the masses.

 

Those traveling with loaded, expanding 25"+ rollers and spinners plus oversized backpack and generous "carry-on" items are better off NOT using the express self-walk off method ... leave them out by midnight, tag it and left them forklift into the hall for color-coded pickup.

I wish there was a policy preventing those with the large pieces of luggage from choosing "walk off" Our experience on the BA debarkation on the 9th was a nightmare. The stairs up to deck 10 were so blocked at 7:30am we couldn't get down them to go to the MDR for breakfast. The problem was everyone waiting with way to much luggage. It took longer than normal for the port authority to clear the ship.

To the OP, yes, just wait as long as you can to get off the ship.

[njhorseman]

is there a suggested fee for the porters? Or is it gratuities? What would be

A fair price? Don't want to "stiff" anyone.

 

It's a gratuity...the amount is at your discretion. We don't take a lot of baggage and we tip the porter $10 for just taking us through customs and out the door for a ground level limo pick. If we have to be picked up across the street rather than in the terminal complex we'll tip $20 if the porter takes us across. If we have our car parked at the terminal we give him or her $20 for taking us up to the rooftop parking lot and loading the bags in our car. So...$10 or $20 depending on where the porter takes us.

[Maraprince]

is there a suggested fee for the porters? Or is it gratuities? What would be

A fair price? Don't want to "stiff" anyone.

 

 

Generally at least $2-$3 per piece of luggage -- same as when checking in for the sailing. More will not be refused.

 

MARAPRINCE