Oasis Debarkation-best way to avoid major lines?

[Gatordad815]

Hello all-we will be on Oasis in the near future and I have a quick question about debarkation morning. I realize Debarkation morning is the most painful part of the cruise vacation and it is generally less hassle if you can carry your own bags off very early before crowds. We will have 2 small kids & need luggage assistance so self-service isn’t really an option for us.

 

 

My question is whether it is less hassle to just wait until the end of debarkation and be one of the last off? We will be driving so no flights to worry about and no major hurry to get off the boat. Or is it best to just get in line as early as possible and tip a porter to bypass the line (we will need the assistance anyway).

 

Essentially I’m looking for advice on the best way to avoid a long line since my kids don’t do great with lines. Any thoughts appreciated!

[Clarea]

Just throwing this out as a potential consideration. The one time we had no real reason to get off the ship quickly, we stayed onboard as long as we could. When we got down to the terminal, someone had taken one of our bags by mistake. We eventually got it back, but it did delay us for about 90 minutes.

[taglovestocruise]

Use the Mobile Passport app. The line for Mobile passport had a few dozen people in it compared to hundreds lined up on each side of the terminal.

[molly361]

We have only done early walk off. We just did it (self assist) a couple of weeks ago and it took 45 minutes from the time that we got in line until the time we were in our car in the parking lot. The line to get off was out on deck but there was no line at Customs yet which I have read is a problem sometimes at PC

 

Have never been the last off so don't know how that is

[Snit13]

I must have read OP's post incorrectly. I though she was seeking advice on getting off ship to the terminal, not getting out of the terminal. OP, Bob always has good advice. If there is no need for you to rush off, enjoy breakfast with your family and then follow the directions provided by Guest Services.

 

I have seen lines 1 hour long for self-disembark and the are off before those who follow the schedule for their luggage tags. You can always go to Guest Services the day before and exchange luggage tags for the time which is most convenient for you.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Leighrick]

Use the Mobile Passport app. The line for Mobile passport had a few dozen people in it compared to hundreds lined up on each side of the terminal.

What is mobile passport app?

 

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[wendychloecruiser]

https://mobilepassport.us/

[topnole]

Book a suite. That will get you off fast. Lol. But seriously it is very fast when in a suite.

[mo&fran]

Use the Mobile Passport app. The line for Mobile passport had a few dozen people in it compared to hundreds lined up on each side of the terminal.

I do not believe Mobile Passport works at Canaveral.

[momofmab]

Pay the $15-$20 tip for a porter. They have their own short customs lines. They load your luggage, lead you through the MUCH shorter customs line and take your luggage to your car or shuttle. Some people have an issue with the porters being able to take advantage of the short customs lines and will hate on passengers who use the porters, but this is not any fault of the passengers, so why not use them?

 

We disembarked Oasis at the beginning of April and the customs lines were insane. We grabbed a porter and were in our car in less than 15minutes. Best money spent the entire cruise! Not sure why they can’t have more customs agents there for 6,000 passengers.

 

Also agree with pp, self-disembark lines were super long (it felt like half the ship was doing self-disembark), so that’s no longer a sure thing for quickly getting off the ship.

 

 

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[CTCruiser74]

Our last cruise, we had a pretty low number. As soon as we left our room around 8:00, our number was called. We weren't even able to get breakfast! We got through the terminal and customs pretty quick. Much quicker than Fort Lauderdale the year before.

[Gatordad815]

Thanks all for the input! Can I ask what may seem like an obvious question about the porter tip situation? Will that approach work no matter what time we get off the ship? Meaning if we leave at a busy time (I’m thinking 9:00), having porter assistance would get us on our way just as quickly as if they were helping us at say 7:00 or 10:15? I don’t mind tipping for the convenience, just want to know what to expect. Thanks!

[Milwaukee Eight]

I do not believe Mobile Passport works at Canaveral.

 

 

 

And it was not Active on Harmony FLL April 14.

 

 

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[topnole]

Ask your room attendant for one of the earliest luggage tag numbers. This will allow you to get off before most.

[PortSideCruzan]

We will have 2 small kids & need luggage assistance so self-service isn’t really an option for us.

 

Essentially I’m looking for advice on the best way to avoid a long line since my kids don’t do great with lines. Any thoughts appreciated!

 

Hi Gatordad :)

 

Definitely use porter service. You'll be through the customs line extremely quick.

Have a terrific voyage!

 

 

:)

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

Driving and not in a hurry? Wait until they kick you off or get up at the crack of dawn and walk off. I know my choice.

[ObstructedView2]

Hello all-we will be on Oasis in the near future and I have a quick question about debarkation morning. I realize Debarkation morning is the most painful part of the cruise vacation and it is generally less hassle if you can carry your own bags off very early before crowds. We will have 2 small kids & need luggage assistance so self-service isn’t really an option for us.

