This means anyone that elects to not rely on Royal Caribbean to deliver their luggage to the cruise terminalandis capable of carrying their own luggage may disembark the ship. If you think you'll have questions, send one member of your group to the talk. mistakes when disembarking a cruise ship. Usually, the deadline is sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. I hope this example explains it better. Although fond of lake Erie, her first love is the sea. There are a few important steps you need to take care of on the last day of your cruise to ensure you have a successful departure. Can understand problems if ship time does not match local time. Combine both for an epic 18-night vacation through two countries and several northern mountains. I went to Bermuda on the Grandeur 4 weeks ago and we had to change our watches to Bermuda timeMaureen. Crew members pick up your bags at night and ensure they are waiting for you on land, freeing you and your family up from the stress of keeping track of your luggage. Mistakes happen, and inevitably there will be long lines at guest services on embarkation day with people arguing about specific charges. Royal Caribbean offers two departure types: Regular and Self-Assist . Plus, you'll create a crowd and that causes issues for everyone else. You cannot simply leave your cruise ship at any time on disembarkation day. In order to prevent a mass exodus at the same time, Royal Caribbean divides up its passengers by groups. Having been on two summer time Royal Caribbean Western Caribbean cruises leaving out of Maimi, I knew the ship would not change the time, so I knew we would be off by one hour when we arrived in Grand Cayman. Elevator banks on both will be extremely crowded. Moreover, the inspection by local officials is completely out of Royal Caribbean's hands. Most cruise ships are cleared for passengers to debark between 7 and 9 a.m., depending on their arrival time. Passengers carrying their own luggage ashore are allowed to leave as early as they wish, once the ship is cleared to begin the disembarkation process. You'll need to stay in a Grand Suite or higher for this benefit, and suites are far from inexpensive. The next cruise where I stopped in Grand Cayman I did not know what time zone the ship would be on when we arrived. If a ship arrives later whether a late arrival is scheduled ahead of time or due to a delay a general rule of thumb is that it will be cleared about an hour after it docks or anchors, assuming there are no regulatory snags. Hello, Loath as I am to disagree with Rancher Dave, I have always been on ships that had us adjust our time to the ports. (The last one is particularly helpful in ports where tendering is required.). The ship first must be cleared by Customs and port authorities before anyone can disembark. The ship may not always follow local time. Dont forget the bedside table drawers and the very back of the shelves. The same rule applies to pool or beach towels stored in your cabin. Video: What's coming to Royal Caribbean in 2020. What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships? When a number is called, it means all the luggage for that number are ready to be picked up in the cruise terminal. The issue here is what time the ship gets cleared, and there's no definitive way to know in advance. Then have to get to the airport, which may involve navigating through heavy traffic, and waiting in security lines along with hundreds of other cruise travelers, fresh off their ships. Last year on the Mariner Western route the ship stayed on ship time even though it was up to 2 hours different than local time at one point. It also said exactly when, because you get the compass the night before. Ship Time!!! With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Score priority disembarkation. Anything you don't put in the checked bags -- nightclothes, toiletries, and so on -- must fit in your carry-on. We had booked a private tour and when our tour guide didn't know up 'at the right time' we checked with one of the locals and found out the local time was an hour behind. Putting a colorful ribbon or string on your bags will help you spot them. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. Best first-time cruises on Royal Caribbean, 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship, The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation. How do I get my luggage off the cruise ship? In many cases, you'll have the option to prepay gratuities before your trip. They often use different gangways for those disembarking and those just in port for the day, so you are not really in one another's way. If you don't want any surprises on the last night of your vacation, you can check your onboard bill throughout your cruise at guest services (or, in some cases, on the cruise line's app or interactive TV). 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. Therefore, to disembark your cruise means getting off of the ship at your final destination. Among the passenger shipping companies leaving from Seattle are CCL-Carnival, Celebrity, HAL-Holland America, NCL-Norwegian, Princess, RCI-Royal Caribbean, Oceania, Lindblad-National Geographic. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! The first group who may disembark the ship once the ship is cleared by local officials is guests who carry their own luggage off the ship (sometimes referred to as Express Departure). It definitely depends on the Captain AND the sailing so always check your Compass and just make sure to follow ship's time. Answer: It depends on the ship, and then within that, some other factors. If not, just leave blank. The system for removing bags from the ship works this way: On the last night of your cruise, you pack your large bags and leave them in the hall for the crew to remove and transfer to the pier. To make things easier and simpler for guests, Royal Caribbean offers to deliver guest luggage to the terminal for pickup. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Its a busy work day. There also will be a family zone, so younger guests can enjoy toys and games while waiting. Royal Caribbean offers two departure types: Regular and Self-Assist . When the cruise is ending, you disembark. In short, they're like the megaresorts you see in Las Vegas or Orlando. Does Royal Caribbean stay on ship time in ports or local port time ????? Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The entire process will take a few hours to get every single passenger off the ship when the cruise is over. Once the ship is cleared, the first people allowed off the ship will be anyone taking their own luggage off the ship. You may think you are done with your keycard when you vacate your cabin, but you will need to tap it one more time when you get off the ship. On large ships, your assigned disembarkation time is even color-coded and coordinated with your luggage tags. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. On a port-visit day, there's often no set order for disembarking, meaning that it can be a free-for-all. Like what you see? If you can take your own luggage off the ship, then you can disembark just as soon as the ship is cleared. LEARN MORE. CruiseHealth FAQ. Royal Caribbean offers two departure types: Regular and Self-Assist. The port will also build and operate a new 1800. Keep in mind these times are generalizations and it will vary. These taxes are often payable in cash only. If a ship arrives later whether a late arrival is scheduled ahead of time or due to . My point is that they will tell you specifically when and how to change your watch, etc. 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. Crew members pick up your bags at night and ensure they are waiting for you on land, freeing you and your family up from the stress of keeping track of your luggage. U.S. Customs allows you to enter the country with one liter of an alcoholic beverage per adult duty-free. However, you will be charged if you walk off with the bathrobe. Captain Marvin's is assuming that the ship will be on EDT and Grand Cayman is on EST, so the ship is one hour behind. The fastest option is if your ship can dock at a pier. You'll need to show your passport or other official identification to customs officials at the cruise terminal. If you're paying with a credit card, all you have to do is make sure that all the charges on the bill are correct. Check here before booking an award fare. If you're settling up with cash or traveler's checks, ship personnel will tell you when and where to close out your account. If you have received a customs form, its important to have this filled out (one per family). If you're staying in a Royal Caribbean suite, the disembarkation process can be faster than for other guests. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. A couple steps need to be completed first: There is no set time how long each of those steps can take, and that is why answering the question of what time someone can disembark the ship is so difficult. Yes, taxis are always available at ports of disembarkation to take travelers to the airport, post-cruise hotels or area attractions. If you want to meet your teens later on shore, they will need an adult with them to disembark the ship. It's nearly impossible to get cruise line land staff to fix onboard billing mistakes. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." Make sure you read up on departure procedures so you have the correct payment upon arrival at the airport and check with your airline in advance to find out whether or not the tax is factored into the airfare. NCL calls self disembarkation self-assist, referring to the option of skipping the luggage-outside-the-door system and self transporting your own luggage off the ship. That makes following disembarkation instructions even more important. What you need to know about going on a cruise if you're Canadian, Royal Caribbean cruises in September 2022: What to expect. I've found the longest waits can be for elevators in the morning of the last day of the cruise, rather than a wait to walk off the ship. After enjoying your final evening, youll need to pack up most of your items, so you can leave your larger luggage pieces in front of your stateroom for pick-up. You could walk off the ship before your luggage tag number is called, but you'll simply end up waiting in the cruise terminal for all the luggage to be brought out. Would the ship be on St. Thomas time when in port? For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. A very common misconception among first time cruisers is looking at the scheduled time a ship returns to port and assuming that is the first opportunity to disembark their Royal Caribbean ship. From packing to. When at port ignore the local time as the only time that matters in terms of when the ship sails away is ship time. If all that seems like too much to fit on a cruise vessel, consider this: The biggest Royal Caribbean ships are 18 decks high, nearly 1,200 feet long and capable of carrying nearly 7,000 passengers. What time do you disembark a cruise ship? You will want to have a carry-on suitcase or tote set aside so you can carry your toothbrush, pajamas and other items off the ship. TPG has answers: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. You can book bus transfers via your cruise line, either before your trip or onboard, that will either take you directly to the airport or combine a city tour with an airport transfer. :) Thanks for the info about the time. For example, my itinerary has us in St. Thomas from 9:00am till 5:30pm. for example, Day 1 you are in Quebec, Day 2 you will be in Halifax. I did a southern itinerary on Royal Caribbean and the ship kept its clocks on San Juan time. has spent more than 15 years writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. All rights reserved. Disembarking all passengers from a cruise ship takes a few hours, depending on the cruise ship's size. Once you reclaim your bags in the terminal, you usually must transport them through Customs before you leave the cruise terminal. Sometimes you'll meet as a group in a public area on board and disembark together shortly thereafter; other times, you'll be asked to disembark on your own at a given time and meet your group on the pier. We suggest checking your account at least once midway through the cruise to keep track of your spending. When your cruise ship comes into port, how much time will it take to get off the ship? Once the gangway is open for disembarkation, the real wait is simply how many other people are ahead of you. