I have always wondered why everyone wants to be the first one off the ship. I would much rather enjoy a leisurely breakfast and wait for lines to go down.
On a recent Viking River Cruise, we did a very good job of clearing all shelves and drawers. We got home with an extra shirt and underwear. They are being donated.
One thing that I do, is make a sandwich or gather items for a small lunch during breakfast time so when you are waiting at the airport or touring around your don't need to waste time or money on eating in a restaurant.
Thanks for the tip. I had never heard of a day hotel before watching this. This will solve our upcoming issue of having a late flight. The thought of sitting in airport for 10 hours is not a nice end to a vacation,
I always have several plastic bags in my luggage. Both small ones and large ones. I always use one for the hotel or ship safe. That way I’m absolutely sure nothing is left behind because everything is in the bag. Love your videos stay safe
Something I would also say is if you are in a wheelchair and have a party member to push you I would recommend asking the people at the accessible disembarking desk if you can convoy with the next person, the people who are trained to handle the disabled pasengers are so short staffed they will appreciate one less person to push and they also know the best tips and routes. Also having that high vis person normally helps people out your way
I always carry a large white napkin in the outer pocket of my suitcase. When I arrive somewhere and put my passport and wallet in the safe, I tie it to the handle of the bag. It is not removed until the safe is cleaned out. Thanks for your tips!
Gary, I know you posted this at least a year ago, but you deserve my thanks for this. I'm at the stage of my cruise journey where I'm writing down tips and tricks and what to expect. Your posts about embarkation day and disembarkation day are extremely helpful. Thank you so much!
I don't get the 12 noon flight concept. If you have a flight at 12 noon you should be at the airport by 10- 10.30 am That would typically mean you should be in a position to leave for the airport by 9.30 am So if cruise ship reaches by 8 am , and you opting for traditional disembarkation , would you be able to make this time line without headache ? And what if the ship is delayed by an hour or two ? 🤔 Think it's cutting it too close especially if you have a international flight to catch 🤔 Maybe it's just me , but I rather wait at the airport for couple of hours than risk cutting my flight time too close to give me mini heart attacks on the the way to the airport 😂
@@gregwhates5948 ok in that context, but may not work out for international flights , especially if you are passing through an airport which has seasonal or normal high queues for security checks ( let alone immigration)
Dave, thanks so much for your videos. We recently followed your advice about settling in the first day. We found we didn’t like our cabin, went to guest services and were upgraded the next day. There was a very reasonable charge for this, but we had a much nicer cruise. Your advice is always helpful and clear.
Great tutorial for experienced and cruising newbies. We're firm believers in self disembarkation which also helps us not to overpack. Came in handy last QE2 crossing where we were one of the first off the ship to find that NYC was having a bike race that day and were closing streets around the port early that morning. Had we waited, we'd most likely would have missed our flight out of LGA.
We always choose the self-disembarkation - it just works better for us b/c we're on the road and back home before some cruisers have left the ship! (We live in Central FL, very convenient!!) We did the regular disembarkation on our last cruise in 2019 and while you can have coffee & small pastries while waiting, it was too much waiting. Great tips, Gary. We just love your channel!!
@@TheHouseboat1 I hope you check out videos by The Weekend Cruiser. He goes on a weekend cruise nearly every week. I don't remember when but he posted videos about a new service for getting cruisers who are relatively local to the ports. I said if we lived closer (and not 4 hrs away!) I'd absolutely use the service so I could leave my car in my garage! Check it out & good luck!!
@@TheHouseboat1 do you live in Miami or West Palm or Fort Lauderdale? If you do maybe you can take the Brightline shuttle to get there if you’re taking the train there. And the train from Orlando starts early next year or next quarter.
RE: Princess Medallion for disembarkation. I forgot mine in my stateroom on my last cruise and didn't realize until I was at the gangway being scanned out. They were able to look me up by my name and verify with my security photo to process my disembarkation without using the medallion. I actually would have preferred to go back and retrieve it because it was still in the wrist strap I had purchased for it, but our airport shuttle had arrived early and the driver was waiting so we left it behind. Obviously it's not recommended to disembark without the Medallion because it would certainly cause delays if lots of people did that, but it does seem like it's possible.
We normally get early afternoon flights and pay for airport lounge access (when we can't use our BA status). For not much money you can relax, have a few drinks and a nice lunch before boarding. We always find our makes the end of the holiday nice and relaxing
Good tips Gary, thanks. One thing I do which you touched on, is to sign on to your on board account via tv or other device soon after boarding. First, it confirms that you can access your account and check it daily!! On one cruise we took I was charged for six martinis at the sail away that were ordered by another party. It took me until the end of the cruise to get it resolved by the purser’s office.
I advise removing items from the safe before going to bed the night before disembarkation. I have had safes malfunction, requiring me to call maintenance to have them open it. It would be stressful for this to happen on the morning of disembarkation. Also, you don’t have to get off the ship when your number is called. You can wait until final disembarkation and your luggage will be waiting there for you. I much prefer having a leisurely breakfast on the ship, waiting for the early rush to pass.
I found your channel last week and have been binge watching because I find them so helpful especially for seniors. I haven't been on a cruise since 2002 and I can see now from watching how things have changed. Thanks to you and your informative videos I think my cruise on October 1st, will go smoothly. I just like how you cover everything. Now I have more of your videos to get back to.
On one of our cruises we went to the airport and checked our luggage in for our return flight early. Then we took a taxi to a nearby restaurant we wanted to try. Taxi driver was upset it wasn't a long trip but we reminded him he would be able to get back to the taxi stand quickly. Restaurant waiter was snooty when we wanted to share main dishes. Then we asked for the wine list and all was well. We weren't trying to save money. We had no way to handle uneaten food and didn't want to waste it. We had a leisurely lunch, explored the restaurant, and then got a taxi back to the airport. I wouldn't do this now; too much danger of luggage going astray.
We did self-disembarkation on our last cruise by accident, because otherwise we'd have missed our train home. I think we'll do it from now on because it was so painless.
I’m not sure why, but I’ve never actually thought about self-disembarkation. You’ve definitely got me thinking for my next cruise, as I’m more than capable of heaving my own suitcase down the gangway - watch this space to see if it (or me) ends up falling off the gangway and into the water… ha!
