How long does it usually take to disembark?

Hi all,

This is our 1st cruise and are hoping to fly back home to Calgary the same day we arrive back to port. How long does it usually take to disembark? Thanks in advance!

In order to give you a meaningful answer, you need to identify the cruise line, ship, port of disembarkation and airport.

It depends. We usually wait until the last group to get off the ship, the longest it has ever taken (Celebrity, carribean) is about 15 minutes. But it completely depends on where your headed and how big the ship is.

It depends. We usually wait until the last group to get off the ship, the longest it has ever taken (Celebrity, carribean) is about 15 minutes. But it completely depends on where your headed and how big the ship is.

But that's not a useful answer because you've neglected to say how much time elapsed from when the ship arrived in port to when the last group started disembarkation...and that could easily be 2 hours or more. Then time has to be added for clearing customs and immigration, travel to the airport from the pier and check in/security clearance at the airport. The OP wants to know how early they can book a return flight. All they likely know right now is when the ship is scheduled to arrive as stated in their itinerary.

Hi all,

This is our 1st cruise and are hoping to fly back home to Calgary the same day we arrive back to port. How long does it usually take to disembark? Thanks in advance!

On top of what horseman said, it really is ship and port dependant.

On top of that, even if your research shows the ship gets back at (let's say) 6AM. That doesn't mean people start getting off the ship at 6AM.

Port dependant but let's say the ship does get back at 6AM. The ship now belongs to US Customs and US Immigrations. NOBODY gets off the ship until they say so

OP is sailing the Carnival Splendor in February.

OP is sailing the Carnival Splendor in February.

Oy !!!

OP, unfortunately, many things can, and do, happen to make disembarkation delayed. But generally speaking, if a ship arrives at 7, and if everything goes smoothly with no delays, you can probably begin leaving the ship at 7:45. Now remember, these are general times only because sometimes they will only allow you to start leaving once all luggage is off loaded and in the terminal.

Here's what usually happens. Your baggage tag color/number is called and you leave the gathering room you've been waiting in. You will proceed to the deck where the gangway is, and you will wait in a long line because everyone has to scan their room cards to prove you've left the ship. You then head towards another long line for US Immigration. Depending on the terminal, there may be separate lines for non-US Citizens so you will have to stand in that line, with your passport for the agent to inspect. Once that's done you hunt down your luggage and then stand in another long line for US Customs. That might go quickly or it might not if you're chosen for a more extensive inspection. Once through there, you find your transportation to the airport and off you go. If all goes well, it should take 30 to 45 minutes to get through all that.

I'm taking a chance and thinking you're flying out of LAX. Going through check in and security can take a very long time at LAX depending on what airline you're on. LAX is a very crowded airport and the lines there are crazy. If your question is so you can determine a good flight time home, I would say no earlier than noon. Traffic from the port to the airport can be really bad, with lots of traffic jams. You have to add in generous transportation time. If you're looking at an earlier flight, I would strongly suggest not to try it. There are a lot of people on here who ask if they can make those really early flights, because they're so cheap. Well, the reason those flights are cheap is because airlines know that ship passengers cannot make it.

Good Luck with your cruise.

I have been off a ship at the final port in 15 minutes. It has also taken 3 hours sometimes. It depends as others have said on the port and the whim and caprice of the people from CBP(Customs and Border Protection AKA ICE immigration customs enforcement)....sometimes they allow all the US nationals off first sometimes they allow all the non US off first. This has happen to us at the same port and the same ship. CBP doesn't tell the cruise line in advance what they will be doing and that makes it worse.

Hello from a native Calgarian :)

You shouldn't plan to fly before noon. Doesn't matter if you get off the ship super early, there is always a chance that you will be delayed. We have been on ships where they begin disembarkation at 7:00 on the dot, and others where it is 8:45. As airplanes are flying full these days, you don't want to risk missing your flight or you can wait a long time for an open seat.

WestJet has directs from Los Angeles on Sundays in February - leaving at 1:55 pm and getting into YYC at 5:50 pm. A flight at that hour would allow you a leisurely departure and trip to the airport, rather than spending the last few hours of your vacation in hyper stress mode!

Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the info! We are sailing on the the Splendor with Carnival which leaves from Long Beach. We are flying out of LAX.

What if someone wants to take a leisurely time to get off the ship? How long do they let you stay in cabin? Do they serve breakfast those mornings?

What if someone wants to take a leisurely time to get off the ship? How long do they let you stay in cabin? Do they serve breakfast those mornings?

Yes, the cruise lines serve breakfast that morning. In general (it may vary from cruise line to cruise line) you can't stay in your cabin any later than about 9am, and often you must wait in a public area such as the theater or a lounge for your disembarkation group to be called (if you're not doing self disembarkation). Most ships want you off by no later than 10 or 10:30...they have to prepare the ship for the next cruise's passengers.

We arrive in Miami and our flight out to JFK is at 14:55 - so even if we need to check in 2 hours before - we would like to disembark around 12 noonish. We are in absolutely no rush to disembark, what is the best way to hang back and let all the others disembark before us.

What is self disembarkation and what other forms of disembarkation are there?

Yes, I'd like to ask the above too: Is it faster to carry your own bags off? Does anything special need to be done for that? And so on.

On most ships the first people off are those carrying their own bags. Specifics will vary by cruise line and port, but that is the norm. Some ports have their own quirks. For instance, in Fort Lauderdale, there is an escalator. You must have one hand free to hold on. If you don't have a hand free, you must take the elevator instead. There is often a serious backup for the elevator.

I'm also going to be at the Long Beach terminal, sooo, same as the topic starter. Need to get to downtown LA by 1PM. Advice to disembark quickly from anyone welcome!

We arrive in Miami and our flight out to JFK is at 14:55 - so even if we need to check in 2 hours before - we would like to disembark around 12 noonish. We are in absolutely no rush to disembark, what is the best way to hang back and let all the others disembark before us.

 

What is self disembarkation and what other forms of disembarkation are there?

There is no way you are gonna be able to stay onboard until Noon.

If you go to the pursers desk and ask for the last number off to tag your luggage..you will be off the ship by 10:30 at the lastest. remember nothing is opened.. Photo place to look at photos (cash only for purchases)

self embarkation is for people who can handle all their luggage with one hand free with no help. these people are let off first.

Sign up for Self-debarkation (or whatever your cruise line calls it). Carry off your bags and get a taxi to your destination.

If I understood you, we shouldn't sign up for self-debarkation if we want to stay aboard longest, but ask for the latest time from the purser's desk.

I did read somewhere that there is a service for the luggage to go to the airport for an additional charge (of course), do you know what this involves and if we would also be able to stay aboard longer ?

If I understood you, we shouldn't sign up for self-debarkation if we want to stay aboard longest, but ask for the latest time from the purser's desk.

 

I did read somewhere that there is a service for the luggage to go to the airport for an additional charge (of course), do you know what this involves and if we would also be able to stay aboard longer ?

Go to the purser's desk early in the cruise and ask to be in the last group off.

Luggage service to the airport depends on the cruise line, the airline and the port.

We always do the self-disembarkation so we are the first ones off the ship once the ship has been cleared. Usually we are off and at customs within 15-30 minutes from docking. Customs usually gies pretty quick as most passengers are still on the ship. When we disembarked in Venice we docked at 7:00 and were at the airport by 8:15.

Kirk

How long does US cruise customs typically take?

If airports are anything to go by, well, you get where I'm going here. And is it basically the same idea as what's at the airports?