How late do you hang out on the ship on the last day?

[Lsimon]

I don't see why anyone is getting upset. The OP asked a question and it was answered. Isn't that the whole purpose of these discussion forums?

 

Besides, there is no big deal with hanging out on board as long as possible. I see no harm done as long as one is out of their stateroom by the requested time and if they leave the ship when the announcement is made for all remaining passengers to disembark.

[Tommy3putts]

I don't see the OPs question as trying to breach the rules. It's an honest question. On our recent Med Cruise we intentionally booked an extra day in Rome so we didn't have to rush to FCO. Instead we had a leisurely morning on the ship, but were off by 0930 out of respect for the hard working crew. IMHO, the more lingerers that remain the harder it could be on the crew to get the ship ready for the new guests. Additionally, If I were on the next cruise I'd like to be able to board as soon as I could.

[hcat]

OP could sign up for a post cruise excursion to pass the time...or rent a car for the day...or linger for hrs at the airport with luggage...cannot check in too early so that's not too much fun!

 

our issue this time is the opposite...need to get off the ship asap in Miami, grab a taxi to Fll airport for a 12 something flight...doable but tight in the event there is any delay,..

[Hlitner]

The last morning is NOT fun. Any and all the service and attention you've gotten used to is conspicuously missing on the last morning. They want you GONE...and fast! They have a whole new batch of vacationers coming...and they need to get busy!

 

Once you have to leave your cabin, hanging around the public areas isn't my idea of a good time!

 

We work hard at making the last morning somewhat relaxing (and even fun). The trick is to not be in a hurry. We go for breakfast towards the end of the scheduled Lido hours (it is much less crowded) and take our time with breakfast. We then return to our cabin, grab our carry-off stuff, and then (weather permitting) head up to the pool deck where we find some nice comfy deck chairs. While folks are working up a sweat (and temper) waiting in long queues below, we are just relaxing on an empty pool deck with our Kindles. When its possible, we will get our coffee and tea and just treat it like a morning at sea. Then, sometime around 9:30 - 10, when things have quieted down and just about everyone is long gone, we take an elevator down to the appropriate deck, walk off the ship, grab our luggage (easy to find as most of the luggage is long gone), walk outside, and grab a taxi to the airport or wherever else we wish to go.

 

No sweat. No hassles. No queues.

 

And we would add that we do not cause any problems for the staff as we are in a very quiet area out of their way. The folks who cause real problems for the staff are those trying to crowd around public areas (especially near the gangplank) and the one's whining about queues, etc.

 

Hank

Edited July 29, 2014 by Hlitner

[Gracie115]

It all depends on your plans for the day. We live within 2 hours of 3 ports, so getting off the ship early and home works for us, still have the rest of the day to do whatever. Works for us, maybe if we were flying somewhere it would be different.

 

We've found leaving very early avoids crowds as much as waiting till the very end. I really don't want to be caught up in the crowd that leaves between 8 and 9 AM again ever.....lines and more lines usually.:eek:

[A Sixth?]

It all depends on your plans for the day. We live within 2 hours of 3 ports, so getting off the ship early and home works for us, still have the rest of the day to do whatever. Works for us, maybe if we were flying somewhere it would be different.

 

We've found leaving very early avoids crowds as much as waiting till the very end. I really don't want to be caught up in the crowd that leaves between 8 and 9 AM again ever.....lines and more lines usually.:eek:

 

Why are you in such a hurry to end your ship board experience? :o Mow the lawn? Clip some coupons? Check the bird feeder? (one of our worries when we travel... I'm not kidding)

 

It's the complete opposite to my way... but if it floats your return to the old home stead! :p

 

(If I lived only a short drive away I'd be the VERY LAST one off!!! ) LOL!

Edited July 29, 2014 by A Sixth?

[Gracie115]

Why are you in such a hurry to end your ship board experience? :o Mow the lawn? Clip some coupons? Check the bird feeder? (one of our worries when we travel... I'm not kidding)

 

It's the complete opposite to my way... but if it floats your return to the old home stead! :p

 

(If I lived only a short drive away I'd be the VERY LAST one off!!! ) LOL!

 

To each his/her own. It works for us, glad your way works for you.....nice that we all have options that fit our own lives, leaving early fits ours.:)

[dodger1964]

Keep in mind that they expect u out of room by 8 and the buffet stops serving at 8 also (at least that's how I remember last reflection trip).

 

We are always in the walk off early crowd (almost always anyway) because we try to book early flights to get home at reasonable time.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Sloop-JohnB]

We doddle too... staying as long as we can sipping coffee and soaking in the rays usually in an outdoor area... And fretting actually saying good-bye to the ship / end of the cruise.

 

We book our flights typically for the next day so Debarkation Day is a down day for us.