Doing Debark as crew is stressful. I'm Youth Staff with RC and I had no idea it would be part of my duties but, along with Cruise and Sports staff, it was. My biggest plea is just be patient and understand that we are trying our best. I had guests shout at me because they didn't know what to do, which could've been avoided if they'd arrived to the location at their specific time, and not half an hour early. Also, I don't care whether you're Pinnacle, Suite, Key or just a regular guest, if we're not given clearance NO ONE is getting off the ship, you complaining and saying how youve paid extra for priority debark makes absolutely no difference.
So true. We did this in Orlando. The room was so cheap for the day and they gave us a driver, free of charge, to take us to wherever we wanted to go. It made our last day so fantastic.
We always do self disembarkation, it goes so much faster. Our cruise to Alaska in June we disembarked at 7:10am, we were on the train in Vancouver by 7:30am, at the airport by 8:00am. It is much faster then waiting for your time to get off the ship ( with everyone else I might add ) your not among the crowd heading towards the train, taxi's or bus to take you to the airport.
Even when staying at a hotel on land, I open every drawer and closet before I leave to make sure I haven't left anything behind, and leave the drawer/door open to show that I've already "cleared" it.
Definitely check that safe before disembarking. Last cruise my wife and I took someone left a nice bag of smelly green plant matter in the safe. It took most of embarkation day to get security and sign paper work saying it hadn’t poisoned me and whatnot. So thanks to that person for leaving that behind and making my embarkation day a drag!!!
On most of our cruises to Europe, the cruise lines have arranged early flights back to the US. Getting to Los Angeles before Sunset requires leaving Europe before noon. e.g. After a Viking River Cruise to Ammsterdam. We left Amsterdam at 11 a.m., cleared customs in Minneapolis St. Paul, and arrived at LAX at 4:30 p.m.
We always tried to find a cheap hotel room the day of disembarkation day and always booked the last flight out of the day or the earliest the next day. Also the night before we'll pick some food items that don't need to be reheated so we could save it and snack on it while getting off.
Do check for your passport before leaving your cabin. Do it yourself, don't rely on any cabin mate. Years ago there were 4 of us in a cabin. One person checked the safe but she left my passport in it. I didn't check for it until we were in the waiting lounge. It was a mad scramble to track it down. Luckily we had a late afternoon flight so we didn't have that stress.
That’s not an oversight; she was actually trying to screw you. Some people can just be spiteful like that. I hope you are not traveling with her again.
@@S.Clause You are wrong in this case. We were all close friends. Two of our number have since passed away. Yes, some people are spiteful. But most are not.
I ALWAYS pack in a carry on and carry off my luggage. So much easier. I absolutely hate having to find my luggage in that mess in the terminal. Allows me to make an earlier flight with ease.
Norwegian arranged flights for us but they had us at the airport a full eight hours before the flight coming home. We had to sit _outside_ the airport for four hours before we could go _inside_ for another four. To make matters worse, the flight was delayed an additional two hours. Meaning we waited ten hours, missed or connection and had to overnight in Atlanta. As a result, we are not seriously considering Norwegian going forward and even if we do, absolutely not letting them choose our flights. Our experience with a third party agent has been much better. We not only choose our flights, but still book them with the cruise line for added assurance. We are also working hard going forward to only fly with carry on. Not only does this eliminate the risk of the airline losing our luggage, but it also makes embarkation and disembarkation much simpler. Right now we are looking for a way to spend a comfortable four hours in Miami before going to the airport.
Fantastic post!!! The shoe thing is a great idea. We have never forgotten anything in a safe, but as we get older!!! We are on Seabourn at the moment. They are doing an amazing job and it is the best group of singers we have ever heard. Really appreciate your posts.
Shoe in the safe! Always learn something from Mr. Bembridge even though I've been to fifty countries and haven't left anything (that I remember) in the safe. Will keep a fresh pair of socks instead lest I be considered anti-hygienic.
We do self disembarkation and take an early flight or sometimes book a day room for super late flights. In Tahiti our flight left at midnight. On our first cruise, the hubby didn't hold back clothes, fortunately i was able to chase the baggage dude down and grab his bag. That was how i learned we could self disembark!
If you are not able to self disembark, when you get to the luggage area, try to get a porter. They generally have a dedicated line and can get you out faster. I tip them well as that is what they live on.
Actually terminal porters are paid above the local non tipped minimum wage. Porters are not dependent on tips in the manner of restaurant and bar service workers in the United States.
One tip I heard recently is to put items that are being stored in the safe into zip top bags before placing them in the safe. This is particularly helpful for small items or items that are dark colored that might be difficult to see in the safe.
My tip would be to find out which disembarkation zone a potential cabin is in before booking said cabin, ex A1 would get called first, if you want to self disembark. We waited for F6, and before us they started calling regular disembarkation. If you are self disembarking, you should always get priority over those regular checked luggage folks.
I’m most cases if I’m flying home same day I prefer to linger onboard ship as long as I can before disembarking. That way I can enjoy my breakfast and a few cups of coffee without feeling rushed and hurried. Often I’ll ask cabin steward if I can store my bags in closet until ready to leave. Never gotten a no on that. This helps avoid luggage hunt and the late disembark lines are usually shorter to non existent
I have this old necklace that I use at home and carry with me. When there's something I have to remember to take with me, I hang it on the doorknob and I have a 100% success rate in remembering (a) what I need to grab (b) to grab it.
I was in my cabin until about 30 minutes before the latest time we were allowed to be in the cabin. By then the majority of people had left. We also had a leisurely sit down breakfast first and plenty of time to go back to the cabin and relax.
Yes, I'm doing a Seattle City tour, after my cruise finishes. Yes, the tour drops me off at the airport. I'm going to have to ask NCL if they will automatically move my suitcases to the excursion bus, or if I will have to find them, in the huge mess, and walk them over.
Very interesting and helpful, I have only done 2 cruises and you're right I only concentrated on the trip itself and not leaving. Thank you I will add that to my to do list.
We have found bagsbnb, looks like now radical storage, which we wish that we had found sooner. We used it to storage baggage in Barcelona after a cruise to explore more and take a bike tour. Ours was a bike shop as their main business; it worked great!
We like having a leisurely breakfast on board, before disembarking the ship. My friends left at 8 am, I don’t see the rush. None of us were taking a flight home and it’s rush hour.
