Cruise disembarkation day, or cruise debarkation day, marks the end of your vacation and is the day you will leave your cruise ship. The last day of the cruise is a sad day for many passengers and a hectic day for cruise staff. Disembarking from a cruise ship is very different from checking out of a hotel. A cruise line will need to disembark anywhere from 2000 to 4000 passengers, depending on the size of the ship, all in a matter of hours. The disembarkation day process is very well-planned and thought-out. Cruise lines keep the needs of current passengers in mind, along with the requirements of turning over the ship for its next adventure. With a bit of preparation, you will be able to enjoy the last night of your cruise, knowing that disembarking your cruise will go smoothly. Keep reading to learn what to expect on disembarkation day.
Attend The Disembarkation Presentation
Cruise lines are very good at keeping their passengers informed about events and any important information they need to know during their cruise. The disembarkation day process is one of those important things. Cruise lines usually offer a disembarkation or debarkation presentation the day before a cruise ends.
What if You Miss the Debarkation Presentation
At the disembarkation presentation, your cruise line will share important information with you to help make the disembarkation day process easy and seamless. But what if you miss the presentation? Your cruise line will go out of their way to make sure you have access to the information. The information will be available in a variety of formats. Cruise lines will make sure you can get the information easily.
Get Disembarkation Information from The Cruise Line’s Information Channel
If you miss the debarkation presentation, your cruise line will make sure you have access to the information. Many cruise lines will film the presentation and play it on their information channel. If the presentation isn’t filmed, they will convey the same information in a different form, such as informational clips, on their cruise information channel. You can tune in and watch to hear any important disembarkation information.
Disembarkation Process Information Sheets
Many cruise lines will also deliver an information sheet to staterooms the day before debarkation. The document will have most, if not all, of the important information you need to know for disembarkation day.
Disembarkation Information Is Available on the Cruise Line App
One of the best places to get all the disembarkation process information is on the cruise line app, such as the Carnival Hub App. The information will be available two or more days prior to the end of your cruise. For most cruise lines, you will also have the opportunity to choose your method of disembarkation and the time you will be disembarking right on the app. Using the app is the most efficient way, as all the information you need is available at your fingertips.
The Disembarkation Day Process is Similar Across Cruise Lines
There is a lot of information you need to know for disembarkation day. Attending the presentation is ideal, especially if this is your first time cruising. While the information given is specific to each cruise line, the disembarkation process is similar across cruise lines. There might be a few differences, but for the most part, cruise lines have similar disembarkation processes. Once you cruise with one line, you will know what to expect when sailing with a different cruise line.
The following is the type of information you will be given and will need to know in order to make disembarkation day easier.
Luggage Options on Disembarkation Day
There are generally two options given to passengers for the disembarkation day process: Self-assist, also known as carrying off your luggage, and checked luggage.
Self Assist or Carrying off your luggage
Self-assist means you do not need any assistance with your luggage and will be carrying your luggage off the ship. This option will usually allow you to leave the ship as soon as debarkation begins. Since you will have your luggage with you, you will not have to wait for it to be transported to the departure area of the cruise terminal. This option is ideal if you have an early flight and need to be off the ship early.
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Checked Luggage
Checking your luggage means that crew members will handle your luggage by taking it the evening before and delivering it to the cruise terminal in the morning. This disembarkation process option is more convenient as you will not have to contend with your luggage as you get off the ship. It does take a bit more preparation than carrying off your luggage.
Luggage Tags Are Required
Cruise lines will have debarkation luggage tags available for passengers who prefer to check their luggage. The tags will be available one or two days before debarkation day. The debarkation tags will either have a letter, such as A or B, group numbers, or will be color-coded. The luggage tag will be your group ID for debarkation.
The tags correspond to debarkation times. If you have a preferred time that you would like to leave the ship, I suggest picking up your tag early, as they can run out. You might find that your preferred disembarkation time is no longer available.
Place Your Luggage Outside Your Stateroom
For the checked luggage process, you will be required to place your luggage outside your cabin door by a specific time the evening before debarkation. This is done so that cruise staff can take all checked luggage to where it needs to go so that it can be taken off the ship in the morning.
