Disembarkation is the pits

[OceanLiner]

My wife and I have always marveled at the wonderful quality of life on a cruise, only to be rudely shaken back to reality on the final morning. And it's not just HAL, it seems to be every cruise line.

 

After many days of being treated like you really matter, you are then treated to an extremely limited breakfast at best, treated as if you have committed some sort of crime, and tossed ingloriusly off of the ship.

 

My question is, how would you change the disembarkation process to give a much better final memory your cruise? I would think that instead of more and more activities, that a cruise line like HAL could invest some time and energy into making the last morning as good as the first morning, and leave us all wanting for more.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Hi Oceanliner:

 

My family and I have only just disembarked after our very first cruise which took place on Zaandam from Seattle to Alaska and return. I must profess myself perplexed by your statement. We thought the Holland America disembarkation process was remarkably civilized and stress-free. There seemed to be plenty of venues available for breakfast. A full breakfast was available to passengers in the Rotterdam dining room. The Lido was open, room service was another option, the Neptune Lounge for suite passengers had coffee and continental breakfast available, and the King's Room was an option for suite guests as well, with a full breakfast menu. Passengers could stay in their cabins until their color/number designation was called. Everything seemed to flow very smoothly, and we never felt that we were persona non grata. As my own experience is so limited, I have to ask you if the disembarkation process varies greatly between ships, ports, and itineraries?

[JimVrhovac]

When you consider all that has to be done that daywe feel that HAL does a pretty good job. Ruth and I have sailed on several lines so we have a good idea of the general practices of most of the lines. Our opinions may be distorted as we sail out of Florida and always are in the last group to leave.

 

One of the big think that HAL does is let you stay in your cbin until you disembark. This is a lot nicer than being forced into the common areas.

 

Only advise we can give you is to relax that morning and roll with the punches as everyone will get off the ship that day. Remember the biggest delays are caused by fellow passangers who have not gone through customs or who have not settled their accounts.

 

Jim & Ruth

[bdcbbq]

I know that the staff have a quick turn around time for everything involved that day. Getting everyone on and off, cleaning and restocking the ship with food, fuel, and God only knows what else.

 

In my experience they want to do everything they can to encourage you to leave. If they don't way too many people will hand around and foul things up for everyone else. Look at the idiots who try to avoid the muster drill at the beginning of the cruise. T

[hammybee]

HAL and all the others have a business need to get people off ASAP for the obvious reasons. I have experienced someof the worst delays on HAL and it was entirely attributed to MIA passengers who did not present for immigration. And I don't know what HAL or any cruiseline can do about people like this, beyond detaining them so that they are the very last people off the ship.

 

Maybe the Yum-Yum man could go through the ship letting folk know, it's time to go and hand them a mint as a reward.

[cool change]

The only thing I am wondering about is how to get those last minute things( toothpaste, makeup, etc.) into my check-in luggage. You know, the things one needs in the morning when we have to leave our luggage out the night before. I guess there will be a lot of us trying to shove those items into our suitcases at the airport. Now, I am needing to brain storm as to what I could use to make that process easier. Maybe this topic needs its own thread?

[Copper10-8]

We left the Prinsendam two weeks ago tomorrow and at no time did we feel unwanted, suspect(s) in a crime (except maybe enjoying ourselves too much), or tossed off the vessel. We had a leasurely breakfast at the Lido restaurant at 0900 hours (It was open for 3.5 hours from 0630-1000) and had the exact same selections as during the previous thirteen days. I would not call those choices extremely limited or even limited although others disagree. I respect that - to each his own;). After breakfast we waited in our cabin for our disembarkation number to be called (we were independent travelers), and when that time came, went downstairs, got scanned off one last time, said bye to a cruise activities staff member who was collecting numbers, and were on our way. I would have preferred to stay on to Rome like others but such was not to be.

My personal opinion is that HAL has changed their policy and is now allowing their guest(s) to be able to wait in their staterooms (a great decision) because they finally got tired of all the NASA employees who, despite numerous requests not to, continued to hang around the gangway area and up and down the stairwells clogging up the place thinking that by doing that they are able to get off the ship five minutes earlier than the rest. On our last two cruises, we've also noticed an improvement in the fine folks who have not (A) settled their charges or (B) presented themselves to immigration when supposed to, and/or for various other reasons were holding up the disembarkation process. It's already been said, every line on disembarkation day has a very full schedule in trying to get ready for the next load of passengers. I personnaly feel that HAL has improved the disembarkation process over the way it used to be run. Maybe there is a way to improve the "locating your luggage in the terminal" game but I'm not sure how that can be done.

