Punished at Port of Tampa

[Jana60]

I used to be of that mindset years ago, trying to "squeeze" that much more time at the end of the cruise.

 

But everything is basically closed, and virtually no service, so it's quite painful to stay on. So now we get off as soon as possible.

 

Sent from my comfy chair in my den.

 

They do close up things but if you make sure you're one of the last to load up your breakfast plate and fill up a big mug of coffee you can find a sunny spot to sit someplace and just relax and eat a leisurely breakfast and by the time you have finished the crowds have thinned out.

 

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[travler27]

I thought that once you hit the gangway you were outside the cruise lines area of responsibility and under control of the port authorities. Is that not true? If so, I wonder why one cruise line would be different from another using the same port? Do the port authorities have grudge against Carnival passengers?

[Disconnections]

They do close up things but if you make sure you're one of the last to load up your breakfast plate and fill up a big mug of coffee you can find a sunny spot to sit someplace and just relax and eat a leisurely breakfast and by the time you have finished the crowds have thinned out.

 

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I'd rather be in the first group of passengers with independent arrangements to disembark.

[Jana60]

I'd rather be in the first group of passengers with independent arrangements to disembark.

 

But we were talking about those who have a late flight. It's certainly more pleasant not to rush and to eat a leisurely breakfast then it is to sit for 6 hours at the airport.

 

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[Captain Carnival]

No was punished. When you debark via self-assist you take your luggage and if you had your luggage taken the night before to the luggage hall and sneak out via self-assist then you are required to wait to re-enter the terminal.

 

This is not a Carnival rule but rather an enforced requirement set in place by CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and would be considered a breach. People make mistakes, they presume that they can just bypass the rules and when unable to do so must (at times) place the blame on others rather than themselves. It's easy to shift or place the blame on others but equally difficult to admit when they are indeed wrong.

 

Bottom line - no one was punished, except save for those who ended up punishing themselves.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Captain Carnival

[Disconnections]

No was punished. When you debark via self-assist you take your luggage and if you had your luggage taken the night before to the luggage hall and sneak out via self-assist then you are required to wait to re-enter the terminal.

 

This is not a Carnival rule but rather an enforced requirement set in place by CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and would be considered a breach. People make mistakes, they presume that they can just bypass the rules and when unable to do so must (at times) place the blame on others rather than themselves. It's easy to shift or place the blame on others but equally difficult to admit when they are indeed wrong.

 

Bottom line - no one was punished, except save for those who ended up punishing themselves.

 

You're saying they shouldn't have listened to the Carnival employee who said their zone was cleared for disembarkation? Technically punished or not, it doesn't matter. Their group was accused of sneaking into the terminal and the verbiage involving "punishment" was thrown around multiple times with a second reported case by another member.

[EZ4]

No was punished. When you debark via self-assist you take your luggage and if you had your luggage taken the night before to the luggage hall and sneak out via self-assist then you are required to wait to re-enter the terminal.

 

This is not a Carnival rule but rather an enforced requirement set in place by CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and would be considered a breach. People make mistakes, they presume that they can just bypass the rules and when unable to do so must (at times) place the blame on others rather than themselves. It's easy to shift or place the blame on others but equally difficult to admit when they are indeed wrong.

 

Bottom line - no one was punished, except save for those who ended up punishing themselves.

 

" When the ship was cleared they came over and told us we could leave before the big rush. they also let people with plane flights off."

 

No one to blame here but the Carnival employees. Obviously they don't even know how their own process works.

[nissach]

They do close up things but if you make sure you're one of the last to load up your breakfast plate and fill up a big mug of coffee you can find a sunny spot to sit someplace and just relax and eat a leisurely breakfast and by the time you have finished the crowds have thinned out.

 

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I agree. Why 'hurry up and wait' to get off the boat. Sit and enjoy your breakfast and relax. Unless you have a flight to catch, what is the rush?