Very valuable tips Gary. I've got a friend who loves cruising but disembarkation is her least favourite part of the whole experience. Perhaps this can be of value to her. Thank you.
I've always booked the flight for the next day. I overnight at a hotel with a shuttle. Means I don't have to sweat the flight the same way. Though I have tended to be one of the rushers to get off. I book the corporate pier-airport shuttle, and I don't want to miss that.
Awesome list here Gary. This is what I would do to prepare for disembarkation (it’s a pretty detailed list which for the most part agrees with the video): - Settle the onboard account statement with guest services the day before disembarkation and check for errors or to pay off any owed money to the cruise line. I would also use up any remaining non-refundable credit. On my only cruise so far, I went to settle the onboard account the day before and I had $9 non-refundable credit. I used that to buy a shot glass and a keyring from the onboard souvenir shop. I then double-checked the account with guest services and it was settled there. - If connecting to onward travel on the same day, factor in the connection time as to not be rushed but also not be somewhere way too early. If I was connecting onto a flight, I would recommend getting to the airport no later than 90 minutes prior for domestic travel and 180 minutes prior for international travel. - Ensure that all legal documents are organised and ready to be checked by the officials at the port (passports, visas, proof of onward travel, hotel reservations, declaration forms etc.). I would get a folder and carry the documents in that and in a backpack so that it can be easily reached. - Always try to get self-disembarkation where the option is available. Better yet to get it as early timed as possible in the disembarkation process as to minimise wait times with the transfers, taxis etc. - Take luggage bags which can easily be self-manoeuvred around the ship during the disembarkation process to minimise times at the baggage claim after getting documents checked. Take note of the coloured tag to identify the baggage group with your bag in it. - Check the entire cabin and all the little spaces at least three to four to ensure that personal items are not left behind and also to ensure not to accidentally take anything that belongs to the cruise line. A good idea is to have a checklist of all the personal items taken onboard and work through the checklist while packing the bag. - I would wake up early enough on disembarkation day to have all my items packed and ready to go before going to have a light breakfast at the earliest possible time which the food venue starts breakfast service. That is the time also where I would leave outside the cabin any bags which I cannot take off the ship myself.
I heard about you guys on another vlog and I LOVE your vlog. You are sooooo great! Made my day!!! I'm a teacher and I loved the safety checks on the bus. The kids are so engaged. And Dad, you are a scream!
What a great video! I do all the things you mention so I guess I’m now experienced! I place the luggage color tag in the holder on my lanyard. And I always have my packing list with disembarkation check list with me. Then when I get home I update it, if necessary, and have it ready to print out for the next cruise. I’m also trying not to use every nook and cranny to put things in.
Thank you for all the great info. One more thing for cruisers who gamble on board. Always cash in your chips on the last night. The casino will be closed when in port and those chips are useless on land.
Several years ago we did self-embarkation at Tampa, Fl and we left as early as we could. There was no customs or immigration personnel at all. We just walked out onto the street. We had come from Cuba!
We discovered cafe charges on the morning of disembarkation made the same morning. Luckily we were waiting for our time slot to be called and had enough time to run down to guest services to get it taken care of.
Gary, I love your videos. I wanted to suggest a video on eating strategies if you want to stay fit and healthy on the cruise. I really enjoy cruising, but keeping on my normal healthy diet is very difficult. How do you stay fit and trim while cruising a lot? Thanks!
If you’re fit enough to do it one of my strategies is to use the stairs as often as possible instead of the elevator so often I might be going up 6 to 12 flights or at least halfway up.
So, The cabin Safe . There’s a mat or a small rug to protect the floor or bottom of the safe.. on different occasions,I’ve found jewelry & cash under these mats . Check the entire safe when departing.
We were informed on day two of our last cruise that our departure excursion which included airport transfer had been cancelled by the tour operator. And of course the straight airport transfers were booked solid. Had to get a cab to downtown Seattle and use a website to secure our luggage at a cigar shop. Then light rail to the airport after sightseeing downtown.
We have done several of the tour/transfers through the cruise line. One of the best was a tour of an indigenous Village outside of Auckland. On HAL, the luggage was stored in the bus, it was handed to us at the airport. Another one with Celebrity took the luggage in Advance and the luggage was in a very specific area at the airport that our bus driver lead us to. I picked a flight home that coordinated well with these transfers/tours. We find this is a very easy option unless you plan on staying longer in the final port, then we do a self exit. If you can afford it, staying longer in the last port is a wonderful relaxing option.
Good news. We are choosing self disembarkation, I want to find out if we can take our own suitcase with us instead of leaving it outside the room. We can go for breakfast and then get to the Lauderdale airport for 9:00 am to catch our 12:00 pm flight back to Canada. Thanks again Gary!
You cover this topic very well, I been following those quidelines myself for last dozen of cruise I been on. If I may add one perferance choice, for those sailing Round Trip form a home port what the hurry to disembark, should I have taken public transportation, my own vehicle, or expect friends to pick me up, I personally plan to be the last few to leave the ship, this give me a relaxing morning at the food court or platinum waiting area where their abundance snacks available (only way to sneak ordourves off ship is to consume them, one area that never get searched.) But best part is luggage claim is nearly empty, so easy to find your luggage, and bulk of traffic also had left the area so less traffic jam to contend with.
Hello. I have been watching cruise videos for the last 2 weeks and well most of them from this channel so offcores i subscribed . My partner and I are planning to go on a cruise in january We are both in our 50's . (my first cruise/trip ever ) As i have said i have been watching allot of videos and i must say it's a little intimidating . There is so much to remember. but i digress , i was wondering if you or anyone has a best first cruise to suggest and cruise line to go with (any first timer tips would be good and appreciated) thank you very much ! P.S. i love your videos you are very truthful and clear. thanks
If you aren't in a hurry to get off because you have a later flight wait till last call to leave the ship, the line will mostly be thinned out by the time you get there and you won't be standing forever and a day
If you dock early and flight is later then self disembarking can give you a extra days holiday. Plan in advance and you line up a taxi / minibus tour, a few hours on the beach or another excursion. You have to plan how to deal with luggage (many hotels are happy to help for a fee - and often have facilities to change clothes), if your doing a minivan tour then you cam keep your luggage with you etc...You miss the advantage of not having to deal with your luggage from leaving your cabin, but it can give you time to explore rather than spending the day waiting for elevator / check out / bus / queue to check in / etc.....
