Why is Debarkation such a hassle?

[cgc33a]

Why is it that debarkation takes several hours? You get a color and sit around for up to several hours as others are allowed off. I know that those with early flights (esp. when RCCL makes the arrangements) get priority & I realize that some ships have over 3000 people to get off but how does Disney do it so painlessly? On DCL, you go to breakfast, then walk off the ship. I have observed some congestion/lines at the gangway on DCL (people waiting to get off) but it clears in 15 minutes or so. In 8 DCL cruises, I have never waited to get off (have waited in a 5-10 minute customs line though). On my other cruises on other lines, you wait and wait (I almost missed a flight once b/c it took so long & my flight wasn't until 1:30 PM before the "get to the airport 2 hours ahead" started). I don't understand..... Might have to try the self carry off the bags this time route.

[Comet Cruiser]

HI Cgc33a,

 

I TOTALLY agree with you!! We live in Ontario and drive down to either Baltimore or Bayonne to board the ship. We always get white tags to get off early so we can start the long drive home, a 10 hour ordeal. I know that people with planes to catch take have priority, but last year when we were leaving the Voyager, there were people on the shuttle bus with EVERY colour and the mayhem at the pier to pick up the baggage was a zoo!!

We didn't get off the ship last year til 10:45.....and we had WHITE tags, the mass of people when you went to the customs was terrible, as soon as the elevator doors opened you couldn't move!! I am claustrophobic and having to stand in that line for customs was just terrible.:eek:

I understand that everyone wants to get off the ship quickly when you get back, but I really don't think pushing and shoving and rudeness makes it go any quicker.

I really hope that this year the disembarking will go a LOT smoother.

I also agree that RCL should do something to make it easier for everyone, I mean you just came back from a wonderfully relaxing cruise to total chaos, it sorta takes away from the good time......but this is just my opinion.

Happy Cruising

Comet Cruiser

Gail

[cruise cruise cruise]

On our last cruise, we waited in line to get of the ship,but that was just because they were trying to keep the line short backing up from customs. IMO they need more customes agents.

On embarkation day, there are about, what 50 agents to check passengers in. On debarktation day, they had only 5 customs agents!

[MercedMike]

On embarkation day, there are about, what 50 agents to check passengers in. On debarktation day, they had only 5 customs agents!

 

UMMMMM -- because the check in clerks are minimum wage temps hired by the cruise line to push papers... and the Customs Agents are full time expensive employees of the US Government with a long list of important duties???

 

>:-)

[skandls]

I think debarcation is a lot less painful than it used to be. At least there is a buffet breakfast open for a decent amount of time. And you are allowed to wait in most public areas. If you are flying its wait on the ship or wait at the airport. I do, however, miss room service coffee the last morning.

 

If time for getting off the ship get really backed up (customs short staffed - immigration dealing with another ship in port) you would want to get the people who had planes to catch off in a timely manner. Those of us with cars in the parking lot have to wait.

 

One cruise we were some off the last people off the ship. We found a couple of lounge chairs by the pool - I read - DH took a nap (too much casino time). But guess what - one of the perks of being a frequent cruiser is priority emb and debarcation. Travel always has its good sides and its inconveniences.

[Firefighterhoop]

On the Navigator 2 weeks ago it was BAD! EIther half the ship had white tags, like us, or Everyone just wanted off. Waited over an hour from the time white got called to even get to customs.

[craiggers14]

On our last cruise, we waited in line to get of the ship,but that was just because they were trying to keep the line short backing up from customs. IMO they need more customes agents.

On embarkation day, there are about, what 50 agents to check passengers in. On debarktation day, they had only 5 customs agents!

 

Isn't debarkation day and embarkation day the same day, just for different passengers? :)

[MGoBlue2]

On our last cruise, we waited in line to get of the ship,but that was just because they were trying to keep the line short backing up from customs. IMO they need more customes agents.

On embarkation day, there are about, what 50 agents to check passengers in. On debarktation day, they had only 5 customs agents!

That's because the cruise line hires the check in staff and they care about your wait times, the government decides how many customs agents to use, they don't care so much.

