What to Expect at Debarkation
The first sign that your cruise is coming to an end and you will soon be returning to the real world will happen on the second to last full day of your cruise when debarkation instructions arrive.
The 24 hours before you disembark your cruise -- the point at which you get off the ship -- comes with a flurry of instructions. That includes everything from assigning you a time to leave the ship to breakfast options on disembarkation day and luggage rules.
How do I find out about the disembarkation procedures on my cruise ship?
The disembarkation briefing, usually held on your final day at sea by the cruise director in the main theater or other large lounge is a good starting point. This will most likely also air on your in-cabin TV. In addition, the most pertinent disembarkation information will be included in the ship's daily newsletter or in a separate memo left in your cabin.
What time do I disembark a cruise ship on the last morning?
Disembarkation is a carefully choreographed procedure. Even though the ship usually arrives in its final port before dawn, it will be hours before you get off. The ship first must be cleared by Customs and port authorities before anyone can disembark.
Everyone is assigned a specific time to leave and usually even a specific place to wait on the final morning prior to departing the ship. Your time is assigned according to your flight times (which you provide a few days prior to disembarkation day), stateroom category, and even loyalty status. On large ships, your assigned disembarkation time is even color-coded and coordinated with your luggage tags.
Once your departure group is called, you will proceed with any carry-on luggage to the designated lower deck. You will need to show your cruise card one final time before crossing the gangway.
Can I use cruise ship facilities on the last morning of my cruise?
On the last morning of your cruise, most of the ship's public facilities will be closed for cleaning and preparation for the next set of passengers, who will be coming aboard later the same day. Your daily newsletter will outline which restaurants are open for breakfast. Breakfast hours on disembarkation day will usually be earlier and shorter.
The gym, pools, spas and bars will be closed, but lounges will be available for people to wait with their bags once they've left their cabins. Cruise ship shops will also be closed, but some cruise lines keep their photo galleries open for last-minute purchases and pickups. You will not be able to purchase additional internet access after a certain time on your last evening aboard, but you can usually use pre-purchased minutes until you leave the ship.
How do I get my luggage off the cruise ship?
There are two different options for this:
1. If you want crew members to shepherd your luggage when you disembark, you will need to have your bags packed, tagged with color-coded tags provided by the ship, and set outside your cabin door at a specified time the night before disembarkation. Usually, the deadline is sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Crew members will pick up your luggage during the night, hold it in storage until the ship is docked, then carry it off the ship in the morning. It will then be placed in sections in the terminal, according to tag colors. Once you reclaim your bags in the terminal, you usually must transport them through Customs before you leave the cruise terminal. Porters will be available to assist during this process.
If you choose this option, which is recommended, you will need to have a small bag in which to pack any clothing and toiletries that you will need for the last night. You’ll carry this bag off yourself at disembarkation.
2. If you prefer to carry all pieces of your luggage off, you will be able to depart the cruise ship when you're ready and save time at the terminal by skipping luggage collection.
The disadvantage is that you are left managing bulky suitcases in and out of crowded elevators. Self-disembarkation, regardless of the cruise line, works best on smaller ships and short itineraries. Those who might opt for this method are those with easily managed luggage, early flights, no flights, or who simply prefer to keep their luggage on the last night of the cruise.
How long does it take to disembark a cruise ship?
Disembarking all passengers from a cruise ship takes a few hours, depending on the cruise ship's size. From the time your departure group is called, you can be off the ship in 15 minutes. What often takes the most time is getting down to the appropriate deck with your carry-on bags (or all of your bags if you opted for self disembarkation), since the elevators are always crowded on the final morning. Occasionally, an issue with clearing the ship delays passenger disembarkation and can create lines. That's why you should never book a flight too early on disembarkation day.
And now it’s time to start planning your next vacation!