How does self disembarkation work?

[Retired 07]

I am told that you can carry your own luggage off the ship. We live in Los Angeles, so when we dock there, we will not be in any hurry to get off the ship. We thought we'd enjoy a leisurely breakfast, get off when we want to, and catch a shuttle home.

 

Any info on how Princess works this? Would we still be assigned a certain time to get off? This is only a 4 day repositioning cruise, so we won't have much luggage to deal with.

 

Thanks in advance!

[MomGo]

We were on the Crown Princess on 6/26 to 7/5. We chose Self Disembarkation so that we could start sight seeing in NYC as soon as possible. During the cruise, passengers were asked to fill out paperwork left by the Room Steward asking about your plans for leaving the Ship, which had to be turned into the Purser's Desk at a certain date/time. We were not given luggage tags as we were taking the luggage off ourselves. We were, instead, given disembarkation passes/tags indicating the name of our group. You then check the name of your grouping in the nightly newsletter and that's the approx. time that you could disembark the Ship. You do not leave your luggage outside your room the night before. You can go have breakfast but they ask you be out of your cabins by 7:30 - 7:45 a.m., since you have to wait in a public area in order to hear your group called. Our disembarkation started at approx. 8:00 a.m. (about 15 minutes late) and we were off the Ship around 8:30, being about the 5th group to be called. There were pretty much no lines for getting off. We did not use the elevators, but opted for the stairs. I'm assuming you can get off any time after your group is called. If we didn't opt for Self Disembarkation, and since we didn't have any tours or airlines scheduled, our Deck of Emerald, would have been one of the last to be disembarked, around 10:30 or so. We were very happy we chose Self Disembarkation.

 

Hope this helps.

[kobecat]

Self disembarkation works best for people who want to get off for early flights. You must be able to handle all your luggage yourself as there is absolutely no help.

 

We used self disembarkation in Long Beach after our cruise from Sydney in May. We were off and at Long Beach Airport by 8.45. It was fantastic and the best thing was not having to put your case out the night before.

 

Beryl

[mauiedin87]

Back in April this year, after our 2-week Hawaii cruise, we chose self-disembarkation and will always do it from now on, because it was so hassle-free and easy. Even for 2 weeks we manage to pack relatively lightly (that part is VERY important). We had a leisurely breakfast in the dining room early that morning (they open earlier than usual for people disembarking early), went to get our suitcases in our cabin, then waited on the disembarkation deck until called (15 minutes earlier than our tags said). We were off the ship, down the gangway, through Customs and Immigration and outside the building in San Pedro in 15 minutes flat!!! In 12 cruises, that was the fastest EVER! No lines, no mob scene, no shoving, very organized and painless. By 8:30 we were on the Harbor Freeway on our way out of town.:)

[mauiedin87]

To answer your question - I do believe that you will still be assigned a specific time to leave the ship. I think, but I could be wrong, that self-disembarkation passengers are the first to be called, around 8 a.m.!

[Retired 07]

Thanks to everybody for your answers!

 

Actually, we would like to use the self disembarkation to get off the ship LATER, not earlier. (to have that leisurely breakfast, and avoid some of the early morning rush hour traffic). If you are assigned an earlier time,(say 8:00) can you just ignore it and stay on the ship longer, and get off at, say 10:00? Do you have to vacate your stateroom by a certain time?

 

We also want to know when to schedule Supershuttle to pick us up at the dock.

[vince_g]

These are questions that really would best be asked at the the disembarkation talk the cruise director will give on the last day. You will be placed into a group and you are supposed to leave the ship when your group is called (otherwise you might not know when they are done calling the groups). You might be able to get into the last group by speaking with your cabin steward.

 

If you are sailing in a suite you may wait in the suite (or in the platinum disembarkation lounge) until your group is called, otherwise you will need to vacate the cabin fairly early.

 

Just for your information, the ship/crew can be less than hospitable on disembarkation morning. There will be many areas closed for cleaning etc and the crew might be a little impatient on that morning.

[Desert Cruisers]

We have carried off our bags several times. You will get one of the earliest time slots. In fact, it is usually the earliest time slot. Princess will prefer that you get off early rather than later in the process.

[FredS]

Princess certainly does not want you trying to get off earlier than you are scheduled for. But, no one goes around checking to make sure every one of a certain color is off the ship. The goal is to get everyone off by about 10-11AM. Sooner if possible. I know that there are times my hearing aid acts up and I can't hear the announcements so end up going off later. I really doubt they will ask you to stay on the ship if you are late for your color.

[DuaneO]

We done this and the LA Cruise Terminal is designed to be easy to access your bags quickly and little issues once your off the ship. We alway give the ship our bags and let them handle the major load. We handle the smaller bags.

 

Go to the purser's desk and ask them for the last call color tags, they are very glad to provide them to you.

 

Enjoy your cruise...

