David KrisoWhen it comes to any cruise vacation, there is so much to look forward to. It could be a group cruise, celebrating a special occasion. It could be a theme charter cruise, such as the Bare-Necessities clothing optional cruise, the Bliss Cruise, the 80s Cruise, the Country Music cruise, or the Ultimate Disco Cruise. Best of all, it could just be that cruise with the family to get away from the stresses of home, work, and school. It’s all good! It’s all in the name of F-U-N. All cruisers look forward to sailing day, the daily fun activities and entertainment, and the adventures that await at ports-of-call. Unfortunately, all fun cruises do have to come to an end. Disembarkation is the part which no cruiser looks forward to. It’s the time to start packing, a time to hit the bars for the final time, the time to see the farewell show in the ship’s theatre, the time to bid a fond farewell to fellow cruisers, and the time to bid farewell to the dedicated crew members that took care of them throughout the voyage. However, it doesn’t have to end on such a note.
In preparation for disembarkation day, guests are instructed to either sign up for the self-assist (f.k.a. express walk-Off) or do the general disembarkation. Guests opting to do the self-assist are those who choose to leave the ship with all of their luggage in hand without assistance from the shore staff. The general disembarkation refers to guests who were issued luggage tags with assigned colors or numbers. In case they sailed on Disney Cruise Line, they’re assigned tags with characters. Luggage tag colors, numbers, and characters are called in orderly fashion, in accordance with the luggage being laid out in the luggage hall. Nonetheless, guests do happen to leave the ship too early, thinking their luggage has been laid out, but it hasn’t. It is at that moment that guests’ patience wears thin. Honestly, the hectic nature of disembarkation day doesn’t have to dampen anyone’s final hours on board. Disembarkation day can be just as pleasant as the day guests boarded.
The morning of disembarkation day, guests do not have to do the self-assist and depart the ship so early. Guests do not have to scarf down breakfast at the buffet in order to concur with time window which luggage tags are being called. It does not have to be that way, specifically. While in their staterooms, guests can make final touches on their packing, while taking in the view from their balconies for the last time. Even better, guests can enjoy the breakfast buffet one last time without any stress. They can pig out just as they did all-cruise-long. Lastly, they can spend a few minutes tracking down their friendly stateroom attendants to say their thank you’s and good-byes. Also, guests can take the time to share their thank you’s with the cruise staff. Many of them go out of their way to see that they have a memorable voyage from start to end. Once guests have had the opportunity to take care of their final chores, then they can leave the ship at their leisure. Guests can leave the ship once they hear the “final call” on the ship’s P.A. Once they hear that “all remaining guests may depart the ship”, they may do so via the gangway located on their ship’s main promenade deck. There is no need to do self-assist and no need to wait for a color, number, or character. All that guests need to do is to take all of their luggage with them and leave the ship without any rush.
Yes, disembarkation day can be the most stressful part of any cruise. As the line goes, “all good things come to an end”. Just because they say so doesn’t mean it has to be so. Disembarkation can be just as painless as sailing day, when guests first embark. Cruising can be sophisticated, depending on guests’ expectations. Disembarkation day though can be sophisticated and at times complicated. In all honesty, it doesn’t have to be either way. Guests must approach disembarkation day in the same manner as they did on sailing day. As the song goes in West Side Story, “Cool”, guests should play it “cool”. Guests should stay in their staterooms and make final touches on their packing. They’re free to spend some final hours on their balconies. They’re free to say their good-byes to the ship’s staff. Best of all, they can enjoy their final meal on board without rushing. Ultimately, they’re free to leave the ship without hyperventilating. Once safely off the vessel, through customs, and outside the terminal, they’re free to look back at the ship and say “See you really soon!”.
