Its not over until...

[agabbymama]

Cruising just may not be for the OP. Every cruise I've gone on (1989, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011) have been zoos on Embarkation day and Debarkation day.

 

The crew does the best they can. You have around 2000 people descending onto and off that ship. Some don't follow the rules, and some let their kids run rampant.

 

If you aren't willing to suffer the chaos, I'd say cruising isn't for you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL allows passengers to stay in their cabins until their color and number is called.

Only exception is the self disembarkation people. They can leave their luggage in the cabin and go have an early breakfast. Then get their luggage and be in line by 7 to start to leave the ship once it is cleared by the local authorities. Self Disembarkation usually begins at 7:15 - 7:30.

[LHT28]

sail on smaller ships

They have the same procedure but less line & people to tripover

After we have breakfast we collect our carry on bag from the cabin go to the pool deck or a lounge & wait for our tag to be called

 

Give another cruise a try

[mtwingcpa]

I don't want to end my cruise by taking my luggage to breakfast and leaning against the wall for hours. It was a totally awful way to end what was a pleasant experience.

 

I know exactly what you mean. My solution has been to self-disembark, leaving either as early or as late as possible.

 

I try to get an early room service breakfast on the final day. Then, if I want to leave early, I get in line for self-disembark about 45 minutes before the designated time. Or, if I'm planning to be late, I find a quiet out-of-the-way place to sit and read (say, up around the pool or some place far away from the disembarkation deck) and wait until after the last group has been called (probably around 9:30-10:00). At that point I can usually walk off with no crowds.

 

Another option that might work in some cases is to book a post cruise excursion with drop-off at the airport. In such cases, the excursion group usually gathers on board and then walks off together. This can cut down on some of the insanity.

[wwcruisers]

We get up early, dress, and go to breakfast BEFORE needing to be out of the cabin. Then, we go back to the cabin to get our last few things...then leave the ship.

 

Same here -- and, we avoid that zoo-ey buffet, at all costs. A nice, civilized breakfast in the MDR helps us to get ready for the long day ahead. :cool:

[SuiteTraveler]

If you are a suite passenger on NCL (or most other lines) you have the option of doing early self-debarkation. What this means is you have breakfast and then walk off the ship with your luggage BEFORE everyone else on the ship gets off. This means less time waiting in line at customs and of course, the ability to catch a somewhat earlier flight home. On our last NCL cruise we took advantage of this. We parked our bags in the concierge lounge, had breakfast in The Haven Restaurant, went back to the concierge lounge and were off the ship (led by the concierge via a service elevator that was right next to the exit) by 7:15am, in a taxi by 7:40 am, at the airport by 8:15 and sitting in the departure lounge for our 10:30 am flight home by 8:30am - long BEFORE most people had even debarked the ships in port - so the airport was not a zoo and security lines were short.

 

Self debarkation, regardless of if you are in a suite or not is always the best way to go as you can get off earlier than anyone else without any crowds at all. Sometimes we even skip breakfast and just get off the ship and head to the airport where we have breakfast or stay in a hotel - if you book a suite, you can usually get early check-in - even in Europe. Self-debarkation makes for a very relaxing way to end your cruise as opposed to having to stand in line with hundreds or even thousands. Yes, it is early in the morning, but the trade off of no crowds AND being able to take an earlier flight home, if desired makes it well worth it!

 

BTW, on embarkation for suites on NCL, you go through the security line, but once inside, there is a special VIP check in room and a VIP waiting room where you can relax away from the crowds and have coffee or tea and pastries and sandwiches, then someone comes to get you and personally escorts you to The Haven via a service elevator or an express elevator for Haven guests only. It is a much more relaxing and serene beginning to your cruise.

Edited June 11, 2015 by SuiteTraveler

[SadieN]

.........

 

 

 

I don't want to end my cruise by taking my luggage to breakfast and leaning against the wall for hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

............

 

 

This is exactly what we do.

 

We leave our cabin by the stated time and wait up in the buffet. Usually one of the last few off. We are in no rush to get off, we wait so to have less traffic going home. We do many cruises that start or end on a weekday in Los Angeles.

 

Main difference for us is that it is a planned wait. Many times we have all our stuff with us (carry on and a tote). A perk of self debarkation is getting off early, not that you have to get off early. If we did send luggage out we know that it should be waiting for us.

 

Best advice we ever got was on my first cruise. Another passenger suggested that we just wait it out. Always off Carnival by 10, Princess by noon.

Edited June 11, 2015 by SadieN

[SantaFeFan]

Deleted. My question was answered.

Edited June 11, 2015 by SantaFeFan

[donaldsc]

It was the Nordic Empress, a Royal Caribbean ship that sailed out of Port Canaveral quite some time ago. I haven't sailed since, mainly because of how it ended.