[MGoBlue2]

Why is it that debarkation takes several hours? You get a color and sit around for up to several hours as others are allowed off. I know that those with early flights (esp. when RCCL makes the arrangements) get priority & I realize that some ships have over 3000 people to get off but how does Disney do it so painlessly? On DCL, you go to breakfast, then walk off the ship. I have observed some congestion/lines at the gangway on DCL (people waiting to get off) but it clears in 15 minutes or so. In 8 DCL cruises, I have never waited to get off (have waited in a 5-10 minute customs line though). On my other cruises on other lines, you wait and wait (I almost missed a flight once b/c it took so long & my flight wasn't until 1:30 PM before the "get to the airport 2 hours ahead" started). I don't understand..... Might have to try the self carry off the bags this time route.

Maybe that's why Disney costs twice as much, they spend it all on baggage handlers.

[Annieeee]

Good question, could it be because so many passengers think that they are special and deserve to get off first no matter what color tags they have ?

 

Annieeee

[uksimonusa]

Good question, could it be because so many passengers think that they are special and deserve to get off first no matter what color tags they have ?

 

Annieeee

 

I think that's a good point, many times I have been white tags, and seen lots of people waiting by the luggage carousels for colors that haven't even been called yet, if people would just adhere to their color, I think it would go alot quicker. Personally I would rather wait in a lounge or the windjammer, than stand in a long line onboard and then have to wait for mu luggage to be unloaded

[Fran Harp]

Good question, could it be because so many passengers think that they are special and deserve to get off first no matter what color tags they have ?

 

Annieeee

 

I wonder if it also depends on the port. On both our cruises, debarkation has been fast and easy. First was in Fort Lauderdale...took about half an hour till our colour got called. In Barcelona we waited about ten minutes, colour was called, there were no crowds, luggage carousels were all moving well, and we just got off, grabbed our bags and got out.

 

I do remember (vividly!!) that we docked an hour and a half early in Barcelona, and the luggage was already being removed at 5:30 a.m. Nor was there a customs check in Barcelona, which also sped things up.

 

Fran in Toronto

[isujim]

I really don't think it is that bad...........but maybe I have just come to expect it to take a little longer especially if you have to clear immigration back at your embarkation point. Remember customs and immigration are two different check points (although for the Mariner it was the same).....

 

I guess I just accept with 3,000 plus passengers, customs, immigration, baggage handeling, transfers etc........it is going to take awhile........or maybe I really don't want to leave the ship anyway.:)

[Giorgi-one]

That's because the cruise line hires the check in staff and they care about your wait times, the government decides how many customs agents to use, they don't care so much.

 

I do not believe this is totally true. For one thing, as far as I could tell, threre was only space for six (6) customs agents in the RCL terminal in Miami when we left Freedom last week. Also, I would think that RCL could work something out with the the government to get more agents, particulary if they agreed to pay for the extra agents (less than $150 for three hours per agent).

 

We always book late flights to avoid the pressure of trying to get off quick, get to the airport, check-in, security, etc. My biggest complaint is that most cruise lines (not just RCL) really don't seem to understand their own process or just plain lie to people. On our cruise last week, we had to fill out a debarkation questionaire giving flight times. We had four couples, all with same flight, and we all got differnt color tags. We had flights after 12 noon and two couples got colors for the first group off the ship (7 - 7:30 AM). We had no trouble changing tags but why fill out the qustionaires if no one is going to use them. We wound up with 9 - 9:30 depature tags and our color was eventually called about 10:45. RCL knew full well that we would not be off the ship at 9 AM. We saw the same lines the week before when we boarded around noon. Also, in our group was a young couple with an 11 AM flight, which they obviously missed. They were told by guest relations that they would have no problem and everyone would be off the ship by 10 AM. Obviously, no one at guest relations knows what is going on and have never taken a flight out of Miami airport.

 

If they have a problem, admit it. Tell passengers WHEN THEY BOOK THEIR CRUISE that debarkation will not be complete until noon so they can make flight arrangments accordingly. Give people realistic times for debarkation and provide some type of entertainment while we are waiting 2 - 3 hours in public areas (remember you have to vacate your stateroom by 8 AM). Or just build smaller ships which most people want anyway.

