Self disembarkment

[kidcruisers]

Sailing CB Jan28-Feb04 and have an early flight home. Has anyone done self disembarkment and do you have any tips to make it as smooth as possible?

[donna5]

You should let the purser office know you wish to do this.

Also you MUST BE ABLE to take your luggage off the ship without any help.

[dsfitz]

It depends on what time your flight is. We just got off the CB and had an 11 AM flight. If your flight is prior to 11:15, you qualify for being one of the first people off the ship (this is having your bags taken off the ship for you). Our number was called at 8:15 and we were at the airport (Ft Lauderdale) at 8:45. You must go to the Purser's desk and register for this - and they ask to see your airline ticket to confirm.

 

If you do the self disembarkment, you can leave somewhere between 7:15 and 8:15 depending on what number you receive - BUT you have to carry all your bags of the ship yourself. A LOT of people did this however, and it seemed to go smoothly. No restrictions - you can have a flight at anytime or just go to your car.

 

I would recommend letting them put your bags on the pier unless your flight is 10:00 AM or earlier (or if you have an early flight out of Miami). Seemed like less trouble to us. However, if you pack light and can easily handle your bags, the self debarkation is a great way to be off the ship and headed out before 830.

[donna5]

duplicate

[JKJoannie]

I don't know what ship you are on, but this is my experience last week on the Grand:

 

You will find a form to fill out in your Patters on about the third or fourth day of your cruise. You MUST fill this out and take it to the desk. On the day before disembarkation, you will receive a form and a black and white tag with a number on it. Don't put your bags outside your door the night before you leave the ship. But pack your bags the night before so you can have a little breakfast and be ready when they start calling numbers. (we were out of our cabin at 5:30 a.m to the delight of our cabin steward).

 

On the day of disembarkation they will call the numbers in increments of 100. They start calling the numbers promptly at the time the say they will. The elevators will be crowded so get there early. (we had over 600 do this) Have your shipboard account card handy as they will not let you off without turning it in. (I saw several people trying to dig them out). On our ship the doors were right next to the entrance to the casino so we sat in there with a cup of coffee. This is a great way to disembark. There was no one in line before us in customs! I also noticed that after they call 1 to 100 and all of those people were off, there was a delay before they called 100 to 200. So that really helped with the lines at customs.

[bunduo]

IMO, it's the only way to go. The positives far outweigh the negatives. First, it's so much easier than trying to find your bags in the sea of identical looking bags. Second, you don't have to worry about anyone accidentally walking off with your bag. Third, it's a lot less stressful. The last time we did it, we were the first through customs and into a taxi and at the airport sitting at our gate before most had located their luggage.. Lastly, it forces you to pack light which is something I never regret.

 

The only negative is if you make the mistake of packing too much. Then it's a major pain trying to navigate through the doors, gangway, customs etc. As long as you limit yourself to one wheeled bag and one additional bag, it's a breeze.:)

[Pam in CA]

If you do the self disembarkment, you can leave somewhere between 7:15 and 8:15 depending on what number you receive - BUT you have to carry all your bags of the ship yourself. A LOT of people did this however, and it seemed to go smoothly. No restrictions - you can have a flight at anytime or just go to your car.

In theory, this is correct. However, I've been on several cruises that didn't allow ANYONE to disembark in FLL until after 9:30AM. I've seen people crying and begging to get off the ship but no dice. The OP didn't say what time his/her flight is but I would never, ever book a flight out of FLL before 11AM, even with self-disembarkation. You can be the first off the ship but then be held up at FLL checking in and going through security for over an hour.

 

Also, as has been mentioned, you must be able to carry and schlep everything in a way that you don't hold up others. That means going down escalators and along walkways.

 

Personally, I don't see the reason for this since the usual disembarkation is so much easier and more convenient (the difference between leaving the ship and being on the pier is maybe five minutes and you don't have to carry your bags), but I guess some people can't wait to get off.

[bh2359]

We always self embark. My wife and I each have one large suitcase on wheels, and tie the carry-ons to the handles for easy negotiating.

 

When we disembarked the Sea Princess a couple weeks ago in Fort Lauderdale, you should have seen the sea of suitcases and passengers pulling their hair out trying to find their luggage.

 

As I see it, there are only two disadvantages to self disembarkment. First is negotiating through the hallway to the gangplank where it is full of people waiting for their color to be called. They're not supposed to be there but they always are. I simply roll my huge suitcase over some feet and they move.

 

Second, and this is only on a few ships, you must ask beforehand and make sure the gangway has no steps. If so, then make arrangements to disembark on the wheelchair ramp.

 

The advantage is as stated previously. you have control of your luggage, no chance of it getting lost, and you are usually in the second or third group off the ship.

 

Someone mentioned crowded elevators and trying to get on them with your luggage. True enough, but here's a hint. Get on an elevator going UP, it'll probably be empty. then you and your luggage are already on as it goes down to the bottom deck where you disembark. We do this all the time.

 

I would never book a flight before 1:00 p.m. however. The ship could be late getting back to port, immigration could hold up disembarkation, and so on. Take your time that morning, get breakfast, then get off. No hassles.

[seamare]

Position yourself at the coffee bar, you will be right where you need to be when the disembarkation starts and you will be the first ones off the ship - worked well for my mother and me on the CB in September.

[Laurie's Friend]

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for self disembarkation on the Sun Princess?:)

[Laurie's Friend]

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for self disembarkation on the Sun Princess?:)