Disembarkation Question

[C-LAD]

What is HAL's procedure for vacating cabins on the morning of disembarkation? Some have said you are requested to be out of your cabin ASAP and others have indicated you can stay in your cabin until your disembarkation number is called. Believe that latter was mentioned in a recent review of a 2004 Christmas cruise on the Zaandam.

[RuthC]

It's still a fairly new procedure, but yes, you may stay in your cabin until your disembarkation number is called.

You are also free to wait in the public areas, in the Lido or by the pool, on deck. But, please, do not wait on the stairways or near the exit. You will just make it more difficult for others. (Amazing, but no matter how many times people are asked to keep the stairways clear it's still a problem.)

[sail7seas]

For all of our recent cruises, we have been permitted to remain in our cabins until our disembark number is called. It is so much more comfortable that way.

[1cruiselvr]

HAL changed it's policy awhile go (not sure exactly when), so now you are allowed to stay in your cabin until disembarkation. Also, they will do room service on disembarkation day which they didn't do before. Makes for a very relaxing exit off the ship. Happy Sailing!

[bepsf]

Count me among the "I paid for 7 days and By Gum, I'm gonna stay in my stateroom as long as I can" group!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I love the new policy where we are able to stay in our cabins until our number was called. Have been doing this for quite some time now.

But in spite of people being able to remain in their cabins until their numbers are called, there are some who hurry and eat and start to line up by the gangway. A couple of times on our last cruises, they had to make annoucements over the PA system for everyone to move away from the gangway - disembarkation wouldn't begin until the area was cleared.

[1cruiselvr]

I guess they have these people on every cruise, as our Statendam hawaii cruise had the same problem. They announced to please NOT block the gangway but people did it anyway, then they had to announce again PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE GANGWAY. What is UP with these people??? Happy Sailing!

[dakrewser]

But in spite of people being able to remain in their cabins until their numbers are called, there are some who hurry and eat and start to line up by the gangway.


They're the same ones who crowd the door to the airport gate so no one can get off or on and you see them all over the ship rushing into the elevator before anyone has a chance to get off. They also line up outside the dining room 30 minutes before their seating time. I've often wished I had the power to say "you, go to the back of the line. No soup for you." :)

[boards]

I love the new policy where we are able to stay in our cabins until our number was called. (quote) It's at a time like that, that we wish we had booked a suite, well maybe someday.

[cru1s1ng]

The new disembarkation sounds great. That's always been the worst part. On my last carnival cruise, i had to sit on the floor in the library for several hours. No food, no bevs. It was barbaric. :mad:

[OCruisers]

We could stay in our cabin on the Veendam January (15th sailing) BUT there was NO room service for breakfast the morning of disembarkation.

[Sea Island Lady]

Are you allowed to go to breakfast in the dining room and then return to your room until your number is called? How do the stewards feel about this procedure? Seems they are always rushing us out before we had to vacate on other lines.

[dakrewser]

We could stay in our cabin on the Veendam January (15th sailing) BUT there was NO room service for breakfast the morning of disembarkation.

Likewise no room service on the O'dam last month.

[sail7seas]

We could not order room service the last morning on Veendam but we thought it was because they were in a hurry to get us all off the ship in order to proceed with the super sanitizing. All our previous HAL cruises, we have had last morning room service. I hope they are not permanently discontinuing that availability. We never go to the dining room or Lido for breakfast during the cruise and would not appreciate having to on the last morning.

[anngie]

I love the self carrying luggage off and getting off early. It is great for people like us who have long drives home. My son and wife will be getting off in Miami tomorrow from a Norwegian Cruise ship. They are self carrying their luggage so that they can get an early start.
For those who have to fly out or have bus transportation home the stay in the cabin is a great thing. Not for those who are driving though. Until our last HAL cruise we were honored our request to leave early because of the long drive. We were still in our cabin at 10:45.

[grenouille]

Last week, on the Westerdam, we stayed in our room until our number was called. They did allow for room service, but we chose to eat in the dinning room. On our way back to the room, my husband asked me to double check that we were indeed allowed to stay in the rooms, as sooo many of the lounges were filled with people!
Indeed, there is no specific mention (in the disembarkation docs) that you CAN stay in the room, but at the same time, nowhere does it say to vacate the room by 8am.

Also, many people were in the stairways, near the gangway, waiting to disembark. Still don't understand that one!

[sail7seas]

It's possible some of them had early flights. They left their cabins and made their way to a public area near the gangway to save the time it would take to get there when their number was called. If they had booked flights that were 'touch and go' as to would they make it.....they could be why some of the folks were 'chomping at the bit' to disembark.