During the night, luggage will be sorted by luggage tag. It will then be taken off the ship in groups. When your luggage has been taken off the ship and is available in the terminal, your group will be called to disembark the ship.
You Will Need an Overnight Bag
If you check your luggage for debarkation, you must remember to set out a change of clothes for the following day and any important items you will need. Do not pack everything you have in your luggage, or you will be exiting the ship in your pajamas.
For this night, you will need an overnight bag, a tote bag, or a small carry-on bag to keep the items you will need in the morning, such as toiletries, and pack your clothes from the night before.
During our first cruise on the original Jubilee in 1995, I purchased a small foldable duffle bag for the checked luggage process as I didn’t know how the debarkation process worked and didn’t have a small bag. I still have the duffel bag and use it once in a while. Nowadays, however, I prefer to carry my luggage off the ship.
Keep All Travel Documents With You
Travel documents such as your Passport, Green Card, or Birth Certificate and ID will be required once you leave the ship and enter the cruise terminal. Do not pack your travel documents in your luggage.
What Time is Breakfast Served on Disembarkation Day?
Gone are the days of being able to leisurely wake up and enjoy your first meal at the time you want to. On disembarkation day, breakfast will be served early. Breakfast will usually be served starting at 6:00 AM. There will be more than one venue available for breakfast.
Many people go to the buffet for breakfast on this day, as it seems to be the easiest option. It can get crowded on this day though. Just know that you can enjoy your last breakfast on the ship in the main dining room. There is usually a menu that will allow for quicker meals, such as those served on port days.
What Time Must You Vacate Your State Room?
One of the most important pieces of information to know is when you must vacate your stateroom. Cruise staff will need to prepare the ship for the next cruise, and they begin doing this early. Staterooms are usually available by 1:00 PM or 1:30 PM on most cruises. This gives cruise staff little time to prepare the rooms for the next voyage. Therefore, most cruise lines ask you to vacate your room early. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises will ask you to vacate your room by 8:00 AM. Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises will ask you to vacate your room by 8:30 AM. The time could change based on the needs of the cruise ship.
What Time Must You Leave the Ship?
Cruise staff will be very busy getting the ship ready for their next voyage. Thus, disembarkation day isn’t a good day to linger on the ship and sightsee. Most venues, including most shops, will be closed. Most cruise lines will ask that everyone be off the ship by 9:30 AM or 10:00 AM.
What if You Purchased Alcohol on the Ship or in Port?
If you purchased any items on the ship or in port that were held by the cruise line, such as alcohol, these items will be returned to you before you leave the ship. Cruise staff will let you know how the item will be returned to you when you purchase it or check it in. There are a couple of ways that this is usually handled.
Some cruise lines require you to pick up your items before debarking. If this is the case, the notice you receive will note the time and place where you will need to go to recover your purchase. This is generally handled early in the morning on debarkation day.
The second way a cruise line can handle this is to deliver the item to your stateroom the evening before debarkation. This is the best-case scenario, as you will not have to worry about going to pick up your item in the morning.
Photo Gallery Purchases
Most shops on cruise ships will be closed on debarkation day. However, on many ships, you will still be able to purchase last-minute photos.
Have Your Cruise ID Card or Medallion Handy
During your cruise, you got used to having your cruise ID card or medallion on you. You used it to access your stateroom, make purchases, exit the ship at cruise ports, and re-enter the ship after a wonderful day in port. You will need to use your ID card or Medallion one last time as your cruise comes to an end. As you debark the ship, you must scan your card or medallion as you leave the ship.
Settle Your Onboard Account
Prior to leaving the ship, you need to settle your onboard account. What you need to do depends on how you initially set up your account. Accounts are set up by either using a credit card or debit card or by setting up a cash account with guest services or customer service.
If you attached a card to your shipboard account, you need to make sure all the charges on your account are correct. You can do this easily on the cruise line app. Mobile apps will have a section where you can view all transactions that are being charged to your room. It is not a bad idea to check this daily and address any issues that may pop up as soon as they do. The customer service line can be long at the end of the cruise.
If you set up a cash account, you will need to settle the account prior to leaving the ship. This entails visiting guest services and ensuring your account is fully paid and closed out. You cannot leave the ship if your account is not fully settled.
