Disembarkation process (for a self-directed post-extension) question

[SailorPaulH]

If you are proceeding on your own self-organized post-extension, does the disembarkation process change at all  --> Do you still leave your bags outside on the last night? Or can you take the luggage down yourself in the morning and jump ship independently and early and be on your way? Maybe this a port-specific situation, so it is Reykjavik disembarkation I have specifically in mind for future planning. Thanks.

[mhb1757]

You can always take your own luggage off the ship and leave as soon as the ship has been cleared by the local authorities… no clue exactly what time that will be on your specific cruise but you are welcome to take your own bags off. 

[biggerbearmom]

Last August we disembarked a day early in Bergen.

We just had to let Guest Relations know of our plans and had no issues walking off a day early.

[lisaatric]

Our cruise ended at the port some distance from Venice (name is escaping me). It was my understanding that all passengers had to be cleared through the port in the City of Venicw-we were bussed there. In this instance, easier to let Viking get the luggage to the port instead of dragging it on the bus. Maybe we didn’t have to go through the port?  I could have interpreted the whole thing incorrectly, but that’s how I read it!  

[KBs mum]

If you want Viking to transfer your bags to baggage claim in the terminal/port you need to put them out by the notified time, usually late evening the day before. You will be given a coloured tag for each, this corresponds to the area you will collect them from. 

You will likely be asked to leave your room by 8am, and leave the ship by 9am regardless of if you are shifting the bags yourself or not, the exact time is up to you. We check when the Viking busses are leaving then try to fit between them to avoid queus. 

We usually let Viking deal with the cases and use a small overnight bag for necessities/medications. 

[OneSixtyToOne]

5 hours ago, lisaatric said:

Our cruise ended at the port some distance from Venice (name is escaping me). It was my understanding that all passengers had to be cleared through the port in the City of Venicw-we were bussed there. In this instance, easier to let Viking get the luggage to the port instead of dragging it on the bus. Maybe we didn’t have to go through the port?  I could have interpreted the whole thing incorrectly, but that’s how I read it!  

Venice is an outlier but it does illustrate that procedures may be different depending on the port. Some ports are industrial and or shared with the military and because of safety and security everyone needs to be escorted to a secure/central area. Most others are fully functioning cruise ship terminals, making disembarkation easier.

Edited February 22, 2023 by OneSixtyToOne

[Redtravel]

Usually disembarkation goes quickly. They want you off the ship. Disembarkation can be delayed for many reasons.  Ship doesn’t arrive in port on time.  I was on an ocean cruise that was supposed to dock in Amsterdam at 7am.  Got up at 6 am and looked outside. We were nowhere near land.  Ship was moving very slowly.  It was delayed waiting for a turn going through the locks to enter the port.  We arrived at 10 am.  We disembarked at 11am.  Luckily we had planned to stay in Amsterdam. Many people  missed planes.

In August, we were scheduled to arrive in Boston.  We were on time.  Ate breakfast and vacated our cabin at 8 am.  Had to report to the show lounge at 9 am. We were given colored numbered luggage tags.  Groups were called to go to the restaurant to be screened by US customs and border control.  This was a slow process. Lines were long. Until you were cleared by customs, you had to wait in line. We were outside on the deck.  After being screened, we were allowed to disembark.  Everyone was questioned.  It was unlike anything that I have ever experienced in any port.  Got to airport at 11am. Airport was a short ride from the dock.  Our plane was late afternoon.  I am sure people missed planes.   When cruise lines say don’t book flights before noon, they mean it. 

[Frenchberet]

We did a cruise Aug 2023 that ended in Reykjavik.  We left after breakfast and spent a few days on our own.  Not a problem to carry your luggage off the ship and disembark.  
 

Fyi, we did a very nice full-day tour of the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Kerid Volcano with Nice Travel, highly recommend.  

 

 

[Peregrina651]

Disembarking in Reykjavik was very simple. We let Viking take our bags off the ship (because of my bum shoulder) but it would have been just as easy to drag them off ourselves. We booked the Golden Circle tour with GrayLines and were meet at the dock;lots of people had similar plans. Our luggage went in the hold for the day and at the end of the tour, our bus dropped us off near our hotel. Could not have been easier.