Cruise Tips: How To Handle Cruise Disembarkation Day Like A Pro

Wanting to learn the ins and outs of a cruise disembarkation day? Read this post for all of the cruise tips you need!

There is a lot to learn when going on your first cruise. From embarkation day, to how shore excursions work, to disembarkation day, it all can be overwhelming andn confusing.

There are several tips and tricks to setting yourself up for success when it comes to cruise disembarkation.

This post will go over everything and every step you need to take to have a smooth disembarkation from the cruise leaving you relaxed, organized and feeling in control.

This post is all about the top tips for cruise disembarkation.

What is disembarkation?

Disembarkation is the sad time when your cruise vacation is over, you’ve reached your final destination and it is time to get off of the ship.

The cruise line will provide you with all of the information you need about how to get off the ship.

The Night Before

To have a successful disembarkation day you need to make sure you have everything set up and ready to go for a smooth morning.

To achieve this, the night before you get off of your cruise is an important time to make sure you have everything you need taken care of.

1. Luggage

The night before your cruise ends they will send luggage tags to your room. These will have a group number on them letting you know what group you are in which equates to what time you should get off of the ship.

If you would like to partake in assisted service off of the ship you will want to put these tags on all of your bags, have everything packed up and outside of your room by a certain time. The cruise staff then will collect your belongings and make sure they are in the cruise terminal for you after you get off of the ship.

People like this option because it can be hectic getting off the ship. All of the passengers are getting off of the ship, it’s crowded and usually the elevators are extremely full sometimes leaving you to take the stairs.

The other option is to self carry off your bags. You will either have to still wait for your assigned time to leave the ship even if you’re carrying your own bags or depending on the cruise line will be able to get off of the ship whenever you want.

Check your specific cruise line for what they offer if this option interests you.

Why do they assign different times for everyone?

They let groups of people off of the ship all at different times to help avoid over crowding. They have carefully curated a schedule based on flight schedules, your loyalty status or even what type of stateroom you’re in.

Some cruises let you stay in your stateroom until it is your time to go, others will assign you a waiting area on the ship. They assign you a meeting place because a new set of cruisers will be joining the ship that morning and they need time for the staff to be able to clean all of the rooms.

Cruise ships will dock very early in the morning and leave several hours in their schedule to get everyone off of the ship.

2. Finalize your bill

The last night of your cruise you will recieve a printed copy of your bill. This will show every charge you have accrued while onboard.

If you have decided to pay with a credit or debt card simply review the document to make sure you have not been charged incorrectly. If there is something wrong on your bill you will need to go to guest services to fix the issue.

This can be annoying on the last night of your cruise because the line will be longer with people making changes, etc.

If you’re paying with cash the cruise line will assist you with how to handle that transaction.

I would suggest checking your account every day throughout your cruise if you have access on an app or the tv to handle a problem before the last night.

3. Crew tips

For those passengers that like to give additional tips to the crew, the last night of the cruise is the time to do it. You will recieve small envelopes in your room you can put tips in or just hand them cash yourself.

4. Set an alarm for the next morning

Sometimes people on vacation don’t like to set alarms. They want extra rest and to relax.

However, on the morning of disembarkation for a cruise it is vital you follow the rules, are out of your staterooms when you’re supposed to be and off of the ship in a timely manner.

5. Double check your transportation plans

If you have a flight the next day and are able to check in for your flight (if you have the wifi package, make sure you aren’t getting international data roaming charges), be sure to do so.

If you’re leaving the port via shuttle or uber and have prescheduled yours transportation, make sure all of it is in order for the morning.

Finally, if you have parked your car at cruise parking either next to the terminal or further away, be sure to have your claim ticket/reservation information.

No need to worry if you haven’t booked transportation yet! It is easy to get a taxi or uber from the cruise port once you get off of the ship.

Disembarkation Morning

1. Check your stateroom for any personal items

Make sure before you leave your stateroom that you have looked absolutely everywhere for all of your belongings. The bathroom cabinets, safe, drawers, closet, under the bed/chair/couch, fridge etc.

They do have lost and founds on cruise ships but it would not be the easiest to get something back after a cruise/there is a good chance the stateroom attendant would just throw it away.

2. Have breakfast

Depending on what time you get up in the morning, there are options for breakfast if you want to have one last meal on the ship.

It will vary on your ship and loyalty status what options are available to you. Look into the options on your ship if you want to go to the main dining room, cafe or buffet and what their hours of operation are on that day.

Pro Tip:

Your drink package will still work on the morning of disembarkation day if you’re wanting to grab a mimosa, specialty coffee, etc before getting off of the ship.

3. Be sure to leave your room on time/go to your designated waiting area

If you are waiting for your group to be called to leave the ship you are free to wait in your stateroom until the time they request you leave. You could also go to your waiting area if you have one or you can walk around the ship.

Just be aware of the time so you can follow the rules the cruise line has set up to get everyone off the ship in time to get the new passengers on.

4. Get off the ship

When it is time or if you have opted for self assist, start making your way off of the ship. There will be signs everywhere of where to go and crew members around to help if you need it.

The crew will have set up a specific pathway to guide everyone off, follow that along with the rest of your belongings.

Once you reach the end of the line there will be crew members waiting to scan your cruise card to step off of the ship one last time.

5. Navigate through the terminal

Once you have scanned off of the ship you will still be in line to make your way out of the terminal.

The next step will be verifying your identity by either showing your passport or going into the other line for those carrying birth certificates.

Depending on what you bought on the ship you might have to fill out a customs form as well stating what you purchased and how much.

If you had the cruise staff take your luggage the night before, now it will be time to look through the luggage brought down and collect yours.

After you have everything that belongs to you, it is time to exit the terminal and take whatever mode of transportation you have set up to leave the port.

Commonly Asked Questions:

How long does it take to disembark the ship?

This will vary depending on what time you get off of the ship. Not everyone will follow the rules and get off when they should so there could be crowding. On average it takes about 15-30 minutes to get off of the ship. There will be slow times though that could take an hour, so be prepared.

Why do I feel sick after getting off the ship?

It is common for some crusiers to feel motion sick or dizzy after getting off of the cruise. You might feel like you’re still moving even on solid ground just like you feel when the ship is swaying on the water.

This should not last more than a couple days. If it is severe or lasts for a week or two I would contact a doctor to get some relief.

What happens if I just don’t get off the ship?

The cruise line has to make sure that every single passenger they have checked in has gotten off the ship before allowing any new passengers to board.

Some people may think they could hide and stay on the ship as a joke but they will find you and force you to get off of the ship. Doing so would also potentially delay new guests from getting on, causing issues for the cruise line for the entire day.

Tips:

1. Don’t book an early flight on disembarkation day

There can be delays due to weather, customs, etc that cause you not to get into port on time or you may run into delays getting off the ship or with your transportation to the airport.

It is in your best interest not to book a flight before noon just in case something happens.

2. If you are letting the cruise line take your bags off the ship, keep your moring essentials seperate

When you’re packing the night before to leave your bags outside of your room for the staff to take down to the terminal it is important to remember what you’ll need for the morning.

Keep a small bag to the side for your essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, passports, phone chargers and more.

3. Do not take anything from your stateroom that isn’t yours

If you’re thinking about taking anything out of your stateroom or keeping a cruise towel, just know that you will be charged for these items.

This post was all about cruise disembarkation day.