A Bit of Disembarcation Confusion

[roger001]

Having recently been elevated to gold latitude glory, decided to use the priority disembarcation ticket that is included with you latitudes packet awaiting in you room. It didn't exactly work as I had expected. I don't know if it is a port specific issue (Port Canaveral) or a misunderstanding that NCL hasn't really considered. Anyhow. Ticket says specifically, after you luggage has gone ashore, just go get in line and disembark...no need to wait for a color to be called. Ok...only two ways to get off the ship. First is self service walk off where you carry you own luggage. Those folks are first and welcome to head off as soon as customs will permit. So....regardless of latitudes status, if you are walking off, no need for any priority ticket. You all go at the same time (in an orderly line). I, the previous night however, had three pieces of our luggage color tagged for the earliest departure off ship for that color group. Now I'm thinking...ok, bags are gone ashore....right. So I just get in the walk off line with my latitudes ticket and away I go. Smooth as silk processing off. Unfortunately.....I was processed right out onto the street...with no access to my three pieces of luggage. The luggage area was still sealed and would not be accessable until after all walk off were off the ship.....and now....I was not to be permitted back into the security area that I had just exited. I explained this situation to several port security persons...most of whom had no idea what I was to do. Fortunately, one of them told me to go stand outside the security area and when the luggage area was eventually opened, she would escort me there. She did in fact do that about 45 minutes later. However then, after retrieving my luggage, I would now need to get in the end of the line of the persons waiting, have yet another customs declaration filled out, and again have my passport available for screening. Finally, after many security heads were put together, although several disagreed on my doing so, a supervisor opened a gate and let me through. I only relate this to avoid confusion in the event someone else misunderstands the use of priority disembarcation. Basically, there is no way to use it. Either you walk off, which means you are going out first, or you get a color tag and have your luggage carried off before hand, for which you must wait for it to become available. None of this is any big deal. Everybody was relatively nice in trying to figure out how to resolve it. There needs to be a bit more explanation on the latitudes ticket though. Don't know how many after me , other than one other guy who was in the same situation with me at the time, had the same problem since I was pretty early trying it. However, other than this bit of mess, another wonderful NCL cruise and beautiful weather. Two more already booked and more future cruise deposits purchased.

[njhorseman]

I'm not sure what the "ticket" is that you're referring to. The only ticket we've ever gotten based on latitudes status is a priority tender ticket for ports of call.

 

For priority disembarkation we've gotten different color luggage tags than are available to other passengers, and that special color tag is called for disembarkation after self service walk off disembarkation but before any of the colors available to passengers not entitled to priority are called. You can't walk with the self disemabarkers...you have to wait until the color is called.

 

Note: I've never sailed from Port Canaveral, but that's how it has worked elsewhere.

[mpk218]

Im sorry :p:p:p:p

 

That sounds like something that would happen to me..

Here , right this way sir , right out the back door....

Funny though..

[roger001]

I'm not sure what the "ticket" is that you're referring to. The only ticket we've ever gotten based on latitudes status is a priority tender ticket for ports of call.

 

For priority disembarkation we've gotten different color luggage tags than are available to other passengers, and that special color tag is called for disembarkation after self service walk off disembarkation but before any of the colors available to passengers not entitled to priority are called.

 

This priority latitudes disembarcation ticket must be something new with the new program and begins with gold status. Our "gold" packet also had the priority tendering ticket , the regular latitudes party, and the "shhh, you invited to a special latitudes party" tickets included with this other one. And as you recapped, you're right, there is really no way to use it. I think it was a thoughtful gesture that wasn't thought out completely.

[VideoTech]

This priority latitudes disembarcation ticket must be something new with the new program and begins with gold status. Our "gold" packet also had the priority tendering ticket , the regular latitudes party, and the "shhh, you invited to a special latitudes party" tickets included with this other one. And as you recapped, you're right, there is really no way to use it. I think it was a thoughtful gesture that wasn't thought out completely.

 

The only priority disembarkation I'm aware of is extended to suite guests as a courtesy by the concierge. You meet the concierge and are escorted around the waiting lines to get off the ship, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the operations of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs, or the port.

 

Once you are down in the port area, you must claim your bags and proceed as normal through whatever lines there are. I would have stopped and asked about my bags before going through the Immigration & Customs line, but I can understand your confusion since you weren't given much explanation of how the new priority disembarkation worked.

[VideoTech]

This priority latitudes disembarcation ticket must be something new with the new program and begins with gold status. Our "gold" packet also had the priority tendering ticket , the regular latitudes party, and the "shhh, you invited to a special latitudes party" tickets included with this other one......

