If all you have are carry-ons - how does Haven debarkation work?

[erisajd]

We decided we wanted to see Alaska - only real way to see Alaska is by ship - and given my wife said no to the Alaska Marine Highway 'cruise' we are on the Bliss this June in the Haven - This is our fourth cruise -the first three were disasters - illness, bad food, crazy insane fellow pax, 2000 of our closest friends going everywhere - we're hoping for the best in the Haven.  

 

Anyway - American Airlines changed our flight from 2p to 1130am.  There are no other real options -  home by 4p on this 1130a [or some other airlines 1130]  or after 10p if we try to find a later flight - we like the idea of getting home early but have some trepidation about the time off the boat and the 1130a departure. 

 

To summarize - we are in the Haven.  Forward Facing Penthouse

We ONLY use carry ons when we travel.  1 airline legal rollaboard spinner - 1 legal size backpack.  We've done Scotland and Italy Spain for 2-3 weeks several times this way - we bring 5 days of clothes and find an airbnb or hotel with a washer and dryer.  

We are CLEAR, Exec Plat AA FF members, and Global Entry [[is there GE @ the Seattle Cruise POE??] 

 

Thus- is it reasonable to simply carry on our bags onto the ship - schlep them to the Haven checkin and restaurant and then onboard - lunch and then drop them in the cabin at 1p. . . . 

 

Then - simply retain our bags, take the priority exit - and go through customs and immigration there @ the SEA POE?? 

 

 

[RocketMan275]

The day before debarkation, ask the concierge about the procedure.   On our last three cruises we were not in a time crunch so we had a full breakfast in the Haven restaurant.  We then went to the concierge who immediately escorted us by private elevator to the head of the debarkation line.  Off we went.

I would suggest  you might want to skip breakfast and get something at the airport.  You do realize SEATAC airport is about 15 miles from the cruise terminal?  Any delay and you're SOL.  If it were us, we'd opt for the later flight.

[MONYMONY68]

When we were in Haven on the Jewel, we also had carry-on only.  Let the butler know you have carry on only.  He/she will arrange to have an NCL employee assist you with your luggage.  They escort you through the disembarkation and through customs.  It was very smooth and expedited everything.

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, erisajd said:

We decided we wanted to see Alaska - only real way to see Alaska is by ship - and given my wife said no to the Alaska Marine Highway 'cruise' we are on the Bliss this June in the Haven - This is our fourth cruise -the first three were disasters - illness, bad food, crazy insane fellow pax, 2000 of our closest friends going everywhere - we're hoping for the best in the Haven.  

 

Anyway - American Airlines changed our flight from 2p to 1130am.  There are no other real options -  home by 4p on this 1130a [or some other airlines 1130]  or after 10p if we try to find a later flight - we like the idea of getting home early but have some trepidation about the time off the boat and the 1130a departure. 

 

To summarize - we are in the Haven.  Forward Facing Penthouse

We ONLY use carry ons when we travel.  1 airline legal rollaboard spinner - 1 legal size backpack.  We've done Scotland and Italy Spain for 2-3 weeks several times this way - we bring 5 days of clothes and find an airbnb or hotel with a washer and dryer.  

We are CLEAR, Exec Plat AA FF members, and Global Entry [[is there GE @ the Seattle Cruise POE??] 

 

Thus- is it reasonable to simply carry on our bags onto the ship - schlep them to the Haven checkin and restaurant and then onboard - lunch and then drop them in the cabin at 1p. . . . 

 

Then - simply retain our bags, take the priority exit - and go through customs and immigration there @ the SEA POE?? 

 

You don't have to worry about carrying your own bags either on or off the ship. Especially with a Forward Facing Penthouse where you would have to schlep your bags up to the Haven to get escorted off. 

 

One thing to consider is that you are going to Alaska. On Dawes Glacier day, you will want a heavy coat, gloves, and a hat. The packing requirement are a lot more than going to Italy. 

 

We normally have a flight before noon (we do this year) and you can easily send your bags to the baggage hall, pick them up at 8:00 and be at the airport nlt 8:45. Or you can use the Port Valet service (free) to take your bags from your room and check them in directly with AA (that's what we do) and print and deliver your boarding passes to your cabin (if you are an EP, you probably only use the app like us). 

 

There is no GE and no need for GE. If you are not using the cruise line transfers, you can walk from the gangway to the street with a brief pause in immigrations to do a facial recognition scan. 

 

At the airport, being an EP will get you checked in quickly. Lately, Clear at any airport has been hit-n-miss (wither it is faster than just doing standard Pre-Check). We are EP/Clear/TSA and stood in the TSA line last year. And had our car pick us up around 9:00 for a noon flight. If you are an Admiral's member, you can use the Alaska Airline lounge directly beyond security. 

 

[erisajd]

@BirdTravels  thanks for the info - glad to see they have it down - year - we figured we'd make it no problem - we'll have plenty of warm clothes and a hooded jacket - these days Under Armour and Nike make winter cold gear that rolls up easy and lets you put 5 days of clothes into the rollaboard - leaving shoes and misc stuff for the backpack!  

Edited March 5 by erisajd

[Jordan61]

Echoing what the Bird said. We were in the Haven on the Bliss last May. We had checked bags, and even with the time finding them after disembarkation we were at SeaTac by 8:30.

[9tee2Sea]

on embarkation day, if you are doing walk off.  You will take all your luggage and meet at the Concierge desk in the Haven lounge.  When the time comes ( If I remember correctly, it was around 7-8am), the concierge will announce that he is now taking walk off passengers only.  He will take people down thru the special elevator ( no porters to handle luggage, you carry your own).  Exit at the passport control area ( which will be pretty empty at that time), wind your way thru the empty lanes, do the chit chat with the passport agent, then exit the terminal.  Taxis are outside, or if you want to walk up a few blocks ( steep blocks), you can take the light rail directly into the airport.