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How to get out Cruise ships


How to get out Cruise ships

This a a recap of a typical disembarkation process. Near cruise-end, the Cruise Director will give a briefing that covers specific details for that ship/cruise and debarkation port, to include possible local customs and immigration (C&I) processing. Called "debarkation" or "disembarkation", this involves getting perhaps a few thousand passengers off the ship as efficiently as possible. You can't all leave at once. You'll likely receive a questionaire several days before cruise-end asking what travel arrangements you have made to return home. Your answers (e.g., scheduled flight departure date/time) will determine in what group you will disembark.
  • Two or so days before cruise end, you'll receive luggage tags indicating your debarkation group. Instructions that come with them will indicate the time your group is scheduled to be called to leave the ship.
  • On most ships, those tags will be colored and/or numbered. You can obtain more from the pursor if needed.
  • The last night, place a tag on the handle of each piece of your luggage and put at least your large, packed luggage outside your cabin door...usually by 10 or 11 PM. It will be taken by stewards for you to claim ashore in the terminal the next morning.
  • You can also put out carry-on baggage, but...
  • Some ships offer a "walk off" or "express" disembarkation option. You can choose to leave the ship early as part of a group receiving special, expedited C&I processing if you carry off all your possessions. You should find that option on the questionaire mentioned above. If you opt for it, do not miss the call for your group to disembark or you may be directed to leave in the very last group. At some major ports, some ships offer special luggage handling services for passengers flying home on certain airlines. For a fee, they will provide special airline tags and take luggage (you intend to check) the last night to, perhaps through your airline check-in at the airport. If you opt for this, understand the process and your responsibilities. Typically, people with early flights, cruise-line shore excursions and express walk-offs are given the earliest debarkation times. The next/last morning, you may be instructed to leave your cabin somewhat early (yes, a dining room and the buffet will open quite early for breakfast), and proceed to a specific public area on the ship to wait to be called to disembark. (Per "Get in" above, your cabin steward must completely redo it and many others by 2 PM or so for the next occupants.)
  • Consider having a hearty breakfast. You may face several hours before the next opportunity for decent food.
  • If anyone in your party needs to be seated while waiting (perhaps 1-2 hours) to disembark, they should go your assigned public area early.
  • That area won't necessarily be on the same deck as for exiting the ship. If not, you may have to negotiate stairs with your belongings because elevators will be very busy. If anyone has physical limitations, request help in-advance.
  • In that area, you'll eventually be called by color/number to disembark...usually not before the scheduled time.
  • As you walk off the ship into the terminal, you'll be ushered to a large area with masses of luggage...considerably less if you disembark in one of the last groups. Your luggage will be arranged according to your disembarkation group. You'll need to pick-out your pieces and proceed to C&I or other processing if any. Porters will likely be available to help. After any processing, many options begin, e.g.,:
  • If you have an end-of-cruise tour or pre-paid airport transfer arranged, you'll be ushered to a bus or other vehicle to transport you, with your luggage usually on-board.
  • Other transport can take many forms, e.g., self-arranged taxis, surries to paid parking lots or local hotels.
  • Once you leave the terminal, you basically have full responsibility to reach whatever destination or follow-on transport awaits.

    The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cruise ships


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    Cruise ships Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.

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