[HebeJebe]

I've only ever cruised with Disney before (4 times) but am sailing on the Navigator in October. Disney also only has about 4-6 Customs agents. Maybe the big difference is that with Disney you debark by dining time which isn't regulated so basically you get off when you want to and who really wants to get off the ship anyway?! If RCCL allows their repeat cruisers the benefit of early debarking I imagine this really jams things up since so much of their business is repeat cruisers.

 

Great, now I'm even more paranoid about getting off the ship in time for my flight. :(

[AFT_LOVER]

Diamonds/Plus were off at 6:30AM to board long bus ride to Gatwick or to Heathrow. It was a breeze with porters with us to claim luggage (6 pieces) and get us on the bus & by 7AM we were rolling. But at the airport, that was a LOONEY BIN. Long lines to pass customs, then to the airline area to pass with luggage & no kiosks for the online checkin we did onboard. With that you scan them at the kiosk & are told to goto First Class to check them. But not Harwich, you wait in a long ine to get checked in. Then we were flying at 4PM and it was 1:30PM and we were not allowed into the gate area since it was too soon. So we sit in the mall area waiting for 3PM so we can pass into our gate. Then watch Delta changing departure times up to 2 hours later.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Part of the blame would be the names you hear over and over again to report to the pursers desk. You know the ones I'm talking about!! :eek: :D Yes those poeple who hold up everything...Once they finally show up and clear with customs, then disembarkation begins.

 

Disembarkation is a game all its own, some cruises we have been off in less than 30 minutes others can take hours! We just relax in the diamond area, usually the dining room and people watch!! :D

 

 

***

[JTJ]

The dock that the Disney ships use was custom designed for their ships, matter of fact the Canaveral PA owns it but no other ships use it. It is by far the most modern at PC, I've never been on a Disney ship but I did go to the grand opening and had a behind the scene tour. It was impressive. The other two docks at PC started small and have slowly been modified.

[HebeJebe]

Does that mean everyone doesn't have a giant room where your luggage has already been pre-checked before you grab your bags and go? How is DCL different than others?

[Giorgi-one]

It doesn't really matter who gets off first or in what order they do it. Sure if you are Diamond Plus you get your choice. Royal Caribbean would not be in business for more than 2 days if the only passengers they had were Diamond Plus. And if a large portion of the passengers were Diamond Plus, which Diamond Plus get off first. The point is how long does it take to get 4400 people off the ship. They can only get so many people thru six customs agents in Miami and can only get so many bags on the carousels at one time.

 

How long will it take to get 6500 people off a Genesis ship? The last people off will probably get to see sail away from the dock. Do they get the drink of the day special price?

[HebeJebe]

Bags go on a carousel? Please explain.

[JTJ]

hebe, it's been about 10 yrs 1997 I believe, but the terminal was designed by Disneys "Imagineers" they made it 2 functioning storys with multiple elevators and you can be checking pax in as you are checking others out.

[tkportersat]

It is not as bad as it seems, I mean think about it - your trip is over. People are short tempered and upset their vacation is over. Thinking about loading up bags, driving or flying home, unpacking is a lot less fun to think about then sitting by the pool deck with a drink in hand. I always stay in my room as long as I can, and go have one last nice breakfast. It is what it is, and as long as ships keep getting bigger and there are terrorist in our midst it will probably only get worse.

[Giorgi-one]

hebe, it's been about 10 yrs 1997 I believe, but the terminal was designed by Disneys "Imagineers" they made it 2 functioning storys with multiple elevators and you can be checking pax in as you are checking others out.

 

You can check passengers in and out at all cruise terminals. Check-in is totally separate from check-out. Problem is that you cannot let new passengers board the ship until all returning passengers are off the ship. Now if you are saying that Disney has facilities where everyone can leave the ship quickly and wait for customs and baggage there, that would be another story.

[Amink]

on all the cruises we have been on, we've waited and waited, mainly just for the people from outside the US to recognize their name and go to the appropriate place to be cleared.

 

We had purple tags last time, second color to be called, we weren't called until 10:30, and then they called 3 colors at a time, the stairs were jammed full of people! It was a nightmare.