Love Royal but they need to fix the disembarkation

[time4u2go]

59 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

Disembarkation day is the absoulte worst experience of the cruise and a way has to be found to make this much more relaxed and not such a hectic experience.

 

At the end the whole cruise experience would be better if the debarkation process would be extended until 11:00, with rooms to be cleared by 10:00. Breakfast to be served  at WJ until 10:30 and dinning room at usual port day times. This on the other hand would mean that embarkation would start not before 13:00  and rooms would be ready by 15:00, but over all this would be a much better solution.

I guess it really comes down to, would people rather board earlier and debark earlier, or would they rather board later and debark later.  I personally prefer the "earlier" option.  Once debarkation day arrives, the vacation is over, and I'm ready to just head home, and have no desire to prolong staying on the ship.

 

Another consideration is that people staying in hotels pre-cruise have to check out by a certain time (like 10:00 or 11:00).  If they can't board until 13:00 at the earliest, then they have to have somewhere to go, over lunchtime, while waiting to board.

[island lady]

1 hour ago, LXA350 said:

Disembarkation day is the absoulte worst experience of the cruise and a way has to be found to make this much more relaxed and not such a hectic experience.

 

At the end the whole cruise experience would be better if the debaraktion process would be extended until 11:00, with rooms to be cleared by 10:00. Breakfast to be served  at WJ until 10:30 and dinning room at usual port day times. This on the other hand would mean that embarkation would start not before 13:00  and rooms would be ready by 15:00, but over all this would be a much better solution.

 

I am guessing about 90% of the disembarking pax would not agree with you.   There is an almost stampede to be first off the ship.  The heavy bulk of pax dragging their heavy suitcases for the 6:30 am "self  assist" really clears the ship pretty fast.  We prefer to collect our bags at baggage claim, after having a relaxing breakfast, and still can be off the ship by 7:30-8 am.  

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

I guess it really comes down to, would people rather board earlier and debark earlier, or would they rather board later and debark later.  I personally prefer the "earlier" option.  Once debarkation day arrives, the vacation is over, and I'm ready to just head home, and have no desire to prolong staying on the ship.

 

Another consideration is that people staying in hotels pre-cruise have to check out by a certain time (like 10:00 or 11:00).  If they can't board until 13:00 at the earliest, then they have to have somewhere to go, over lunchtime, while waiting to board.

 

This exactly...   ^.  

[jean87510]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

 

"Staycation"?.... 😉 

or a virtual reality vacation?  

[gmerick]

My experience from the last 4 cruises: 

Buy "The Key" when the price drops below $25.  I have to have internet anyway, and I do see at least a $6.50 / day value in the rest of "The Key"s benefits. 

Make an early onboard purchase of  shuttle tickets to the airport on departure day for the last shuttle departure time. 

Pack up the night before and put my 2 big bags in the corridor - I sail solo, and I bring everything that makes a cruise enjoyable.  Catch a late dinner, a lounge act, and stroll the top decks.  Set no alarm for the morning -- docking noise will eventually wake me.  8AM Pack my remaining bags, and leave them in the cabin.  By 9AM Eat breakfast in the MDR.  Before 10AM Return to the cabin and check for stray articles.  Wander down to deck 5, walk past the long line up to someone in a uniform with stripes on their shoulders, and show my card with a "Key" on it.  Get escorted to the boarding ramp, and I'm on my way.  My bags have always been waiting right next to the customs exit, there's a exit right from "The Key" area into customs, bypassing the line, and because I'm so close, no porter is needed.  Proceed from customs directly to the airport coach.  

 

A little bit of planning can make departure day very relaxing, and can extend the cruising feeling all the way to the airport.

[deliver42]

I've done self debarkation once, and never again. What a zoo, with people not knowing or caring where the line ends. Not worth it to me. I'll have my breakfast, and wait till my number is called.

