Princess self disembarking

[luv2travel06]

On Ruby Princess now. Just received disembarkation information that says self disembarkation is only for passengers that have no more than one piece of luggage each. 
 

When did that start? 
 

On our last cruise, they initially wouldn’t let people with more than one bag use the escalators, but the line for the elevator got too long because it included people with wheelchairs and scooters needing assistance, who were not supposed to participate in the self disembarkation. 
 

What has been your recent experience with self-disembarkation?

[antsp]

If you can handle your own luggage, ignore it and carry on. 

[voljeep]

at PE/FLL - they are pretty strict that you must have a free hand to hold on to the escalators.

 

we use the elevators for balance issues, anyway...

[Shippy]

I am sure they mean 1 piece of what would be considered checkin size.

We always carry are own off...1 big suitcase & 1 carry on size each.

[metairiegal]

Twice while disembarking at Port Everglades, we've seen someone fall on the escalators with their luggage.  Alarms go off and they have to stop the escalator and the whole operation to tend to the person.  Very scary!  We self disembark, handling our own luggage, and we ALWAYS wait for the elevator.  

[555]

Last cruise in Florida on the Ruby, they wouldn't even let people go up the escalators when boarding with a piece of luggage. 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

On 3/13/2024 at 9:42 AM, luv2travel06 said:

On Ruby Princess now. Just received disembarkation information that says self disembarkation is only for passengers that have no more than one piece of luggage each. 
 

When did that start? 
 

On our last cruise, they initially wouldn’t let people with more than one bag use the escalators, but the line for the elevator got too long because it included people with wheelchairs and scooters needing assistance, who were not supposed to participate in the self disembarkation. 
 

What has been your recent experience with self-disembarkation?

 

We did that exact disembarkation last month.  One roller bag & one small carrybag that fit on top of the suitcase.  So yes, we had one free hand for escalator.

We went to the Elite area for disembarking when they opened and there was Nobody

there.  No staff, No guests... it was like they all left.

So we asked staff walking by, and they just pointed us to the way out 2 decks below.

We had to get in Elevator  AGAIN to reach deck 5.

All the while, tons of people were also leaving then!?!

Mind you we booked the earliest SELF disembarkation time, and were met with a thousand people all leaving Ruby at the SAME time!  Never have I seen so many newbies, and wheelchairs and Everybody getting off at the Same time.

Walking down the gangway, you could see the line was already long.

Problem was, the staff OFF ship was funneling Everyone into ONE VERY LONG LINE

for the Elevator!  The line was NOT moving.

So we ended up going under the ropes to the Open line that led to the Escalators!

The florida staff OFF ship tried to stop us and a few others, but we Knew what they were doing was wrong.

There should have been TWO lines. 

One for Escalators and one for Elevators! 

They were creating a cluster, and we had a plane to catch.

 

 

Edited March 15 by CalLuvsCrusingToo

[555]

On 3/14/2024 at 10:48 PM, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

Problem was, the staff OFF ship was funneling Everyone into ONE VERY LONG LINE

for the Elevator!  The line was NOT moving.

So we ended up going under the ropes to the Open line that led to the Escalators!

The florida staff OFF ship tried to stop us and a few others, but we Knew what they were doing was wrong.

There should have been TWO lines. 

One for Escalators and one for Elevators! 

They were creating a cluster, and we had a plane to catch.

 

 

We did the same thing & went under the ropes. No sighs, no instructions whatsoever. 

I think there must have been people lining up at 4 AM to be the first off the ship. 😄

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

1 hour ago, 555 said:

We did the same thing & went under the ropes. No sighs, no instructions whatsoever. 

I think there must have been people lining up at 4 AM to be the first off the ship. 😄

 

Agreed, weve Never seen that many people disembarking at the same time.

Why did the ship allow this?  They were obviously NOT early self disembark guests,

as many didn't have a roller bag with them!  You were to have your Own bags to

self disembark.  Ship screwed up on this one.

And weve never seen such a cluster getting to the Escalators off ship.

There was No way to get to escalators without going under the ropes & getting yelled at.

Ft.Laud staff really made a Mess of it!

I hope this gets corrected asap.

[555]

2 hours ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

 

Agreed, weve Never seen that many people disembarking at the same time.

Why did the ship allow this?  They were obviously NOT early self disembark guests,

as many didn't have a roller bag with them!  You were to have your Own bags to

self disembark.  Ship screwed up on this one.

And weve never seen such a cluster getting to the Escalators off ship.

There was No way to get to escalators without going under the ropes & getting yelled at.

Ft.Laud staff really made a Mess of it!

I hope this gets corrected asap.

We always select the 2 nd early time and it's always been packed in the DR waiting. I don't recall them ever asking for proof of which time you select. Maybe they should have disembarkation tickets? 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

1 hour ago, 555 said:

We always select the 2 nd early time and it's always been packed in the DR waiting. I don't recall them ever asking for proof of which time you select. Maybe they should have disembarkation tickets? 

We were in Elite holding area in First Self disembarkation group. 

Suppose to be let off first.

Theres No way that many Other people should have been let off beforehand.

Seemed a free for all.