I would also say that "planning for self-disembarkation" is not necessarily right, as what do you do with toiletries or other liquids if you do check your bags? This is not an issue if driving or getting the coach or train, but might be an issue when flying, at least until the new scaning rules come in (I think iin 2024) which will remove the 100 ml limit per item.
Sorry I forgot what video I asked, but does joining someone like Cruise Critic or other get you any discounts or upgrades on cruises? Keep up the great videos, u are the best!
I'm no longer looking at cruises out of San Juan. We used to have good connections to get in the morning of the cruise and out right after the cruise. Now the flights don't work out. Need hotel the night before and wait all day for flight home. We've been there several times so for now will just go places with better schedules.
Oh goodness yes always triple check *all* of the room's storage! It's so easy to stow a small stack of T-shirts or a random keepsake you "put somewhere safe" and forget it! Once you're off the boat, there's no going back! Make sure your stuff is going home with you!
Well, we just leaned a lesson on leaving the ship at the last moment, a perk of being a suite passenger: someone may take your luggage! We had a suitcase go missing and an identical one was sitting there in the luggage area. The people that took it didn't look to see that it wasn't their suitcase, even though the luggage tag clearly showed that it was not their piece of luggage. Fortunately, I had an AirTag in the bag so I could track its location as we were calling and texting the people that took ours. A hot mess that could have been avoided if a) we left the ship earlier, or b) people had been more careful.
Just returned from a 24 day cruise. What a nightmare both embarkation and disembarkation was! The cruise went smoothly. I can't totally site our cruise line, BUT, I will try my hardest to avoid Boston. Getting on and off took hours and marred what was a great experience. So, if possible try to get as much information about your Port city's handling of such events.
Not knowing what an ESTA was I had to look it up, ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), one less thing for me to worry about for my cruise. 😀
Last cruise hubby accidentally got the laundry bag when getting clothes out of closet. Was $10. I had seen it before off ship as a charge. I asked if I could get it from our luggage and they said no since it was already outside.
We were planning to fly home the day after our cruise, so we rented a car. The trick was, there was no car rental close to the port! My husband left the ship as early as possible to get a taxi to the airport, pick up the car, and come back to get the rest of us. It was a bit hectic, mostly because the traffic was terrible, but we weren't left waiting any longer than the folks waiting for the airport shuttles and ride shares. I am hoping next time we cruise we'll use a port that has good public transit options we can use. Miami does not! Or if they have them, the cleverly hide them from Google searches so no one can use them.
I agree with all of your tips (and do most of those) except the 12pm flight. That is just asking for trouble. Any issues, late arrival (medical emergencies, weather, police incidents, etc.), traffic, customs delays, airport problems, airport problems, airport problems. For domestic flights, many airports recommend 3+ hours for domestic flights, 4+ hours for international flights. In fact, I prefer to spend an extra day in the port city before and after the cruise. Why waste a city to visit?
Thank you for so m any really useful hints, tips, pieces of information and warnings. I wonder if you would mind telling us what disabled people do on the beginning and end of cruises. I can walk a bit but only stand for around 10 minutes. I'd appreciate it if you could find some real information and not what some we're told just to keep in with the DDA. Thank you, blessings
Terrific info Gary. If you have transfers to airport on disembarkation day do you still put your luggage out the night prior or take it with you? What time do you HAVE TO be off ship? Thank you.
The time you can start to disembark with toting your own luggage is usually some place between 8 and 9 am but cruise lines vary. Just because you aren’t off at 9 am (or whatever) doesn’t mean you are in trouble, by the way, so take your time if you need to. They do time the people disembarking to keep flowing through customs easy, though.
Sadly you didn't cover breakfast which is chaotic in the best of cases - especially on the multi thousand ships. Depending how I feel about things the day before, I have, on a few occasions already, hamstered away a simple disembarkation day breakfast in order to avoid the crazy rush at the restaurants (plus lack of seating as people will just camp there). An apple/pear and a banana will hold perfectly from one day to the next in the cabin. As will cookies. A late room service order might just offer something that'll hold for a few hours and serve as a breakfast too (say a cold ham & cheese sandwich). 24hr coffee stations are perfect for this last breakfast in the room; a good way to also use the balcony one last time should you choose to. I've even had cold pizza for breakfast (hey, we did it in college and didn't die).
![[UA] NAVI vs MOUZ | BO5 | IEM Rio 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMBYk0cbGoA/mqdefault.jpg)
I have always wondered why everyone wants to be the first one off the ship. I would much rather enjoy a leisurely breakfast and wait for lines to go down.
On a recent Viking River Cruise, we did a very good job of clearing all shelves and drawers. We got home with an extra shirt and underwear. They are being donated.
Someone once suggested wearing your disembarkion day clothing and shoes while packing so that you know you have what you need.
Like that tip 😀😀
One thing that I do, is make a sandwich or gather items for a small lunch during breakfast time so when you are waiting at the airport or touring around your don't need to waste time or money on eating in a restaurant.
Check out Hotels by Day. You can book a hotel room for the day if your flight is in the evening.
Thanks for the tip. I had never heard of a day hotel before watching this. This will solve our upcoming issue of having a late flight. The thought of sitting in airport for 10 hours is not a nice end to a vacation,
I always have several plastic bags in my luggage. Both small ones and large ones. I always use one for the hotel or ship safe. That way I’m absolutely sure nothing is left behind because everything is in the bag. Love your videos stay safe
Good idea
thank you
I do this too! Our room attendant is probably wondering why I have so many bags of various sizes.
Something I would also say is if you are in a wheelchair and have a party member to push you I would recommend asking the people at the accessible disembarking desk if you can convoy with the next person, the people who are trained to handle the disabled pasengers are so short staffed they will appreciate one less person to push and they also know the best tips and routes. Also having that high vis person normally helps people out your way
I always carry a large white napkin in the outer pocket of my suitcase. When I arrive somewhere and put my passport and wallet in the safe, I tie it to the handle of the bag. It is not removed until the safe is cleaned out. Thanks for your tips!
