Escape NYC disembarkation

[Briji04]

We disembarked the Escape this am after a beautiful cruise to Bermuda. I have no complaints with the crew of the Escape but they need to come up with a better way to get 4000 people off the boat.

 

The line to get off the boat started just passed the 7 th floor elevators and round through Osheehans twice, passed around the Staircase back through the casino and then merged with another line outside along the starboard rails. That was just to get to the ramp to get off the ship. It took us an hour to go through the line, get off the ship and passport control.

 

 

I had asked several people where the Platinum Plus priority line was. I was told every time I was already in it.

 

 

Again, I have no problems with the crew or the ship. Just wanted to put this out there incase someone was thinking about an early flight. You will need to schedule yourself time enough to get off the boat.

[HowardK]

What time did you get in line?

[Briji04]

What time did you get in line?

 

0900.

By the time we got through passport control it was 1000am.

[mjkacmom]

How many customs agents were there? It seems like they are short staffed some Sundays. Did you grab a porter before customs to get through faster?

[Mom2B&Z]

This has been our experience multiple times on Breakaway too. We even brought it up to the hotel director on our last trip, he blamed customs, which I think is a complete joke. As you described, the lines on the ship snake all around, people cut the lines, and there is no clear way to show that you are platinum/platinum plus/ambassador.

IMNSHO the only civilized way to get off a ship that size is to have suite priority disembarkation.

I will say that our last trip on the Gem was much more organized than previous sailings, the crew kept the crowds organized. Interesting that it happened at the same port as our Breakaway experience.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

How many customs agents were there? It seems like they are short staffed some Sundays. Did you grab a porter before customs to get through faster?

So,,,, the line is long to get to the gangway. This is partly metering people going down the gangway.

 

Once down the gangway, there is a long line to get to the escalator going down into the baggage hall. This is metering the number of people in the baggage hall. The more people that go down before their color is called and are standing around waiting for bags to be loaded,,,, the slower the entire process becomes.

 

Only after you get to the baggage hall would a porter help. And the lines there for customs are not too long.

[mjkacmom]

So,,,, the line is long to get to the gangway. This is partly metering people going down the gangway.

 

Once down the gangway, there is a long line to get to the escalator going down into the baggage hall. This is metering the number of people in the baggage hall. The more people that go down before their color is called and are standing around waiting for bags to be loaded,,,, the slower the entire process becomes.

 

Only after you get to the baggage hall would a porter help. And the lines there for customs are not too long.

Sometimes the lines at customs are long. We once waited for almost 45 minutes in that line, another time less than 5.

[www3traveler]

This has been our experience multiple times on Breakaway too. We even brought it up to the hotel director on our last trip, he blamed customs, which I think is a complete joke. As you described, the lines on the ship snake all around, people cut the lines, and there is no clear way to show that you are platinum/platinum plus/ambassador.

IMNSHO the only civilized way to get off a ship that size is to have suite priority disembarkation.

I will say that our last trip on the Gem was much more organized than previous sailings, the crew kept the crowds organized. Interesting that it happened at the same port as our Breakaway experience.

 

 

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I saw a posting by a very experienced cruiser from New York City, saying that the disembarkation yesterday from The Gem was a nightmare--long lines everywhere.

[mkmaj]

We did self assist last time and will do so again this time. We left as soon as they made the announcement and were on the street waiting for our car in less than 10 minutes.

 

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[D.B.]

Just disembarked the Escape today as well, and had a similar experience as described by the o.p. After enduring an endlessly long line onboard, we made it off the ship in about an hour. We got through the baggage hall and customs in probably 10 minutes -- surprisingly no backup in customs today.

 

IMHO, really poor organization onboard, but we've sailed the Breakaway multiple times, and it was always the same on that ship as well. NCL really needs to rethink their NYC disembarkation procedures. Sure, sometimes it's NY authority's fault, but the process onboard is equally bad.

 

(Off topic, but for those who were on this sailing, does anyone know what happened to cruise director Zac? He disappeared and was replaced without explanation halfway through the cruise.)

[shof515]

(Off topic, but for those who were on this sailing, does anyone know what happened to cruise director Zac? He disappeared and was replaced without explanation halfway through the cruise.)

from what i read on facebook, he was re-assigned to a different ship

[Bonobochick]

I got off the Escape this morning and was in line by 8am to do the walk off and it still took almost an hour. Then another 25 minutes in the long taxi line. It was a great cruise otherwise but NYC disembarkation has never not been crappy from my own personal experiences. I was in the aft line, with I foolishly thought was moving quickly through the manhattan room, then it stalled and then moved very slowly once outdoors. :( :(

 

I wish I'd stayed to at least have breakfast first but I thought I would beat the madness getting off at an earlier time before tag colors were called. Once in the terminal, it moved quickly but everything else about the disembarkation was no bueno.

 

Initially I wondered if the extra slow disembarkation today was due to the Bliss also being docked next to the Escape

[Bonobochick]

Just disembarked the Escape today as well, and had a similar experience as described by the o.p. After enduring an endlessly long line onboard, we made it off the ship in about an hour. We got through the baggage hall and customs in probably 10 minutes -- surprisingly no backup in customs today.

 

IMHO, really poor organization onboard, but we've sailed the Breakaway multiple times, and it was always the same on that ship as well. NCL really needs to rethink their NYC disembarkation procedures. Sure, sometimes it's NY authority's fault, but the process onboard is equally bad.

