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Disembarkation


Jeff

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Hi Jeff,

  

Generally, a 0730 arrival means that you'll be able to get off the ship as early as maybe 0800.  There are a number of variables though.

 

-Are you carrying all of your bags off or checking some bags?  If carrying all your luggage off, you can be amoung the first off the ship

-Your luggage tag/disembarkation number.  If you're provided a higher number, just ask guest services, they'll work this out with you

-The ship and the port. Enchantment obviously has a much lower pax capacity and Miami handles many pax, so even if you get off at peak time, you're unlikely to lose more than 30 mins or so to customs, lines, etc

-Are you planning on having breakfast onboard?  If you're in a hurry, grab some cereal, etc the day befoe and have a snack in your stateroom to beat the crowd.

-Have any other perks?  If you're in a suite you get priority disembarkation.  If you were sailing into Port Everglades Global Entry can help, not the case in Miami...yet.

-Luck.  This is the biggest one.  Why?  Paperwork, criminal activity, inspections, weather, technical issues.  All of these things and more can impact when the ship is actually able to arrive and how long it takes the ship to clear customs.  I've seen ships clear hours late (nearly a full day as Matt once saw b/c of fog).  This is rare, but is important to remember.

 

The bottom line is that this isn't a time, in my opinion, to take big risks, b/c you want to relax your last day of vacation.  As such, I'd plan on getting off the ship by 0930.  Will it be earlier?  Almost certainly (they want you off, they've gotta turn the ship around with more passengers), but as mentioned, things happen.

 

Now, read the link below, which I didn't read (or find until just now) and let's see if Matt disagrees with me :-)

http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/08/12/first-time-cruisers-disembarkation-day

 

Billy

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Possibly by 8 A.M.   The IF factors are:  If the weather does not delay you arriving in port.  If the port area is not clogged with ships coming in or going out.   Bigger if  is if the customs inspection goes well or not.   We  once had an hour customs inspection that delayed the ships passengers  departures.  The best suggestion is to take your luggage off of the ship by yourself and leave in the first wave of departing passengers. Getting thru customs is usually quick if their are a lot of agents on duty.  We got delayed once because we had a large discrepancy of what we declared and what RC said we spent.  We had ordered an expensive ring to be made and therefore did not have the item and per the jewelry rep on board had not declared it on the customs invoice.  Once they saw the paper work we were on our way.  SO TO ALL IF YOU THAT MIGHT SPEND A LOT ON THE SHIP RC INFORMS CUSTOMS OF THIS AND DON'T TRY TO PRETEND YOU NEVER BOUGHT ANYTHING EXPENSIVE.  THE AMUSING PART OF THIS WAS THAT AS WE WERE HAVING OUR CARDS SWIPED AS WE WERE GETTING OFF OF THE SHIP IT SIGNALED  AN EMPLOYEE TO ESCORT US TO CUSTOMS WITH NO EXPLANATION. THEY LOOKED AT OUR DECLARATION  AND RC'S INVOICE SAW THE DISCREPANCY. RC REP WAS NOT PLEASED AS WE WERE NOT PULLING A FAST ONE.   Now if you buy off the ship let your conscious be your guide when you fill your customs form.  You might get caught and you might not.  And they will search everything if they suspect something.

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  • 1 year later...
6 hours ago, LToman said:

If you are in a suite (OS sky class) do you have to leave your luggage out the night before? Do you then head to the suite lounge for disembarkation? Last, what are our options for breakfast that day?

Skyclsss still puts luggage out the night before unless you plan to self carry all luggage.  If so you are no different than any other self carry guest.  There is no skyclsss self carry benefit or escort.  

To take advantage of the suite concierge escort for disembarkation you put your luggage out the night before then go to the suite lounge (typically) or where ever the concierge told you to meet.  You are offered a choice of 3 times, like 7:30, 8:30 or 9:30.  Choose one the day before and inform the concierge.  You'll be escorted off the ship to a separate area where suite luggage collected the night before is waiting for you.  

The suite lounge has continental breakfast and Coastal Kitchen typically offers a regular sit down breakfast cooked to order, depending what time you chose to be escorted off. 

In Port Everglades skyclsss is offered luggage valet for free if flying.  With this program your luggage is collected the night before and you don't touch it again until you land at your home airport.  Using luggage valet requires you leave the ship after 8am (US Customs rule).  

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8 hours ago, LToman said:

If you are in a suite (OS sky class) do you have to leave your luggage out the night before? Do you then head to the suite lounge for disembarkation? Last, what are our options for breakfast that day?

Everything that @twangster said above and a tip...Eat breakfast in CK.  It will be a much more relaxed atmosphere rather than the craziness in the WJ on disembarkation day.  Unless you have an early flight, then you're out of luck.

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Thank you for the info regarding the disembarkation. Great to know about the luggage valet. 

I have been doing my research But still have a few questions. The first one seems silly but this is our first cruise not DCL since we had children. When u first get on the ship and cabin is not ready do you go to the suite lounge? It does not appear as though the conceigre meet with you like on DCL ( if u r staying conceigre). & what do most people do for sail away? Pool deck? Also does anybody know if they will prestock your room fridge with soda and waters? If they are free of charge in the suites lounge I am assuming u can take some for your cabin. Thanks in advance. 

I am am finding RCCL a little difficult to research.?

 

 

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, LToman said:

Thank you for the info regarding the disembarkation. Great to know about the luggage valet. 