That is a great one!👍
Gary, I know you posted this at least a year ago, but you deserve my thanks for this. I'm at the stage of my cruise journey where I'm writing down tips and tricks and what to expect. Your posts about embarkation day and disembarkation day are extremely helpful. Thank you so much!
I don't get the 12 noon flight concept.
If you have a flight at 12 noon you should be at the airport by 10- 10.30 am
That would typically mean you should be in a position to leave for the airport by 9.30 am
So if cruise ship reaches by 8 am , and you opting for traditional disembarkation , would you be able to make this time line without headache ? And what if the ship is delayed by an hour or two ? 🤔
Think it's cutting it too close especially if you have a international flight to catch 🤔
Maybe it's just me , but I rather wait at the airport for couple of hours than risk cutting my flight time too close to give me mini heart attacks on the the way to the airport 😂
If you do online check in, you only need to be at the airport 30-45 minutes before flight time
@@gregwhates5948 ok in that context, but may not work out for international flights , especially if you are passing through an airport which has seasonal or normal high queues for security checks ( let alone immigration)
@@dimitrz2000 I agree with you but also you have to allow for times of high traffic
@@gregwhates594830-45 minutes is just cutting it wayyyy to close for comfort for me.
Dave, thanks so much for your videos. We recently followed your advice about settling in the first day. We found we didn’t like our cabin, went to guest services and were upgraded the next day. There was a very reasonable charge for this, but we had a much nicer cruise. Your advice is always helpful and clear.
Dave??
Great tutorial for experienced and cruising newbies. We're firm believers in self disembarkation which also helps us not to overpack. Came in handy last QE2 crossing where we were one of the first off the ship to find that NYC was having a bike race that day and were closing streets around the port early that morning. Had we waited, we'd most likely would have missed our flight out of LGA.
No, this should all be COMMON SENSE!!!!
@@johnp139 Jeez, calm down
We always choose the self-disembarkation - it just works better for us b/c we're on the road and back home before some cruisers have left the ship! (We live in Central FL, very convenient!!) We did the regular disembarkation on our last cruise in 2019 and while you can have coffee & small pastries while waiting, it was too much waiting. Great tips, Gary. We just love your channel!!
WE have a condo near by but did not want to park at the Port $$, any recommendations?
@@TheHouseboat1 I hope you check out videos by The Weekend Cruiser. He goes on a weekend cruise nearly every week. I don't remember when but he posted videos about a new service for getting cruisers who are relatively local to the ports. I said if we lived closer (and not 4 hrs away!) I'd absolutely use the service so I could leave my car in my garage! Check it out & good luck!!
@@dionline88 will do, thanks😎
@@TheHouseboat1 do you live in Miami or West Palm or Fort Lauderdale? If you do maybe you can take the Brightline shuttle to get there if you’re taking the train there. And the train from Orlando starts early next year or next quarter.
RE: Princess Medallion for disembarkation. I forgot mine in my stateroom on my last cruise and didn't realize until I was at the gangway being scanned out. They were able to look me up by my name and verify with my security photo to process my disembarkation without using the medallion. I actually would have preferred to go back and retrieve it because it was still in the wrist strap I had purchased for it, but our airport shuttle had arrived early and the driver was waiting so we left it behind. Obviously it's not recommended to disembark without the Medallion because it would certainly cause delays if lots of people did that, but it does seem like it's possible.
We normally get early afternoon flights and pay for airport lounge access (when we can't use our BA status). For not much money you can relax, have a few drinks and a nice lunch before boarding. We always find our makes the end of the holiday nice and relaxing
Good tips Gary, thanks. One thing I do which you touched on, is to sign on to your on board account via tv or other device soon after boarding. First, it confirms that you can access your account and check it daily!! On one cruise we took I was charged for six martinis at the sail away that were ordered by another party. It took me until the end of the cruise to get it resolved by the purser’s office.
I advise removing items from the safe before going to bed the night before disembarkation. I have had safes malfunction, requiring me to call maintenance to have them open it. It would be stressful for this to happen on the morning of disembarkation.
Also, you don’t have to get off the ship when your number is called.
You can wait until final disembarkation and your luggage will be waiting there for you. I much prefer having a leisurely breakfast on the ship, waiting for the early rush to pass.
I agree with both suggestions 100%.
I found your channel last week and have been binge watching because I find them so helpful especially for seniors. I haven't been on a cruise since 2002 and I can see now from watching how things have changed. Thanks to you and your informative videos I think my cruise on October 1st, will go smoothly. I just like how you cover everything. Now I have more of your videos to get back to.
On one of our cruises we went to the airport and checked our luggage in for our return flight early. Then we took a taxi to a nearby restaurant we wanted to try.
Taxi driver was upset it wasn't a long trip but we reminded him he would be able to get back to the taxi stand quickly.
Restaurant waiter was snooty when we wanted to share main dishes. Then we asked for the wine list and all was well. We weren't trying to save money. We had no way to handle uneaten food and didn't want to waste it. We had a leisurely lunch, explored the restaurant, and then got a taxi back to the airport.
I wouldn't do this now; too much danger of luggage going astray.
We did self-disembarkation on our last cruise by accident, because otherwise we'd have missed our train home. I think we'll do it from now on because it was so painless.
I’m not sure why, but I’ve never actually thought about self-disembarkation. You’ve definitely got me thinking for my next cruise, as I’m more than capable of heaving my own suitcase down the gangway - watch this space to see if it (or me) ends up falling off the gangway and into the water… ha!
Doing Debark as crew is stressful. I'm Youth Staff with RC and I had no idea it would be part of my duties but, along with Cruise and Sports staff, it was. My biggest plea is just be patient and understand that we are trying our best. I had guests shout at me because they didn't know what to do, which could've been avoided if they'd arrived to the location at their specific time, and not half an hour early. Also, I don't care whether you're Pinnacle, Suite, Key or just a regular guest, if we're not given clearance NO ONE is getting off the ship, you complaining and saying how youve paid extra for priority debark makes absolutely no difference.
Excellent overview. Many of these tips are just as good for land stays.
So true. We did this in Orlando. The room was so cheap for the day and they gave us a driver, free of charge, to take us to wherever we wanted to go. It made our last day so fantastic.
