Odd Story Leaving Jewel

[referee]

We just got off The Jewel OTS on Mon 12/05 Very enjoyable cruise. We are diamond scheduled to depart ship at 8:35 am. At about 8:00 we headed up to the Vortex lounge where diamond, diamond + and pinnancle members were to meet. As the elevator doors opended on deck 13, there was a RCCL employee and 3 other people(passengers).The RCCL employee said to us"you might as well stay on the elevator" We got off at deck 5 and proceeded to the gang way. In front of us in the opposite direction was a line of o few hundred people waiting to leave. The young lady led us right to the seapass check-out, and off we went. We were off the ship and through customs in less than 15 minutes. I don't know how this happened(not complaining) but I wish this would happen on all of our cruises.

[mark290]

The odd part to me is when the employee said "you might as well stay on the elevator" you didn't ask why ?

[will773]

Wow, it would be great if that happened all the time! :eek:

[Me 2]

Wow, it would be great if that happened all the time! :eek:

 

I believe that it may be the norm now.

On my last sailing a few weeks ago a specific departure slot was scheduled for D+ and Pinnacle members to be escorted off the ship by a member of staff from the designated meeting point.

[mation101]

We have had that happen a few times, but more often than not we end up in the same line as other passnegers.

[RoyalDiamond]

That's one area that desperately needs improving....leaving the ship. As D+, we usually board first, as long as boarding hasn't already started once we arrive. But, leaving the ship is usually a hassle. They offer the "express departure," but we don't want to leave at that early hour....we want to leave the ship later. But, after the "express departure" has ended, it's usually a free-for-all. Why not have a special D/D+ departure procedure/area so that we can disembark smoothly at ANY time during the disembarkation process?

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

That's one area that desperately needs improving....leaving the ship. As D+, we usually board first, as long as boarding hasn't already started once we arrive. But, leaving the ship is usually a hassle. They offer the "express departure," but we don't want to leave at that early hour....we want to leave the ship later. But, after the "express departure" has ended, it's usually a free-for-all. Why not have a special D/D+ departure procedure/area so that we can disembark smoothly at ANY time during the disembarkation process?

 

That is a great idea, we've had the same issues. You should write that on the comment card on your next cruise!

[Green Recruit]

That's one area that desperately needs improving....leaving the ship. As D+, we usually board first, as long as boarding hasn't already started once we arrive. But, leaving the ship is usually a hassle. They offer the "express departure," but we don't want to leave at that early hour....we want to leave the ship later. But, after the "express departure" has ended, it's usually a free-for-all. Why not have a special D/D+ departure procedure/area so that we can disembark smoothly at ANY time during the disembarkation process?

 

Everytime we disembark we are told to take our time! Our last cruise on Jewel (11/12 - 11/17) we waited until the end and left when all the numbers were called. Our flight wasn't scheduled until 2 PM and no one had a problem with us waiting until 9:30 AM to leave. (can't check your luggage until 4 hrs. before so didn't want to hang around the airport any longer than necessary) And no, we did not stay in our room, we were in the Vortex with everyone else.

 

Guess it just depends upon the ship and circumstances.

 

Teri

[pcur]

We just got off The Jewel OTS on Mon 12/05 Very enjoyable cruise. We are diamond scheduled to depart ship at 8:35 am. At about 8:00 we headed up to the Vortex lounge where diamond, diamond + and pinnancle members were to meet. As the elevator doors opended on deck 13, there was a RCCL employee and 3 other people(passengers).The RCCL employee said to us"you might as well stay on the elevator" We got off at deck 5 and proceeded to the gang way. In front of us in the opposite direction was a line of o few hundred people waiting to leave. The young lady led us right to the seapass check-out, and off we went. We were off the ship and through customs in less than 15 minutes. I don't know how this happened(not complaining) but I wish this would happen on all of our cruises.

 

This has been our experience for the last 6 cruises we've been on. You caught the escort as he/she was taking the mobility-challenged passengers down the elevator, while another staff member was escortiing the other D/D+/P down the staircases to disembark. That's why going to the lounge is a good idea: they don't announce the escorted departures; you have to be there to get escorted.

 

And, don't make eye contact with the people on the way down.................if looks could kill, etc...........................

[Tanker4]

This has been our experience for the last 6 cruises we've been on. You caught the escort as he/she was taking the mobility-challenged passengers down the elevator, while another staff member was escortiing the other D/D+/P down the staircases to disembark. That's why going to the lounge is a good idea: they don't announce the escorted departures; you have to be there to get escorted.

 

And, don't make eye contact with the people on the way down.................if looks could kill, etc...........................

 

Agree, it's been that way for us also and no, they don't announce the escorted departures.

[bajathree]

This has been our experience for the last 6 cruises we've been on. You caught the escort as he/she was taking the mobility-challenged passengers down the elevator, while another staff member was escortiing the other D/D+/P down the staircases to disembark. That's why going to the lounge is a good idea: they don't announce the escorted departures; you have to be there to get escorted.

 

And, don't make eye contact with the people on the way down.................if looks could kill, etc...........................

 

On Liberty a couple weeks ago....we meet up in the CL...the concierge then took us down a crew elevator and right thru a doorway that put us right at the exit where you swipe your card to get off the ship (didn't even have to pass any people)....first time I ever saw this but it worked great. Liberty is a bit odd as they use terminal 25 that debarks from deck 1.

[paradise4me]

We were on that same cruise and were sad because it was the first time we couldnt take our own luggage off in 23 cruises. They said the port of tampa wouldnt allow us to. We got one of the earliest tags and were off the ship by 745 but still would have rather rolled off our luggage.

[theblueeyz]

And, don't make eye contact with the people on the way down.................if looks could kill, etc...........................

 

Wait, seriously? I don't fault the people who paid a small fortune for those small benefits, one little bit. You paid extra, it buys you extra entitlements. I see nothing wrong with that, and there's not one of those people glaring who would turn down the same benefit if given the opportunity to purchase it.

 

I can only dream of the day I've cruised enough to be D+ :)