[donna5]

Thanks to everybody for your answers!

 

Actually, we would like to use the self disembarkation to get off the ship LATER, not earlier. (to have that leisurely breakfast, and avoid some of the early morning rush hour traffic). If you are assigned an earlier time,(say 8:00) can you just ignore it and stay on the ship longer, and get off at, say 10:00? Do you have to vacate your stateroom by a certain time?

 

We also want to know when to schedule Supershuttle to pick us up at the dock.

 

Just go to the pursers office and let them know you want to be in last group called, that you are not in a hurry. They should be able to put you in the last group. The reason they have groups/colors is the way the luggage is sorted into groups. It is best to go when your color is called to make sure your luggage isn't sitting around. This way you can go to breakfast, go get your carryon and go to one of the departure lounges or whatever you wish. They will state what time they wish the staterooms to be vacated.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Since we live not far from San Pedro (about 50 miles away), we felt that it was only fair not to ask for early disembarkation -- that those with flights that morning should get first priority. So we stayed until our color was called and got off the ship about 11 am, only because the disembarkation process started way late (with just one other ship in port that morning). But normally, even waiting for your normal color, one would expect to get off the ship about 9 or 10am. We had booked a car service to pick us up at 10 so we called the dispatcher who had our driver wait for us close enough to the shuttle pickup. No problem.

 

A nice advantage to leaving later than most is that the luggage area is less chaotic.

[Jade13]

So, Princess does not allow you to stay in your cabin until called (like HAL)? What time do you have to be out of your cabin?

 

We just got off of the Westerdam, and although we had a driver picking s up (9:00am), we were able to stay in our cabin until that time but also, were able to leave our luggage in the hallway as they take it down to the terminal for you even if you are not paying for their transfer. Does Princess do this?

[SeaTeach]

Self disembarkation works best for people who want to get off for early flights. You must be able to handle all your luggage yourself as there is absolutely no help.

 

We used self disembarkation in Long Beach after our cruise from Sydney in May. We were off and at Long Beach Airport by 8.45. It was fantastic and the best thing was not having to put your case out the night before.

 

Beryl

We have tried early self disembarkment several times. Yes, we got off early---but what a mess. There were major masses in the stairwell and on each deck joining our group. Next time we'll try late self disembarkment.

[scarlett873]

If our flight doesn't leave FLL until after 3:00pm, will we be in one of the last groups called? We've purchased the Princess transfers...I know that we'll find out for certain on board, but I was wondering about this. I would like to avoid the early morning rush to allow those with earlier flights to get to the airports first. :)

[Clarkk W Griswald]

As someone who does not use the self disembarkation, I find it is an absolute mess. You have too many people trying to get off the ship who really don't need to be off that early and who can't manage their own luggage. They clog the hallways and stairwells with all their luggage. And they call all the self embarkation people first, so that holds it up for everyone else. So if you have an early flight, you have to wait until all the self embarkation people have cleared. Stupid idea. No one monitors it at all.

[donna5]

So, Princess does not allow you to stay in your cabin until called (like HAL)? What time do you have to be out of your cabin?

 

We just got off of the Westerdam, and although we had a driver picking s up (9:00am), we were able to stay in our cabin until that time but also, were able to leave our luggage in the hallway as they take it down to the terminal for you even if you are not paying for their transfer. Does Princess do this?

 

All passengers will be sent(to your stateroom) color coded luggage tags. You put them on your luggage and keep the stub. So you have proof of color. (Make sure to put two on your luggage. Our handle was torn off a piece of luggage and the handle had the tag on it. They do have a section of luggage that doesn't have colored tags on them. Found that out after we couldn't find our luggage in our color section.) You put your luggage out that night and it will be put on the dock/terminal in its color coded section. This procedure has nothing to do with whether you have transfers or not. This service is available to all passengers.

[Jade13]

If you are sailing in a suite you may wait in the suite (or in the platinum disembarkation lounge) until your group is called, otherwise you will need to vacate the cabin fairly early.

 

quote]

 

What about mini-suite? Can you wait in your cabin until called?

[Jade13]

All passengers will be sent(to your stateroom) color coded luggage tags. You put them on your luggage and keep the stub. So you have proof of color. (Make sure to put two on your luggage. Our handle was torn off a piece of luggage and the handle had the tag on it. They do have a section of luggage that doesn't have colored tags on them. Found that out after we couldn't find our luggage in our color section.) You put your luggage out that night and it will be put on the dock/terminal in its color coded section. This procedure has nothing to do with whether you have transfers or not. This service is available to all passengers.

 

Thanks!

[billet]

If you are sailing in a suite you may wait in the suite (or in the platinum disembarkation lounge) until your group is called, otherwise you will need to vacate the cabin fairly early.

 

quote]

 

What about mini-suite? Can you wait in your cabin until called?

 

Speak nicely to your steward and it is amazing what can happen.