[lougee1043]

Maybe there is a way to improve the "locating your luggage in the terminal" game but I'm not sure how that can be done.

 

agree --- there is always that funny feeling in the pit of my stomach when i have located all the luggage save one -- did i walk past it -- has it been picked up in error -- was it put with another color - will i have to stand around til all the luggage is gone and mine will be the only one left--

[Bucky3]

We've cruised most of the mass market ships, and never have we had such a relaxing and peaceful last morning onboard as we did on our Volendam Alaska cruise in May. We were able to stay in our cabin until our "color" was called, and a full breakfast was delivered to our room that morning. My DH, of course, was anxious to get started on our drive home from Vancouver to California. Since we had no flight to catch, we were one of the last to be called. My DH, impatient as he is and not seeing any crowds or rush to the gangway, took a leisurely walk down to "check things out" and to see just what was taking so long! There were no lines, no crowds, and no people waiting to get off, so he called me to come down and finally convinced the person in charge to let us get off early!! In MO, HA did a wonderful job of vacating the ship in an organized and peaceful manner, the best I ever remember from previous cruises on every other line we have sailed.

[Aussie Gal]

The only thing I am wondering about is how to get those last minute things( toothpaste, makeup, etc.) into my check-in luggage. You know, the things one needs in the morning when we have to leave our luggage out the night before. I guess there will be a lot of us trying to shove those items into our suitcases at the airport. Now, I am needing to brain storm as to what I could use to make that process easier. Maybe this topic needs its own thread?

 

Hi Cool Change,

 

There has been quite a long thread regarding your question. Here is a link to the thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=394644

 

Hope this helps, :)

 

Jennie

[Aussie Gal]

I too think that HAL does a wonderful job on the last morning. It is great to be able to have a full breakfast in our cabin unlike other lines where you are lucky to get a Continental breakfast at the very most. It is also a great boon to be able to spend the time in your cabin waiting for your number to be called unlike other lines where you have to go up to a lounge and wait it out.

 

As there is not a lot of time between the changeover of old passengers and new ones, I think that HAL does a magnificent job. On the last day I must admit that I am anxious to get moving once we have docked as usually we have a long way to travel.

 

Jennie

[cool change]

Thanks Aussie Gal, I will check it out.

[whogo]

Disembarkation went smoothly for us in Ft. Lauderdale. We must have been some of the last ones off and had very little baggage to search through for ours. We will consider carrying off our own luggage on our next cruise. This would eliminate the hassle of putting our bags out the night before.

 

I was upset by the "mandatory" disembarkation convocation. There is no reason for a literate person to waste his time attending. I was offended at the cruise director's suggestion that we rate everything the highest. What kind of a survey is that? We had a great cruise, but I wasn't about to inflate my ratings. Where would HAL's incentive to improve be?

 

I regretted buying air travel through HAL. Transfer to the airport would have been cheaper/faster/better by taxi. We waited for the transfer bus to fill up and made two stops at FLL before reaching our terminal.

 

Yes, it was a great cruise. Yes, there is room for improvement.

[Krazy Kruizers]

"Extremely limited breakfast"??

 

We have always been able to get a full breakfast whether it be in the Lido, dining room or room service.

[Sea King]

Haven't had any problems debarking HAL for a long long long time

 

for suite pax, you still have the same choices for breakfast (room service, Neptune buffet, Pinnacle, dining room or Lido) ..

 

nice touches include Suite luggage pick up on last day vs. put everything out at night and stay in room until number called

 

never ever felt like anyone wanted us off

 

maybe it's not the debark as much as the "mental let down" that comes with knowing reality is about to strike head-on

[Bodger]

We were on the Caribbean Princess in April (it was a freebee, I would have chosen HAL) and they had immigration in the terminal instead of onboard. As there were 3000 passengers to contend with, that has to help in turning around the ship quickly.

 

Bodger

[gizmo]

I will join in with the others about breakfast. The only thing you cannot get is eggs benedict. I never found it limited.

[Copper10-8]

I was upset by the "mandatory" disembarkation convocation. There is no reason for a literate person to waste his time attending. I was offended at the cruise director's suggestion that we rate everything the highest. What kind of a survey is that? We had a great cruise, but I wasn't about to inflate my ratings. Where would HAL's incentive to improve be?

 

I regretted buying air travel through HAL. Transfer to the airport would have been cheaper/faster/better by taxi. We waited for the transfer bus to fill up and made two stops at FLL before reaching our terminal.

 

Yes, it was a great cruise. Yes, there is room for improvement.