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Unlike traditional dining - where a dining time is assigned to you - guests who opt for My Time Dining can eat in the Main Dining Room whenever they like during dining hours, according to availability. The last night is typically casual and some cruisers find it easiest to wear the same clothes off the ship the next morning. The buses will run again and again until everyone gets a lift. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. There is a reason cruise lines recommend guests not book flights home before noon. Most cruise ships are cleared for passengers to debark between 7 and 9 a.m., depending on their arrival time. Guests who elect to carry their own luggage off the ship will be required to take their luggage from their stateroom, and take it all the way off the ship and through customs. The idea is that you put these tags on any luggage you would like the crew to handle (see below). This includes a dedicated elevator and better luggage support on the final morning. Early dining is generally 5:30 or 6:00pm depending on the ship and late is usually 8:00. As long as there's no delay in the cruise terminal backing up the line, you should be able to walk off the ship in a matter of minutes since all you'll need to do is scan your SeaPass card to indicate you are off the ship. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Sometimes the ship will adjust their clock so that ship time is the same as the time at the port you are visiting - other times it does not. The compass then explains that the time change is completed after you have departed a specific port. For example, my itinerary has us in St. Thomas from 9:00am till 5:30pm. As with packing for your first day, make sure you keep a small carry-on of essentials like travel documentsespecially your passport and SeaPass cardhandy so theyre easily accessible when getting off the ship. Throw in the change of daylight savings time and who knows as some islands change for this and some don't! Let's break down everything you need to know about debarking a cruise ship so you know exactly what to expect. Think of disembarkment syndrome like this: You hear people talking about getting their sea legs during the first days of a cruise. In most cases, the longest time required is the time needed to walk down the pier once off the ship. All rights reserved. Most Royal Caribbean terminals now have facial recognition for guests with a passport. Or, maybe you're just trying to figure out what time to book your flight home when your cruise ends. That time of year St. Thomas is one hour ahead cause of daylight savings. You cant just leave the ship when you feel like it. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Split between Houston/Schulenburg/La Grange, Texas. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. It's not the most entertaining way to spend your last sea day, so check to see if the session will be shown later on your in-cabin TV. Sometimes this is a mere formality and sometimes the inspection takes a while longer. Guests looking for the fastest way off the ship should consider Express Departure. The vessel (IMO number 9697753) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000397) and registered in Nassau.History - construction and ownership The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Enchantment started on EST, then switched to CST after leaving Key West for Cozumel and Belize, then switched back to EST on the last night coming back to Ft. Lauderdale. The result is usually a wait onboard the ship for a spot on a tender, followed by a wait for the tender to proceed to shore. The procedures for getting off a cruise ship, as well as cruise ship disembarkation times, can be confusing to first-time cruisers. Here's what to expect when you disembark your cruise ship. The What to Expect on a Cruise series, written by Cruise Critic's editorial staff, is a resource guide, where we answer the most common questions about cruise ship life -- including cruise food, cabins, drinks and onboard fun -- as well as money matters before and during your cruise and visiting ports of call on your cruise. It is up to the Captain. Do I need to go through Customs and immigration at the cruise port? Luggage Pickup To make things easier and simpler for guests, Royal Caribbean offers to deliver guest luggage to the terminal for pickup. Just like guests carrying their own luggage off the ship, the exact time luggage pickup begins will vary, but it usuallybegins 30-60 minutes after guests carrying their own luggage are able to start walking off the ship. Just curious, I on the Liberty of the seas next week. How does anyone manage to keep track, especially tour operators who have to get people back to ship at correct time. If being the first off your ship is important to you, there are several ways to ensure you won't have to wait around for too long. It could be 10-15 minutes or as long as an hour. Do I need to tip crew members before I