 

Because I don't want to be "the crazy lady who won't leave her cabin" I have automatically shuffled cruises to the bottom of vacation options. The "captive in the hallway" is one of those quirky things people don't freely admit is happening. When I later asked a travel agent for recommendations, she said "well, its a ship, there are only so many people to do the work." I replied "when you are in port that's the only time you have the option of bringing in extra people!" And that was the end of that.

 

That's why posted on this board. I'm interested in finding cruise options where this is not an issue. But the official sources don't really want to talk about it all, except to say it is "standard procedure."

 

The Empress had her name changed in 2004 so based on a bad experience at least 11 years ago and maybe as long as 25 years ago, you have never gone on another cruise. Your information on disembarking procedures is just a bit out of date.

 

I am not saying that you must cruise but one 11-25 year old bad experience should not stop you from trying it again.

 

DON

Edited June 11, 2015 by donaldsc

[lisiamc]

I've been on 23 cruises, on low-end and high-end cruise lines, and I've never had to stand or lean against a wall on disembarkation day. Depending on the ship, we don't always go to the designated area, instead finding a quiet public area to sit in until close to the time for our number/colour to be called. Then we send one of us to check that we're ok to go, and then we go.

 

OP, I think things have moved on quite a bit in terms of organisation since your last cruise. I can't guarantee that disembarkation will be a dream, but it's seldom a nightmare these days.

[southerngirloutwest]

We get up early, dress, and go to breakfast BEFORE needing to be out of the cabin. Then, we go back to the cabin to get our last few things...then leave the ship.

 

Hubby and I only did the night-before-luggage-out thing on our first cruise together. Since then, we walk off with our luggage. We pack the night before, then get up early, get dressed, and navigate the buffet for some breakfast. After we've eaten, we go back for our luggage and walk off at our leisure. :)

[sail7seas]

I am pretty new to cruising but there is one thing I want to avoid.

 

I don't want to end my cruise by taking my luggage to breakfast and leaning against the wall for hours. It was a totally awful way to end what was a pleasant experience.

 

Before buying is there a way to sort which cruises don't try to bully you out of your room before allowing you off the ship?

 

I'm just not doing that again, ever.

 

 

We never carry our luggage off the ship. We put it out the night before, it is collected by ship's crew and we pick it up after we disembark next morning in the cruise terminal.

 

HAL permits guests to remain in their cabin until their disembarkation number/color/time. They also serve breakfast in MDR as well as Pinnacle (for suites) and Lido on last morning. They aim for all guests off the ship by about 9:30 A.M. or so. It is sometimes out of their full control as Immigration/Customs Officials in disembarkation port 'rule' when disembarkation will begin and how they will conduct it. The cruise ships must cooperate.....within reason.

 

Edited June 11, 2015 by sail7seas

[YubaSutter]

I am pretty new to cruising but there is one thing I want to avoid.

 

I don't want to end my cruise by taking my luggage to breakfast and leaning against the wall for hours. It was a totally awful way to end what was a pleasant experience.

 

Before buying is there a way to sort which cruises don't try to bully you out of your room before allowing you off the ship?

 

I'm just not doing that again, ever.

 

What do you eat that makes breakfast last hours?

[BalconySuite]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!

 

I love to see new places but don't like traveling ( a tough combination)! I live near Port Canaveral and dubiously watched the new mega ships from the road in passing. Maybe I will give it another try. My main incentive is trying to please family and friends without making myself miserable. Vacations are too dear to waste being unhappy!

 

I have a CPAP machine, which rules out the ultra-lite carryon exit strategy. The best I could do would be a smallish, wheeled suitcase. Can you do self-embarkation with that?

Edited June 11, 2015 by BalconySuite

[iheartbda]

sail on smaller ships

They have the same procedure but less line & people to tripover

After we have breakfast we collect our carry on bag from the cabin go to the pool deck or a lounge & wait for our tag to be called

 

Give another cruise a try

But the Nordic Empress WAS a small ship.....by today's standards. ;)

Sailed her when she was the Empress of the Seas with no disembarking chaos.:)

[sail7seas]

You can carry on whatever (permitted) items you wish as long as they fit in typical airport size x-ray scanner. As long as you can put it on the conveyor, you can carry it.

Many of us hate travel and particularly air travel. You are not unique. Most of us put up with it in order to get to where we want to be. It is not enjoyed my too many of us these days.

 

Too bad you missed the chance to cruise from Tampa on HAL's Ryndam. She's 55,000 ton which is small by most mass market cruise line standards and had a fabulous itinerary. She's a lovely ship but is leaving HAL's fleet. You could have easily driven to Tampa to board the ship.

 

I meant to add in my other post that HAL also offers full Room Service breakfast on last morning unlike many other crurise lines.

Edited June 11, 2015 by sail7seas

[SadieN]

.......... !

 

 

 

I have a CPAP machine, which rules out the ultra-lite carryon exit strategy. The best I could do would be a smallish, wheeled suitcase. Can you do self-embarkation with that?

 

 

If you can carry all if your stuff off you can do self debarkation. It's amazing [emoji33]what some people carry off.

[Lerin]

Pack less, then you won't have as much to carry.

