You are on a cruise holiday, and the past few days have been memorable on the sea. But as the saying goes, ‘All good things come to an end’, and so does your blissful leisure cruise vacation. After a smooth sailing on the high seas, it is time to return to the shores. You are on the last chapter of your unforgettable sea sojourn, and now you must gear up for the disembarkation process. On a cruise journey, the disembarkation is a process with certain protocols in place and formalities to complete before leaving the ship. It isn’t a cumbersome or overwhelming procedure, but having an idea about the process will put you at ease to seamlessly complete your wonderful cruise vacation. So, on your last day of cruise holiday, here’s what you should keep in mind.
Why is the Disembarkation Process Necessary?
Disembark is the process of leaving a ship. That’s right, but it isn’t as simple as it sounds. Though the mega-ship served as a leisure haven for your holiday, you cannot simply check out as you do in a resort or hotel on land. On your stay in a hotel or resort, only a few people check out at one time unless it is a group event. A cruise ship hosts 1000 or more guests at a time, and to ensure all are safely deboarded, the vessel at the disembarkation port has to follow a process that requires planning and meticulous execution. For the same, co-operation from you as a guest is needed. The term ‘debarkation’ is also used interchangeably for disembarkation in some cruise liners.
Process of Disembarkation on a Cruise Holiday
The preparation starts the previous night of the cruise disembarkation day for the guests. You will receive a list of specific instructions regarding what time your luggage has to be kept ready, luggage rules, settling bills, time for breakfast on disembarkation day, and at what time do you get off the cruise ship. The actual disembarkation process is lengthy and takes place on the last day of your cruise holiday. So, on the final day, when you are stepping off the ship for the last time, waving goodbye to an experience that will create nostalgia in the coming years, you need to understand that it will be spent in formalities. While you may be eager to make the most of your last moments on board, remember to allocate time for customs and immigration procedures. Here’s what you should focus on for smooth disembarkation.
Disembarkation Process Briefing
The night before disembarkation, you will typically attend a briefing session where the cruise staff will explain the process. Additionally, you will receive a detailed disembarkation leaflet in your cabin. Just like you go through the cruise holiday itinerary and cruise port guide before embarking on a cruise holiday, you need to go through your disembarkation information to get the gist of the protocols and timings. It is important to go through these carefully as they will mention the time slot for your departure group, meeting points, any cruise customs procedures, specific meeting times, as well as where you can have breakfast or what other facilities are open for guest use on disembarkation day. A video regarding the disembarkation procedure may also be playing on your cabin television, but that differs from cruise to cruise.
Pack Your Luggage
You can spare some time a couple of days before the disembarkation day to be prepared in advance. Slowly gather and pack all your belongings in your luggage so that you don’t have to spend an entire night organising and packing the bags. You will be given instructions on the previous day of disembarkation and provided with colour-coded baggage tags to be attached to your luggage properly. Keep your luggage outside your cabin rooms at the designated time allotted to you for collection by the ship crew, who will keep them on the quayside or designated baggage collection spots from where you can collect it after you disembark. Once you have packed your bags early, you can enjoy the last evening on the cruise as you please. The luggage tags are offered to assisted disembarkation passengers. Guests can also choose for self-disembarkation or self-assisted early departures, in which case the guests don’t have to go through the baggage tagging process as these guests will be carrying their luggage along with them as they proceed to leave the ship. Self-assisted disembarkation offers a quicker process, less waiting time, and priority departure.
Settle Outstanding Bills
An invoice of your expenses charged to you during your cruise will be delivered to your stateroom on disembarkation day. To streamline your departure process, consider requesting your invoice earlier and settling your account the day before. Once this is out of the way, you can focus on just following procedures to get down from the cruise. Sort out money issues to avoid standing in a long rush at billing stations at the last minute.
Keep All Important Documents and Essentials in Hand
One of the most important disembarkation tips is to carry your essentials in person at all times. Once you have handed over your luggage to the crew, you will not get access to it. So make sure that you have a backpack, a tote or shoulder bag to hold your wallet, medications, passports, travel documents, cruise card, water bottle, and other essentials so that you can use them when needed.
Head to the Designated Venue for Disembarkation
After vacating your cabin in the morning and having a hearty breakfast, it is time to bid adieu to your beloved cruise and get on the shore as the ship docks at the disembarkation port. Once the ship is safely anchored, you should proceed as per the time slot provided to you. Adhering to this schedule helps ensure a smooth and efficient process for all passengers. Your group will be guided by the crew as you descend from the ship, collect your luggage and step safely on the land. The time for disembarkation will be assigned to you based on any transfers or flight departures you have planned on that day. Before you leave the ship, you will be required to show your cruise card. For international multi-destination cruise travel, be ready for customs and immigration, where you may have to fill out customs forms, comply with a brief checking of luggage, show your purchase receipts, passport and visas. Once you leave the gangway and enter the cruise terminal offshore after completing your disembarkation, you can proceed with your onward travel.
Are you wondering how long does it take to disembark a cruise ship? The whole process can easily take hours, right from docking of the ship till you step foot on the shore. The day can feel like a well-organized drill, requiring your attention and keeping your ears open to listen to instructions carefully and follow them. However, self-assisted disembarkation is carried out before assisted- disembarkation and in that case, you can be out of the cruise and on your way in less than an hour.
Conclusion
Cruise holidays are adventurous, exhilaratingly fun and immersed in relaxation. However, the last day of the cruise holiday is all about getting ready to get off the ship safely and in a stress-free, smooth way. It’s best to be prepared in advance, follow the instructions given by the cruise director, and respect the time slots for disembarkation given to you, and you will have no last-minute rushes or stress.