We always do self disembarkation, it goes so much faster. Our cruise to Alaska in June we disembarked at 7:10am, we were on the train in Vancouver by 7:30am, at the airport by 8:00am. It is much faster then waiting for your time to get off the ship ( with everyone else I might add ) your not among the crowd heading towards the train, taxi's or bus to take you to the airport.
Even when staying at a hotel on land, I open every drawer and closet before I leave to make sure I haven't left anything behind, and leave the drawer/door open to show that I've already "cleared" it.
Definitely check that safe before disembarking. Last cruise my wife and I took someone left a nice bag of smelly green plant matter in the safe. It took most of embarkation day to get security and sign paper work saying it hadn’t poisoned me and whatnot. So thanks to that person for leaving that behind and making my embarkation day a drag!!!
On most of our cruises to Europe, the cruise lines have arranged early flights back to the US. Getting to Los Angeles before Sunset requires leaving Europe before noon. e.g. After a Viking River Cruise to Ammsterdam. We left Amsterdam at 11 a.m., cleared customs in Minneapolis St. Paul, and arrived at LAX at 4:30 p.m.
We always tried to find a cheap hotel room the day of disembarkation day and always booked the last flight out of the day or the earliest the next day. Also the night before we'll pick some food items that don't need to be reheated so we could save it and snack on it while getting off.
Do check for your passport before leaving your cabin. Do it yourself, don't rely on any cabin mate.
Years ago there were 4 of us in a cabin. One person checked the safe but she left my passport in it. I didn't check for it until we were in the waiting lounge. It was a mad scramble to track it down. Luckily we had a late afternoon flight so we didn't have that stress.
That’s not an oversight; she was actually trying to screw you. Some people can just be spiteful like that. I hope you are not traveling with her again.
@@S.Clause You are wrong in this case. We were all close friends. Two of our number have since passed away.
Yes, some people are spiteful. But most are not.
I ALWAYS pack in a carry on and carry off my luggage. So much easier. I absolutely hate having to find my luggage in that mess in the terminal. Allows me to make an earlier flight with ease.
Norwegian arranged flights for us but they had us at the airport a full eight hours before the flight coming home. We had to sit _outside_ the airport for four hours before we could go _inside_ for another four. To make matters worse, the flight was delayed an additional two hours. Meaning we waited ten hours, missed or connection and had to overnight in Atlanta. As a result, we are not seriously considering Norwegian going forward and even if we do, absolutely not letting them choose our flights. Our experience with a third party agent has been much better. We not only choose our flights, but still book them with the cruise line for added assurance. We are also working hard going forward to only fly with carry on. Not only does this eliminate the risk of the airline losing our luggage, but it also makes embarkation and disembarkation much simpler. Right now we are looking for a way to spend a comfortable four hours in Miami before going to the airport.
Fantastic post!!!
The shoe thing is a great idea. We have never forgotten anything in a safe, but as we get older!!!
We are on Seabourn at the moment. They are doing an amazing job and it is the best group of singers we have ever heard.
Really appreciate your posts.
Ahhh, I will take your tip. I anticipate feeling much more relaxed! Thank you.
Self disembarkation ~ did not know this was an option ~ excellent tip!✔️ Thanks Gary @tips for travellers 👍🏻
Glad it was helpful! I use it now a lot
Shoe in the safe! Always learn something from Mr. Bembridge even though I've been to fifty countries and haven't left anything (that I remember) in the safe. Will keep a fresh pair of socks instead lest I be considered anti-hygienic.
We do self disembarkation and take an early flight or sometimes book a day room for super late flights. In Tahiti our flight left at midnight. On our first cruise, the hubby didn't hold back clothes, fortunately i was able to chase the baggage dude down and grab his bag. That was how i learned we could self disembark!
If you are not able to self disembark, when you get to the luggage area, try to get a porter. They generally have a dedicated line and can get you out faster. I tip them well as that is what they live on.
Actually terminal porters are paid above the local non tipped minimum wage. Porters are not dependent on tips in the manner of restaurant and bar service workers in the United States.
One tip I heard recently is to put items that are being stored in the safe into zip top bags before placing them in the safe. This is particularly helpful for small items or items that are dark colored that might be difficult to see in the safe.
My tip would be to find out which disembarkation zone a potential cabin is in before booking said cabin, ex A1 would get called first, if you want to self disembark. We waited for F6, and before us they started calling regular disembarkation. If you are self disembarking, you should always get priority over those regular checked luggage folks.
I’m most cases if I’m flying home same day I prefer to linger onboard ship as long as I can before disembarking. That way I can enjoy my breakfast and a few cups of coffee without feeling rushed and hurried. Often I’ll ask cabin steward if I can store my bags in closet until ready to leave. Never gotten a no on that. This helps avoid luggage hunt and the late disembark lines are usually shorter to non existent
I have this old necklace that I use at home and carry with me. When there's something I have to remember to take with me, I hang it on the doorknob and I have a 100% success rate in remembering (a) what I need to grab (b) to grab it.
Who would have thought getting off a cruise requires as much planning as getting onto a cruise. Thanks!
I was in my cabin until about 30 minutes before the latest time we were allowed to be in the cabin. By then the majority of people had left. We also had a leisurely sit down breakfast first and plenty of time to go back to the cabin and relax.
Yes, I'm doing a Seattle City tour, after my cruise finishes. Yes, the tour drops me off at the airport. I'm going to have to ask NCL if they will automatically move my suitcases to the excursion bus, or if I will have to find them, in the huge mess, and walk them over.
You , Sir are making me want to cruise!
Very interesting and helpful, I have only done 2 cruises and you're right I only concentrated on the trip itself and not leaving. Thank you I will add that to my to do list.
We have found bagsbnb, looks like now radical storage, which we wish that we had found sooner. We used it to storage baggage in Barcelona after a cruise to explore more and take a bike tour. Ours was a bike shop as their main business; it worked great!
I usually stay on the cruise as long as I can on disembarking day. Stay long at the Buffet and chill at the other lounges haha
We like having a leisurely breakfast on board, before disembarking the ship. My friends left at 8 am, I don’t see the rush. None of us were taking a flight home and it’s rush hour.
Excellent video! My best tip is to book another cruise so that you don't have to pack and leave.
LOL providing you had booked early and were able to get the same cabin.
Oh my gosh, so much to know and remember before my first cruise, it's overwhelming; but big thanks Gary- sage advice!
