LEARN MORE. Or are Captains so powerful they can decide which side of the ship is port? Do not assume the time listed for your ship to dock at the pier is the time you can actually walk off the ship. "Royal Caribbean will no longer allow cruise passengers to pre-plan early debark or late embarkation for any of our ships. PROTOCOLS UPDATE: VACCINATION & TESTING NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR MOST GUESTS. Map Data: Google However, the final day on most big ships is a madhouse. In most environments the latest time to leave the vessel will be between 10:00am and 11:00am. In preparation for, Have a Royal Caribbean cruise planned for September 2022? *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. My point is that they will tell you specifically when and how to change your watch, etc. Take a photo or otherwise make a notation of your tag color so you will know where to look for your bags. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. You will typically be asked to vacate your cabin by 9 a.m. (or even 8 a.m.) on disembarkation day so that the crew can prepare for the next passengers. Check the safe first thing when you get up on disembarkation day and make sure to reach your hand into every corner to look for forgotten items. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. I agree with what the others have said, it depends. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Split between Houston/Schulenburg/La Grange, Texas. If you see something that doesnt look right, visit the Guest Services Desk to resolve it. Anything you don't put in the checked bags -- nightclothes, toiletries, and so on -- must fit in your carry-on. First things first: breakfast will be available on the ship, so you can fuel up. A rookie mistake is packing too much in the luggage that you leave outside the door, then waking up the next day to realize you forgot to leave out shoes, pants or other necessary items. Powered by Invision Community. 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Editorial disclaimer: 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. 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. 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. Future Cruise Credits (FCC) Travel Documents. xxHadleyxx. A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, What to wear on a cruise: Cruise attire and cruise line dress codes, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Can I use cruise ship facilities on the last morning of my cruise? If you want to meet your teens later on shore, they will need an adult with them to disembark the ship. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. It does seem to be up to the Captain [ie it can vary, even on identical itinararies], but often if the time change would be for one day only ship time will NOT change to match the port time, whereas if there will be multiple days in the new time zone the Captain will generally change the ship time to match the new time zone. These include luggage tags for your bags each tag will have a number that will correspond to your departure time the next day. On larger vessels, passengers might have to report ahead of time to pick up a color-coded ticket that tells them when they can exit. For starters: Do not schedule your flight home right after your estimated cruise disembarkation time. Grab an extra hour or more of sleep unless you still need to check your bill that morning (see above). Most often, the Express Departure option is preferred by guests who want to depart as early as possible due to travel plans, work requirements, or other needs. Depending on traffic and how the port authority regulates it can take 1 - 1 1/2 hours to get to the airport. In those cases, passengers can disembark any time after their color or number is called but not before. Most Royal Caribbean terminals now have facial recognition for guests with a passport. I see where I may have confused someone. So how do you know in advance so to plan and book excursions accordingly? The simple answer is that you can't - at least if you book outside the ship. I have to disagree slightly with "it would say change your time after departing (insert name of port)"; the ship will stay on whatever time it was on throughout the evening, and the change occurs in the middle of the night when most are asleep. 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. Although most people report no problems, there is the opportunity for theft, so you might want to put TSA locks or cable-ties on your bags to secure your belongings. Everyone must leave the ship before the . Wouldn't it be much easier if fleetwide a policy be set so all ships followed the same procedure. Would the ship be on St. Thomas time when in port? Related: What to wear on a cruise: Cruise attire and cruise line dress codes. Of course, this means you have to lug all your belongings out of your room, down the hall, and into an elevator. So, it would say change your time after departing (insert name of port). If you decide to extend your vacation, our cruisetours are an excellent way to further explore your destinations, since they add guided land excursions to the beginning or end of your cruise. In comparison, a standard ocean view balcony is currently going for $1,988 per person. How long does it take to disembark a ship, and can you just walk straight onto the pier? 