 

(Off topic, but for those who were on this sailing, does anyone know what happened to cruise director Zac? He disappeared and was replaced without explanation halfway through the cruise.)

 

I wondered about that too. When we got on Friday, I noticed Alvin and that he was also listed in the daily as the cruise director. I should try to hunt down that facebook book explaining what happened.

[Pbwong]

We also disembarked this morning from the Escape. On our previous Breakaway cruises, it’s been a totalnightmare getting off so we planned ahead and decided to go as early as possible and drag our bags ourselves. We got to the 7th floor around 715 as the boat pulled in and waited right in front of the OSheehans bar. Best decision ever. We were off the boat and in our car about 15 mins after the gangway opened.

 

What they should do is within each color group, assign a number with each luggage tag and basically order everyone by that number. So within The Green group everyone is assigned a number and they will let you go by number. That way there’s no drama with people cutting in line and you know where you have to be.

 

 

But of course they won’t do this....they really don’t care or enforce the rules. They just want you off the boat. Plenty of people with Orange and Brown tags in front of us when we had Green

[Pbwong]

Forgot to mention that the Bliss was also docked in NY when the Escape came in. Did anyone take any pics of the two sitting side by side?

[mking8288]

Our BIL/SIL were off the Escape this morning, being Platinum & patience by not rushing off meant more time standing outside on the pier, once they send you off the gangways ... Good thing I texted & warned them this morning after a like chaos re-run, again.

 

We came off the Gem and I posted our thoughts about the madness yesterday, with only 2,500 or so pax ...that someone obviously read. Not a gross exaggeration. Still annoyed, pissed off and NCL must need to do a better job.

 

I am saying anymore ... share those pictures taken yesterday morning from the Gem ... ship docked before 4 am and everyone knew about not earlier than 8 am. Took nearly 2 hours to get off the ship w priority luggage tags is a joke, not fake news ... still, fuming about our disembarkation.

 

 

P.S. We are booked on the Escape next, not sailing for a while ... don't like to cancel simply b/c NCL cannot get a simple act together. It is well within their span of control, don't even try to defend or pass the bucks to blame CBP.

 

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[Sand and Seas]

Did any of you on the Escape get some pictures of the Bliss while you were pulling in? Just sailing into NY is always amazing, but then to have the Escape docked next to the Bliss must have been extra fun.

[Cruizen Susan]

Did these delays apply to Haven guests too? They pay sooo much extra for priority "everything."

[Bonobochick]

I took a pic of the Bliss sign but it was so hectic with the lines for getting off and for the taxi that I was just more focused on getting home at that point than anything else. :ship:

 

Did these delays apply to Haven guests too? They pay sooo much extra for priority "everything."

 

Not with the Escape today. Someone on the Gem can weigh in there but I saw several people waved to the front of the line by a dedicated staff member once they proved they were Haven guests.

 

I remember when I first hit platinum that I thought priority disembarkation was a perk. Boy was I wrong.

 

[albertamom]

This sounds like a horrible way to end your vacation.

 

On our Escape cruise this fall, we have booked an NCL post-cruise bus tour of NYC ending at the airport. Will we meet in the theater like any other excursion, and then be escorted off the ship as a group, or will we have to get ourselves off the ship in time to meet on the pier?

 

This will be our first cruise not being in a suite. Seems like I picked a doozy for our first attempt at non-suite disembarkation.

[Sand and Seas]

I remember when I first hit platinum that I thought priority disembarkation was a perk. Boy was I wrong.

 

 

Isn't that the truth! We kind of thought the same thing from reading the Latitude changes:confused:

[Sand and Seas]

This sounds like a horrible way to end your vacation.

 

On our Escape cruise this fall, we have booked an NCL post-cruise bus tour of NYC ending at the airport. Will we meet in the theater like any other excursion, and then be escorted off the ship as a group, or will we have to get ourselves off the ship in time to meet on the pier?

 

This will be our first cruise not being in a suite. Seems like I picked a doozy for our first attempt at non-suite disembarkation.

They should give you special bag tags and tell you where to meet, but guessing it will still take awhile to get off.

We absolutely love the sailing into and out of NY Harbor.....but hate the getting to the ship or disembarking in NY. Choosing to go to Boston for our next Bermuda cruise.

[albertamom]

They should give you special bag tags and tell you where to meet, but guessing it will still take awhile to get off.

We absolutely love the sailing into and out of NY Harbor.....but hate the getting to the ship or disembarking in NY. Choosing to go to Boston for our next Bermuda cruise.

 

Thank you! This will be our first time sailing out of NYC and we are very excited!

[bob brown]

I wondered if the extra slow disembarkation today was due to the Bliss also being docked next to the Escape

Fortunately, the Bliss was just completing a two night CTN that actually just stayed in her berth. When her invited guests disembarked, they did not have to go thru immigration, and they probably had a small rollaboard bag at the most, to just walk off with.

Otherwise, it would have been a real nightmare, if two 4,000 + passenger ships were turning around at the same time..

 

The Bliss did not embark any passengers for her repositioning deadhead move to Miami late morning....

[Sand and Seas]

Thank you! This will be our first time sailing out of NYC and we are very excited!

 

It is so beautiful sailing out of the harbor past the Statue of Liberty and under the bridge.

 

We had a port side balcony and woke up early on the last day to see the rising sun glinting off of the Statue of Liberty that morning. Very emotional sight that we will never forget.