Take a photo or otherwise make a notation of your tag color so you will know where to look for your bags. Luggage at the pier will be sorted by group color and number - and there will be thousands of bags waiting. Related: A beginner’s guide to picking a cruise line Don’t forget your group color It's better to grab a coffee and wait in a lounge or out by the pool. Don’t bother getting there early, or you’ll find yourself milling around, which can be frustrating. On disembarkation day, groups will be called by the color and number of the tags - such as Red 1 or Yellow 5 - to head to the atrium to disembark. These tags are important for both timing and finding your suitcase at the pier. The idea is that you put these tags on any luggage you would like the crew to handle (see below). The day before disembarkation, staff will deliver color- and number-coded luggage tags to your cabin, along with an approximate disembarkation time. Related: Should I buy my flights through my cruise line? Check your luggage tags Then have to get to the airport, which may involve navigating through heavy traffic, and waiting in security lines along with hundreds of other cruise travelers, fresh off their ships.Īvoid unnecessary heart palpitations by booking afternoon flights. It takes several hours to clear a ship of thousands of passengers. There is a reason cruise lines recommend guests not book flights home before noon. Grab an extra hour or more of sleep - unless you still need to check your bill that morning (see above). Your ship may arrive back in port at 6 a.m., but it then has to be cleared by customs officials, which may take two hours or more. Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts - and what you can do about them Don’t get up at the crack of dawn It’s nearly impossible to get cruise line land staff to fix onboard billing mistakes. Pro tip: Don’t assume you can fix issues after you get off the ship. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. Mistakes happen, and inevitably there will be long lines at guest services on embarkation day with people arguing about specific charges. 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. Just be prepared for a little chaos - and take these steps to avoid any common disembarkation day mistakes. Try not to get too sad about the end of your delightful cruise vacation. It’s a busy work day.įor cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter The crew needs to get everyone out of their cabins and off the ship quickly, so they can prepare for the arrival of the next batch of thousands of passengers. However, the final day on most big ships is a madhouse. Small and luxury ships may have flexible, even leisurely, disembarkation plans. You can’t just leave the ship when you feel like it. Getting off a cruise ship is not the same as checking out of a hotel. Then comes the reality of disembarkation day. You’ve had a great cruise, and you want to end your vacation on a high note.
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