I have been doing my research But still have a few questions. The first one seems silly but this is our first cruise not DCL since we had children. When u first get on the ship and cabin is not ready do you go to the suite lounge? It does not appear as though the conceigre meet with you like on DCL ( if u r staying conceigre). & what do most people do for sail away? Pool deck? Also does anybody know if they will prestock your room fridge with soda and waters? If they are free of charge in the suites lounge I am assuming u can take some for your cabin. Thanks in advance. 

I am am finding RCCL a little difficult to research.?

 

 

 

 

 

Staterooms are usually ready around 1pm so if you arrive prior to that you can:

1) head to the Winjammer, which is like Cabanas on DCL. The WJ usually opens at 11:30am on embarkation day. This is your most hectic option. 

2) Suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen will be opened also (this is the better option imo) and there you will find the concierge and lunch if you are hungry. 

3) The Promenade cafe also serves light snacks and drinks.

4) I believe that Johnny Rockets might be an option as well. 

5) Park cafe is open (if you are on Oasis class) and is nice and relaxing because not many people know to head here on day 1.

6) not sure about MDR hours on day 1 for lunch but a quick check of @Matt's old cruise compasses should be able to tell you. 

I might be forgetting some options but I'm sure others will add.

In regards to liquor in the fridge, I could be wrong but I don't believe it is stocked in an Owner's suite. Our fridge in a GS was empty. You can however receive complimentary beverages in the suite lounge from 5-8:30pm.  And you can take basically anything to your cabin. 

There is usually a separate sail away party for suite guests. On the Oasis class, it is on the suite sundeck where they serve drinks and light snacks. I'm not sure if this is the same on Quantum class. There is the usual party on deck as well.

Although it may seem overwhelming at first, once you get use to RCL you will find that there so many more options compared to DCL. Your money goes a lot further with RCL. And you have found a wonderful and knowledgeable family here to help you so ask away!

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On Oasis class the suite lounge has free beer and wine from 11:30am to 11pm.  Cocktails from 5-8:30pm.  

I ask for several bottles of water in the suite lounge and stock our fridge in the cabin with them.   Sometimes we each get 4 bottles at a time.

Solarium Bistro is another boarding day option few people find.  

Personally I like to board and head straight to the suite lounge for a glass of champagne.  Coastal Kitchen has a sit down lunch that won't be crowded.

The upper decks will be busy at sail away.  There is a forward deck over the bridge on Oasis and Allure that is great for sail away.  On Harmony much of this has been become part of the Solarium but there are bridge wings on Harmony for sail away.  Sometime I also visit the suite sun deck during sail away.  Not so busy and you are above the crowds for sail away.  Some people go to the aft jogging track below the Aqua Theater to be seen on PTZtv webcams during sail away.

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Regarding the cabin fridge...the items that fridge are only complimentary for Star Class suites.  In fact, to avoid unwanted charges, Royal has started removing anything from these fridges (except for Star Class) to avoid any mischarging issues.  Anything that you have them bring to you for the fridge, you will be charged for.  Anything you bring yourself (or take to your room yourself) you will not be charged for unless there is a charge for them in the first place.

I concur that the best place to wait for your cabin to be ready is the suites lounge.  It is comfortable and as Twangster and Sabrina mentioned, you can get complimentary beverages and food there from 11-11.  We always do sailaway from the suites lounge but we like to be comfortable.  If you want to be outside, there are plenty of places to enjoy sailaway.

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Thanks for all the great information. Yes we are on Allure of the Seas in July celebrating my oldest sons HS graduation b4 college. Excited & nervous! 

So for clarification they will not stock the fridge with non alcoholic beverages but we can grab them and bring them back to our cabin from the suites lounge.

I don’t think we drink enough alcohol to get that package but would you recommend 

the non alcohol drink package? 

Also we chose (I ?) the OS on deck 10 over the CL on deck 17. Used to being on a much smaller ship. I just loved the lay out of the OS with table for 4 inside and on the balcony. I know (at least on sea days we will order room service for b fast if not every day & the space looks so much more comfortable to my family needs & w 2 boys we can still get away w one bathroom. I hope we have not underestimated the size of the ship. We are very laid back family and do not feel like we have to do everything, see everything. 

 

Thanks again, u have all been great?

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1 hour ago, LToman said:

Thanks for all the great information. Yes we are on Allure of the Seas in July celebrating my oldest sons HS graduation b4 college. Excited & nervous! 

You picked a great first RCI ship! The Oasis class is my favourite!

So for clarification they will not stock the fridge with non alcoholic beverages but we can grab them and bring them back to our cabin from the suites lounge.

No stocking but bring back anything you want. We usually get the beverage package and stock water.

I don’t think we drink enough alcohol to get that package but would you recommend 

the non alcohol drink package? 

The non-alcoholic still covers plenty: bottled water, fresh juice, smoothies (w/o protein), specialty coffees, virgin cocktails. Then you can just supplement with drinks from the suite lounge.

Also we chose (I ?) the OS on deck 10 over the CL on deck 17. Used to being on a much smaller ship. I just loved the lay out of the OS with table for 4 inside and on the balcony. I know (at least on sea days we will order room service for b fast if not every day & the space looks so much more comfortable to my family needs & w 2 boys we can still get away w one bathroom. I hope we have not underestimated the size of the ship. We are very laid back family and do not feel like we have to do everything, see everything. 

Nothing beats the breathtaking views of the CLS but you probably made a great choice if you like to dine on your balcony. The CLS balcony is narrow for 4 people.

 

Thanks again, u have all been great?

 

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