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. While some lines let you stay in your cabins until it's time to leave, others request that those with later disembark times vacate staterooms by a specific time (often around 9 a.m.) so the cabin stewards can clean for the next passengers. Thanks! While shortening your time on a Royal Caribbean cruise may sound unappealing, the truth is that by disembarking just an hour or two earlier than other passengers, you can reap a wide range of benefits. Answer: It depends on the ship, and then within that, some other factors. For more on cruise ship tipping procedures, read What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crewmembers on a Cruise. What are the largest cruise ships in the world? The first line of operations is getting the ship into port the port will send out a pilot (on a boat,) knowledgable about local conditions, . It will then be placed in sections in the terminal, according to tag colors. has spent more than 15 years writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. It's nearly impossible to get cruise line land staff to fix onboard billing mistakes. Elevator banks on both will be extremely crowded. Keep in mind these times are generalizations and it will vary. If you think you'll have questions, send one member of your group to the talk. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Hi Hazmatt, I remember you from the Filthy Infidel thread! Just curious, I on the Liberty of the seas next week. A Grand Suite on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Wonder of the Seas departing in June 2024 starts at $7,145 per person, based on double occupancy. No one likes to think about when your cruise vacation will come to an end, butinevitably planning for that last morning is a necessity to ensure you can get to work, school or flight on time. It takes several hours to clear a ship of thousands of passengers. 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. When at port ignore the local time as the only time that matters in terms of when the ship sails away is ship time. Guests looking for the fastest way off the ship should consider Express Departure. 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. Most cruise ships are cleared for passengers to debark between 7 and 9 a.m., depending on their arrival time. This can save a lot of time, if the check-out line is backed up. 5 Things You Need to Try Aboard Wonder of the Seas, World's Biggest Cruise Ship and Royal Caribbean's Newest Ship in the Caribbean Carnival's 50th Anniversary Cruise 'Sailabration' Voyage: Just . Is disembarkation like checking out of a hotel? airport transfer, taxi or awaiting family, Which Room on Icon of the Seas Is Right for You, 5 Ways Royal Caribbean Practices Sustainability, The Best Things to Do in Greece and the Greek Isles, 8 Hours in Royal Caribbeans Perfect Day at CocoCay, Icons Captain Henrik Shares The Top Things to Do on The New Ship, Wave Season: The Best Time To Score Deals. 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. On disembarkation day, groups will be called by the color and number of the tags such as Red 1 or Yellow 5 to head to the atrium to disembark. Given that safes are tucked away in closets, its really easy to forget about the important items your passports, wallets, jewelry that youve set inside. 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. I was able to book my independent tour in Grand Cayman with this knowledge. Not the time guests can actually walk off the ship. You will need to scan it any time you exit the ship (and also when you return). Royal Caribbean will publish a time your ship is due back into port, but this is only the time the ship docks. In many cases, you'll have the option to prepay gratuities before your trip. It is my understanding that they usually tell you, but we were not told. This means that instead of putting your luggage outside your stateroom the night before, youll keep it with youalthough we still advise packing the night before. Each ship will provide an as you depart flyer with the exact details for that vessel and port of boarding. I would guess they'll be an all clear by around 7:00 if not sooner and it is really not far to Sagrada Familia..I would be surprised if you can't get there by 8:30. To make things easier and simpler for guests, Royal Caribbean offers to deliver guest luggage to the terminal for pickup. In my experience, this means the concierge will walk you past some or all of the line leading up to the check-point where you scan your SeaPass card. In most environments the latest time to leave the vessel will be between 10:00am and 11:00am. Although I have known people who disembarked their ships at 7 a.m. for a 9 a.m. international flight, I highly discourage risking it. 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. These tags are important for both timing and finding your suitcase at the pier. U.S. Customs allows you to enter the country with one liter of an alcoholic beverage per adult duty-free. 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. You cant just leave the ship when you feel like it. :) Thanks for the info about the time. If your ship is docked at a pier, expect the disembarkation process to only take a few minutes from when you get down to the gangway area. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later. No matter which method you have to disembark the ship, you'll need to scan your SeaPass card to show you're off the ship. Although fond of lake Erie, her first love is the sea. I'm not sure how people expect to be told, but as stated the Compass should always identify the time situation. When the gangway is open early in the morning, there's rarely a backup of guests to get off the ship (unless it's a tender stop). It begins when the ship is cleared by local authorities, usually about an hour or so after it docks. The ship may not always follow local time. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." It definitely depends on the Captain AND the sailing so always check your Compass and just make sure to follow ship's time. The day we left Bermuda, there is a big notice at the top of the Compass that says, set clocks back one hour before retiring.Maureen. If you're staying in a Royal Caribbean suite, the disembarkation process can be faster than for other guests. 