 

 

My question is whether it is less hassle to just wait until the end of debarkation and be one of the last off? We will be driving so no flights to worry about and no major hurry to get off the boat. Or is it best to just get in line as early as possible and tip a porter to bypass the line (we will need the assistance anyway).

 

Essentially I’m looking for advice on the best way to avoid a long line since my kids don’t do great with lines. Any thoughts appreciated!

 

Get off the ship at your leasure, whatever time you like. Gather your bags in the terminal, then grab a porter. He'll then get you through customs with very little wait time.

[Gatordad815]

Get off the ship at your leasure, whatever time you like. Gather your bags in the terminal, then grab a porter. He'll then get you through customs with very little wait time.

 

Thanks-this is what I was hoping the case would be! I wasn’t sure when or where the bad lines would be or how to make the morning the least hassle with the kids, but this helps me picture the process. I’ll definitely be using a porter no matter what so it seems we can leave the ship whenever we are ready without rushing and get some help once we are off. Thanks!

[momofmab]

We got off around 9am and had to wait for a porter to be available (only a few minutes). People in the long customs lines were starting to leave the lines and grab porters as they were on their way back from taking passengers through. You may have to be a little "assertive" in getting a porter to come your way before someone else grabs him. My advice is to designate someone to identify your luggage while someone else is getting a porter.

[topnole]

Saw a thread on porters recently but on our cruise last year on oasis the porters had to wait in the regular line with you. So it didn’t expedite the process for us or anyone.

 

When did this change?

[adamrosie]

Have a nice breakfast in the morning in the MDR. Take your time getting off the ship. Mobile passport doesn’t work in Port Canaveral unfortunately.

 

 

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[marci22]

I don't think there is a best way unless you have a concierge escorting you off personally. So many people do self-debark nowadays that you will wait in line for that. Either be on line an hour early to be first off the ship, or show up around your departure time and wait an hour to follow the early rising self-debarkers.

 

On the other hand you could wait til the end, but I don't like the crowded lounges sitting with a bunch of people for hours. The room stewards want you out of the room asap. Also there is the risk, as described by Bob, of someone mistakenly taking your luggage. I once mistakenly took someone's luggage and got all the way home before I realized it. I am more careful now. (I opened the suitcase and thought wow, I don't play tennis)

 

imo best thing is to get off as early as possible. Either way it involves some waiting but I would rather wait early than late.

[pcur]

We make a habit of booking late afternoon flights, and stay on the ship as late as we can. We check with the cabin steward about this the last day of the cruise, because it involves leaving our carry-on luggage in the cabin closet. We've never had a problem.

We eat breakfast in the 'Jammer in the last 30 minutes they are open, and there is usually not a huge crowd. With 2 small children, you will adjust this to suit their eating times, of course.

We sit in a spot where we can either see the line going off the ship, or see the amount of people on the outside deck getting off. When the line is sparse, we get off.

Yes, a porter will ask you if you want help, and grab the first one. With 2 small children it's going to be worth the $10 - $20 tip (depending on the amount of luggage). He will help load up your luggage and take you to the shorter line. By the way, Mobile Passport kiosks are primarily for airports and is only located at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale for cruises.

Once outside the terminal there will still be a crowd, but have your transportation plans set up in advance. Lots of recommendations on those on the Florida board here on CC.

[Plum Happy]

Ask your room attendant for one of the earliest luggage tag numbers. This will allow you to get off before most.

 

If you do this, by all means keep your bags with you. I had a low number like 5 and one of may bags did not come out until they released #15 - even the tags were different color. Most of the porters are male and most men (not all) are color blind. All they saw was 5.:o

[venicia]

Off Oasis on April 15, we had 10 am luggage tickets. We left our cabin around 7:30 am and wandered about a bit. We went to deck 5 to have coffee and pastry. We had no problem locating a table, but again, we were having coffee and food. We took turns using the restroom as our drive is a two hour drive. There was basically no line to get off (the area is directly across from where we were sitting.) I asked a crew member that was directing persons off if our ticket would be called early and she told us we could go immediately.

 

We exited the ship and got to the luggage storage area. The porters are lined up waiting for cruisers. We got a porter immediately and we walked to our ticket area. He loaded all our luggage including our carry on's and in no time at all he had us at the Customs person. Yes, we by-passed a huge line and I would do it again. The porter took our luggage to a Park & Cruise shuttle, unloaded from his cart and we gave him a $20.00 tip. Was it worth it! OMG, YES!!!

 

This was the quickest we have ever cleared customs. Just like anything else, you can pay the porter to move you or you can wait in line. You made the decision.