How Long Does It Take to Disembark a Cruise Ship?

Imagine that you’ve just had a dreamy week at sea, sipping cocktails, enjoying ocean views, and taking part in every bit of cruise life. Now, it’s on the final day that you realize you’ve got to disembark. But what does that really mean? How long does it take to disembark a cruise ship? There is a whole process involved in disembarkation. From collecting luggage to clearing customs, disembarkation requires some planning and patience.

Do you know how the disembarkation process works and why booking an early flight might be a bad idea? Let’s unlock the answers to all these questions in this article. 

What Does It Mean to Disembark Your Cruise Ship?

Disembarking your cruise ship means getting off or vacating the ship once you reach the end of your cruise journey. The disembarkation process is not very simple. You cannot get off the cruise ship at your final destination just like you check out of a hotel. There are several procedures involved. 

On the final day at sea, the cruise director will provide a disembarkation briefing in the main theater or any other large lounge. You can ask the cruise director about any questions you have. It’s not so cool to spend your last day listening to the briefing. So, you can check whether the session is available on your in-cabin TV or the cruise line app. For the most relevant disembarkation information, you can go through the ship’s daily newsletter or a separate memo available in the cabin. 

How Long Does It Take to Disembark off a Cruise Ship?

The disembarkation time depends on the time it takes for the local authorities to clear the vessel, which usually lasts for a few hours. The larger the ship, the longer it will take for disembarkation. It also depends on factors like flight times, stateroom category, and loyalty status. To avoid crowding on the gangway and other delays, you are permitted to get off only at your designated time. 

On larger ships, your disembarkation time will be color-coded and coordinated with your luggage tags. Once your color-coded departure group is called, the process takes almost 15 minutes. Do you know where the maximum delay happens? It is at the elevator. The elevators will usually be crowded on the final day. 

Some cruise lines will permit you to wait in your cabins until your departure time, but others will request you to vacate staterooms to allow cabin stewards to clean for the next passengers.  

Why Should I Not Book a Flight Too Early on Disembarkation Day?

Before disembarking its passengers, the cruise ship must first be cleared by customs and port authorities. If this process takes extra time, it can delay the whole disembarkation process. It is because of this reason you are asked not to book a flight too early on disembarkation day. 

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Self-Disembarkation v/s Letting the Cruise Line Do It: What Should I Choose?

First, let’s see what self-disembarkation is. In self-disembarkation, you will carry all your luggage off the ship yourself. Let’s see what happens in self-disembarkation. 

• In self-disembarkation, since you are the one carrying the luggage, you can leave the ship when you are ready and won’t have to wait to collect the luggage. 
• One major drawback of choosing self-disembarkation is that you will have to carry all your heavy luggage both in and out of the crowded elevators yourself. 
• The various scenarios in which you can choose self-disembarkation are when you choose smaller ships, smaller itineraries, or when you have less luggage, early flights, no flights, or when you simply prefer to keep your luggage with you. 

What If You Prefer the Cruise Line to Carry Your Luggage?

Now let’s see what happens if cruise line members carry your luggage: 

• In that case, you need to properly pack your luggage, tag it using color-coded tags provided by the ship, and place it outside your cabin at the time specified by the ship. 
• Your luggage will be kept in storage until the ship is docked. 
• Based on the tag colors, all the luggage will be placed in sections in the terminal. 
• Once you collect your luggage, it must be transported through customs before you leave the cruise terminal. 
• Remember to include your travel documents, passport, other valuables, and medications in your carry-on bags for easy access. 

Depending on the weight of the luggage and how fast you need to disembark the ship, you can choose between self-disembarkation and letting the cruise line handle the luggage.  

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What Should I Know about Handling the Outstanding Onboard Charges?

Before disembarkation, you will be given a printed tally of your onboard account. If you need to check the balance, you can do so on the cruise line’s app. If you have any questions, you can reach out to the reception desk. But this could take time as there will be long queues at the desk. 

Here are some tips for you to avoid the last-minute surprises: 

• Check the onboard bill at guest services or, if available, on the cruise line’s app or interactive TV. 
• Review your account at least once halfway through the cruise to keep track of your spending. 

Tipping

Most cruise lines automatically add a service charge or gratuity to your final shipboard bill, and in such cases, additional tipping from your side won’t be required. In most cases, you have the option to pay gratuities before your trip. If you prefer, you can give additional tips to any crew member at any time during your cruise for their outstanding service.

What cruise ship facilities are available on the day of disembarkation? 

To set up all the facilities for the upcoming passengers, most of the facilities will be closed for cleaning. Even so, there are a few facilities made available on the disembarkation day. Some of these are: 

• Lounges for the passengers to wait with their bags. 
• A few restaurants from where you can get your breakfast. 

Please remember that the cruise ship won’t let you purchase additional internet access after a certain time on your last evening aboard. But you are free to use the pre-purchased minutes until you leave the ship.  

Do You Go Through Customs When Disembarking a Cruise Ship?

Customs and port authorities must first clear your cruise ship before disembarking its passengers. If your ship terminates in U.S. ports, you should fill out customs forms and show your passports to border control at the cruise terminal. 

Since rules vary based on the nationality of the cruise ship passengers and the country of the disembarkation port, you must follow the instructions given on board. For example, before purchasing the souvenirs during your cruise, you should know about your home country’s allowances for different products. Also, you should not forget to keep the receipts as you might be asked to mention the value of goods purchased abroad and will have to pay taxes on items that go over the permitted limits.

Disembarkation Tips 

Here are some disembarkation tips to avoid last-minute delays: 

• Finish all your packing before your embarkation day. Don’t leave it until the last day. 
• Opt for self-disembarkation if you can carry the luggage yourself. 
• Arrange your disembarkation day tags early. 
• Arrange your transportation to the airport or your parking lot early. You should arrange it even before you start your journey. 
• Do your tipping before your disembarkation day, as you may fail to see your favorite crew member on the last day. So do it early. 
• Don’t forget to empty your safe before you leave your cabin. 
• Avoid booking flights too early on disembarkation day. 

Pro tip: Book your cruise parking space in advance before starting your cruise journey. Our affordable cruise parking rates and complimentary shuttle service will get you to the terminal on embarkation and back to parking space after disembarkation. 

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