Disembarkation for Locals?

[BBsails]

Since we live in SF and won't have to take a plane home, we are hoping to be able leave the ship (SF to Alaska to SF on the Millennium in May 2008) at our leisure. Having seen the info on the board that it's possible to carry our own baggage off, will we be able to leave our bags in our cabin for the last night? Is it also possible to leave our bags in our cabin while we have breakfast in the dining room, pick up our bags after breakfast, and walk off the ship when we want, without tarrying too long? Or will we be assigned a time and place to gather for disembarkation? We'd like to leave the ship and our vacation without rushing, but we understand the ship has to be readied for the lucky passengers who are embarking.

[Shirley and Les]

We were on the Millie last month and did not return the disembarkation questionaire. They assigned us a tag color and told us to be in a specific location at a certain time. We had checked luggage so we packed, tagged and set out the bags.

On the final morning, we got up, packed our carry on bags and went to breakfast. All of our carryon bags were left in the cabin. You have to be a bit prompt since the breakfast hours are shortened on the last morning. After breakfast, we returned to the cabin. Our cabin attendant had already done most of the work (linen changes, bed made) for the next cruise.

When it was close to our departure time, we went to deck 4 and sat in the public area near the outside elevators. This was an open area right above the deck 3 departure area. About 30 minutes after our departure time, we went down the steps to deck 3 and walked right off the ship. Our luggage was all by itself in the area designated for our color.

I think you could do something similar if you are going to carry everything off yourself. Get completely packed before you go to breakfast. I was also going to say 'get completely dressed' but that seems rather obvious. :D

Leave your stuff in a corner of the cabin and go do whatever until your departure time. Go back to the cabin, collect your stuff and go to the departure deck and get off the ship. I think they suggest times for each color so the departure line is short, baggage claim area is less hectic and the demand for porters is evened out over the departure hours.

Les

Here is a bit of unsolicited advise. They do have a lot of strong crewmen so they will make sure you disembark. It is kind of fun to grab each handhold as they are dragging you off the ship but they will get you off :mad: whether or not you want to go.

[Lsimon]

There is usually a check out time of 8:30 or 9am posted in the daily program the night before. We always put our luggage out the night before then plan our morning so that we're all packed up in time to head to breakfast 1/2 hour or so before that time. We put our carry-ons in the closet and tell the steward what we've done, let them know it is OK to start on the room (they have a lot to do that day) and ask if it is ok if we're back a little late (it always is). We always have breakfast in the dining room the last morning as the buffet tends to be extremely busy that morning. After breakfast we clear out the room and get off the ship at our leisure - all this is presuming we have a late enough flight which is almost always the case.

 

Frankly, I can't understand why some people are so anxious to book and early flight and be the first off the ship. Why ruin your last night and morning rushing around and worrying about being able to catch your flight.