disembarkation at Barbados

[mooli]

Hi everyone, we're going to have our second cruise but the first time with 2 young children (3 and 1). We're going to the Caribean in Feb on the Azura and our flight back to the UK is 18.40, just wanted to know what time will we be likely to disembark? Do we have to vacate our rooms early? I'm thinking of trying to conserve as much energy for the flight back so wanting to stay on the ship and continue using their facilities as long as possible! Any advice and tips? 

 

Many thanks

 

Ann

[John Bull]

Yes, you'll have to vacate your cabin by around 8 - 8.30am.

But there'll be a regulated store (probably a bar or theatre, regulated by cruise card or a ticket) for your hand luggage, and you'll have the run of the ship (and the gangway, if you want to go ashore, or just to the terminal duty-free & other shops) until your transfer is called. There will also be morning-only excursions for those flying home that day, (Possibly including tours that end at the airport?).

 

For an 18.40 flight I'll hazard an educated  guess that your transfer will be called around 2.30pm. But your aircraft will be bringing new cruisers, and if its delayed theoretically your airport transfer will be called later.

Do be careful to get your packing right - pack bottles of booze, razors,  shampoos, etc in your checked bag on the last evening, keeping a change of clothes, ?swim gear?, documentation etc for your carry-off.

You leave your checked bag outside your cabin door mid-evening, & you won't see it again until back at your UK airport, so you'll have no chance to re-vamp your packing on the last day.

It's so cold and embarrassing to walk thro your UK airport in shorts and flip-flops  

 

JB 

[mooli]

Hi John thanks so much for the advice!! Am rather anxious about the flying so anything to make the day beforehand easier is greatly welcome! Oh yes and must leave warm clothes to wear on the way back!! 

 

Ann

[John Bull]

No worries, Ann - it's the easiest transfer in the business due to using chartered aircraft.

Everyone on the plane is on your cruise, on arrival at Grantley Adams airport you don't go thro' immigration, baggage carousel etc., in fact you don't even go into the airport terminal. Instead you disembark on the apron & walk about 30 yards to your transfer bus, which whisks you away to the port (about 30 - 40 minutes). Your bags follow in a truck.

It's broadly the same with Marella (Thomson) cruises.

 

But don't look on it as the norm. 

If you fly by scheduled aircraft (eg to a cruise starting in Miami) you have the usual airport rigmarole & transfers, and you'll have to leave the ship by about 9am on the last day, regardless of your flight time.

 

JB