Disembarkation in Miami: "C'MON MAN !"

[RedneckBob]

Hi y'all RedneckBob hear !

 

Just got off Riviera in Miami; third time in past two years, at Terminal J.

 

The best way to describe it was uncontrolled chaos; and this is the third time it has happened. Let me give you the setup.

 

A couple of days prior to disembarkation in Miami, Oceania delivers to your cabin these colored bag tags to put on all your luggage including carryon. There is instructions on what to do. Obviously many passengers do not follow these instructions. Bascially you are not to disembark until your color tag is called like Black 1, Yellow I, Red 2, etc. You are suppose to have the colored tags on you belongings when you disembark so security can make sure your color has been called. RIGHT! You are not suppose to block the gangway prior to your color being called. RIGHT ! The scheduled start of disembarking is 8:30 AM and to be completed by 9:15 AM. RIGHT!

 

This is what has happened.

 

Passengers start congregating at the area of the gangway which I call the "roundabout" on Deck 6 at 8 AM. I call it the roundabout because that's what it looks like with several corridors entering into it. At 8:20 AM the roundabout is packed with people and an annoucement is made. "We will soon start disembarkation. Please do not block or stand near the Gangway." Well, nobody moves; the annoucement is ignored. I notice that everyone has different colored bag tags. Since Oceania does not bother to let you know an approximate time your color will be called everyone is waiting to get off. Then another announcment is made at 8:40 AM; We will start disembarkation in a few minutes, please do not stand or block the gangway". Well by now things are really congested and or by the way disembarkation had started no matter what color will be called.

 

The roundabout becomes like a roller derby match. Your good buddies during the past 10 days become "blockers" and you think they will allow into the roundabout. H__l NO ! What's worst is now the chaos is like a four lane expressway where you have to merge into one lane at the gangway exit. Harsh words begin to be exchanged between passengers like road rage. What was a beautiful vacation becomes survival of the fittest. And finally when you are just seconds away from getting past security and off the ship, the person in front of you does not have his/her room key out for final scanning. Then you make it, your room key is scanned and then all of a sudden there's a gang plank to get off the ship; room for one passenger at a time. You walk the plank and you think it is over; but wait there's more. At the end of the gang plank is a short tunnel into a wall. All the passengers are going left but you want to go right. There's no signage to tell you which way to go; but just a security lady talking with another security lady. Someone yells; "which way do we go"; she replies left to the elevator, right to the stairs. Is that her right or your right. Where is the escalator. Oh there are none disembarking from the ship.

 

Finally you get into the terminal, get your bags and go to customs. But wait, there is no lines, there are 4-5 customs agents, 2-3 customs agent with no one in line waiting on passengers to check through customs.

 

WHY? BECAUSE NO ONE CAN GET OFF THE SHIP FAST ENOUGH!

 

THANKS OCEANIA !

 

"I'm RedneckBob and I see it like I tell it, I mean tell it like I see it"

[nordski]

Much more enjoyable to read about (loved your style) than to experience.

 

Perhaps sharing with main office might lead to some refinements of the "system".

[dibel]

In all the years I've cruised, I have never seen anything like getting off the Riviera. The lack of coordination from management plus blatant bad manners would have made me think I was on a cut rate cruise. Getting off the elevator was unbelievable. People yelling and arguing. Nice way to end a cruise. For the life of me, I can't understand why O has a "premier" reputation. Maybe in the past. Who knows what has happened.

[Winters Gate]

Here we go again......

[RedneckBob]

Much more enjoyable to read about (loved your style) than to experience.

 

Perhaps sharing with main office might lead to some refinements of the "system".

 

Believe me, I have written to Oceania, mostly the good and very few bad with NO RESPONSE OR REPLY !

[tgg]

We had a totally different experience when we disembarked the same cruise. After breakfast, we went back to our cabin, emptied the safe, gathered our belongings, and headed for the library. There were only 4 other people there, so we had no trouble with crowds. From our comfortable seats, we had a gorgeous view of the Miami harbor. It was total peace and quiet.

 

When our bag number was called, we took the elevator down to the disembarkation point, stood in a line for about 10 minutes, and left the ship.

 

Our bags were easy to find, we breezed through immigration, and got into our car.

[wristband]

Didja get the sense Oceania was telegraphing "don't let the door hit you on the way out?!?" Forget the red/black numbered tags - you got to push & kick your way off the ship!

 

Our disembarkation earlier this month in Miami was exactly as Redneck described. A cage fighting match like those on TV. No rules, no referees, zero sanity to the process.

 

Classy way to end the "experience." And the Miami baggage/customs site has all the charm of a Greyhound bus terminal.