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. However, no matter what the ship does, keep your watch set for the ship's time. The buses will run again and again until everyone gets a lift. The length of disembarkation varies, based on several factors, but typically the process takes a few hours to get everyone ashore. On a day your cruise ship visits a port of call, the disembarkation process depends on a few factors. 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. Since its recommended you book transfers two weeks before sailing, you should discuss this option while making your reservations, if needed. January 7, 2012 in Royal Caribbean International. Related: Should I buy my flights through my cruise line? Porters will be available to assist during this process. The longest wait for this is from other people wanting to be among the first to walk off the ship, and there can sometimes be a line of guests waiting to walk off the ship in the morning. Next, everyone will have an assigned departure lounge and time that corresponds with your tagged luggage, detailed in your As You Depart guide. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? The timing also depends on whether we're talking about disembarkation in a port of call or disembarkation at the end of a voyage. 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. Avoid unnecessary heart palpitations by booking afternoon flights. How long does it take to get off a cruise ship? Once you reclaim your bags in the terminal, you usually must transport them through Customs before you leave the cruise terminal. However, you will be charged if you walk off with the bathrobe. Be aware that these lines can be long. In addition, the most pertinent disembarkation information will be included in the ship's daily newsletter or in a separate memo left in your cabin. Posted July 16, 2019 When disembarking in Europe, Royal offers a program where they allow you to stay onboard until the afternoon. Will there be transportation options from the cruise terminal? That way, if you are out and about and ask a local for the time, it will be correct- you won't think, Oh, we've got another hour to shop. In those cases, I tend to wait an hour or so to let things calm down before proceeding to the gangway. Fran lives in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. If you need help, you'll be given a time slot which is usually between 8 am and 11 am. In both cases, an officer from the bridge will make an announcement over the ship's public address system to let passengers know when they can begin leaving. Luggage at the pier will be sorted by group color and number and there will be thousands of bags waiting. Try not to get too sad about the end of your delightful cruise vacation. The 24 hours before you disembark your cruise -- the point at which you get off the ship -- comes with a flurry of instructions. Self assist early walk off is the first to leave the ship after clearance from local authorities. You can, however, get off later (unless you have a scheduled transfer from the cruise pier that you'd be in danger of missing). And after that, there's some paperwork the ship has to take care of before letting people off. CruiseHealth FAQ. If you have made your own air and hotel arrangements, you will be responsible for that transportation to the airport and/or hotel. You will drive your room stewards crazy if you linger in your cabin beyond the recommended clear-out time. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. From start to finish, the process usually takes about two to three hours, depending on the size of the ship. Because rules change based on the country of the disembarkation port and the nationality of the passengers, it's best to follow all instructions given onboard. If you leave any items behind, it's difficult to recover them once you're off the ship. The idea is that you put these tags on any luggage you would like the crew to handle (see below). That makes following disembarkation instructions even more important. Royal Caribbean International. In a lot of cases, it can begin around 7:00am. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Distance from Houston-Hobby Airport: 45 miles | 50 minutes Number of Terminals: 3 Passengers Carried Each Year: ~1 million Cruise Ship Dockings Each Year: ~300 Port of Galveston Location The island sits about 45 minutes from Houston Hobby airport and about 75 minutes from Bush-Intercontinental. You'll need to stay in a Grand Suite or higher for this benefit, and suites are far from inexpensive. It's better to grab a coffee and wait in a lounge or out by the pool. Assuming a ship remains punctual, the time at which passengers can disembark depends on how long it takes for local authorities to clear the vessel. Whether youre headed home or on to the next destination, heres everything you need to know to prepare for getting off the ship. My Time Dining is one of the options you'll get to choose from when you book your cruise. If not, they'll be denied disembarkation. On my first Voyager cruise the ship time changed to local time, on my 2nd ship time stayed on Miami time and I had the same Captain for both sailings. Dont forget the bedside table drawers and the very back of the shelves. Would the ship be on St. Thomas time when in port? Do not worry if your number seems high because you can always go to Guest Relations and get a lower number if you need to be one of the first off the ship. How do I find out about the disembarkation procedures on my cruise ship? Staff will be on hand to direct you to a bus that is going to your specific airline and terminal or that does a circuit to several terminals at the airport. TPG has answers: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. If you're flying home after your sailing, book a flight that gives you a buffer so you're not rushed in the event disembarkation is delayed. What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships? Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. For example, my itinerary has us in St. Thomas from 9:00am till 5:30pm. If you are in a cabin that comes with a bathrobe and slippers, the slippers are typically yours to keep. Small and luxury ships may have flexible, even leisurely, disembarkation plans. What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships? If you don't mind an early departure and can handle your bags, it's a great way to get a jump on the crowds. People often ask questions like 'What time does Royal Caribbean disembark?' Please view our advertising policy page for more information. That time of year St. Thomas is one hour ahead cause of daylight savings. Cruisers who have booked shore excursions through the ship also get priority. If you have a passport, you'll be able to get through the cruise terminal much faster than if you have just a birth certificate. When a number is called, it means all the luggage for that number are ready to be picked up in the cruise terminal. Your daily newsletter will outline which restaurants are open for breakfast. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. Head to the buffet or main dining room to enjoy a leisurely breakfast unless you are in a rush to get to your flight. Keep your keycard with you. If it's a port day and you've booked a ship-sponsored shore excursion, your meeting time will be marked on your ticket. Contact Us Get support by Phone or Email 866-562-7625 Email Your Questions Locate a Travel Agent RoyalCruiser2007, September 24, 2008 in Royal Caribbean International. Like what you see? is an award-winning cruise journalist whose work regularly appears in Bloomberg, Travel + Leisure, Afar and other travel outlets. How long does it take to disembark a cruise ship? The OceanReady Process. Video: What I wish I'd known before taking a Royal Caribbean 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. For the staff and crew, disembarkation begins their turn-around day between one cruise and the next, making it one of their most difficult work days. Those who might opt for this method are those with easily managed luggage, early flights, no flights, or who simply prefer to keep their luggage on the last night of the cruise. If there's a mistake, you have to get in line at the reception desk to contest the charges. If you are traveling with kids, also look for small stuffed animals or other toys hidden in any linens crumpled on the bed. If you elect to have Royal Caribbean take your luggage, you need to have your luggage packed and in the hallway outside of your stateroom by a certain time (usually 11:00pm). The good news is that by the last day of your cruise, youll be feeling rested and headed home with stories from your adventures abroad (as well as on board). Breakfast hours on disembarkation day will usually be earlier and shorter. Once the gangway is open for disembarkation, the real wait is simply how many other people are ahead of you. Royal Caribbean offers two departure types: Regular and Self-Assist . It would show current time and then show what time to set it to. So is this local time or EST?? Occasionally cruise ports are on public transit lines, but check before you choose this option to make sure you won't be hauling heavy luggage farther than expected. Keep all receipts because you could be asked to report the value of all goods purchased abroad; if you go over the limits, you face taxes on some of your items. The good news is the time to walk off the ship is fairly quick once the line starts moving. There are two main groups who can disembark from a cruise once it is over: guests carrying their own luggage and guests picking up their luggage. This includes a dedicated elevator and better luggage support on the final morning. Planning a cruise? Please view our advertising policy page for more information. There will be plenty of taxis available to take you to the airport. If you can take your own luggage off the ship, then you can disembark just as soon as the ship is cleared. Think of disembarkment syndrome like this: You hear people talking about getting their sea legs during the first days of a cruise. 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. But what is that last day like? 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. As stated earlier, the exact time of when self-assistbegins will depend on certain factors, but usuallyit will commence around 7:00 or 7:30am. Luggage Pickup To make things easier and simpler for guests, Royal Caribbean offers to deliver guest luggage to the terminal for pickup. It was in the compass each day and of course they told you at dinner and at the shows. When long lines develop for walking off, the concierge can shave off a lot of time with their ability to cut the line. Then comes the reality of disembarkation day. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise. 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. How do I get my luggage off the cruise ship? Ship Time!!! This includes: Don't worry if your cruise comes back to another terminal, things will likely still move quick enough. Like what you see? The group numbers correspond to your luggage tag number. Except they float. Proceed to the gangway with your SeaPass card to depart and then head to the baggage claim area corresponding with your luggage tag number, and after the immigration and custom checks, proceed to the transportation area.
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