Does HAL have Self-Debarkation?

[Bemidji Ty]

We are going on our first HAL cruise.  In the past, we have primarily cruised with Princess.  We have taken advantage of their self-debarkation at the end of the cruise for those of us who are willing and able to carry own own luggage off the ship.  Does HAL have this option.  Thanks.

 

Cheers

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Yes. As on Princess, self-debarks are first off.

[Bemidji Ty]

Thanks.

[Crew News]

During the cruise, you will receive a letter giving you various disembarkation options/times.  Choose the self-disembarkation one.  The line for self-disembarkation will begin forming about 30 minutes prior to the established time.

[lastlook]

We used the self-disembarkation for the first time in January, as we had an earlier flight than usual.  Worked beautifully.

[TheCruisingAccountant]

If you want it, be sure to request on your disembarkation paperwork provided

Leaving Volendam this summer, a number of passengers that wanted to self disembark, but had not requested it and had been assigned later times in groups, were shut down quite hard by security and actually escorted back to their designated waiting areas; they were in front of us in the security line to walk off,  and were turned back on the spot.

I am quite happy with it, but Volendam did seem to be running things a bit "tighter" or "by the book" our last trip, compared to previous trips. 

[igraf]

39 minutes ago, Bemidji Ty said:

We are going on our first HAL cruise.  In the past, we have primarily cruised with Princess.  We have taken advantage of their self-debarkation at the end of the cruise for those of us who are willing and able to carry own own luggage off the ship.  Does HAL have this option.  Thanks.

 

Cheers

 

Keep in mind that half the passengers will be trying to get off the ship early.  It can be an ugly way to end a cruise as tempers flare.  I personally would avoid early disembarkation at all costs.  You can carry your luggage off whenever you wish.

 

igraf

 

 

 

[RocketMan275]

8 minutes ago, TheCruisingAccountant said:

Leaving Volendam this summer, a number of passengers that wanted to self disembark, but had not requested it and had been assigned later times in groups, were shut down quite hard by security and actually escorted back to their designated waiting areas; they were in front of us in the security line to walk off,  and were turned back on the spot.
 

Have seen the same thing on other Holland ships.    

8 minutes ago, igraf said:

 

Keep in mind that half the passengers will be trying to get off the ship early.  It can be an ugly way to end a cruise as tempers flare.  I personally would avoid early disembarkation at all costs.  You can carry your luggage off whenever you wish.

igraf

Our experience has been different.  We always self disembark and have never seen that.   Every time we've done self disembark, it has been very smooth.  Once the line starts moving, we almost never had to stop walking until we hit customs immigration.   Might have seen a very brief delay there, may two minutes at most.  

Edited March 13, 2019 by RocketMan275

[lastlook]

Just now, RocketMan275 said:

Have seen the same thing on other Holland ships.    

We always self disembark and have never seen that.   Every time we've done self disembark, it has been very smooth.  Once the line starts moving, we almost never had to stop walking until we hit customs immigration.   Might have seen a very brief delay there, may two minutes at most.

That was our experience as well - went very smoothly with no waiting.  We had signed up for it and were in our cabin and ready to go the moment that our group was called.  Off the ship very quickly.  Normally, we like to take advantage of the "Luggage Direct" program (Port Everglades/FLL) but our flight was a tad too early to qualify, so we elected to self-disembark and it worked beautifully in our case.  (This was Oosterdam in January of this year.)

[daisy-mae]

We did self-disembark on the Maasdam last year and will probably opt for it from now on -- specially after our luggage was "misplaced" on a previous cruise with another cruise line. It is truly a sinking feeling to realize that one's bags are nowhere to be found among the rapidly dwindling numbers of suitcases in the terminal. As it turns out, some pieces had been placed out of sight with the luggage belonging to the crew and we were able to claim ours without too much of a delay, but it could have been tight had we had an early flight to catch.

[richwmn]

Some notes about self-desembarkation. You MUST be able to handle your own luggage! I have seen people struggle with this, but the ship personnel won't help.

 

On the Koningsdam last year we were told to gather in the (then) Lincoln Center Stage. When I arrived about 5 minutes before the appointed time the seating area was almost full. A few minutes later it was and people started congregating in the open area between Billboard and Lincoln Center. When the ship was cleared for desembarkation, ships crew made sure that those in Lincoln Center got off first and many of the people standing were upset.

 

49 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

You can carry your luggage off whenever you wish.

While you can carry your luggage off whenever you wish, if you have more than carry on luggage it gets in the way of everyone else trying to leave. It has gotten easier to find luggage in the big holding area, or maybe I'm just used to it now.

 

[iflyrc5]

We did the self-disembark on the Koningsdam in Feb when there were 8 ships in port in Ft Lauderdale.  The staff directed us to wait in the "Rock Room" and gave us a ticket with a number (70).  At 7:45 they started calling numbers in groups of 50 - we just walked off the ship - short customs line - out for a cab but ended up in shared van (cabs in short supply with 8 ships) to the airport - checked luggage with Southwest - through TSA with "pre-check" and at our gate by 8:45.

[1964IceCreamLady]

Reading these makes me happy that on our previous 2 cruises- and for the upcoming cruise- we have been/will be in no hurry to disembark.  In fact, we loiter as long as they allow us!  Blessed with 1) late train out of Vancouver, 2) own car in Fort Lauderdale for looonnngggg drive home, and 3) very late plane out of San Diego. 

 

I would hope people are polite and civil and allow those trying to make a tight connection off first (like on a plane).  🙂

[Moriah]

3 hours ago, TheCruisingAccountant said:

If you want it, be sure to request on your disembarkation paperwork provided

Leaving Volendam this summer, a number of passengers that wanted to self disembark, but had not requested it and had been assigned later times in groups, were shut down quite hard by security and actually escorted back to their designated waiting areas; they were in front of us in the security line to walk off,  and were turned back on the spot.

I am quite happy with it, but Volendam did seem to be running things a bit "tighter" or "by the book" our last trip, compared to previous trips. 

 

Had those passengers attempting to leave with the early group of self disembarkers perhaps sent their luggage down and had been assigned later times - because their luggage would probably not even have been available yet, if they tried to disembark at 7:30 AM. Had they been dragging large suitcases, they probably would have been let off, I'm thinking.

[TheCruisingAccountant]

1 minute ago, Moriah said:

 

Had those passengers attempting to leave with the early group of self disembarkers perhaps sent their luggage down and had been assigned later times - because their luggage would probably not even have been available yet, if they tried to disembark at 7:30 AM. Had they been dragging large suitcases, they probably would have been let off, I'm thinking.

They had their luggage; four people, multiple large suitcases.

They had a later assigned time (1.5 hrs later) per security.   

They had their luggage in tow as tried to walk off.  They (apparently) wanted to get off early as they joined those of us with assigned self disembarkation. 

I say "apparently" because I am obviously not privy to their motivations, but joining a line leaving a ship generally suggests that was the intent.

Security didnt even scan them; they looked at the luggage tags, were promptly told "this is your time, this is your staging area, we will take you there" and they were escorted away, with their luggage.

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, TheCruisingAccountant said:

Security didnt even scan them; they looked at the luggage tags, were promptly told "this is your time, this is your staging area, we will take you there" and they were escorted away, with their luggage.

That is essentially what I saw on Westerdam.

[DAllenTCY]

Many time I've seen where guests rip off the end of the luggage tag color and disembark as they wish.

 

Little do they care that others might miss a departing flight or city tour bus.

 

David