Breakaway disembarkation

[queenschick9b]

I had an amazing cruise, but just want to say, that what everyone says about the bad disembark is true. Currently on a non-moving line where people are fighting with staff because completely disorganized with zero crowd control. The self-disembark people weren't even 1/2 off when they started calling colors. It is just a mess. We haven't moved in at least 15 min. It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth after an otherwise pretty terrific week.

 

While I am in a non moving line i will say food excellent in specialities. Never had a problem getting a drink. Loved the spa and it was needed from nyc in winter. Loved the sailaway. The solo situation was great with many groups dinners (only did one - Christmas Eve). Would sail on this ship again in a minute.

Edited December 27, 2015 by queenschick9b

[luvtheships]

The trick to the disembark on the ba is to self walk off early. Like 8 am or earlier.

 

Pack light

[mjkacmom]

When you get off of the ship, grab a porter, and get through customs faster. It's worth the money. I suspect there might be a shortage of customs workers due to the holiday? This happened to us once on the Gem. We lined up at 7:30, didn't get through customs until 10:45 (didn't know about the porter trick).

[queenschick9b]

Did use the porter and now in cab. I think we came in a little late cause of the fog, so that might have also added. There was also a large international group, which I know can slow down customs.

 

I couldn't do self walk off. My horrible overpacking issues were is full effect since I didn't fly :)

 

Also happy to answer any questions about the BA, holiday sailing or solo traveler experience when not in a studio!

Edited December 27, 2015 by queenschick9b

[Gershep]

Glad you had a good cruise. We had the same problem in June coming off the Gem and we did the self walk off early. It was a nightmare.

 

Who was the Cruise Director on the BA?

[queenschick9b]

Scott Mikelonis (might have spelled wrong). Didn't see much of him, but loved the rest of the entertainment staff. They were so friendly and did a good job of getting people involved and excited.

[MsTabbyKats]

We got off the BA last week. We were walk off...but chose not to walk off until after 10 AM. Although the line was long and slow....there was someone directing traffic.

 

Next time...and there will be a next time...we will be THE last ones to walk off.

 

Also...our long line went thru the casino....so someone with "smoke issues" wouldn't have been too happy.

[Gershep]

Scott Mikelonis (might have spelled wrong). Didn't see much of him, but loved the rest of the entertainment staff. They were so friendly and did a good job of getting people involved and excited.

 

 

Thank you

[Tasha1014]

Getting off the ship was a nightmare...not a staff person in sight..no organization....just long lines that did not move...no one paid attention to times or colors assigned. There has to be a better system ..like on RCL.

 

I don't recommend Atlantis...my experience wasn't great...very crowded with just one ship in port.. Snuba was in a dirty lagoon and not the ocean...and it was nearly impossible to get a tube for the lazy river, people hogged them at their seats... The water slides are definitely fun but...Save the $200+ Pp and do something else like a day pass at a resort.

Met very nice people and enjoyed our cruise but i was disappointed with the ship and crew.

[mjkacmom]

Getting off the ship was a nightmare...not a staff person in sight..no organization....just long lines that did not move...no one paid attention to times or colors assigned. There has to be a better system ..like on RCL.

 

I don't recommend Atlantis...my experience wasn't great...very crowded with just one ship in port.. Snuba was in a dirty lagoon and not the ocean...and it was nearly impossible to get a tube for the lazy river, people hogged them at their seats... The water slides are definitely fun but...Save the $200+ Pp and do something else like a day pass at a resort.

Met very nice people and enjoyed our cruise but i was disappointed with the ship and crew.

 

Disembarkment is hit or miss depending upon customs (not NCL) and Atlantis is great (and a lot less expensive), if you go at a non-peak time (Christmas week being probably the most packed week at the resort). There were five ships in port when we went lay in early November, and it wasn't bad.

[queenschick9b]

Disembarkment is hit or miss depending upon customs (not NCL) and Atlantis is great (and a lot less expensive), if you go at a non-peak time (Christmas week being probably the most packed week at the resort). There were five ships in port when we went lay in early November, and it wasn't bad.

 

 

This was not a customs issue in the sense that the fights and lack of organization all occurred before you got off the boat. If they know there are hits and misses they should have staff in place to assist the flow of traffic. It wasn't that people waiting for an hour and a half because it was backed up at customs it was that people waited in queue and then others were directed up the steps, basically cutting ahead of those waiting. Those people, understandably got very upset and the crew assigned there ignore them and the people cutting in. Even if it only happens in 1 in 4 cruises there must be a way for them to streamline/fix this process.

[flipper32]

I'm constantly amazed by these threads, I guess I have just been lucky. I have been on Breakaway twice and Getaway once, we always do self walk off and have never had a problem. When we get on the line in OSheehans we typically wait 15 minutes until they start letting people off. But once that happens it is never more than 10-15 minutes until I'm on the street.

[mjkacmom]

I'm constantly amazed by these threads, I guess I have just been lucky. I have been on Breakaway twice and Getaway once, we always do self walk off and have never had a problem. When we get on the line in OSheehans we typically wait 15 minutes until they start letting people off. But once that happens it is never more than 10-15 minutes until I'm on the street.

 

I would guess that it happens 5 or 6 times a year, based on what folks report here. It only happened to us once. NCL could be better at communicating with passengers when it happens, although their goal is to get people out of the public areas so they can work to make it ready for the next passengers, who will also be irritated because they're boarding late. It seemed like they did their best to corral passengers on the outside decks, pretty chilly in November. Something tells me that if they told passengers there was a bottleneck in customs, everyone would go back inside, which NCL doesn't want.