 

Sheesh...there go some more suite perks. :p

[njhorseman]

The only priority disembarkation I'm aware of is extended to suite guests as a courtesy by the concierge. You meet the concierge and are escorted around the waiting lines to get off the ship, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the operations of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs, or the port.

 

Once you are down in the port area, you must claim your bags and proceed as normal through whatever lines there are. I would have stopped and asked about my bags before going through the Immigration & Customs line, but I can understand your confusion since you weren't given much explanation of how the new priority disembarkation worked.

 

Gold and Platinum Latitudes get priority disembarkation in the manner I described earlier...special color luggage tags not available to others, which will be called for disembarkation after self disembarkation but before the colors available to the general passenger population. This isn't a new procedure...it's been used for a few years.

[gottahavefun]

I'm surprised that someone didn't stop you on the way out. I used the BAGS program in Seattle and as I left the ship with the walk-off people with just my carry-on,3 different crew members stopped me as asked where my luggage was. After I explained I was using the BAGS program they let me off. Otherwise they were going to send me back on board until the luggage area was open.

[jingle5616]

I just got off the Spirit and wondered some of the same questions the OP did with the ticket in the new packet. I went to the Latitudes lady and asked. She gave me "yellow tags". It was the second color called. We actually left with the "orange" who I assumed were the suite guests. I figured my luggage would be close by and it was. All of the other luggage was in a different area that wasn't opened as of about 9am. It was a great perk as we had an early flight.

 

Jingle

[roger001]

Gold and Platinum Latitudes get priority disembarkation in the manner I described earlier...special color luggage tags not available to others, which will be called for disembarkation after self disembarkation but before the colors available to the general passenger population. This isn't a new procedure...it's been used for a few years.

 

I wonder if "the special color luggage tags" are maybe the missing ingredient in this situation. They were not mentioned on the priority disembarcation ticket given us however. That would have made the system work. It just said on the back, "when your luggage is on shore (keeping in mine my luggage went out the cabin door the night before which made me assume that it met the "on shore" requirement) then no need to wait to be called with any time group. Just proceed to exit" (or words to that effect). Reference being stopped, we were pulling some hand carried stuff on a small wheeled cart. The NCL crew person monitoring the exiting did ask if that was all our luggage. I said no, not at all, wish we could travel that light. She smilled and said cruise again soon. After we did exit and questioned the security person about the needed luggage, I showed her the priority ticket. I assured her that we certainly weren'ty trying to beat the system, only using the ticket and its instructions as they appeared. She said ,"oh, is that a latitudes thing that maybe only gave you half the information". So basically, everyone I encountered seemed to accept the event, just didn't know exactly how it had reached this point. Again, no big deal. Just didn't want anyone else to unexpectedly reach the street without their luggage.

[gerryl12]

Didn't you read where early walk-offs must carry with them ALL their own luggage?

If all you had to do was just walk off with checked baggage, everyone would pile off the ship early. What a zoo. That's why they use the color system.

[roger001]

Didn't you read where early walk-offs must carry with them ALL their own luggage?

If all you had to do was just walk off with checked baggage, everyone would pile off the ship early. What a zoo. That's why they use the color system.

 

Wow...what a concept. Oh wait....didn't you read that this has been a discussion addressing the exception to the norm and has been specifically addressing only latitude passengers gold or higher (and I guess suite pax also) who have been issued a latitudes "exclusive invitation" (to use NCL's term)......and the misunderstanding (at least mine) of the use of that "exclusive invitation". However, I think this thread has clarified it for me. As the Spirit pax wrote, the latitudes rep on board apparently has special color, special issue luggage tags to use with this "exclusive invitation". I got it now! No more standing on the outside looking in again.......

[palmyrafan]

I'm not sure what the "ticket" is that you're referring to. The only ticket we've ever gotten based on latitudes status is a priority tender ticket for ports of call.

 

For priority disembarkation we've gotten different color luggage tags than are available to other passengers, and that special color tag is called for disembarkation after self service walk off disembarkation but before any of the colors available to passengers not entitled to priority are called. You can't walk with the self disemabarkers...you have to wait until the color is called.

 

Note: I've never sailed from Port Canaveral, but that's how it has worked elsewhere.

 

I agree as stated above. We are Latitudes members and also usually book in a suite. We always wait until our color (usually Gold) is announced at which time we walk off the ship to pick up our luggage and go through customs. We never disembark early unless we have all our luggage with us.

 

Have never had a problem leaving this way. Glad to hear that they made accomodations for you, but I can imagine how annoying that would really be especially if you had an early flight.

 

Welcome Back.