 

Up at the crack of dawn... see the sail in. Out of the cabin at the requested time (we don't overstay that part cause we appreciate our Steward & Turnover Day... Take our carry-on with us... And give the Room Steward a friendly good-bye and "we are all clear" for our cabin). Then we find something to eat... (never picky about that on our last day... What or Where)

 

Sit in the sun... Maybe watch all the crazy commotion as everyone FIGHTS to get on an elevator and get off the ship.

 

Lol, use the stairs... Go up not down is our theory... Heading for example to the Back Deck by the Oceanview Bar

 

Skip the crowds entirely... That is our ticket.

 

Why bother ? So much stress after a wonderful relaxing vacation.

 

We leave when they close down the Buffet area... and the Announcements begin (usually between 9 and 10)

 

Then it is just a clear walk off.

 

No "hurry up to wait in a long line"... We are usually off the ship, pick up our bags (easy to find in a pile solo) and walk right up to the Customs Counter.

 

Both cruises it has been about 10 - 15 minutes total from on-board to curbside outside the terminal getting a cab. Easy breezey.

 

I've come to realize that the worse part of a cruise for many people is Embarkation & Debarkation Days... I've also come to see that it is what YOU CHOOSE to make of it.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

Edited July 30, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[SeagoingMom]

When we did a B2B on Eclipse, at 10am they were calling passengers by name to disembark. I would find that embarrasing!

Not I! And anyway, there would be no one left on the ship except staff to hear my name announced over the tannoy! :rolleyes:

[Lsimon]

When we did a B2B on Eclipse, at 10am they were calling passengers by name to disembark. I would find that embarrasing!

 

My experience is that they make a general announcement for all remaining passengers to disembark. This has been made when there are still quite a few passengers on board including the last couple disembarkation groups so there would be too many names to call at that point. So I'd guess the name paging would only be for those passengers who ignored, or didn't hear, the prior announcements.

[phoenix_dream]

As long as one clears their cabin by the requested time, and then subsequently leaves the ship at first 'last call to disembark' time, then I don't see an issue. I think that time will generally be no later than 10:00 am. We often try to hang out when we fly out of San Juan as our airline only has possible flights leaving around 4:00 pm (and we have been there enough not to want the hassle of renting a car, etc.).

 

I don't know the situation in Miami, but out of FLL we have had issues getting to the airport too early. We had a flight on United and we got to the airport about 2 1/2 to 3 hours early. There was no one at the United gate!! We had to wait for around 45 minutes for a gate agent to even show up. That was very frustrating, and I think pretty unreasonable for an airline at an airport that flies so many cruisers. But then airlines these days are not about the customer, are they:rolleyes:. Anyway....with a flight at that time I would either try to disembark very early and rent a car or a hotel day room, or linger as much as is appropriate and then head to the airport with my fingers crossed.

[Honeybearhollow]

We have noticed that it is not that easy to stay relaxed the last day. They rush you at breakfast. The crew definitely want you off so they can go about their business. Even the elevators only go down. It is extremely hard to find one going up. People are rushing and pushing their luggage into you. And all those plaid shirts everyone had tucked away come back on. :D

[Sascol]

Seems like you are being very selfish to try to stay on until 11:00. The crew needs to do lots of stuff before the new passengers get on and you are just interfering w their work. Get off ASAP to make their life easier.

 

DON

 

Hardly - Original poster was asking a question to which he/she did not know the answer. What makes this selfish? They asked, got replies, now they know.

[ariawoman]

We have a 5pm flight on the day we leave the Reflection in January. We won't be in any hurry to leave. I know they want us out of our stateroom by 9 or so but how long can we stay for breakfast and have some coffee? I was hoping 10:30 or 11am.

 

On our May Silhouette cruise, all the food was removed from the buffet by 8 or 830am.

 

I believe latest on board was 930am. I was more upset about no food. We weren't aware that if we had a 930 departure that we wouldn't be able to eat something small at around 830am. I believe the times posted in the celebrity today was actually past the time we got there, but they were readying for the lunch to occur at 11am I'm sure.

 

Can't blame them, but sad way to end the cruise LOL.

Edited July 30, 2014 by ariawoman

[Lsimon]

... Even the elevators only go down....

 

Only go down? :eek:

How do they get them back to the top? :rolleyes:

 

Actually we've found it is easier to get an elevator up as all the down elevators that stop at our floor are already full on embarkation morning with people lugging their items down to lower levels. When this happens we just grab an up elevator and ride it to the top and back down.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

I imagine there are passengers that are on there because they are doing back-to-back cruises.

Edited July 30, 2014 by rebeccalouiseagain

[Gracie115]

I imagine there are passengers that are on there because they are doing back-to-back cruises.

 

Yes, but from what I've read here even THEY have to disembark for a bit....security reasons from what I recall...

[Lois R]

Yes, but from what I've read here even THEY have to disembark for a bit....security reasons from what I recall...

