recent Jewel debarkation?

[39august]

So, how was debarkation on Jewel recently? We did B2B on her last Dec. and had the worst debarkation ever. We are Diamond, and there was no Diamond priority debarkation at all. Most pax didn't wait for colors to be called, and all just jammed up in lines from the Centrum and all down hallways on at least 3 decks. Found out later that there were not enough immigration agents. If this is still a mess, we will opt to carry off our luggage for our Jan. 12 sailing.

[chotton]

The same situation happened with disembarkation of Navigator this past Saturday.

 

We were in the diamond lounge,and when the annoucement was made that the ship was cleared we were thanks for coming hope you enjoyed your cruise.

[Barbee524]

We had no trouble disembarking after our 11/11 cruise. They did have "white tags" available. However we had cream tags (2nd group) and were at the Ft. Lauderdale airport by 9:15.

[MomtoCCC]

This post made me realize that I haven't figured out how we are getting back to the airport after our cruise. I've forgotten.. does the cruise line run busses to the airport? How much does it cost? When do we sign up for this? or Should we get a cab? Ack! So many things to think about :eek:

[Shanafan]

So, how was debarkation on Jewel recently? We did B2B on her last Dec. and had the worst debarkation ever. We are Diamond, and there was no Diamond priority debarkation at all. Most pax didn't wait for colors to be called, and all just jammed up in lines from the Centrum and all down hallways on at least 3 decks. Found out later that there were not enough immigration agents. If this is still a mess, we will opt to carry off our luggage for our Jan. 12 sailing.

We were surprised they did not have a private platinum/diamond area. In February on the Adventure of the Seas they had a private room, champagne, danish OJ. On that cruise we went to the room and they asked if we would like white tags to get off. On the Jewel Sunday we had red tags. Had I know they did not have a private platinum area I may have asked for the other tags from our room steward.

 

It was fairly painless getting off. Nothing like the nightmare we had on Sovereign in August!!! That had to be the worst ever!

 

Why do people sit on the stairs during the disembarkment??? Nothing like lugging your bag with your stuff from the night before and toiletries and worrying about tripping over some person copping a squat on the stairs!:eek:

[wrp96]

This post made me realize that I haven't figured out how we are getting back to the airport after our cruise. I've forgotten.. does the cruise line run busses to the airport? How much does it cost? When do we sign up for this? or Should we get a cab? Ack! So many things to think about :eek:

 

If you are flying out of FLL, take a cab. Don't wait on the cruiseline buses. A cab to FLL will be less expensive than the cruiseline transfers.

[critterchick]

So, how was debarkation on Jewel recently? We did B2B on her last Dec. and had the worst debarkation ever. We are Diamond, and there was no Diamond priority debarkation at all. Most pax didn't wait for colors to be called, and all just jammed up in lines from the Centrum and all down hallways on at least 3 decks. Found out later that there were not enough immigration agents. If this is still a mess, we will opt to carry off our luggage for our Jan. 12 sailing.

 

We were on the B2B with you and I didn't think it was that bad. We had a P/D lounge in the Viking Crown. Our flight didn't leave until late, so we didn't mind waiting up there, and had no real wait to get through immigration once we were called. Customs was a mess, though, trying to get our luggage and then bring it to the valet. I wish FLL had the same luggage valet system that other ports do, where you put your bag out in the evening and don't see it again until you get home.

 

Diamond priority disembarkation seems to have slipped behind the express and RCI excursion disembarkation. On both Radiance and Vision the Diamond and suite pax were third on the list.

 

As much as I hate to leave the cruise, I'm convinced that getting off sooner is better than being the last off the ship. There's no telling what the immigration/customs backlog will be, and IME the longer we've waited to leave, the longer the line we've have to wait in at the pier, particularly if you're sailing with a non-US companion. So I'm learning to pack light and get off early with my own luggage.

[Barbee524]

I believe the cost of a cab for two was $20. There was a private disembarkation lounge for the sailing the week before Thanksgiving. However, we were told by Theodore, our fantastic bartender, in the Hollywood Odyssey that there would be over 200 Diamond members onboard for the Thanksgiving week sailing.

Unfortunately, if there are too many platinum and diamond members on board a few amenities will get cut, such as priority disembarkation and the disembarkation lounge.

[MomtoCCC]

If you are flying out of FLL, take a cab. Don't wait on the cruiseline buses. A cab to FLL will be less expensive than the cruiseline transfers.

 

Thanks - I'm sure that is what we will do. Our flight doesn't leave until noon so it seems to me like we will have plenty of time.

[MomtoCCC]

We were on the B2B with you and I didn't think it was that bad. We had a P/D lounge in the Viking Crown. Our flight didn't leave until late, so we didn't mind waiting up there, and had no real wait to get through immigration once we were called. Customs was a mess, though, trying to get our luggage and then bring it to the valet. I wish FLL had the same luggage valet system that other ports do, where you put your bag out in the evening and don't see it again until you get home.

 

How does this work at FLL? At both my previous cruises we set our luggage out the night before and then picked it up after we disembarked. Is it different here?

 

Oops - after reading this again I think you are talking about checking your luggage to the airport from the ship - correct? I did read something recently that SWA will allow you do this for a fee. Not sure how it works though.

[PH8]

On the 11/11 cruise, they had all P/D members meet in the Vortex Lounge DECK13!!!!!!!! Very poor planning......no LA there to lead us out......we left(down the stairs!!:eek: ) when they annouced the ship was cleared,along with all the self disembark pax.........the worse priority disembarkation we have ever have.....it really wasnt priority..