[johnql]

I used the priority disembarkation perk given to Platinum and Gold Latitudes members - just got off the Gem last Wednesday. We were issued white luggage tags and the disembarkation instruction sheet clearly stated that those who used the tags were first to disembark after the self-disembarking passengers. You are not obligated to disembark immediately after the self-disembarking passengers; however, once your color (white, in my case) was called, you could start disembarking and your luggage (tagged with the white luggage tags) would be awaiting you in the pier.

[roger001]

I used the priority disembarkation perk given to Platinum and Gold Latitudes members - just got off the Gem last Wednesday. We were issued white luggage tags and the disembarkation instruction sheet clearly stated that those who used the tags were first to disembark after the self-disembarking passengers. You are not obligated to disembark immediately after the self-disembarking passengers; however, once your color (white, in my case) was called, you could start disembarking and your luggage (tagged with the white luggage tags) would be awaiting you in the pier.

 

Thanks. As I said, I believe that (special color coded luggage tag) is the missing link to how it was suppose to work.

[NMLady]

I'm surprised that someone didn't stop you on the way out. I used the BAGS program in Seattle and as I left the ship with the walk-off people with just my carry-on,3 different crew members stopped me as asked where my luggage was. After I explained I was using the BAGS program they let me off. Otherwise they were going to send me back on board until the luggage area was open.

 

When we used the BAGS program there was a cardboard with our boarding passes that had the word BAGS or some such identifier on it that we simply showed as we walked through the luggage warehouse.

[garycarla]

I think some others answered, but.... in the future, please try to use some paragraphs. This is really hard to read.

 

Having recently been elevated to gold latitude glory, decided to use the priority disembarcation ticket that is included with you latitudes packet awaiting in you room. It didn't exactly work as I had expected. I don't know if it is a port specific issue (Port Canaveral) or a misunderstanding that NCL hasn't really considered. Anyhow. Ticket says specifically, after you luggage has gone ashore, just go get in line and disembark...no need to wait for a color to be called. Ok...only two ways to get off the ship. First is self service walk off where you carry you own luggage. Those folks are first and welcome to head off as soon as customs will permit. So....regardless of latitudes status, if you are walking off, no need for any priority ticket. You all go at the same time (in an orderly line). I, the previous night however, had three pieces of our luggage color tagged for the earliest departure off ship for that color group. Now I'm thinking...ok, bags are gone ashore....right. So I just get in the walk off line with my latitudes ticket and away I go. Smooth as silk processing off. Unfortunately.....I was processed right out onto the street...with no access to my three pieces of luggage. The luggage area was still sealed and would not be accessable until after all walk off were off the ship.....and now....I was not to be permitted back into the security area that I had just exited. I explained this situation to several port security persons...most of whom had no idea what I was to do. Fortunately, one of them told me to go stand outside the security area and when the luggage area was eventually opened, she would escort me there. She did in fact do that about 45 minutes later. However then, after retrieving my luggage, I would now need to get in the end of the line of the persons waiting, have yet another customs declaration filled out, and again have my passport available for screening. Finally, after many security heads were put together, although several disagreed on my doing so, a supervisor opened a gate and let me through. I only relate this to avoid confusion in the event someone else misunderstands the use of priority disembarcation. Basically, there is no way to use it. Either you walk off, which means you are going out first, or you get a color tag and have your luggage carried off before hand, for which you must wait for it to become available. None of this is any big deal. Everybody was relatively nice in trying to figure out how to resolve it. There needs to be a bit more explanation on the latitudes ticket though. Don't know how many after me , other than one other guy who was in the same situation with me at the time, had the same problem since I was pretty early trying it. However, other than this bit of mess, another wonderful NCL cruise and beautiful weather. Two more already booked and more future cruise deposits purchased.

[che5904]

:) Like mpk I could see myself being in this perdicament. :D

 

Thinking I was following all of the steps in this new process. Being hurded through all of the lines, and then finding myself on the street wondering what to heck just happened and which step was missed.

 

Thank you for posting this, you may help someone else.

 

OK I've never been to Port Canaveral, so I don't know the layout inside. Both Miami and LA were pretty much the same.

 

We came down the ramp onto shore, went through a security section where they checked our ID and I think ticked our declaration card (I won't swear to the 2nd). Then we proceed into a large area where we got in lines to go through the custom agents. Then out the door.

 

If PC is set up the same sort of way, would you not ask at the point between security and customs, where you should retrieve your luggage to take through customs.

 

There really may not be a color tag missing but you can then use the easy walk off process (less bags) and pick them up in area before customs. Either way that step should be noted in your paperwork.