disembarking/boarding times for shore visits

[jill wozhere]

If you people weren't so darn helpful, I'd stop bothering you!  However, your help has been much appreciated, so here's another question for you...

• When the times of arrival and departure are noted on the itinerary, how long does it actually take to get off the ship and onto shore? 
• Does it take longer if the ship can't dock and you have to be ferried ashore and if so how much longer?  
• When returning to the ship, how long before the ship is due to leave must you arrive ready to get back on board?

Thank you all for your help so far.  It has been really enlightening. 

[KristiZ]

So many variables can factor in, but here are a few:

• The ship itself might arrive at port earlier or later than planned -- things like weather, availability of a pilot, delayed departure of a prior ship, etc, etc -- so the arrival times noted are always just a plan, not a promise
• If the ship has to clear customs in the port, getting off the ship can be delayed (or not -- if the ship arrives early, that helps sometimes)
• The bigger the ship, the longer it takes, generally
• if they can use more than one door for disembarking, that speeds things along
• Tendering will always take longer than walking off. Especially since people with Royal-purchased excursions will have priority for spots on the tender (as will some others like Key or Pinnacle or Suite guests, usually). Plan an extra 20+ minutes at least if you have to tender. The Cruise Compass will often give you an estimated time for the tender process
• Returning to the ship, you "must" be there at least a few minutes prior to All Aboard. HOWEVER, because things happen, most people plan to be there 15-60 minutes prior depending on their personal stress tolerance  

I'm sure others will have more to say!

[ChessE4]

1 hour ago, jill wozhere said:

If you people weren't so darn helpful, I'd stop bothering you!  However, your help has been much appreciated, so here's another question for you...

• When the times of arrival and departure are noted on the itinerary, how long does it actually take to get off the ship and onto shore? 
• Does it take longer if the ship can't dock and you have to be ferried ashore and if so how much longer?  
• When returning to the ship, how long before the ship is due to leave must you arrive ready to get back on board?

Thank you all for your help so far.  It has been really enlightening. 

For departure, you need to be on the ship 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.  If the ship leaves at 4 PM, all aboard is 3:30 PM.  But you need to be ready to board before that time, which is why@KristiZ suggested as much as an hour earlier (there can sometimes by a long line, or a wait for a tender).

In terms of getting off the ship, Royal excursions have priority once clearance is obtained.  After those groups have left, the others may disembark.  In my experience, this implies a wait of 30-60 minutes.  Tendering is a little slower, as has been stated.