New Disembarkation Procedure?

[Nukesailor]

We just got off the Crown Princess today in Fort Lauderdale. There seems to be a new process for disembarkation that we haven't seen before. Passengers are given the color & number baggage tags on the last night as usual. However, instead of waiting all over the ship for the color & number, passengers are required to meet in certain locations (e.g. Explorer's Lounge) at specific times (e.g. 9AM) depending on their colors & numbers (e.g. Brown 3). At about the listed time, all the people in the assembly location are directed to go to the elevators and disembark. The colors & numbers are NOT broadcast throughout the ship - only in the assembly location. We noticed two things with this new procedure: the people waiting in passageways and on the stairs was significantly reduced (actually, I didn't see anyone sitting on the stairs) and the time to disembark, including collecting the baggage and going through customs & immigration, took about 15 minutes tops. This is a significant reduction in time - last time in Fort Lauderdale it took us about an hour just to get to the baggage, then another half hour to get through immigration. The usual method (waiting anywhere on the ship for your color & number to be called) was used on the Diamond Princess in Whittier last June. Has anyone else seen this method before?

[Host CJSKIDS]

Yes, they've been doing this for about a year now. It's a great procedure, a big improvement.

[paul929207]

We had this on both the Star last spring and the Tahitian last summer. It was great.

[Nukesailor]

I agree, definitely an improvement.

 

Wonder why they didn't do it in Alaska. That was the usual zoo.:rolleyes:

[mii]

I agree, definitely an improvement.

 

Wonder why they didn't do it in Alaska. That was the usual zoo.:rolleyes:

 

I was on a B2B on the Coral in alaska last year and they had the new procedure in. It was wonderful.

 

Marilyn

[KreinKrunker]

Has anyone else seen this method before?

 

 

News Article

1/31/2008

Princess Bids Farewell to Traditional Disembarkation Process; Rolls out New, Streamlined Experience for Passengers

Now Line Offers Most Gracious Passenger Welcome and Farewell with Easy and Comfortable Arrival and Departure

 

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - The traditional "hurry up and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

 

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag color to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark, Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

 

"We've been praised for our innovative embarkation program that enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including meals and beverages," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service. "Now with the addition of this new disembarkation process which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their final morning with us, we believe we're offering the best passenger experience both at the start and end of their vacation."

 

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be personally escorted to the gangway.

 

The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning breakfast.

 

"Passengers have told us that they're enjoying their final morning on board much more since we've started this program," noted Swartz. "It gives the departure a much more personal touch and creates a great beginning to their onward travels."

 

In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, in many ports departing passengers can also take advantage of an express disembarkation option in which those who choose to carry their own luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting the ship, allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise travel plans.

 

The new disembarkation process complements Princess' innovative early embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.

[Pam in CA]

We just got off the Crown Princess today in Fort Lauderdale. There seems to be a new process for disembarkation that we haven't seen before. Passengers are given the color & number baggage tags on the last night as usual. However, instead of waiting all over the ship for the color & number, passengers are required to meet in certain locations (e.g. Explorer's Lounge) at specific times (e.g. 9AM) depending on their colors & numbers (e.g. Brown 3). At about the listed time, all the people in the assembly location are directed to go to the elevators and disembark. The colors & numbers are NOT broadcast throughout the ship - only in the assembly location.

I had this for the first time over a year ago on the Royal Princess... it's not new.

 

If the ship is delayed arriving in port or takes longer to be cleared, they go back to the old system of calling colors on the P.A. since obviously, the meeting times are screwed up. That's why some people might not have experienced "silent disembarkation."

[Colo Cruiser]

News Article

1/31/2008

Princess Bids Farewell to Traditional Disembarkation Process; Rolls out New, Streamlined Experience for Passengers

Now Line Offers Most Gracious Passenger Welcome and Farewell with Easy and Comfortable Arrival and Departure

 

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - The traditional "hurry up and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

 

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag color to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark, Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

 

"We've been praised for our innovative embarkation program that enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including meals and beverages," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service. "Now with the addition of this new disembarkation process which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their final morning with us, we believe we're offering the best passenger experience both at the start and end of their vacation."

 

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be personally escorted to the gangway.

 

The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning breakfast.

 

"Passengers have told us that they're enjoying their final morning on board much more since we've started this program," noted Swartz. "It gives the departure a much more personal touch and creates a great beginning to their onward travels."

 

In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, in many ports departing passengers can also take advantage of an express disembarkation option in which those who choose to carry their own luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting the ship, allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise travel plans.

 

The new disembarkation process complements Princess' innovative early embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.