Self Assist Debark - Specifically Miracle from Tampa

[We<3WDW]

It's been a few years since we cruised. In the past we always did self-assist. Normally it was fast and painless, until our last cruise on the Sunshine. It was a disaster. We were sent to one of the lounges along with those who had early flights. For reasons still unknown, we were not released until well after most of the other passengers and then we were stuck on the stairs in a traffic jam. We didn't get off the ship until after 10:00 am. My questions are: Is this now normal for the self-assist process or did we just get bad instructions? Is it better on the spirit class vs. whatever the Sunshine is? Can anyone tell me where self-assist are normally sent to wait on the Miracle? Thanks!

[NavarreCruiser]

Your bad experience was an aberration, but debark screw-ups of some kind do happen too frequently. The Diamond and Platinum self-assists and sometimes FTTF are usually offered a special meeting place and escorted off first, then other self-assists are called by floor. Sometimes starting with upper floors, sometimes lower floors. Then, luggage tags numbers are called lower to higher. But there are always a number of "its all about me" cruisers who cut lines whenever they can.

[We<3WDW]

Thanks for the reply NavarreCruiser. On our first cruise, we were told by our cabin steward that self assist were to go to the theater and wait. We did and were off the ship by 8:30. After that we always asked where to go and it was always a lounge, theater, etc. Never had an issue until the Sunshine cruise a few years ago. It wasn't a big deal for us, as we were driving, but there were a lot of upset folks there that missed their flights. We do like to disembark as early as possible out of PC or Tampa since we have a 8.5 hour drive home.

[CuplACruzrs]

Just off the Miracle February 3rd. Self assist took FOREVER! I think the problem comes from not enough customs agents to debark everyone. They had 3 when we reached them and added 2 more just as we were approaching customs.

 

We were stage 2 because we were FTTF and had to wait for our luggage. We didn't get off the ship until almost 10:00!! Can't imagine what time the last group got off!

 

No surprise that they delayed embarkation for an hour! Still not sure why they're being held up leaving Tampa though. After 10:00 when we went out and just heard it was around 7pm yesterday!!

[RWolver672]

No surprise that they delayed embarkation for an hour! Still not sure why they're being held up leaving Tampa though. After 10:00 when we went out and just heard it was around 7pm yesterday!!

 

When we cruised out of Tampa on the Paradise to Cuba, on our return, it took forever. When they finally called us (FTTF), we stood in line on the ship for almost an hour. When we finally got off the ship, the line for customs stretched on forever. We stood in line on the upper level of the terminal for another half hour or more. They took a few more people to the escalators and when we got down to the lower level, the line was unbelievable for the one customs agent. They said there were two to start with but one had to go search the luggage of one of the passengers for some reason.

 

Finally he came back and they added another agent. Then the lines started snaking along. It was well after 10 when we finally got out of the building. Seems like Tampa should have more agents working as soon as the ships start offloading passengers.