[Ocean Boy]

5 hours ago, LXA350 said:

Disembarkation day is the absoulte worst experience of the cruise and a way has to be found to make this much more relaxed and not such a hectic experience.

 

At the end the whole cruise experience would be better if the debaraktion process would be extended until 11:00, with rooms to be cleared by 10:00. Breakfast to be served  at WJ until 10:30 and dinning room at usual port day times. This on the other hand would mean that embarkation would start not before 13:00  and rooms would be ready by 15:00, but over all this would be a much better solution.

A better solution.... in YOUR opinion. Just get off the ship, your vacation is over.

[Ocean Boy]

12 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

I've done self debarkation once, and never again. What a zoo, with people not knowing or caring where the line ends. Not worth it to me. I'll have my breakfast, and wait till my number is called.

Self debarkation is a breeze unless you are determined to be the first one off the shop. At least that has been my experience doing it multiple times.

[Starry Eyes]

18 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Self debarkation is a breeze unless you are determined to be the first one off the shop. At least that has been my experience doing it multiple times.

Even then, some ships manage the self-debarkation line pretty well.  We are early risers (especially DH), so we often can be found near the front of line. It is generally a breeze.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Starry Eyes

[not-enough-cruising]

43 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Self debarkation is a breeze unless you are determined to be the first one off the shop. At least that has been my experience doing it multiple times.

Absolutely!  We always do this, and very rarely is it anymore than a smooth, stress free, 25-30 minutes from leaving the stateroom to standing curbside 

[vjmatty]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

A better solution.... in YOUR opinion. Just get off the ship, your vacation is over.

Your cruise is over. Not necessarily the whole vacation.  Either way, it’s better that not everyone wants to be off first.  People like the poster you’re criticizing actually make it easier for you to get off earlier, so be glad they exist 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Ocean Boy]

15 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

Your cruise is over. Not necessarily the whole vacation.  Either way, it’s better that not everyone wants to be off first.  People like the poster you’re criticizing actually make it easier for you to get off earlier, so be glad they exist 🤷🏻‍♀️

No, his suggestion just delays the new group of folks who would like to start their vacation. They want you off and the crew wants you off. Your time is up.

[cruiseboy89130]

7 hours ago, LXA350 said:

Disembarkation day is the absoulte worst experience of the cruise and a way has to be found to make this much more relaxed and not such a hectic experience.

 

At the end the whole cruise experience would be better if the debaraktion process would be extended until 11:00, with rooms to be cleared by 10:00. Breakfast to be served  at WJ until 10:30 and dinning room at usual port day times. This on the other hand would mean that embarkation would start not before 13:00  and rooms would be ready by 15:00, but over all this would be a much better solution.

+1

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

No, his suggestion just delays the new group of folks who would like to start their vacation. They want you off and the crew wants you off. Your time is up.

And most people checking out of hotel need to be out by 10 or 11 at the latest.  So everyone who is staying in a hotel pre cruise is standing around outside the embarkation hall waiting for things to kick off and then the crush to get on the ship will overwhelm the checkin agents.

[Starry Eyes]

3 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

And most people checking out of hotel need to be out by 10 or 11 at the latest.  So everyone who is staying in a hotel pre cruise is standing around outside the embarkation hall waiting for things to kick off and then the crush to get on the ship will overwhelm the checkin agents.

Yes and the people who flew in the morning of the cruise will also be standing outside the terminal waiting for things to kick off.  Though CruiseCritic poster may not recommend flying in day of cruise, plenty of people do it.  Add in all the people who drive and arrive early (they built in extra time in case of flat tire or traffic snarls) and there would be loads of people waiting for check in to start.  

How late would luggage delivery take if boarding starts later?  If luggage starts coming too late, likely more people try to take their large luggage on board with them, further slowing security and congesting terminal and ship until cabins are ready.

