self-assist debark question

[beachbum6264]

We've never done the self-assist debark, but thinking about it for this upcoming cruise. Can we leave our luggage in the cabin to eat b'fast in the dining room before we debark? What time would we need to have it out (don't want to interfere with the steward's work, they have a hard enough job as it is)

[KatSt]

You can leave luggage in the room until after breakfast. We always do that, but we don't do self debark.

 

Keep in mind that self assist debark is the first group off and depending on the ship may be very early. You should still have time to get some breakfast at least at the Lido buffet.

[cpprinttom]

We've never done the self-assist debark, but thinking about it for this upcoming cruise.

 

We have done self-assist debark our last 2 Carnival cruises, I don't recommend doing it unless you really have to get off early. Both times, it was complete CHAOS! We have seen fights, pushing, cussing, and you leave the ship with a not so good feeling.

[karenw]

I've never had a bad experience with self assist. On Glory, the decks were called along with the other's disembarking. If you're still having breakfast when you're called, you just go when you're ready. I did it to escape the chaos claiming baggage and to be assured I didn't forget anything. No problems ever.

[vuildog]

I have done self assist 2/7 cruises. First on the Victory, then on the Pride. After the first debacle on the Victory, we thought it was just a fluke, and couldn't possibly be that awful again. Wrong!! It was even worse on the Pride. Do yourself a favor, leave them outside your cabin the night before debarkation. On our Feb. cruise, we left them outside the door. After getting off this time without all the luggage in tow, my mother and i both realized just what a pain in the butt it was to haul our suitcases off. Much easier to just spend 5 minutes to look for your luggage once off the ship. Have a wonderful trip ,whichever way you chose to debark!

[Rockee4055]

Yes, that's not a problem, you can leave your luggage in your cabin. We went up to eat around 7 and back to the cabin at 8. About 30 minutes later we were on our way off the ship.

[Kudos2Fly]

We have self-assist on many of our cruises. For us it was no more fun then the other way. The only thing with self-assist if you have a "LOT" of luggage don't do it. I have seen people trying to get off the ship with BIG luggage bags and everything under the sun.. It doesn't work when you are trying to carry a lot off. But if you only have a small carry on luggage then it should work fine.

 

We have never done the self-assist on our 7 day cruises. We are just bringing to much to do it right. We have done it on our 4-5 day cruise and works like a charm.. Our lasted cruise we were off by 8am with out any problems..

 

DON'T SELF ASSIST IF YOU CAN'T CARRY YOUR OWN LUGGAGE UP AND DOWN STAIRS BY YOUR SELF!! If you have to much to carry by your self safely then don't do it.

[cheeseheads1]

We did self debarkation in March from the Legend. We were able to leave luggage in the room while we had breakfast on the Lido deck. We returned to our room and picked up the packed luggage and went down to wait in line. We arrived about 7:30. We were in line and in the casino. I kept thinking Oh NO. At 8am the ship was cleared. The line proceeded in an orderly manner. We were boarding the bus for the airport by 8:30, the airport by 8:50 and baggage checked in by 9:10a. We did this with 2 kids and several bags. It was far from chaotic. It was a great experience for us and I would do it again. :D

[GoinCruisin]

Last few cruises, Self Assist was called around 7'ish... Self assist has 1 hour to clear (I think it's 1 hour, I know it's no longer than that), so you have to be ready. Just be prepared to eat very early, because once they call, you really have to be on your way. good luck!

[zqvol]

Last few cruises, Self Assist was called around 7'ish... Self assist has 1 hour to clear (I think it's 1 hour, I know it's no longer than that), so you have to be ready. Just be prepared to eat very early, because once they call, you really have to be on your way. good luck!

 

Of course, if you don't clear in the one hour allotted you get to stay on for the next cruise without charge!

 

really, if you don't get out with everyone else, you have to go as they call decks or wait until the end. It is not big deal either way, but it really is more trouble than it is worth unless you have a reason to get off the ship really early.

[Georgiagolfer]

Have done self assist on most cruises where I drove. On Glory in May, we got off the ship, picked up by the Radisson shuttle, back at motel, and in our car and on the way home at 7:55am. Can't beat the self assist. Of course when we fly to the port, we leave our bags for the ship personnel to handle.

[CruzVinnieCruz]

I am another one who thinks self assist is not worth the effort if you really do not need to get off the ship early. How well self assist works depends on how many passengers do it for a particular cruise and how while they listen to the announcements. The problem I see is that on most cruises when the first group is called other passengers try to get themselves in position to get ready to debark by moving to the lower deck. This just causes the elevators to jam up and yes I have witnessed the pushing and passengers short fuses.

[glrounds]

Have done self-assist since they started it . . . no problems . . . elevators get jammed, I noticed, so I take the stairs far away from the atrium. Approach the Atrium Bar horizontally, not vertically. Have a large suitcase with wheels and the smaller carryon rests right on top connected to the handle of the first . . . piece of cake. :D

With the PRIDE I was off the ship, out of the parking garage, down the freeway and home by 10:30am ! ! :)

[GoinCruisin]

Of course, if you don't clear in the one hour allotted you get to stay on for the next cruise without charge!

 

really, if you don't get out with everyone else, you have to go as they call decks or wait until the end. It is not big deal either way, but it really is more trouble than it is worth unless you have a reason to get off the ship really early.

 

Yes, it is way more trouble because of how they handle customs... they definitely frown upon it and it holds up the others... so I would definitely suggest getting off during that hour :)

 

I agree, too much trouble for me! I'd rather just get VIP tags and be one of the first off the ship AFTER self assist... I always have too many bags to maneuver those stairs :p

[tigger615]

I haven't done the self assist on CCL in quite awhile, but I've never had a problem anytime leaving the ship. On our way to breakfast we let the cabin stewart know that we will be back shortly to get our bags & head to breakfast. We come back grab our bags & head off. I can't remember how Carnival works but on Princess & RCCL you can leave at anytime after the ship is cleared. You don't have to the first ones off if you don't want to be. I just like not having to fight to get off. We leave when we are ready.

[PaulMedik]

We do self assist at our leisure. All five of us have two bags with wheels and we have never had a problem.