[cruizinmimi]

On the 11/11 cruise, they had all P/D members meet in the Vortex Lounge DECK13!!!!!!!! Very poor planning......no LA there to lead us out......we left(down the stairs!!:eek: ) when they annouced the ship was cleared,along with all the self disembark pax.........the worse priority disembarkation we have ever have.....it really wasnt priority..

 

Did you talk with LA before disembarking? I hope this doesn't happen on our cruise in 3 weeks. I feel that it should have been up to the LA to escort the P/D members.

[PH8]

Talk to her?? Only at the repeaters party....this is the first time, the LA has not been there at the priority section(which in my opinion should have been in part of the dining room others).

 

No offense to the LA,but I heard alot of complaints about her....not the friendliest,but thats not what this thread is about..

 

Even the food there was not great..only dougnuts....no muffins or breads..,which seems kinda petty,but an observation..

[critterchick]

How does this work at FLL? At both my previous cruises we set our luggage out the night before and then picked it up after we disembarked. Is it different here?

 

Oops - after reading this again I think you are talking about checking your luggage to the airport from the ship - correct? I did read something recently that SWA will allow you do this for a fee. Not sure how it works though.

 

The luggage valet program lets you pay $20 or so per person to check your luggage and get your boarding passes while you're still on the ship. We used it in Vancouver and it was great - we signed up a couple of days prior to the end of the cruise got our airline luggage tags and put them on the bags before setting them out in the hall. We didn't see them again until we landed in Los Angeles. In FLL, we disembarked the ship, fetched our bags, went through customs and handed them to somebody at the curb, who then got them to the airport. It was a little more cumbersome, but we were still rid of them and didn't have to haul them around while we were sightseeing. Also, if you have an afternoon flight and are just heading the the airport, you can't check your bags until 2 hours before the flight - the the AA terminal there were people with mounds of luggage just sitting and waiting until they could get rid of it.

 

Not all of the airlines participate in the program. If you do a search on the RCI website you may find out who does it.

[PH8]

The cost will be $20 for the valet program. This service fee is per guest and includes up to two pieces of checked-in luggage. This service can only be purchased onboard the ship. The participating airlines include; American, Continental, Delta, and United.

[Pumbaamd]

Last month on Empress, during disembarkation, they had an area in the dining room for P & D members. It had pastries, coffee, tea, juices, etc. Emily, the C&A LA, was in charge, and did an excellent job, as she had done all week. She escorted the whole group off Empress, immediately after the "carry your own express group". We sail Jewel on Jan. 6, and we expect the same deal. If not, we, as Diamond, will be extremely dissapointed.

Rick and Deirdra

[PH8]

Thats the way I have had it on every ship.............I am DP now with 37 cruises and this was a first!!:eek: :eek:

[critterchick]

You may wish to prepare yourself for disappointment, then. Last year we had lavender 3 tags and didn't disembark until about 9:30 from the Viking Crown. We were plenty comfortable, though, and they didn't take away the coffee and such at 8:30 as sometimes happens. But then we had the incomparable Deborah Gorman (now on Brilliance) as our LA, which makes a huge difference.

 

I love the idea of priority, but I'm willing to let those with early flights to catch get off in time to catch them. Not so crazy about the excursion folks cutting in front of me, though.

[Shanafan]

There was an option to have you luggage brought to the airport. I will copy it from day 3 of the cruise compass.

 

Hate lines at the airport? We now have express Luggage Valet and onboard check in service. Guests flying with Delta, Continental, American or United to domestic destinations withine the US can use this service for a nominal fee. (which I remember was $20 pp up to 2 bags each.

[Pumbaamd]

We are really not eager to get off early. Our flight leaves FLL at noon. Just would like an orderly departure and less hassle, as we should have earned being D.

Rick and Deirdra

[Tanker]

We had no trouble disembarking after our 11/17 cruise on the Jewel of the Seas. The ship was cleared by 0830 and we were at the FLL Airport by 0930 to catch our 1115 flight. The P&D members meet in the Vortex Lounge on DECK13.

[beachfanatic]

Tanker,

Did you take your own luggage or have a color? I want to take an 11:20 flight and very nervous, traveling with two people that might have trouble carrying off their luggage.

[Pumbaamd]

Tanker, we are sailing on Jewel in January and are D. Just curious, isn't deck 13 kinda inconvenient for an easy departure? I know it wasn't your plan, but on Empress we met at a lounge on the departure deck. How smoothly did it flow for you?

Rick and Deirdra

[PH8]

Tanker, we are sailing on Jewel in January and are D. Just curious, isn't deck 13 kinda inconvenient for an easy departure? I know it wasn't your plan, but on Empress we met at a lounge on the departure deck. How smoothly did it flow?

Rick and Deirdra

I thought it was inconvenient on our Nov 11th JW cruise.....like I have said, the LA wasnt even there to walk us off........as soon as the announced the ship was cleared,we walked down.....quicker than waiting for the elevators........

 

Once we got to the last deck we needed to,we ran into a line of passengers who were doing the self disemabarkation with their luggage.......

 

It was the most "unique" priority disembarkation we have ever had..

 

We were off the ship around 9.........

[Pumbaamd]

Kinda sounds like a "SNAFU". But seriously, not what a D or D+ should endure. RCCL, are you listening here?