Oasis - disembarkation day

[TequilaToo]

What time are you required to vacate your cabin on disembarkation day? We dock at 6:15 AM tomorrow. We are in no rush, have our car parked at the parking garage, so fit into the "have own travel arrangements" category. On our departure form we put down the next-to-latest time for disembarkation, but now I'm just wondering how long we'll have to hang out in the public rooms? If we have to leave our cabins at some gawdawful hour and then cool our heels in the waiting areas, that won't be much fun, either!

[Clarea]

They usually want you out of the stateroom by 8:30am or so. The housekeeping staff needs time to get the staterooms ready for the next cruise.

[cb at sea]

You are right...hanging out is NOT fun....the service you've come to expect all week is conspicuously missing on the last morning...they want you gone!

[Paulette3028]

What time are you required to vacate your cabin on disembarkation day? We dock at 6:15 AM tomorrow. We are in no rush, have our car parked at the parking garage, so fit into the "have own travel arrangements" category. On our departure form we put down the next-to-latest time for disembarkation, but now I'm just wondering how long we'll have to hang out in the public rooms? If we have to leave our cabins at some gawdawful hour and then cool our heels in the waiting areas, that won't be much fun, either!

 

Disembarkation day, really isn't a 'cruise vacation day' - it is simply a departure morning. It is why I try to get ON the ship as early as possible on the day we start our cruise.

 

They want the ship completely empty of passengers by 10am or so; to give the staff the turnaround time they need for the next passengers to be boarding.

 

Even B2B passengers have to go through some type of disembarking procedure (although I have never done it as yet), which I understand is much easier/quicker.

[riverhawk]

Yes...earlier the better, because I'm boarding tomorrow! :D

[LMaxwell]

Fortunately some of us understand your situation and that you just have no "need" to be part of a long queue and unhappy crowds rushing to get off the ship to make a flight. We also understand you're not looking to "extend" your vacation, just to have a hassle free ending to your vacation.

 

On Allure on December our room steward told us 9:00AM (I think we were out of the room by 8:15AM). We disembarked at 9:30AM (customs was slow, we were in line over an hour and shortly after we walked off they stopped letting people off as the line was back to the deck!)

 

OP, you will have no issues if you leave your room between 8AM - 9AM (take your carry on with you). You should have no issues leaving the ship around 10AM - 10:30AM.

[TequilaToo]

You are right...hanging out is NOT fun....the service you've come to expect all week is conspicuously missing on the last morning...they want you gone!

Hmmmm, and they are suspiciously "vague" about the details so far. Breakfast will be available at "numerous" dining venues aboard....the departure video showing smiling, happy people patiently waiting in areas of this ship I've never seen....LOL

 

I wonder if it is too late now to change our departure time?

[trev71]

It is a pain hanging around waiting for them to call your number. last time on the allure our flight wasnt leaving til 3pm and we were one of the last groups at 940 to get off.. i rather be sitting at an airport being bored then hang around there its not like your having fun by any means

[Paulette3028]

Fortunately some of us understand your situation and that you just have no "need" to be part of a long queue and unhappy crowds rushing to get off the ship to make a flight. We also understand you're not looking to "extend" your vacation, just to have a hassle free ending to your vacation.

 

On Allure on December our room steward told us 9:00AM (I think we were out of the room by 8:15AM). We disembarked at 9:30AM (customs was slow, we were in line over an hour and shortly after we walked off they stopped letting people off as the line was back to the deck!)

 

OP, you will have no issues if you leave your room between 8AM - 9AM (take your carry on with you). You should have no issues leaving the ship around 10AM - 10:30AM.

 

Whether I have been on Majesty or Liberty or something in between, getting off the ship early has been the best way to avoid any long lines, and just 'waiting around'. Of course all of that is based on the ship having no problems in port or customs having no problems in the port.

 

On the few cruises prior to us having priority departure, it never seemed 'free of lines and waiting'.

 

We leave our room 7:30am; head to breakfast; leave ship. Generally in car by 9:30 driving home, rarely ever later than that -- no lines. Looking forward to next cruise that we have booked.

