debarkation dawdling?

[JCinATL]

I'm traveling with a friend whose flight out on the last day isn't until 6 p.m.  And I don't want to end my vacation by getting up at the crack of dawn and rushing around.  Standing in a long line to wait to for my cruise to be over just seems depressing.  :-(   I'm looking for tips on doing the opposite of what most people want to do - how can we get the latest possible debarkation time slot so that we can sleep as late as possible and not rush through breakfast? 

 

My forum searches for past posts have indicated that we need to be out of the cabin by 8:30 so cleaning can begin, and the buffet will close down by 9 or 9:30.  But I'd be happy to chill on the lido deck with a final cup of coffee until the last possible minute.  And it would be great if that would result in hitting customs after most people have already gone through and the line is short.  

 

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

(And also any tips on killing time in Orlando for an afternoon.  I'll have my car so we can drive somewhere and not have to drag our luggage around.)

[ray98]

No matter how late you try to wait and get off, debarkation morning will just not be pleasurable.  Too chaotic.  

 

I would rather get off and find something land based to do to kill the time.

 

If you still want the last time frame then just pick up the highest number luggage tags from the display.

Edited May 21, 2019 by ray98

[bingomamma19]

8 minutes ago, JCinATL said:

I'm traveling with a friend whose flight out on the last day isn't until 6 p.m.  And I don't want to end my vacation by getting up at the crack of dawn and rushing around.  Standing in a long line to wait to for my cruise to be over just seems depressing.  :-(   I'm looking for tips on doing the opposite of what most people want to do - how can we get the latest possible debarkation time slot so that we can sleep as late as possible and not rush through breakfast? 

 

My forum searches for past posts have indicated that we need to be out of the cabin by 8:30 so cleaning can begin, and the buffet will close down by 9 or 9:30.  But I'd be happy to chill on the lido deck with a final cup of coffee until the last possible minute.  And it would be great if that would result in hitting customs after most people have already gone through and the line is short.  

 

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

(And also any tips on killing time in Orlando for an afternoon.  I'll have my car so we can drive somewhere and not have to drag our luggage around.)

We are always one of the last people off.   We stay in the room until 830am or so, then grab a table on the lido deck , or deck above the pool and eat there.  We just sit and watch people and the sights until around 1030-1045am, when the final call for the last people to get off is. 

 

We never have lines or crowds and can walk right off and through customs.

 

I don't have any suggestions about what to do in Orlando though...I hope you find something fun.

[coevan]

We dawdle too, same as above

[redstapler7]

We are never in a hurry to get off either. After breakfast, we usually try to find a spot to people watch. Folks get so worked up by debarkation being crowded and busy... of course it's going to be that way. It's like herding cats on top of trying to get the ship turned over. We just relax with a cup of coffee, watch and read. No sense in getting so angry at the cruise or customs that it casts a shadow over the trip! 🙂

[nissach]

We take our time that morning.  Head to the lido for breakfast and enjoy the last morning on the ship.  I would rather sit and relax than wait in a line to debark.  We always book our flights home the following day.

[Davey Wavey]

Yes, you can grab a meal and some coffee and hang out up top. Do take the hint when you see no more passengers and the crew start looking at you funny, you have overstayed. 🙂 You can then move down to the lobby and do more people watching until the final notice. I have actually never heard a "final notice" announcement except when the cruise director told me if we were trying to be the last off, we had done it.

 

For Orlando, be aware of the possible traffic around the airport in middle of the day, and know the airport is generally an hour away from the activity-type areas. Since you have a car (I'm guessing a rental from Canaveral to the airport), maybe treat the day like an Orlando excursion day. Get off the ship early and try Kennedy Space Center, which is close to port, or drive an hour past the airport to the theme park and touristy areas. I like to shop around Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney) and eat a late lunch there or Citywalk (near Universal Studios). Some people do daytrips to a park (costs too much for me on a shortened day) or Gatorland, or ride an airboat, or go to that upside-down museum place. Whatever you like, just do a search for that topic and Orlando. You will surely find something of interest, but also keep some place close to the port (Cocoa or Daytona Beach areas) in mind.

[Ideb]

I've only been on one cruise in March on the Vista. We didn't get in a hurry to get off the ship. We ate at the Lido buffet then walked around the Lido deck, then went down to deck 5 and sat outside the Ocean Plaza and watched as they loaded the ship with forklifts on the dock below us. We had our roll around luggage with us so after we sat and soaked up our last few minutes on the ship we  went down to deck 3 and got in line to disembark. There was still a long line and it took about an hour to get through it so we probably should have stayed on the ship a little longer. I think we got off the ship around 10:30 and it was around 11:30 by the time we went through customs and went outside the terminal.