[cruiser fanatic]

:eek:

 

Sadly, I believe they "were" punished. Port employees do not work for the Cruise line and they are not trained in customer service as well. Unfortunately, I believe it was good intentions by the cruise ship to allow them to get off before the crowd without really understanding the concequences and this caused more distress than necessary. Everything mentioned is definitely correct about the self assist and those that truly try to beat the system, however, this was not the case and the Port Authority was not compassionate enough to understand that. I work in a large place that is all about customer service and the "trained" folks get cranky and tired of old tricks, and often "punish" the wrong people. They are mad at the staff and the customer/patient/vendor, etc. are the ones to suffer.

 

We, as a society, are gradually losing all of our manners and compassion. Sad.

 

The people that check you in DO work for the cruise line (at least with Carnival). I have a friend that works for Carnival doing Embarkation/Debarkation.

[Disconnections]

The people that check you in DO work for the cruise line (at least with Carnival). I have a friend that works for Carnival doing Embarkation/Debarkation.

 

Not all...

 

Is your friend's paycheck coming from Carnival or an operating participant? One could work for Landry's and say they work at Walt Disney World. Both are relevant, but the true answer is the one who writes the paycheck.

Edited December 14, 2014 by Disconnections

[cruiser fanatic]

Not all...

 

Is your friend's paycheck coming from Carnival or an operating participant? One could work for Landry's and say they work at Walt Disney World. Both are relevant, but the true answer is the one who writes the paycheck.

 

Coming directly from Carnival. Carnival also trained her. She said some homeports have outside companies that run embarkation/debarkation but at her homeport Carnival runs it.

Edited December 14, 2014 by cruiser fanatic

[GTO-Girl]

" When the ship was cleared they came over and told us we could leave before the big rush. they also let people with plane flights off."

 

No one to blame here but the Carnival employees. Obviously they don't even know how their own process works.

 

The OP is Diamond so that means they have numeous cruises under their belt.

 

At the time they were given the above instructions if the OP had reiterated they had "checked" their luggage and were looking for assistance to get off the ship......I am sure they would have been given different directions.

 

If someone is in the "self assist" debarking area that early in the morning, why would a Carnival employee not assume you were with people who were doing self assist? Debarking instructions are always clear that ONLY those doing self assist should be there at all.

 

Sorry....this OP is not a newbie so I am sure they have seen all the debarking instructions many, many times before.

[Disconnections]

The OP is Diamond so that means they have numeous cruises under their belt.

 

At the time they were given the above instructions if the OP had reiterated they had "checked" their luggage and were looking for assistance to get off the ship......I am sure they would have been given different directions.

 

If someone is in the "self assist" debarking area that early in the morning, why would a Carnival employee not assume you were with people who were doing self assist? Debarking instructions are always clear that ONLY those doing self assist should be there at all.

 

Sorry....this OP is not a newbie so I am sure they have seen all the debarking instructions many, many times before.

 

I would assume that a crew member should have the relevant training administered to know that a room full of people without luggage requires assistance disembarking. I'm sure the OP as a Diamond (your suggestion) has the understanding of the disembarkation process.

 

Face it... not all employees are competent and miscommunication happens frequently. If the story played out as described in the original post, why should the OP be blamed? Why should the OP have to double check? If they're in the assigned meeting location and the crew member says their zone has been cleared for disembarkation (walk off/self assist is not a zone), his intentions should have already been anticipated by the cruise line.

[SMSACE6]

Does this just happen at Tampa? Interesting, because I have done two cruises out of Tampa, and while embarkation was easy peasy, disembarking was a nightmare both times. It is also the only cruise port, where on disembarking day, I/we had to go to a specific lounge early in the morning to clear US customs on the ship (Canadian). Granted this was ten years ago, but it was quite time consuming, and thankfully both times we did not have early flights to catch. But I do keep remembering this ordeal when I consider a cruise out of Tampa again. (Would love to go on the Paradise).