[TequilaToo]

Fortunately some of us understand your situation and that you just have no "need" to be part of a long queue and unhappy crowds rushing to get off the ship to make a flight. We also understand you're not looking to "extend" your vacation, just to have a hassle free ending to your vacation.

 

On Allure on December our room steward told us 9:00AM (I think we were out of the room by 8:15AM). We disembarked at 9:30AM (customs was slow, we were in line over an hour and shortly after we walked off they stopped letting people off as the line was back to the deck!)

 

OP, you will have no issues if you leave your room between 8AM - 9AM (take your carry on with you). You should have no issues leaving the ship around 10AM - 10:30AM.

 

Thanks, LMaxwell. My daughter has health issues, so we don't want to rout her out any earlier than necessary. I think 10:00 - 10:30 was the time we put on our departure form - the last time period being 10:30 - 11:30.

 

Does anyone know, are you "assigned" an area to wait in, depending on your departure hour? Or do you just find a spot to wait? Our carry-off baggage is necessarily heavy (computers, souvenirs). Sitting and waiting while sipping a Starbucks wouldn't be too bad. Standing around, holding our carry-off would be a nightmare.

[Clarea]

Thanks, LMaxwell. My daughter has health issues, so we don't want to rout her out any earlier than necessary. I think 10:00 - 10:30 was the time we put on our departure form - the last time period being 10:30 - 11:30.

 

Does anyone know, are you "assigned" an area to wait in, depending on your departure hour? Or do you just find a spot to wait? Our carry-off baggage is necessarily heavy (computers, souvenirs). Sitting and waiting while sipping a Starbucks wouldn't be too bad. Standing around, holding our carry-off would be a nightmare.

You will receive a letter in your stateroom entitled "as You Depart". This will detail luggage tag numbers, departure lounges, and times.

[LMaxwell]

Does anyone know, are you "assigned" an area to wait in, depending on your departure hour? Or do you just find a spot to wait? Our carry-off baggage is necessarily heavy (computers, souvenirs). Sitting and waiting while sipping a Starbucks wouldn't be too bad. Standing around, holding our carry-off would be a nightmare.

 

No, we were not assigned a waiting area but there are areas listed conducive to waiting (as some areas will simply be closed). Also be sure to check breakfast times as they are limited. WJ was a zoo, we had success at Park Cafe.

 

Plenty of places to sit; aft Boardwalk area, top pool decks...Royal Promenade is going to be hectic and busy. There's no issues with you simply sitting somewhere out of the way so that you don't have to be stuck in the lines.

 

Many people have flights and such to make. I think you not forcing your way off amongst them is very smart and helpful to those travellers also. Believe me, I certainly do not think for a moment that you are treating the last morning like a vacation day, you just want a stress free walk off without rushing or being in anyones way.

Edited February 21, 2014 by LMaxwell

[TequilaToo]

No, we were not assigned a waiting area but there are areas listed conducive to waiting (as some areas will simply be closed). Also be sure to check breakfast times as they are limited. WJ was a zoo, we had success at Park Cafe.

 

Plenty of places to sit; aft Boardwalk area, top pool decks...Royal Promenade is going to be hectic and busy. There's no issues with you simply sitting somewhere out of the way so that you don't have to be stuck in the lines.

 

Many people have flights and such to make. I think you not forcing your way off amongst them is very smart and helpful to those travellers also. Believe me, I certainly do not think for a moment that you are treating the last morning like a vacation day, you just want a stress free walk off without rushing or being in anyones way.

 

Just a quick update on our actual experience. I think they may have revamped the departure proceedings - either that or the experience on the Oasis is different than on other ships in the fleet.