[quickrate]

2 hours ago, JCinATL said:

I'm traveling with a friend whose flight out on the last day isn't until 6 p.m.  And I don't want to end my vacation by getting up at the crack of dawn and rushing around.  Standing in a long line to wait to for my cruise to be over just seems depressing.  😞 I'm looking for tips on doing the opposite of what most people want to do - how can we get the latest possible debarkation time slot so that we can sleep as late as possible and not rush through breakfast? 

 

My forum searches for past posts have indicated that we need to be out of the cabin by 8:30 so cleaning can begin, and the buffet will close down by 9 or 9:30.  But I'd be happy to chill on the lido deck with a final cup of coffee until the last possible minute.  And it would be great if that would result in hitting customs after most people have already gone through and the line is short.  

 

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

(And also any tips on killing time in Orlando for an afternoon.  I'll have my car so we can drive somewhere and not have to drag our luggage around.)

We have done this many times. we leave cabin by 8:30, go to Lido and have breakfast and sit and talk until they start calling last #s for debark. they now have a system on most ships where they put out the luggage tags, not sure where as ours are always delivered to our cabin, so my advice is to grab highest # possible to be called. We have many times been the lasy people to walk off ship. 

Pat

[quickrate]

2 hours ago, ray98 said:

No matter how late you try to wait and get off, debarkation morning will just not be pleasurable.  Too chaotic.  

 

I would rather get off and find something land based to do to kill the time.

 

If you still want the last time frame then just pick up the highest number luggage tags from the display.

It's not chaotic if you go straight to Lido and chill out why the frenzy is happening.

Pat

[Swampbabe]

2 hours ago, Davey Wavey said:

Yes, you can grab a meal and some coffee and hang out up top. Do take the hint when you see no more passengers and the crew start looking at you funny, you have overstayed. 🙂 You can then move down to the lobby and do more people watching until the final notice. I have actually never heard a "final notice" announcement except when the cruise director told me if we were trying to be the last off, we had done it.

 

For Orlando, be aware of the possible traffic around the airport in middle of the day, and know the airport is generally an hour away from the activity-type areas. Since you have a car (I'm guessing a rental from Canaveral to the airport), maybe treat the day like an Orlando excursion day. Get off the ship early and try Kennedy Space Center, which is close to port, or drive an hour past the airport to the theme park and touristy areas. I like to shop around Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney) and eat a late lunch there or Citywalk (near Universal Studios). Some people do daytrips to a park (costs too much for me on a shortened day) or Gatorland, or ride an airboat, or go to that upside-down museum place. Whatever you like, just do a search for that topic and Orlando. You will surely find something of interest, but also keep some place close to the port (Cocoa or Daytona Beach areas) in mind.

Disney is nowhere near an hour past the airport unless there's been an accident or you're walking.

[browneyedangel74]

2 hours ago, Davey Wavey said:

Yes, you can grab a meal and some coffee and hang out up top. Do take the hint when you see no more passengers and the crew start looking at you funny, you have overstayed. 🙂 You can then move down to the lobby and do more people watching until the final notice. I have actually never heard a "final notice" announcement except when the cruise director told me if we were trying to be the last off, we had done it.

 

For Orlando, be aware of the possible traffic around the airport in middle of the day, and know the airport is generally an hour away from the activity-type areas. Since you have a car (I'm guessing a rental from Canaveral to the airport), maybe treat the day like an Orlando excursion day. Get off the ship early and try Kennedy Space Center, which is close to port, or drive an hour past the airport to the theme park and touristy areas. I like to shop around Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney) and eat a late lunch there or Citywalk (near Universal Studios). Some people do daytrips to a park (costs too much for me on a shortened day) or Gatorland, or ride an airboat, or go to that upside-down museum place. Whatever you like, just do a search for that topic and Orlando. You will surely find something of interest, but also keep some place close to the port (Cocoa or Daytona Beach areas) in mind.

You are sooooo right about the traffic around the airport during the day! I am from Orlando and unless you work over there, you stay clear lol.

 

I suggest Kennedy Space Center as well and maybe a few hours at Jetty Park (right at the port, on the corner across from the launch pads on the water). If you want to be in Orlando, International Drive has some cool places to visit, like Wonder Works (the upside down house), Ripley's, a huge water park, Put put golf, etc. I would suggest you stay away from the Disney area as things are very pricey and crazy busy! If you want to see a park though, I recommend Sea World!