[ExFed drvr]

I know the disembark at Tampa is not very good. They put different tag numbers in a locked room and do not allow anyone in there until that number is called. I had 2 cruises I got off in Mobile and they were horrible so I'm glad Carnival does not sail from there now. Maybe the same thing could happen at Tampa, I know the port pilots had asked for a huge raise so time will tell.....Dennis

[2Shoes2Go]

The OP is Diamond so that means they have numeous cruises under their belt.

 

At the time they were given the above instructions if the OP had reiterated they had "checked" their luggage and were looking for assistance to get off the ship......I am sure they would have been given different directions.

 

If someone is in the "self assist" debarking area that early in the morning, why would a Carnival employee not assume you were with people who were doing self assist? Debarking instructions are always clear that ONLY those doing self assist should be there at all.

 

Sorry....this OP is not a newbie so I am sure they have seen all the debarking instructions many, many times before.

 

My thoughts, exactly, after reading this thread. A Diamond should know the process very well.

[eddeb]

We go to the Casino til 4am each nite. Our stewards know not to make the beds

til PM. The last nite we stay up til about 6am to watch the ship go under the

Bridge, this was our 4th on the Paradise. We always try to be the last ones to leave our cabin, this last cruise was around 10:30 am as they could not find some foreign folks...

A perk of being the last folks off the ship is your bags are all together in a corner, and all the others all gone! How easy is that? We should send this tip in the Martha Stewart!

But, you must tip your stewards well, as they have already made up most of the rooms around you, and are pretending you aren't there to their supervisors.

You can see our cruise pics at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128314027@N08/

Don't try this at home, we are Professionals! lol

It was our Daughter Amy's 18th Birthday, and the crew treated her like royalty!

We'll BE BACK! Hope you like the photos from our cruise.

Check out the photos on flickr.

Many crew know us and that is so fun!

Take Care,

 

The Moore Family

Tampa Bay

[Jana60]

My thoughts, exactly, after reading this thread. A Diamond should know the process very well.

 

Things change in the cruise industry she would have no way of knowing if the rules have changed and since both her and her husband were using walkers to walk the worker should have known they were not carrying their own luggage and should have directed them correctly.

 

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[loxley]

Just off the Pride in Tampa last Sunday and what a horrible experience. Ship was late due to fog; we headed to Diamond room to get off. Entertainment person said you don't have to walk that far and found chairs for us near the exit. We were NOT in a hurry and both of us use walkers Husband is 88 years old and I am 79. When the ship was cleared they came over and told us we could leave before the big rush. they also let people with plane flights off. When we got down and thru customs we were told to wait outside till they open the luggage doors and they would escort us in. After 40 mins and seeing high tag numbers come out 14 19 etc. I asked a security guard when we could go in. She said all of those people in that line are being PUNISHED for leaving the ship early without all of their luggage. I was livid and found the person in charge and she said yes You left with people who carried their own luggage off. I explained that we were told to leave by cruise staff. and most of the others had plane flights She said not my problem and covered her name tag. I kept after her and she said OK I will let them in 5 at a time. When we were allowed in there was a huge line waiting for porters. I had called my niece to let her know we were off the ship. She said she really was worried because she had not heard from us for an hour and 40 mins.

Sorry about the long post, but I really needed to vent Not a good way to treat elderly people or make people miss their flights to punish them. We did nothing wrong but follow directions.

I don't think this was Carnivals problem but the people in charge at the port. Who are they to punish people for doing nothing wrong except what we were told.

dot

 

 

I guess you will know next time not to allow anyone to tell you you can get off with the self assist px.

 

Hard lesson, but maybe others will learn from it also.

[SadieN]

Things change in the cruise industry she would have no way of knowing if the rules have changed and since both her and her husband were using walkers to walk the worker should have known they were not carrying their own luggage and should have directed them correctly.

 

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Not necessarily. Our luggage is smaller than most pax's carryons.