 

The ships would still pull into port early as many guests want to get off the ship early to catch early flights or get on the road for their drives.  They have work or appointments the next day.  The docking noise plus all the guests leaving probably wakes the people who’d like to sleep in on debarkation day, so guests will still be unhappy🤪.  As embarkation starts later, it also ends later, so the ship is in homeport longer.  That means higher port fees for everyone.  Bad idea

 

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, schooner_Drinker said:

Took us 9mins to get off Allure yesterday at 7:15am No lines 

Cabin to outside of terminal (door to exit)

 

Pays to have a passport at PC - facial recognition lines a breeze

 

Birth certificate line looked busy, but never used, so cannot comment on how long that took.

 

PC disembarkation self assist last 4 cruises never stood in any lines, we have learnt to get off 45mins after they start self assist and just before Suites & Pinnacles 

(Even when staying in a suite)

 

When we hear the first public announcement, we know self assist are well and truly already on their way home 😉

Very same situation at PE.

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Very same situation at PE.

And Galveston 

[cruisegus]

Disembarkation morning.

Your cruise is over, 

 

Your diamond coupons no longer work.

 

Get up have and early breakfast.

 

Windjammer never opened earlier the last 7 days.

 

Other cruisers want to get on the ship.

 

The cabin attendant you so loved and tipped generously wants to clean your cabin for his next customer.

 

I am always gone before my cabin attendant even shows up that morning.

 

My last gift to them!!

 

 

[island lady]

19 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Self debarkation is a breeze unless you are determined to be the first one off the shop. At least that has been my experience doing it multiple times.

 

As was ours this morning off Wonder.  Followed concierge out to ding out, found bags, facial recognition at customs, into our little SUV all taking 15 minutes total.  Not bad.  🙂 

[Ocean Boy]

47 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

As was ours this morning off Wonder.  Followed concierge out to ding out, found bags, facial recognition at customs, into our little SUV all taking 15 minutes total.  Not bad.  🙂 

Hopefully, you will take some time when you can to tell us your impressions of Wonder.

[Itried4498]

On 10/7/2023 at 8:15 PM, pcur said:

 

Agree.  Turnaround day is hectic enough as it is, but to have to keep track of (even paying) passengers debarking late, is just a huge headache. 

 

They offered a package with pool privileges and lunch many years ago.  You could stay on until 2-3pm.  That want away pretty fast.

 

If one has a late flight, then rent a hotel room for the day, go back to sleep, and have a great late lunch, or dinner before your flight.

If you’re local to a port, it can be a very attractive option.  For example, I’d prefer to take a ride share to/ from San Pedro.  But if more than one ship is in port, leaving San Pedro is a nightmare.  Most ride share drivers will decline rides given it can take 30+ minutes to get in and out of the port.  So why not spend some extra time on the ship relaxing, enjoying a nice lunch and a smooth ride home?

 

 

[Ocean Boy]

6 minutes ago, Itried4498 said:

If you’re local to a port, it can be a very attractive option.  For example, I’d prefer to take a ride share to/ from San Pedro.  But if more than one ship is in port, leaving San Pedro is a nightmare.  Most ride share drivers will decline rides given it can take 30+ minutes to get in and out of the port.  So why not spend some extra time on the ship relaxing, enjoying a nice lunch and a smooth ride home?

 

 

I think your question has already been answered by multiple people.

[Itried4498]

9 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I think your question has already been answered by multiple people.

i was countering why it’d be worth it.  I’m aware it’s not possible.

[island lady]

38 minutes ago, Itried4498 said:

i was countering why it’d be worth it.  I’m aware it’s not possible.

 

Worth it to only a small minority of people.  

[Mum2Mercury]

I hear what you're saying, but -- no -- I'm with the majority here.  The turn-over day is hard, no matter what you do.  Hard for passengers, hard for staff.  They're already running at double-speed to get those cabins "turned over".  If we want to be able to board early /start our vacation, we must accept that we must disembark early at the end of our cruise.