Very valuable tips Gary. I've got a friend who loves cruising but disembarkation is her least favourite part of the whole experience. Perhaps this can be of value to her. Thank you.
For my next cruise the soonest flight after 12 noon is a 3p.m. I will continue to check flight availability as I get closer to the cruise.
“Smart cruisers taught me…”
It’s okay, Gary. You can say these initiatives are all yours and we won’t think any less of you for dropping the modesty!
I love the idea of putting a shoe in the room safe the night before disembarkation !! 😂
I've always booked the flight for the next day. I overnight at a hotel with a shuttle. Means I don't have to sweat the flight the same way. Though I have tended to be one of the rushers to get off. I book the corporate pier-airport shuttle, and I don't want to miss that.
Awesome list here Gary. This is what I would do to prepare for disembarkation (it’s a pretty detailed list which for the most part agrees with the video):
- Settle the onboard account statement with guest services the day before disembarkation and check for errors or to pay off any owed money to the cruise line. I would also use up any remaining non-refundable credit. On my only cruise so far, I went to settle the onboard account the day before and I had $9 non-refundable credit. I used that to buy a shot glass and a keyring from the onboard souvenir shop. I then double-checked the account with guest services and it was settled there.
- If connecting to onward travel on the same day, factor in the connection time as to not be rushed but also not be somewhere way too early. If I was connecting onto a flight, I would recommend getting to the airport no later than 90 minutes prior for domestic travel and 180 minutes prior for international travel.
- Ensure that all legal documents are organised and ready to be checked by the officials at the port (passports, visas, proof of onward travel, hotel reservations, declaration forms etc.). I would get a folder and carry the documents in that and in a backpack so that it can be easily reached.
- Always try to get self-disembarkation where the option is available. Better yet to get it as early timed as possible in the disembarkation process as to minimise wait times with the transfers, taxis etc.
- Take luggage bags which can easily be self-manoeuvred around the ship during the disembarkation process to minimise times at the baggage claim after getting documents checked. Take note of the coloured tag to identify the baggage group with your bag in it.
- Check the entire cabin and all the little spaces at least three to four to ensure that personal items are not left behind and also to ensure not to accidentally take anything that belongs to the cruise line. A good idea is to have a checklist of all the personal items taken onboard and work through the checklist while packing the bag.
- I would wake up early enough on disembarkation day to have all my items packed and ready to go before going to have a light breakfast at the earliest possible time which the food venue starts breakfast service. That is the time also where I would leave outside the cabin any bags which I cannot take off the ship myself.
This was really helpful- thank you 👍🇦🇺
@@adamlawrence4690 All good mate. I will consider my comment a success because it benefited someone. 🇦🇺
I heard about you guys on another vlog and I LOVE your vlog. You are sooooo great! Made my day!!! I'm a teacher and I loved the safety checks on the bus. The kids are so engaged. And Dad, you are a scream!
What a great video! I do all the things you mention so I guess I’m now experienced! I place the luggage color tag in the holder on my lanyard. And I always have my packing list with disembarkation check list with me. Then when I get home I update it, if necessary, and have it ready to print out for the next cruise. I’m also trying not to use every nook and cranny to put things in.
I would expect nothing else from you Hetty! With all your travels and watching videos I am sure you are way past expert cruise stage : -)
I have a back to back coming up with turnaround in Boston. Seriously, should I stay on the ship and visit Boston another day?
Thank you for all the great info. One more thing for cruisers who gamble on board. Always cash in your chips on the last night. The casino will be closed when in port and those chips are useless on land.
Several years ago we did self-embarkation at Tampa, Fl and we left as early as we could. There was no customs or immigration personnel at all. We just walked out onto the street. We had come from Cuba!
I take a cab to the airport and rent a car. For around $50 you have luggage storage and a vehicle for self guided tours.
We discovered cafe charges on the morning of disembarkation made the same morning. Luckily we were waiting for our time slot to be called and had enough time to run down to guest services to get it taken care of.
Gary, I love your videos. I wanted to suggest a video on eating strategies if you want to stay fit and healthy on the cruise. I really enjoy cruising, but keeping on my normal healthy diet is very difficult. How do you stay fit and trim while cruising a lot? Thanks!
If you’re fit enough to do it one of my strategies is to use the stairs as often as possible instead of the elevator so often I might be going up 6 to 12 flights or at least halfway up.
So, The cabin Safe . There’s a mat or a small rug to protect the floor or bottom of the safe.. on different occasions,I’ve found jewelry & cash under these mats . Check the entire safe when departing.
We were informed on day two of our last cruise that our departure excursion which included airport transfer had been cancelled by the tour operator. And of course the straight airport transfers were booked solid. Had to get a cab to downtown Seattle and use a website to secure our luggage at a cigar shop. Then light rail to the airport after sightseeing downtown.
We have done several of the tour/transfers through the cruise line. One of the best was a tour of an indigenous Village outside of Auckland. On HAL, the luggage was stored in the bus, it was handed to us at the airport. Another one with Celebrity took the luggage in Advance and the luggage was in a very specific area at the airport that our bus driver lead us to. I picked a flight home that coordinated well with these transfers/tours. We find this is a very easy option unless you plan on staying longer in the final port, then we do a self exit. If you can afford it, staying longer in the last port is a wonderful relaxing option.
Good news. We are choosing self disembarkation, I want to find out if we can take our own suitcase with us instead of leaving it outside the room. We can go for breakfast and then get to the Lauderdale airport for 9:00 am to catch our 12:00 pm flight back to Canada. Thanks again Gary!
Self disembarking requires you to carry off all of your belongings. Do not place suitcases outside the cabin if you choose to self disembark!
@@bethdavis6863
That’s what we want. We pack smart so we only have one suitcase each.
You cover this topic very well, I been following those quidelines myself for last dozen of cruise I been on. If I may add one perferance choice, for those sailing Round Trip form a home port what the hurry to disembark, should I have taken public transportation, my own vehicle, or expect friends to pick me up, I personally plan to be the last few to leave the ship, this give me a relaxing morning at the food court or platinum waiting area where their abundance snacks available (only way to sneak ordourves off ship is to consume them, one area that never get searched.)
But best part is luggage claim is nearly empty, so easy to find your luggage, and bulk of traffic also had left the area so less traffic jam to contend with.
Very good tips, Gary!