 

I asked a room steward in the hall (not ours, since I didn't see him) what time we were expected to vacate our cabin. He said 8:00 AM. Then, just to double check, I called down and asked Guest Services the same question - they said 9:00 AM. Our departure instruction sheet DID have a specific area where all guests were asked to gather to wait for departure - the Opus Dining room and Opal Theater, Deck 5. (Coffee, tea, juices and pastries were available there throughout the departure process, which was nice, since we were able to kill two birds with one stone - have a light breakfast and wait for departure. No need to haul our carry-off luggage to two different locations.) It was said that announcements regarding departure procedures would be heard only in the designated waiting area, and that guests should finish breakfast and proceed to the waiting area before the time indicated for departure indicated by their luggage tag number. It was requested that the Royal Promenade be kept clear, and indeed, when we exited the elevators at 8:30 the side doors to the Promenade, by the elevator banks, were actually closed, although according to the Departure instructions, breakfast would still have been being served at Starbucks until 9:00 AM.

 

We vacated the cabin by 8:30 and headed to the Dining room, where we were asked to enter and sit inside, not to stand or lurk in the entry. Guests were called to proceed to the terminal through the Deck 5 Gangway according to their departing luggage tag numbers as Customs requested them.

 

Our estimated time of departure was 10:00 - 10:15. Our tag number was actually called somewhere between 10:15 and 10:30. From there we were escorted to the terminal through the Deck 5 gangway, where we collected our luggage with the assistance of a Porter who stayed with us while we stood in line at Customs for about an hour. Once through Customs, we finally exited the terminal, brought our car around, and the porter loaded our luggage into our car (BIG tip for that porter!). We were on our way out of the terminal parking lot by 11:23.

 

At no time did we feel like we were being rushed, or that the staff wanted us gone.

 

One suggestion for those without actual "holders" for your luggage tags - it might not be a bad idea to "laminate" them when attaching them to your checked baggage with a length of clear packing tape. The tag actually fell off one of our pieces, and we had to go to a special area to reclaim it, which took extra time.

[Jen731]

Just a quick update on our actual experience. I think they may have revamped the departure proceedings - either that or the experience on the Oasis is different than on other ships in the fleet.

 

 

Thank you for the update. I have a quick question, do you get randomly assigned a boarding number or do you request one? We are in a similar situation, no hurry to leave, would rather let the people who have flights to catch process out quickly. We would like enough time to get up and get breakfast. Plus we are not super early birds... :)

[TequilaToo]

Thank you for the update. I have a quick question, do you get randomly assigned a boarding number or do you request one? We are in a similar situation, no hurry to leave, would rather let the people who have flights to catch process out quickly. We would like enough time to get up and get breakfast. Plus we are not super early birds... :)

About halfway through the week, a Departure Information Sheet was delivered with our nightly Compass asking for our departure plans. You could choose Express departure from 6:30 - 7:45, which required you to carry all your luggage off (in which case you were directed NOT to put your luggage in the hallway the night before). There was a section for those with RCI-connected flights or shore excursion plans, and the last section was for those with their own travel arrangements. Those guests could choose their own desired departure time, in 15-minute increments. Luggage tag numbers were then delivered the day before departure according to the time chosen. On the last night, there was a sheet called "As You Depart" delivered instead of the Cruise Compass, outlining the departure procedure and what time each luggage tag number should be ready for departure.

[BillOh]

You are right...hanging out is NOT fun....the service you've come to expect all week is conspicuously missing on the last morning...they want you gone!

 

So true in a non-mean way. That's why I don't do the windjammer on the last day any more. Its so obvious there that they are rapidly preparing for the next guest and I'm not ready to acknowledge I'm old news! ;)

 

Being a northerner who usually cruises when my friends are still languishing in cold or rain, If I have a late flight, but no post cruise excursion, I'll request the last departure time, vacate my cabin and find a nice spot in the sun either near the pool (no chair hogs :D) or the deck above. I can see all the prep work going on around me and not be in the way. I'll head off the ship just before the final minutes when they start calling people by name. There are no lines usually and I can walk right off.

[TequilaToo]

Here is a copy of the Departure Instruction sheet for the Western Itinerary for February 2014:

 

 

[portofrome]

Thanks for posting it.

[Jen731]

That's awesome, thank you. I have been wondering about the luggage tag thing for awhile now.