 

Hi Gracie, security and everything else too;)...everyone has to leave

and b2brs are usually led off the ship together. I did one in February

and we had ALOT of b2brs.......we all were taken off the ship and led

into the terminal....it was almost like a roll call. Names were called and

new Sea Pass cards were handed out (or supposed to have been).

Some folks were given the little card holders but, guess what? They

didn't have a card insided:eek:

This was on Century and I think there were in the 200 range of folks

who were sailing b2b.

[geneology]

We are on a repo cruise from Bayonne NJ to Puerto Rico. If the ship arrives in port at 6AM - would leaving the ship by 8AM be acceptable?

 

Also someone mentioned - when leaving in PR you need to go through Agricultural customs? What is this?

Edited July 31, 2014 by geneology

[Lsimon]

I imagine there are passengers that are on there because they are doing back-to-back cruises.

Yes, but from what I've read here even THEY have to disembark for a bit....security reasons from what I recall...

 

B2B passengers do need to get off, at least at USA ports. But they have the option to leave anytime during disembarkation to spend time in port or stay on the ship for the day. If they stay on the ship they have to meet in a designated spot then are escorted off the ship, through customs, and back on board just after the last non-B2B passengers have disembarked.

 

We are on a repo cruise from Bayonne NJ to Puerto Rico. If the ship arrives in port at 6AM - would leaving the ship by 8AM be acceptable?

 

Also someone mentioned - when leaving in PR you need to go through Agricultural customs? What is this?

8AM is usually within the early to middle of the general disembarkation. I don't think it is every nearly over, nor near the point where you have to get off, that early. The fact that the ship is due to arrive at port at 6AM doesn't mean they'll be starting to let people off then. It is usually up to an hour later.

 

Agricultural inspection is an area just outside the doors to the airport (or used to be). They'll run your bags through a special scanner then mark them as inspected or something like that - it's been a few years for us. Look for this before you enter the airport terminal.

Edited July 31, 2014 by Lsimon

[Sloop-JohnB]

Re - Agricultural Inspection

 

We were in San Juan for a Summit Cruise in 2013... The info LSIMON has stated is correct.

 

You have to fill out a form and have your bags scanned at the Agricultural Inspection Both... When we were there it was just inside the terminal at one set of Entrance Doors. After the scan they sticker your bags as "Cleared"

 

BTW they scan & sticker EVERYTHING you have... Including Carry-on. By all accounts they are looking for Fruits, Veggies, Meats, Vegetation, Endangered Species Products, etc. I've heard people have even had beach sand confiscated (sad for those of us who collect)... So something to bear in mind

 

For further info see this link = http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_travel

 

 

After the Ag Scan you can check in your bags for the flight.

 

Getting the whole thing done isn't difficult or a big hassle...

 

BUT it is for anyone who has waited on-line to Check In and hasn't got their "Cleared Stickers" that really sucks, as they end up having to go back to the Ag Scan and then stand in line all over again for Check In. Not fun.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

Edited July 31, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[dodger1964]

As far as I remember there is no form to fill out.

 

the Ag inspection process is a TOTAL JOKE!, but required.

 

it is a joke because you are not in any kind of a "secured area" after you get bags tagged. If you had bad items you could just put them in your bags after getting the sticker.

[dorisis]

We have stayed on board until mid-morning --maybe 11 or so? If you linger, you will hear announcements saying that everyone still on board should disembark. We chilled in a lounge for several hours after we vacated our cabin on our first cruise (Celebrity.) Staff were doing various cleaning jobs, but we did not hinder their work. They did not speak to us or ask us to leave. We left when we heard the announcement mentioned above.

 

I am not advocating lingering -- but it can be done. Since our first cruise I have seen documentaries on cruising and cruise ships that convinced me that lingering on board was not a considerate thing for us to have done, as I have seen frantic security officers and hotel managers searching all over ships to find the few pax who have not yet signed off the ship. It delays boarding and creates stress for the staff. But there is nothing that says you cannot be the last two guests off the ship! Someone has to be, after all.

 

When we got to the luggage area, the staff was extremely glad to see us, as they thought someone had forgotten their luggage -- our bags were the only ones there...

 

To me, that is the advantage of getting off late.

[fleckle]

Yes, but from what I've read here even THEY have to disembark for a bit....security reasons from what I recall...

Usually yes, but sometimes no. It depends on the port.

Even when staying on board, we needed to punch out with the old seapass card and back in with the new one.

 

 

One time when we were in no hurry to get off at disembarkation, we figured we would just wait to be last off so we would not need to wait in a long customs line.

But we had overlooked the other ships in port that day, so even though most of the passengers from our ship had already been cleared and were long gone, we ended up at the back of a long line of passengers from another ship.

 

Edited July 31, 2014 by fleckle