[Jana60]

Not necessarily. Our luggage is smaller than most pax's carryons.

 

Most passengers do not use carry on when they have to use a walker to walk since both of their hands are all the walker. You people are unbelievable!!! This couple are in the eighties! Is there no compassion left in the world? Heck when I have a patient in their eighties I'm thrilled if they know what blood pressure medicine they take, never mind whether they know which group to exit a ship with. And when you're in you're in your eighties, even if you have been a passenger many times, let's see you try to remember every little detail of what you're supposed to do! And with how kind and compassionate you all are I can just expect that there will be comments saying that people should just give up life and stay home if they do not have the used to be able to do these things still. So you can save your breath in even making those kind of remarks until you are 80 years old and then see how you feel! Unless they are committing murder or committing a federal offense no 80 year old should be "punished". Have a little respect for your elders!

 

 

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[RuthlessBoss]

Most passengers do not use carry on when they have to use a walker to walk since both of their hands are all the walker. You people are unbelievable!!! This couple are in the eighties! Is there no compassion left in the world? Heck when I have a patient in their eighties I'm thrilled if they know what blood pressure medicine they take, never mind whether they know which group to exit a ship with. And when you're in you're in your eighties, even if you have been a passenger many times, let's see you try to remember every little detail of what you're supposed to do! And with how kind and compassionate you all are I can just expect that there will be comments saying that people should just give up life and stay home if they do not have the used to be able to do these things still. So you can save your breath in even making those kind of remarks until you are 80 years old and then see how you feel! Unless they are committing murder or committing a federal offense no 80 year old should be "punished". Have a little respect for your elders!

 

 

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It's not a lack of compassion thing. They were very seasoned cruisers and know the ropes enough to know they sent their luggage ahead of them knowing they couldn't handle it.

 

We don't know the tone of voice that said they were being "punished". That sounds like something I would say in a playful voice!

[SadieN]

Most passengers do not use carry on when they have to use a walker to walk since both of their hands are all the walker. You people are unbelievable!!! This couple are in the eighties! Is there no compassion left in the world? Heck when I have a patient in their eighties I'm thrilled if they know what blood pressure medicine they take, never mind whether they know which group to exit a ship with. And when you're in you're in your eighties, even if you have been a passenger many times, let's see you try to remember every little detail of what you're supposed to do! And with how kind and compassionate you all are I can just expect that there will be comments saying that people should just give up life and stay home if they do not have the used to be able to do these things still. So you can save your breath in even making those kind of remarks until you are 80 years old and then see how you feel! Unless they are committing murder or committing a federal offense no 80 year old should be "punished". Have a little respect for your elders!

 

 

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Know plenty of 80+ who find ways of doing things that you wouldn't believe. Including dragging luggage. 20yo minds in 80yo bodies.

 

(FWIW you brought up luggage in the previous post. I was merely stating how was the ship/pier personal supposed to know, they're not mind readers.)

 

***

Wondering why OP didn't do wheelchair assist debarkation?

[champagne123]

Know plenty of 80+ who find ways of doing things that you wouldn't believe. Including dragging luggage. 20yo minds in 80yo bodies.

 

(FWIW you brought up luggage in the previous post. I was merely stating how was the ship/pier personal supposed to know, they're not mind readers.)

 

***

Wondering why OP didn't do wheelchair assist debarkation?

 

As I stated before. I had a broken leg...in a wheel chair.....waiting for 3 hours for us to be the LAST to disembark. Worst cruise EVER. I was THERE during this fiasco.....so unless any of you were there also...you have no idea the hell everyone went through.

[susie8862]

As I stated before. I had a broken leg...in a wheel chair.....waiting for 3 hours for us to be the LAST to disembark. Worst cruise EVER. I was THERE during this fiasco.....so unless any of you were there also...you have no idea the hell everyone went through.

 

 

I was there also and agree with you. I actually was waiting for a riot to break out. It was awful. I have never experienced anything like this in all of my cruises.