Maybe bring a book so you have something to do if the wait is long?

 

Though I must say I can't relate to the OP's post at all. Never been "bullied" out of my cabin. Every cruise is quite clear as to when we are to leave and the procedure.

It's not a big deal, vacation has to end sometime.

[mtwingcpa]

Never been "bullied" out of my cabin. Every cruise is quite clear as to when we are to leave and the procedure.

 

It once happened to me.

 

Several years ago NCL's stated policy was that you could remain in your cabin until final call (typically expected to be around 9:50). On one cruise I decided to do that, as my travel connections weren't until late in the day. I ran into my steward in the morning and advised her that I planned to stay in my cabin until final call. She didn't indicate that there would be any problem.

 

But then she or her assistant proceeded to knock on my door about every 10 minutes to see if I was still there. After that happened the third time, I got disgusted and left (taking with me half the tip money I was otherwise going to leave for them).

 

Subsequently, NCL changed their policy to request that you vacate by like 8:30 or 9:00.

[FawnRiver]

We usually go for breakfast, leaving the do not disturb sign on the door, and then come back for our carry ons (the larger luggage having been collected the night before). On our way to breakfast, we usually give our room steward his extra tip, if we hadn't previously done that, so that may help a bit ;)

[SuiteTraveler]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!

 

I love to see new places but don't like traveling ( a tough combination)! I live near Port Canaveral and dubiously watched the new mega ships from the road in passing. Maybe I will give it another try. My main incentive is trying to please family and friends without making myself miserable. Vacations are too dear to waste being unhappy!

 

I have a CPAP machine, which rules out the ultra-lite carryon exit strategy. The best I could do would be a smallish, wheeled suitcase. Can you do self-embarkation with that?

 

Of course you can self -embark with that as it is a medical device. There are travel CPAP machines btw which are smaller. You should also bring an extension cord as there are typically no electrical outlets by the bed.

 

To me, with you living in Port Canaveral, going to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami is not much traveling at all and once onboard the ship, you are there for the duration, so no more effort required on your part to see new places. To me it's the perfect win-win for you to go on a cruise.

[Cruisin' Chick]

It was the Nordic Empress, a Royal Caribbean ship that sailed out of Port Canaveral quite some time ago. I haven't sailed since, mainly because of how it ended.

 

Because I don't want to be "the crazy lady who won't leave her cabin" I have automatically shuffled cruises to the bottom of vacation options. The "captive in the hallway" is one of those quirky things people don't freely admit is happening. When I later asked a travel agent for recommendations, she said "well, its a ship, there are only so many people to do the work." I replied "when you are in port that's the only time you have the option of bringing in extra people!" And that was the end of that.

 

That's why posted on this board. I'm interested in finding cruise options where this is not an issue. But the official sources don't really want to talk about it all, except to say it is "standard procedure."

 

My first cruise was in 1994 and have been on just two cruiselines, but we always put out our luggage the last night. We just have our carry ons and misc. stuff that we wanted to keep with us in that spare shopping bag. And since we're either disembarkating in our home port (and thus no flights to catch) or have a post cruise stay or later flight...we just patiently wait our turn. I would never be able to do self-disembarking nor care to.

 

Instead we go to the buffet and have breakfast, and then return to our cabin to gather our stuff. Princess started their "silent disembarkation" for which you get assigned a lounge to wait in according to your tag color. When it's your group's turn, the announcement is made only in that lounge. You can also choose to wait a little longer if you wish. And in the meantime, the cabin stewards have your cabin to get ready for the next set of passengers (Princess will have your cabin ready when you first get on board).

 

I believe the silent disbark was started to get rid of the problem of passengers who feel the need to camp out on stairwells or other pathways, despite the number of times it's announced to keep those clear.

[BullDawg91]

We have always done self assist. Only once did we go to the main dining room for breakfast. The charm is gone by then. We prefer to walk off with our luggage and find breakfast on the road or at the airport.

 

Only once were we trapped in a room for a long period of time waiting to be dismissed. Disney lets you go whenever you want. One Carnival we were stuck waiting and waiting, and the other Carnival, we had an early flight so we queued up with the other early birds at 7:30 and were off by 8:00.

[BalconySuite]

A couple of people mention Holland America and Norwegian as possibly allowing guests to stay in their cabins. Has anyone done this?

[msmayor]

Much to my surprise, on our HAL cruise to the Caribbean this past March we were told that we were 'welcome to remain in our stateroom until called to debark'. Both my husband and I were quite surprised as we knew turnaround day was so hectic for the crew, and getting those staterooms ready as early as possible a priority.

 

We were grateful for the opportunity to leave all our hand-carry luggage in the stateroom while we enjoyed breakfast. We did not, however, choose to remain in the stateroom. There were plenty of comfortable spots to wait so after breakfast we said our goodbyes to our steward and relaxed in one of the lounges to read until our number/color was called.

 

One of the easiest and smoothest debarkations we have had.