You should always budget several hours to both disembark the ship, reach the airport and deal with checking in, checking luggage for your flight, and clearing security. For more on cruise ship tipping procedures, read What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crewmembers on a Cruise. A very common misconception among first time cruisers is looking at the scheduled time a ship returns to port and assuming that is the first opportunity to disembark their Royal Caribbean ship. If not, just leave blank. By So is this local time or EST?? On some ships, you can even do this electronically on your app or smart TV. Dont bother getting there early, or youll find yourself milling around, which can be frustrating. What's the earliest time I can get off my cruise ship when it's over? Note: Times listed are approximate and will vary by sailing and disembarkation location. If your goal is to be able to get off your cruise ship fastest when it's over, here are some tried-and-true methods that work for a lot of people. 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. Complete Guide to Cruising From the Port of Galveston Grab an extra hour or more of sleep unless you still need to check your bill that morning (see above). Since its recommended you book transfers two weeks before sailing, you should discuss this option while making your reservations, if needed. The entire process will take a few hours to get every single passenger off the ship when the cruise is over. It's better to grab a coffee and wait in a lounge or out by the pool. Have more cruise questions? For guests who have purchased air, hotel and cruisetour packages through Royal Caribbean, transfers will be provided. For most cruise itineraries, this means disembarking around 7AM instead of, say, 8 or 9AM. These tags are important for both timing and finding your suitcase at the pier. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. This puts you more in control of your own destiny. 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. Most cruise ships are cleared for passengers to debark between 7 and 9 a.m., depending on their arrival time. If being the first off your ship is important to you, there are several ways to ensure you won't have to wait around for too long. RoyalCruiser2007, September 24, 2008 in Royal Caribbean International. Pro tip: If you have any items that cant go on the plane but that you need at night, put them in a separate small bag so you remember to transfer them to your checked luggage before you get to the airport. How do I get my luggage off the cruise ship? 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. If you have made your own air and hotel arrangements, you will be responsible for that transportation to the airport and/or hotel. When the cruise is ending, you disembark. I wish we had known about this on our Liberty cruise (Aug 23rd) We were not told the night before we hit GC that the ship stays on ship time and not local time. 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. Yes, taxis are always available at ports of disembarkation to take travelers to the airport, post-cruise hotels or area attractions. Early dining is generally 5:30 or 6:00pm depending on the ship and late is usually 8:00. All good things must come to an end and that includes your Royal Caribbean adventure. Moreover, the inspection by local officials is completely out of Royal Caribbean's hands. 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). Its better to pack as much as you can in your luggage and let someone else do the heavy lifting. Reservations are strongly recommended. I went to Bermuda on the Grandeur 4 weeks ago and we had to change our watches to Bermuda timeMaureen. When you book your cruise and it says Grand Cayman 7:30am -4pm & Cozumel 10am - 7pm. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. You can even start lining up for disembarkation before the ship is cleared to ensure you're among the first off the vessel. Combine both for an epic 18-night vacation through two countries and several northern mountains. Do I need to go through Customs and immigration at the cruise port? The night before disembarkation, a statement of everything you spent on the ship for drinks, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, souvenirs and any other splurges will be placed outside your cabin door. You may also hear the word debark used. That's not including the time spent waiting for your transport from the pier to airport. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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. The process for getting off your cruise ship and going home when the cruise is over has a few more steps you should be aware of. Would the ship be on St. Thomas time when in port? If you're to cruising, you want to know how long does it take to get off the cruise ship. How long does it take to disembark a cruise ship? Self assist early walk off is the first to leave the ship after clearance from local authorities. Future Cruise Credits (FCC) Travel Documents. 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. Royal Caribbean also allows self disembarkation, as do Celebrity, Carnival, and Princess. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. But what is that last day like? 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. The OceanReady Process. You'll need to show your passport or other official identification to customs officials at the cruise terminal. Think of it like this: When your cruise begins, you are embarking on your journey. What Not to Do at Cruise Ship Disembarkation, What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crewmembers on a Cruise, What to Expect on a Cruise: Boarding a Cruise Ship. I agree with what the others have said, it depends. Not the time guests can actually walk off the ship. On our Baltic cruise the Jewel changed ship time to reflect local time, +3 hours eastwards, - 3 hours westwards. It is up to the Captain. 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. The vessel (IMO number 9697753) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000397) and registered in Nassau.History - construction and ownership Keep in mind these times are generalizations and it will vary. Most Royal Caribbean terminals now have facial recognition for guests with a passport. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Disembarkation day is the day on which you disembark the ship. Note: If you're taking advantage of a luggage shipping program, you may have to claim your bags at Customs and personally deliver them to the shipping representative. What's the earliest time I can get off my cruise ship when it's over? The port will also build and operate a new 1800. I did a southern itinerary on Royal Caribbean and the ship kept its clocks on San Juan time. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. Also have to consider that since you will probably be on an international flight and check in is 2 . The last night is typically casual and some cruisers find it easiest to wear the same clothes off the ship the next morning. Score priority disembarkation. It also said exactly when, because you get the compass the night before. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. As with packing for your first day, make sure you keep a small carry-on of essentials like travel documentsespecially your passport and SeaPass cardhandy so theyre easily accessible when getting off the ship. The time needed to walk off the ship is usually pretty steady, especially at Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship terminals. Wouldn't it be much easier if fleetwide a policy be set so all ships followed the same procedure. Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. Be forewarned about one thing in particular Ship time is at the Captain's whim! 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. Everyone is assigned a specific time to leave and usually even a specific place to wait on the final morning prior to departing the ship. How long does it take to get off a cruise ship? My Time Dining is one of the options you'll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Check the open hours before you go because breakfast venues will likely be serving meals on a different schedule on the last day of the cruise. Like what you see? Usually the last guests are walking off the ship in the 9:00am hour. 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts and what you can do about them. Do a careful check of closets, drawers and even under the bed to make sure you have packed everything. On the Explorer to Bermuda this year the ship changed time to match Bermuda. Pro tip: Dont assume you can fix issues after you get off the ship. Head to the buffet or main dining room to enjoy a leisurely breakfast unless you are in a rush to get to your flight. Occasionally, an issue with clearing the ship delays passenger disembarkation and can create lines. Princess MedallionClass FAQ. You may also have to clear customs. It is my understanding that they usually tell you, but we were not told. Many first timer cruisers want to know if you need a passport to take a cruise, and the answer depends on a few factors, Once you start cruising frequently, its easy to forget how it feels to go on a cruise for the very first time. If you have received a customs form, its important to have this filled out (one per family). Fran lives in Cleveland, Ohio. The procedures for getting off a cruise ship, as well as cruise ship disembarkation times, can be confusing to first-time cruisers. What is the Difference Between Self-Assist and Regular Departure Passengers carrying their own luggage ashore are allowed to leave as early as they wish, once the ship is cleared to begin the disembarkation process. There also will be a family zone, so younger guests can enjoy toys and games while waiting. Here are a few key pieces of advice to help you avoid mistakes when disembarking a cruise ship. :) Thanks for the info about the time. It takes several hours to clear a ship of thousands of passengers. Disembarkation Time - San Juan - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Still need help? Throw in the change of daylight savings time and who knows as some islands change for this and some don't! Powered by Invision Community. When long lines develop for walking off, the concierge can shave off a lot of time with their ability to cut the line. The idea is that you put these tags on any luggage you would like the crew to handle (see below). Just curious, I on the Liberty of the seas next week. Perhaps you're wondering how quickly you'll be able to go ashore during a port call so you can soak up every second of sunshine. If you book an excursion with the ship I would assume the tour would always be on ship time, but that is just a guess. 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. Kind of a bummer because we want to do 7-mile Beach too, but it might be tough depending on the time. The specific length of disembarkation depends largely on how long the vessel is due to be in port. It begins when the ship is cleared by local authorities, usually about an hour or so after it docks. Cruise 101: Your Guide To Safe, Simple Disembarking The issue here is what time the ship gets cleared, and there's no definitive way to know in advance. The fastest option is if your ship can dock at a pier. This includes: Don't worry if your cruise comes back to another terminal, things will likely still move quick enough. 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. We managed to do our tour, but had to cut the last stop short in order to make it back to the last tender. Made life ashore very easy with no need to worry about any time differences. It's nearly impossible to get cruise line land staff to fix onboard billing mistakes. If you're settling up with cash or traveler's checks, ship personnel will tell you when and where to close out your account. As many countries continue to enforce travel restrictions, this. The disembarkation briefing, usually held on your final day at sea by the cruise director in the main theater or other large lounge is a good starting point. Anyone who has their bags offloaded by the ship's porters will be called to leave the vessel according to their designated luggage tag color or number; the tags are usually distributed a couple of days before the end of the voyage. What Time Is Dinner Served on Royal Caribbean - Joel Knows Travel Getting off the ship is more complicated, as you must follow a set of sometimes byzantine procedures. Seattle (Washington) cruise port schedule | CruiseMapper Is disembarkation like checking out of a hotel? Room service may or may not be available on disembarkation day. 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. That time of year St. Thomas is one hour ahead cause of daylight savings. 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. 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 would show current time and then show what time to set it to. Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts and what you can do about them. If a ship arrives later whether a late arrival is scheduled ahead of time or due to a delay a general rule of thumb is that it will be cleared about an hour after it docks or anchors, assuming there are no regulatory snags. Ok but what about booking an excursion in advance. To at least half of you it is obvious that ship time IS ship time, but a lot of people still don't seem to comprehend this. A benefit of being a guest that purchases Royal Caribbean's VIP program, The Key, is you'll get a special luggage tag. Among the passenger shipping companies leaving from Seattle are CCL-Carnival, Celebrity, HAL-Holland America, NCL-Norwegian, Princess, RCI-Royal Caribbean, Oceania, Lindblad-National Geographic.