[sammiedawg]

I've never had a problem disembarking. We always choose the earliest group, we hang around the deck where the gangway is and get off. Yes people all go at once but the line moves and within five ten minutes you are in the terminal.

I don't see much difference between any of the cruise lines when getting off a ship.

[RedneckBob]

We had a totally different experience when we disembarked the same cruise. After breakfast, we went back to our cabin, emptied the safe, gathered our belongings, and headed for the library. There were only 4 other people there, so we had no trouble with crowds. From our comfortable seats, we had a gorgeous view of the Miami harbor. It was total peace and quiet.

 

When our bag number was called, we took the elevator down to the disembarkation point, stood in a line for about 10 minutes, and left the ship.

 

Our bags were easy to find, we breezed through immigration, and got into our car.

 

Great for y'all. Never thought of going to Library to wait. What time did you go to gangway ?

 

We left cabin at 8 AM and went to Deck 6 and waited in a Lounge next to roundabout. Our color was first to be called but we waited 10 minutes to leave based on crowds at gangway.

 

You are correct; luggage was easy to find and there was no line at customs. But as previously stated it was due to slow exit off ship. Part of the problem maybe the design of the very narrow gangway at Deck 6; compared to Deck 4.

[LHT28]

Same experience in 2011 & 2014 at Miami

Passengers standing in the way with their bags so people getting off cannot get in the proper line up

No matter how many times it was announced NOT to head to the exit area until your colour was called

 

We went to the pool deck until our number was called then tried to get off the elevator at deck 6 ..NOPE people hanging in the area blocking people getting off

Next time sat on deck 5 then tried to go up the staircase ...NOPE people blocking the way again

 

People keep saying the passengers on Oceania are well educated & well travelled but obviously many have a problem with reading & comprehension as well as following orders :eek:

 

JMO

[hypercafe]

If I remember right Oceania does not have the carry all your luggage off deal that some lines do. These people go first so anyone who wants off as soon as possible may do so. Maybe they should implement it. As far as passengers being above average in manners and education, well!

Edited December 28, 2015 by hypercafe

[ORV]

If I remember right Oceania does not have the carry all your luggage off deal that some lines do. These people go first so anyone who wants off as soon as possible may do so. Maybe they should implement it. As far as passengers being above average in manners and education, well!

 

I think they do have this, but not 100% sure.

[LHT28]

If I remember right Oceania does not have the carry all your luggage off deal that some lines do. These people go first so anyone who wants off as soon as possible may do so. Maybe they should implement it. As far as passengers being above average in manners and education, well!

They do have self disembark as far as I remember but have not used it myself

 

We had the same issue on HAL last month ...many people with colours not called were standing in the line up area ..no one was checking the coloured tags as you left the ship to make sure you were allowed

 

Human nature at it's finest

[Paulchili]

Hi y'all RedneckBob hear !

 

 

THANKS OCEANIA !

 

"I'm RedneckBob and I see it like I tell it, I mean tell it like I see it"

 

Everything you described in your post is quite OBVIOUSLY and ENTIRELY Oceania's fault - every reasonable person can see that.

It has nothing to do with ignorant and selfish passengers who ignore prior written and repeatedly announced instructions on disembarkation; nor does it have anything to do with poor instructions of Miami port's terminal and its employees - it's OCEANIA's fault.

I have a solution for Oceania. Lock up the passengers in their rooms like in a prison cell and only unlocked their doors when their color is called - that might work :D

[Paulchili]

Didja get the sense Oceania was telegraphing "don't let the door hit you on the way out?!?" Forget the red/black numbered tags - you got to push & kick your way off the ship!

 

Our disembarkation earlier this month in Miami was exactly as Redneck described. A cage fighting match like those on TV. No rules, no referees, zero sanity to the process.

 

Classy way to end the "experience." And the Miami baggage/customs site has all the charm of a Greyhound bus terminal.

 

Ditto for what I replied to Bob. All of this is Oceania's fault and has nothing to do with ignorant passengers. Oceania FORCED the passengers to congregate at the exit so that they can get rid of them ASAP :D.

Perhaps Oceania staff should stand there in riot gear and batons and beat back the unruly passengers (unless they have the proper color tags) - that's the obvious solution.

Edited December 28, 2015 by Paulchili

[hondorner]

If anyone has been that close to the chaos at the gangway before disembarkation starts, to know the problem, they are part of the problem.

[hypercafe]

There is things they could do a little different. Some lines tell you where to meet the last morning instead of calling colors. When it's your groups turn to go the escort finds out by radio and takes the group down. No one is allowed to hang around the exit. Some rope off the lobby so you may not hang there and just let the called color through. It's really not hopeless.

