Disembarkation (getting off the ship)

After all the fun of your first cruise vacation, the last day of your cruise can be a bit of a sad one. Whether you really want to or not, you'll be getting off the ship and starting the return to your normal life. To make the process as simple as possible, it's worth understanding what will happen and when.

The Process

The first thing to understand is that most cruise lines offer two different ways to get off the ship. The two options are differentiated by how your luggage will be handled. The "default" way of handling luggage is to pack the night before disembarkation and set luggage out for porters to collect and offload for you the next morning. When using this method, you'll get a number or zone assigned that will be called in order on disembarkation morning. The number usually also corresponds to a location from which you can collect your luggage in the customs area. This option is great for those with mobility issues or who simply don't want to carry their own luggage. It's also best-suited for those that don't have an early flight or other transportation commitment that they need to meet.

The second option available to you will be to carry your own luggage from the ship. You may wonder why you'd ever choose to do this, but it's the preferred method for many people. The primary reason for this preference is that it mostly frees you from the cruise line's timeline. If you have an earlier flight, you can typically disembark more quickly in the morning and you won't have to wait around anxiously trying to hear all the announcements. While self-disembarkation is still usually done by deck number, it moves pretty quickly and is usually done prior to the assisted passengers. The other nice thing about carrying your own luggage is that you don't have to find your luggage in the customs area before proceeding through customs and out of the port.

 Packing

As with packing to start your cruise, you'll want to give some thought to how you go about packing to get off the ship. If you choose the assisted option, make sure you set aside an outfit to wear on disembarkation day. Your luggage will be taken away in the late evening, so you won't have access to your bags once they are picked up. Likewise, you'll want to ensure you keep a carry-on available to store your toiletries, sleepwear, and the documents you'll need at customs.

If you choose to carry your bags yourself, things are a bit easier as you'll still have access to your full wardrobe in the morning, but you'll still want to ensure that you pack a smaller bag so that you have easy access to your customs documents.

Customs

Let's face it, customs on disembarkation morning is the least comfortable part of the experience. As with customs at an airport, the lines can be long, people aren't always in the best of moods, and the building can sometimes be a bit stuffy. The best thing you can do is be prepared. Bring some patience and make sure you aren't adding to the wait for others by ensuring that you have your documents handy, and your clear on what declarations you need to make. The requirements are different for different countries of residence and disembarkation, so it's best you do some research prior to boarding your cruise. If you have your ducks in order, you'll breeze through.

Transportation

There are many options for transportation away from most ports. Taxis are the easiest for many as there is always a long line of taxis waiting to take passengers to their destinations. There will also be room for those who have a friend or loved one waiting to pick them up. Another common option is either a private shuttle or a shuttle provided by the cruise line. Shuttles must be arranged prior to disembarkation day and it's usually easiest to make these arrangements before leaving for your cruise. It's one less thing you'll have to worry about while you enjoy your vacation. Depending on how many passengers are in your party, the cost of a cab might be competitive with a shuttle, so once again, do your research. Look at this as part of the fun of the planning process leading up to your cruise!

Conclusion

Thank you for reading! The content in these blog posts is a somewhat opinionated view of how to make the most of your cruise experience. As you go on additional cruises (and you will!) you'll find what works best for you, but what is suggested here will give you a good foundation to make the most of your first cruise experience. Cruise Cub wishes you the best of vacations and memories that will last you a lifetime!