Thanks for the great suggestions and tips. I have learned new things - day hotels and luggage storage!
Hello. I have been watching cruise videos for the last 2 weeks and well most of them from this channel so offcores i subscribed . My partner and I are planning to go on a cruise in january We are both in our 50's . (my first cruise/trip ever ) As i have said i have been watching allot of videos and i must say it's a little intimidating . There is so much to remember. but i digress , i was wondering if you or anyone has a best first cruise to suggest and cruise line to go with (any first timer tips would be good and appreciated) thank you very much !
P.S. i love your videos you are very truthful and clear. thanks
God bless you! You’ve taught me so much! 🙂
You are so welcome
If you aren't in a hurry to get off because you have a later flight wait till last call to leave the ship, the line will mostly be thinned out by the time you get there and you won't be standing forever and a day
If you dock early and flight is later then self disembarking can give you a extra days holiday. Plan in advance and you line up a taxi / minibus tour, a few hours on the beach or another excursion. You have to plan how to deal with luggage (many hotels are happy to help for a fee - and often have facilities to change clothes), if your doing a minivan tour then you cam keep your luggage with you etc...You miss the advantage of not having to deal with your luggage from leaving your cabin, but it can give you time to explore rather than spending the day waiting for elevator / check out / bus / queue to check in / etc.....
I would also say that "planning for self-disembarkation" is not necessarily right, as what do you do with toiletries or other liquids if you do check your bags? This is not an issue if driving or getting the coach or train, but might be an issue when flying, at least until the new scaning rules come in (I think iin 2024) which will remove the 100 ml limit per item.
Sorry I forgot what video I asked, but does joining someone like Cruise Critic or other get you any discounts or upgrades on cruises? Keep up the great videos, u are the best!
Check this out if you are a cruiser! Solid advice
I'm no longer looking at cruises out of San Juan. We used to have good connections to get in the morning of the cruise and out right after the cruise. Now the flights don't work out. Need hotel the night before and wait all day for flight home. We've been there several times so for now will just go places with better schedules.
Great info! Thanks Gary.
Love those tips
Oh goodness yes always triple check *all* of the room's storage! It's so easy to stow a small stack of T-shirts or a random keepsake you "put somewhere safe" and forget it! Once you're off the boat, there's no going back! Make sure your stuff is going home with you!
Thx Gary, good points to remember.
Well, we just leaned a lesson on leaving the ship at the last moment, a perk of being a suite passenger: someone may take your luggage! We had a suitcase go missing and an identical one was sitting there in the luggage area. The people that took it didn't look to see that it wasn't their suitcase, even though the luggage tag clearly showed that it was not their piece of luggage. Fortunately, I had an AirTag in the bag so I could track its location as we were calling and texting the people that took ours. A hot mess that could have been avoided if a) we left the ship earlier, or b) people had been more careful.
Just returned from a 24 day cruise. What a nightmare both embarkation and disembarkation was! The cruise went smoothly. I can't totally site our cruise line, BUT, I will try my hardest to avoid Boston. Getting on and off took hours and marred what was a great experience. So, if possible try to get as much information about your Port city's handling of such events.
Not knowing what an ESTA was I had to look it up, ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), one less thing for me to worry about for my cruise. 😀
Thanks for the tips and tricks.
As tour director with groups onboard many cruises...The MOST left behind items are in the SAFE..I never suggest using them
Most things don't need to go in a safe, i hide things in my luggage. Most cleaning staff will not rummage through you're suitcases.
Last cruise hubby accidentally got the laundry bag when getting clothes out of closet. Was $10. I had seen it before off ship as a charge. I asked if I could get it from our luggage and they said no since it was already outside.
We were planning to fly home the day after our cruise, so we rented a car. The trick was, there was no car rental close to the port! My husband left the ship as early as possible to get a taxi to the airport, pick up the car, and come back to get the rest of us. It was a bit hectic, mostly because the traffic was terrible, but we weren't left waiting any longer than the folks waiting for the airport shuttles and ride shares.
I am hoping next time we cruise we'll use a port that has good public transit options we can use. Miami does not! Or if they have them, the cleverly hide them from Google searches so no one can use them.
We carry our own luggage on. We get free laundry so we only use small carry on luggage .
I agree with all of your tips (and do most of those) except the 12pm flight. That is just asking for trouble. Any issues, late arrival (medical emergencies, weather, police incidents, etc.), traffic, customs delays, airport problems, airport problems, airport problems. For domestic flights, many airports recommend 3+ hours for domestic flights, 4+ hours for international flights. In fact, I prefer to spend an extra day in the port city before and after the cruise. Why waste a city to visit?
I agree 100%!!! Also helps deal with the jetlag. 🤣
Yeah I always allow a day extra before and after the cruise now.
Thank you for the video!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for so m any really useful hints, tips, pieces of information and warnings. I wonder if you would mind telling us what disabled people do on the beginning and end of cruises. I can walk a bit but only stand for around 10 minutes. I'd appreciate it if you could find some real information and not what some we're told just to keep in with the DDA. Thank you, blessings
Terrific info Gary. If you have transfers to airport on disembarkation day do you still put your luggage out the night prior or take it with you? What time do you HAVE TO be off ship? Thank you.
The time you can start to disembark with toting your own luggage is usually some place between 8 and 9 am but cruise lines vary. Just because you aren’t off at 9 am (or whatever) doesn’t mean you are in trouble, by the way, so take your time if you need to. They do time the people disembarking to keep flowing through customs easy, though.
Sadly you didn't cover breakfast which is chaotic in the best of cases - especially on the multi thousand ships. Depending how I feel about things the day before, I have, on a few occasions already, hamstered away a simple disembarkation day breakfast in order to avoid the crazy rush at the restaurants (plus lack of seating as people will just camp there).
An apple/pear and a banana will hold perfectly from one day to the next in the cabin. As will cookies. A late room service order might just offer something that'll hold for a few hours and serve as a breakfast too (say a cold ham & cheese sandwich).
24hr coffee stations are perfect for this last breakfast in the room; a good way to also use the balcony one last time should you choose to. I've even had cold pizza for breakfast (hey, we did it in college and didn't die).
Excellent info
I keep my phone and camera in a lock n seal container(s) in my luggage, The are very resistant to damage and water ingress
So many great comments