If any money is owed to you, most cruise lines will refund the money via check. Each cruise line has its own policy regarding how refunds are processed. You can ask about the refund process when you set up a cash account.
Cash Out Your Casino Slips or Chips The Day Before Debarkation
The casino will be closed on debarkation day. If you have any casino slips or chips, you should cash them out before debarkation day. This is especially true if you need assistance from casino staff to cash out your items. If the casino has a Kiosk, you can still use it to cash out any slips. Remember that casino staff will not be available to assist you on debarkation day. If you need to settle anything that requires assistance from casino staff, you will need to do that the day before debarkation.
Customs Declaration
The allowance for US Citizens is $800 worth of tax and duty-free items, one liter of alcohol, one carton of cigarettes (200 cigarettes), and 100 cigars. Passengers are required to verbally declare any items to customs officials if they are over the personal exemption allowance or have more than $10,000 on them.
You are not allowed to take items off the ship, such as produce and flowers, live animals, and meat products. Produce is one of the main items that gets confiscated at many ports. While it may seem like a good idea to carry fruit, such as an apple or banana, as a snack, these items will be confiscated. Many ports have produce sniffing dogs that detect these items, leading to a secondary search of your bags. Save yourself the headache of a secondary search and leave fruits behind on the ship.
Going Through Customs
Going through customs as you leave a cruise ship is much easier than going through customs at an airport. Passengers exit the ship as their group is called, making the flow of people very manageable. Also, there is a finite number of people who will exit the ship and enter the cruise terminal. You will not have passengers from other cruise ships exiting through the same terminal at the same time.
The process is much easier if you have a passport. Facial recognition technology is used, which makes the passport line move fairly quickly. When it is your turn, you stand in front of a tablet with a camera that looks similar to an iPad. If everything scans okay and you are recognized, you are well on your way. During our last few cruises, the facial recognition process took seconds. The whole process of leaving the ship was about 15 minutes.
For those who do not want to use facial recognition, there is an option to speak with a customs agent, just as you would at the airport.
If you traveled with a birth certificate and ID, you will be in a different line where your documents will be reviewed. This process is slower and will take a little longer.
Once you pass through customs, you will exit the cruise terminal. At this point, your cruise will officially be over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about what to expect on disembarkation day. We hope these answers will make the disembarkation process easier.
No, the cruise ship must be cleared by customs and the port authority before it can begin disembarking its passengers. Cruise staff will notify passengers when the ship has been cleared, and disembarkation will begin.
Yes, many cruise lines offer shore excursions, such as city tours, that include airport transfer and luggage storage. These shore excursions are perfect if you have a later flight. They should be booked early as they tend to sell out.
In order to give yourself the best option for not missing a flight, you should not schedule your flight before noon. Booking a flight for 12:00 PM or later should give you enough time to exit the ship and reach the airport. This could change due to weather delays, customs and port authority clearance delays, the distance between the cruise port and the airport, or any other unforeseen issue.
If you have an early flight, you should carry your own luggage off the ship. This will allow you to leave the ship at the earliest time possible instead of waiting until your group is called.
Yes, the main drawback is that you will be dragging your luggage around with you after vacating your stateroom. If you have a lot of luggage, this can be a pain. The elevators will be busy, and getting on an elevator with your luggage might take a few tries. Your party might also need to break up in order to get on an elevator.
Several cruise lines offer priority disembarkation for passengers who purchase programs such as The Key for Royal Caribbean, are part of loyalty programs such as Carnival’s VIFP Platinum and Diamond levels, or book a shore excursion for disembarkation day. You can get more information on priority disembarkation by contacting your cruise line.
The fastest way to disembark a cruise ship is to opt for the self-assist option and carry your luggage off the ship. Most cruise lines allow you to leave the ship with the first group after any priority groups leave the ship.
Once you get in line to disembark the ship, the process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Here’s to a Smooth Disembarkation Day!
Preparation and being aware of your cruise line’s disembarkation day process are key to having a smooth disembarkation day. By knowing what you need to do, you can have a stress-free last day on board your cruise ship. While this day marks the end of your cruise vacation, you will rest easy for your next cruise as you will know what to expect on your next disembarkation day.
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