 

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[Torbsboy]

Your comments do not surprise me as we were on the Noro Death Ship from Barcelona and the same happened when we docked into Miami on the 2nd December. It was probably worse when we disembarked if it helps as most passengers were desparate to get off after 7 straight sea days with virtually no activities apart from needle work classes, bridge and scarf tie-ing lessons followed by 2 days(two days too many) in Nassu to scrub the ship before entering US waters. Oh yes we have written to O about our cruise experiance and guess what NO response and we did not even ask for compensation.

 

That's the O Life - they take your $$$$ listen to your comments mid way through the cruise and then they simply don't want to know once 50% of your trip has been completed as they had basically given up on us & focused on the next cruise.:mad:

 

This is a bit tongue in cheek I know but on a serious point I did write to Virgin because our Virgin Atlantic Flights were so superb. Got a response within 48 hours. It's very telling that many who contact Oceania do not get responses. The culture of companies is so important and no amount of self promotion (or delusion) can mask a customer service culture that is not succeeding.

[pinotlover]

My solution to this issue has been simple. I never book an early-mid morning flight out on the day of disembarkment. I typically take a relaxing final breakfast in the GDR, go back to my room, use the facilities, collect my carry on, and leave peacefully around 9-9:15.

 

The only time I attempted an early departure, Oceania rewarded me by putting my luggage in with a different color code that came off the ship last. We were searching through every group of luggage brought down, until mine was finally delivered. My wife's was in the appropriate group/color code. After that, I said no more, and we have enjoyed the new pattern, above, in which now employ.

 

There are so many flights out of MIA, there is no reason, imo, to put one's self through all the B.S. of early departures.

[hypercafe]

Well it could of been a lot worse. Just think if you were on the 180 day world trip and this started the first week or so. People would be jumping off to swim to the pier on the return.

 

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[LHT28]

There is things they could do a little different. Some lines tell you where to meet the last morning instead of calling colors. When it's your groups turn to go the escort finds out by radio and takes the group down. No one is allowed to hang around the exit. Some rope off the lobby so you may not hang there and just let the called color through. It's really not hopeless.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

Are you talking about the top suites & passengers ?

Have not been on a ship where they do this for the peons

[Paulchili]

There is things they could do a little different. Some lines tell you where to meet the last morning instead of calling colors.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

 

..and what makes you think that people would listen to these instructions any better when they ignore perfectly clear color instructions?

I find it interesting that this "disembarkation problem" comes up over and over ONLY in Miami. Everyone can make their own conclusions on this.

[ORV]

My solution to this issue has been simple. I never book an early-mid morning flight out on the day of disembarkment. I typically take a relaxing final breakfast in the GDR, go back to my room, use the facilities, collect my carry on, and leave peacefully around 9-9:15.

 

The only time I attempted an early departure, Oceania rewarded me by putting my luggage in with a different color code that came off the ship last. We were searching through every group of luggage brought down, until mine was finally delivered. My wife's was in the appropriate group/color code. After that, I said no more, and we have enjoyed the new pattern, above, in which now employ.

 

There are so many flights out of MIA, there is no reason, imo, to put one's self through all the B.S. of early departures.

 

All well and good, except that the cruise line asks you to vacate your room by 8am. You're stuck hanging out somewhere for the next hour or so until you get off. Personally I'm ready to get off and go home as soon as possible, the fun is over.

 

Are you talking about the top suites & passengers ?

Have not been on a ship where they do this for the peons

 

No, Celebrity does this for the whole ship. At least they did the last time I was on one a year ago. It is a silent disembarkation. If you're not in your assigned area then you have no idea when your color is called. They turn people back if their color hasn't been called yet. It does tend to keep the crowds back around the gangway.

 

I have yet to be on a fun disembarkation, but one of the worst ever was Insignia at San Juan. What a mess.

[LHT28]

No, Celebrity does this for the whole ship. At least they did the last time I was on one a year ago. It is a silent disembarkation. If you're not in your assigned area then you have no idea when your color is called. They turn people back if their color hasn't been called yet. It does tend to keep the crowds back around the gangway.

 

Thanks I have never been on X

it sounds like a good system if people follow the rules ;)

[RJB]

My solution to this issue has been simple. I never book an early-mid morning flight out on the day of disembarkment. I typically take a relaxing final breakfast in the GDR, go back to my room, use the facilities, collect my carry on, and leave peacefully around 9-9:15.

 

The only time I attempted an early departure, Oceania rewarded me by putting my luggage in with a different color code that came off the ship last. We were searching through every group of luggage brought down, until mine was finally delivered. My wife's was in the appropriate group/color code. After that, I said no more, and we have enjoyed the new pattern, above, in which now employ.

 

There are so many flights out of MIA, there is no reason, imo, to put one's self through all the B.S. of early departures.

You seem to be one of the FEW smart one's. Keep up the good work.