Princess Rolls out new disembarking process

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Princess Bids Farewell to Traditional Disembarkation Process;

Now Line Offers Most Gracious Passenger Welcome and Farewell with Easy

and Comfortable Arrival and Departure

 

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - The traditional "hurry up

and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry

tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces

a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

 

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers

listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag

color to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark,

Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers

leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place

to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the

gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as

to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

 

"We've been praised for our innovative embarkation program that

enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into

their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including

meals and beverages," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president

of customer service. "Now with the addition of this new disembarkation

process which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their

final morning with us, we believe we're offering the best passenger

experience both at the start and end of their vacation."

 

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and

has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The

new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded

departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the

day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time

to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air

arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff

who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be

personally escorted to the gangway.

 

The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning

without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the

ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium

near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning

breakfast.

 

"Passengers have told us that they're enjoying their final morning on

board much more since we've started this program," noted Swartz. "It

gives the departure a much more personal touch and creates a great

beginning to their onward travels."

 

In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, in many ports

departing passengers can also take advantage of an express

disembarkation option in which those who choose to carry their own

luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting

the ship, allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise

travel plans.

 

The new disembarkation process complements Princess' innovative early

embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers

immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full

dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.

 

Bill

[Toto2Kansas]

It is wonderful. They have had this in place on the ships we have sailed since last summer. So much easier and safer than trying to make your way through the mob!

[B40 Tha Cruisa]

Sounds good to me...

 

It really is hurry up and wait as it stands now, even "express" walk-off.

[mii]

On our Diamond cruise last Nov. they had part of that in place. We all got letters but they still had to call us to go for immigration, then had to wait for the loud speaker to say when we could get off. So now maybe they are fine tuning it. It sure seemed a lot better than years before. In fact it was quite enjoyable even though we were getting OFF the ship.:(

 

Marilyn

[cruiseryyc]

Sounds good however I'm still willing to bet there will be passengers who insist on waiting right beside the gangway; or sitting on the stairs with all their hand luggage.

[Pam in CA]

We had this on the Royal Princess last November and it worked extremely well. No more people crowded around the exit holding up those trying to disembark. I'm sure there will be glitches from time-to-time since there are occasionally delays beyond Princess' control due to the port authority or arriving in port late but overall, it's an improved system.

[Toto2Kansas]

Sounds good however I'm still willing to bet there will be passengers who insist on waiting right beside the gangway; or sitting on the stairs with all their hand luggage.

 

I am happy to report, in the two or three times we have seen this method used this past year, they have not allowed anyone sitting on the stairs or gathering at the gangway exit.

The area you wait in is called, and then you easily get off the ship without having to find a way past those blocking the exit with bodies and their carry ons.

It has been very simple, quick and painless compared to the old way of disembarking. And, even though it was new, it went like clockwork.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

anybody cruised on the CB lately with this new process? Sailing Sunday and would be great if they had it.

 

I still think Disney has the best process for disembarking by a long shot.

 

Bill

[Pam in CA]

Sounds good however I'm still willing to bet there will be passengers who insist on waiting right beside the gangway; or sitting on the stairs with all their hand luggage.

If they are, they'll miss when their color is being called. By the time they figure out which color is leaving by looking at people's tags (and even then, chances are they won't be able to read the number), they'll be later than if they'd waited in the lounge. When we disembarked the Royal Princess, our luggage tag colors were examined and we weren't allowed to disembark without showing them.

[spingal]

I still think Disney has the best process for disembarking by a long shot.

 

How does Disney handle it? I am very interested!

[Toto2Kansas]

anybody cruised on the CB lately with this new process? Sailing Sunday and would be great if they had it.

 

I still think Disney has the best process for disembarking by a long shot.

 

Bill

 

I am racking my brain here, but I am sure last August was the first time we have seen disembarkation done this way on the Caribbean Princess. Yes, it was the Caribbean Princess.

The two preivous times we sailed it was a zoo the final day, but last August it was so quick, and so smooth, no frustration at all that final morning. Not sure if we happened to be sailing when they were trying it out or if it has been in place ever since though. You are gonna love this......................!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

How does Disney handle it? I am very interested!

 

On Disney you go to your assigned dining room for breakfast. Ours was 7am. When you are done eating, you simply walk off the ship. No announcements, no colors. Seems the pax were spread out since the breakfast dining times were also spread out. We also used the DCL transfer the airport. That included our luggage being directly taken to the airport. Once we were off we didn't need to hunt for luggage, we simply got on the bus.