Edited May 21, 2019 by browneyedangel74

[pyropoodle]

We are out of our room by the time we have to be (8 or 8:30, whatever it is) and then we head to the MDR for a nice, leisurely breakfast.  don't have to worry about lido crowds, and you are usually seated very quickly.

 

even having a nice, relaxing breakfast, we are still finished eating with plenty of time until debark. we've never been last off, but we've been in the higher numbers.  

[coevan]

The best part about getting off late is your luggage is easy to find

[cruisinmems]

Ok, I have to ask this because I have read many threads trying to go both ways.  LOL  So is it better to be one of the first on the ship or one of the last off?

 

Maybe this needs to be a brand new thread:  Early on or late off.

Edited May 21, 2019 by cruisinmems

[coevan]

for us, no reason to be early, too crazy and too much traffic. We board around 1 and are the last to debark.

[JCinATL]

Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Elaine5715]

Please remember as you are hanging about that the B2Bs are sitting waiting for you and more importantly, crew leaving at the end of their contracts can't exit until you and the B2Bs are zeroed out.  The incoming cruisers can't start their ship trip until the departing crew is gone.

[Doggielover68]

13 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Please remember as you are hanging about that the B2Bs are sitting waiting for you and more importantly, crew leaving at the end of their contracts can't exit until you and the B2Bs are zeroed out.  The incoming cruisers can't start their ship trip until the departing crew is gone.

Yes. Thank you for pointing this out. B2B people are usually gathered and are waiting around with nothing to do and nowhere to go while people take their time getting off the ship. After you leave your room and have breakfast, vacation is over and it is time to go. 

[coevan]

not sure about the crew comment waiting for all guests. Our cabin steward's last day was on debarkation, he told us he would not be around in the morning, if we needed anything call his assistant as he had an early flight. 

[GA Dave]

22 hours ago, cruisinmems said:

Ok, I have to ask this because I have read many threads trying to go both ways.  LOL  So is it better to be one of the first on the ship or one of the last off?

 

Maybe this needs to be a brand new thread:  Early on or late off.

YES!  Both.  Try to maximize all the possible time on the ship.  Since a "sleep-in-late day" for my DW is 5:00 AM'ish, we try to be at the port very early and just hang out in the security line meeting new people.  Our last cruise we were in the first group of people escorted on the ship, and the last ones off.  Very stress-free.

[agp_mzk]

On 5/21/2019 at 2:35 PM, coevan said:

The best part about getting off late is your luggage is easy to find

This. Shorter lines, less stress, and I can usually find my luggage instantly upon walking into the holding area. I don't know that I've ever been the very last one off, but I usually try to be in the last major group of people leaving. I don't like the "hurry up and wait" feeling of being in the early groups. 

[Squadleader]

This from Carnival's website.

 

Guests may enjoy one last breakfast or relax with a cup of coffee.

• The main dining room serves breakfast 6:30am-8:30am (open seating)
• The lido restaurant serves breakfast 6:30am-9:15am
• Cafe on the Way is open 6:30am-9:30am

We need every possible second for the 14-hour drive facing us, so we're getting what we can in Lido and then getting off ASAP.

 

If you aren't in a rush and aren't trying to shoehorn in something before your flight, I wouldn't go near the buffet. Unless I'm just trying to fill the hole, they can keep the cafeteria.

 

Any time I have the luxury of the main dining room, I always take it. Relax, enjoy your free meal and then head out. 

 

In your case, even if I wanted to go somewhere else that day, the main dining room still opens at 6:30, just like the buffet, it'll just take a little longer, but be WAY MORE PLEASANT!!!

[Elaine5715]

9 hours ago, coevan said:

not sure about the crew comment waiting for all guests. Our cabin steward's last day was on debarkation, he told us he would not be around in the morning, if we needed anything call his assistant as he had an early flight. 

The guest count must zero before the crew can exit.  If for some reason the guest count doesn't zero, the departing crew can be pressed back into service for the search.  Departing crew have a lot of last minute paperwork, exit meetings, packing, saying goodbyes etc.  The end of contract crew and the crew able to leave for a few hours off start lining up in the lobby as debark is well underway.

[Elaine5715]

12 hours ago, fyree39 said:

I remember our one B2B had the few of us sitting in the atrium for a solid 30 minutes while they paged the last few passengers still on the ship.  They paged them over and over and over again before they finally meandered off the ship.  And I'm serious when I say "meandered." These people were in NO hurry to get off that boat!

Yep, same experience.  The crew announcing "last call, please make your way to the lobby" was Aussie  and after each announcement, he would come out look around to see if the stragglers were coming.  Another B2B told him, his accent wasn't very scary and he needed to find a New Yorker to tell them to "GET THE ^$^U#O OFF MY SHIP!"