disembark? Whether youre headed home or on to the next destination, heres everything you need to know to prepare for getting off the ship. Fall is a popular time to sail because of lower prices. Note: Times listed are approximate and will vary by sailing and disembarkation location. Keep your keycard with you. Packing for kids is a lot likeany cruise packing list, but any parent will tell you that kids come with their own set, Happy 2020! For most cruise itineraries, this means disembarking around 7AM instead of, say, 8 or 9AM. Small and luxury ships may have flexible, even leisurely, disembarkation plans. Anyone who has their bags offloaded by the ship's porters will be called to leave the vessel according to their designated luggage tag color or number; the tags are usually distributed a couple of days before the end of the voyage. Ships that terminate in U.S. ports may require passengers to fill out Customs forms and show their passports to border control in the cruise terminal. At the same time, leaving a packed carry-on bag in one corner, out of the way, while you go to breakfast may be acceptable. I recommend nothing earlier than 11 a.m. for most sailings later if you're flying internationally. Dress Code and What to Pack for a Cruise. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All experiences include at least one night in the must-see Denali National Park, where you can glimpse grizzly bears and caribou in low-elevation forests, which give way to alpine tundra and eventually North Americas tallest peak, the 20,310-foot Denali. I have no idea what will happen with the time zone on Serenade in January. Another hassle our crew can take care of for you is setting up your airport transfer for just a small fee. However, as they say, time is gold and you only have a limited amount of time to disembark the ship and enjoy what the locals have to offer. Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts and what you can do about them Don't get up at the crack of dawn. Cruisers don't have to be back on the ship until "all aboard," which is usually about 30 minutes prior to the ship's scheduled departure time. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Once your group is called, our crew will be on hand to show you the way, and will direct you to your luggage, your Royal Caribbean airport transfer, taxi or awaiting family. The answer is somewhat tricky, actually, because once you choose a seating, that's the time you eat in the main dining room every evening. These include luggage tags for your bags each tag will have a number that will correspond to your departure time the next day. Reservations are strongly recommended. Related: Should I buy my flights through my cruise line? So, it would say change your time after departing (insert name of port). The 24 hours before you disembark your cruise -- the point at which you get off the ship -- comes with a flurry of instructions. Avoid unnecessary heart palpitations by booking afternoon flights. Carefully wrap them in your dirty clothes. Cruisers who have booked shore excursions through the ship also get priority. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. On the final morning of a cruise experience in most countries all guests must leave the ship before the guests joining the next cruise can board. The night before disembarkation, a statement of everything you spent on the ship for drinks, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, souvenirs and any other splurges will be placed outside your cabin door. Depending on traffic and how the port authority regulates it can take 1 - 1 1/2 hours to get to the airport. Still need help? For more on cruise ship tipping procedures, read What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crewmembers on a Cruise. Also, if you've purchased souvenirs on your cruise, be sure to check your home country's allowances for goods like alcohol, cigarettes and cigars brought back from abroad. Thanks! If not, they'll be denied disembarkation. Head to the buffet or main dining room to enjoy a leisurely breakfast unless you are in a rush to get to your flight. Prior to disembarkation (usually on the final night of the cruise), a printed tally of your onboard account will be delivered to your cabin. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. .css-18jw8gc{-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;-ms-appearance:none;appearance:none;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;position:relative;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-md);transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-normal);height:auto;min-width:var(--chakra-sizes-10);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);background:none;border:0;color:black;display:inline;margin:0px;padding:0!important;font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-Roboto);font-weight:500;padding-top:0.625rem;padding-bottom:0.625rem;-webkit-padding-start:1rem;padding-inline-start:1rem;-webkit-padding-end:1rem;padding-inline-end:1rem;}.css-18jw8gc:focus-visible,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-18jw8gc:disabled,.css-18jw8gc[disabled],.css-18jw8gc[aria-disabled=true],.css-18jw8gc[data-disabled]{opacity:0.4;cursor:not-allowed;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}.css-18jw8gc:active,.css-18jw8gc[data-active]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:hover,.css-18jw8gc[data-hover]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:focus,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}Cookie Consent, Hidden in the Fine Print: 16 Things You Need to Know About Your Cruise Contract, Celebrity Cruises' Magic Carpet on Celebrity Edge, How to Navigate the Airport on Cruise Turnaround Day, 10 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Line Private Island, What to Expect on a Cruise: Getting Off the Ship (Photo: Cruise Critic).