 

we were at the Orlando airport before 9:30am. Only fly in the ointment was that our flight was at 2pm. lol

 

Toto,

Thanks for letting me know about the new process being on the CB.:)

 

Bill

[newmexicoNita]

Princess Bids Farewell to Traditional Disembarkation Process;

Now Line Offers Most Gracious Passenger Welcome and Farewell with Easy

and Comfortable Arrival and Departure

 

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - The traditional "hurry up

and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry

tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces

a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

 

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers

listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag

color to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark,

Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers

leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place

to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the

gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as

to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

 

"We've been praised for our innovative embarkation program that

enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into

their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including

meals and beverages," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president

of customer service. "Now with the addition of this new disembarkation

process which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their

final morning with us, we believe we're offering the best passenger

experience both at the start and end of their vacation."

 

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and

has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The

new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded

departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the

day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time

to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air

arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff

who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be

personally escorted to the gangway.

 

The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning

without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the

ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium

near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning

breakfast.

 

"Passengers have told us that they're enjoying their final morning on

board much more since we've started this program," noted Swartz. "It

gives the departure a much more personal touch and creates a great

beginning to their onward travels."

 

In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, in many ports

departing passengers can also take advantage of an express

disembarkation option in which those who choose to carry their own

luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting

the ship, allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise

travel plans.

 

The new disembarkation process complements Princess' innovative early

embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers

immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full

dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.

 

Bill

WE were part of this last Saturady, it was great. I was skeptical to start as we love HAL and NCLs policy of allowing you to stay in your cabin until called, but this certainly worked just as well, if not better.

 

Nita

[Host CJSKIDS]

Sounds great, there was nothing worse than having to try and get people to move out of the way when we were one of the first off the ship in March. The gangway and atrium were so packed an no one wanted to move out of the way. There were people there with tags that were going to be called so far down the list and they still insisted on blocking the area.

 

Thanks for the information.

[joan24]

Is the dining room now open for lunch on embarkation day? That would be nice and a lot less hectic.

Joan

[cruiseryyc]

I look forward to trying it in June when we disembark the Sea Princess. Oh wait a moment - I don't look forward to it as that would mean my cruise was over!!!

[jak378]

This sounds like a step in the right direction, but then anything would be an improvement. I only have one question. What happens if you miss/are late to your disembarkation station? Maybe you stay on for the next cruise.

[jff50]

Sounds very much like the process that Costa used about a year ago. Worked well.

 

we were on the Island Princess in December 2007 and this was not in effect. Wonder how it will play out for Platinum and Elite members.

[bdjam]

The new process was being used on Dawn Princess in early December. Worked very well – there was no crowding on the stairwells. We went to the Vista Lounge at our assigned time and sat for exactly two minutes and then were escorted off the ship.

[Daniel1313]

When we sailed last March we tried the express walkoff. What a nightmare. I think everyone on the ship was doing this. When the elevator door opened up you could not even get off the elevator. I hope they have fixed the overcrowding with the express walkoff.

[bkp]

We were on the CB earlier this month. The only issue I had with the process is that the Wheelhouse Bar was our designated gathering area and we were sitting sort of "around the corner" from the door and when they called the group we really couldn't hear them. It just registered with me that someone was announcing something - had to get up and rush to the door to find someone to ask what group they had called. Other than that I thought it worked great.

 

Betty

[johnmik1]

Is the dining room now open for lunch on embarkation day? That would be nice and a lot less hectic.

Joan

We did a btb on Emerald earlier this month and the dining room was open on the embarcation day of the second cruise but was restricted to in transit passengers only.The new arrivals were turned away.There were only 6 of us in the dining room as it was not announced as being open.It was one of the better menus we have seen and had not seen it in our previous 19 Princess cruises.

[notentirelynormal]

Has anyone done this with a group? We'll be in 7 cabins around the ship.

[audrey]

I love the way disney does luggage you get off the ship and then they have you luggage by deck and cabin # all ships should do this

[Host CJSKIDS]

I love the way disney does luggage you get off the ship and then they have you luggage by deck and cabin # all ships should do this

 

 

Not only that but you're free to walk off the ship once it's cleared. I do enjoy being able to walk off whenever I feel like it.