 

Just a quickie: the disembarkation talk is not mandatory! HAL "recommends that at least one person from each stateroom attend" The talk itself is essentially the same every time and more meant for first-time cruisers (unless you're at a (foreign) port where things might be done a litle differently). I think a lot of folks that have heard it all before attend to see the crew's farewell presentation at the conclusion. I agree with you however that the C/D should not be "pushing" for pax to give nothing but 9's on the onboard surveys. In the past, we've had a couple that did that too. Taking a taxis from Port Everglades to FLL beats a HAL bus anyday! :)

[mydogs]

HA does a great job the last morning. No rushing to fight for a table in the Lido or being pushed into the lounge to wait until your tag color is called. So much better then on RC or Cel. where even people in suites feel as if they are part of the herd. I often wonder why those few people who refuse to go through immigration at the appointed time need to have special favors and detain the entire ship. This seems to be the main problem for a timely departure.:mad: :mad: :mad:

[duck tune]

IMO the disembarkation process becomes easier with each cruise. I remember that on the first cruise I was surprised when the steward came in and started making the bed for the new passengers but I didn't understand the short turn around time. I think that it is actually wonderful to be able to have a nice breakfast, stay in your cabin until your number is called and if you have a balcony watch the preparations for the next cruise. After the second HAL cruise DH and I no longer attend the disembarkation talks. Actually if you check out the HAL channel on TV all of the presentations including the disembarkation talk are repeated over and over!

 

The hardest part is having to face going back to the real world!

[LolaWiz]

i have to say that as much as i am sad and depressed that i am leaving, i think HAL does a wonderful job the last morning.

We have had breakfast in our room and in the Lido...no rush, full selection.

I love the fact that i can stay in our cabin until our number is called.

 

They have always done a wonderful job in honoring our requset if we need a "quick departure" from the ship too.

 

The only issue we have ever had was the fact that when we go to find our luggage, it takes a while because of the way they bring them off the ship. THat is is.

[newmexicoNita]

My wife and I have always marveled at the wonderful quality of life on a cruise, only to be rudely shaken back to reality on the final morning. And it's not just HAL, it seems to be every cruise line.

 

After many days of being treated like you really matter, you are then treated to an extremely limited breakfast at best, treated as if you have committed some sort of crime, and tossed ingloriusly off of the ship.

 

My question is, how would you change the disembarkation process to give a much better final memory your cruise? I would think that instead of more and more activities, that a cruise line like HAL could invest some time and energy into making the last morning as good as the first morning, and leave us all wanting for more.

If I am reading everything correctly HAL does, like NCL and allows you to stay in your cabin until your number or color is called. I can't think of any other way to make debarkation go smoothly. I remember the days of sitting on stools in casinos, or being told to report to some lounge on the 9th deck just to be told to walk down 5 decks to the gangplank to disembark. Those days seem to be gone, than goodness. It is never fun to leave, anymore than getting out of the parking lot after the football game is easy, but it isn't anything like the "good Ole days" NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

My wife and I have always marveled at the wonderful quality of life on a cruise, only to be rudely shaken back to reality on the final morning. And it's not just HAL, it seems to be every cruise line.

 

After many days of being treated like you really matter, you are then treated to an extremely limited breakfast at best, treated as if you have committed some sort of crime, and tossed ingloriusly off of the ship.

 

My question is, how would you change the disembarkation process to give a much better final memory your cruise? I would think that instead of more and more activities, that a cruise line like HAL could invest some time and energy into making the last morning as good as the first morning, and leave us all wanting for more.

Sorry for the dupe NMnita

[Tinknock50]

Disembarkation went smoothly for us in Ft. Lauderdale. We must have been some of the last ones off and had very little baggage to search through for ours. We will consider carrying off our own luggage on our next cruise. This would eliminate the hassle of putting our bags out the night before.

 

I was upset by the "mandatory" disembarkation convocation. There is no reason for a literate person to waste his time attending. I was offended at the cruise director's suggestion that we rate everything the highest. What kind of a survey is that? We had a great cruise, but I wasn't about to inflate my ratings. Where would HAL's incentive to improve be?

 

I regretted buying air travel through HAL. Transfer to the airport would have been cheaper/faster/better by taxi. We waited for the transfer bus to fill up and made two stops at FLL before reaching our terminal.

 

Yes, it was a great cruise. Yes, there is room for improvement.

 

I agree about the transfer buses. I generally use a taxi.....more convenient and usually costs about the same as a transfer bus. Taxis don't charge per person.

[SnorkelBear]

I have it seen it mentioned you can leave the ship with all your luggage. No need to put them out the night before. Is this available on HAL? Do they let you off early if you are willing to do so? We did this on NCL in March and it was awesome. Within 20 minutes of leaving our cabin, we were driving our car through Manhattan. I thought it was a great option.

Thanks.