The procedure for embarkation and disembarkation on a cruise ship is quite unique and unlike what you might be used to if you’re a frequent flyer.
I have been cruising now for over 20 years, and have come across all situations good and bad, so here are some tips to begin and end your cruise holiday without any glitches.
Before departure you will get all the information on where and when you can embark your cruise ship. It generally begins late morning and lasts until late afternoon when the ship sails away.
Embarkation Day
If your departure is from a port outside your home town, it’s advisable to arrive a day early – it will be money well spent, and you will be glad you spent a night in a hotel when you awaken to notice fog has delayed your flight, or in the rare occasional there are strike actions in place.
By this time you or your cruise consultant will have checked you in online so you should have all your documents ready, including embarkation time, and luggage tags.
In almost any case your cruise ship has arrived early in the morning, all of the passengers have disembarked and staff are in a frenzy cleaning and preparing the ship for your sailing.
On the embarkation day, you will be full of excitement, and all you would want to do is get onboard as soon as you can to maximise time on board.
If the ship is boarding by time or colour codes and you have been advised to arrive at a certain time, but you arrive early, do some sightseeing around the terminal or you will be sitting around the terminal until your time (there is nothing worse than sitting around watching happy passengers disembark and make you more anxious to get onboard).
If in a loyalty program or have mobility issues and require wheelchair assistance you may bypass queues with a VIP check-in.
Normally, the check-in involves having your photo taken for ID, being issued your cruise card for ship and cabin access as well as purchases, if you will be paying with your credit card the details will be taken and, typically, handing over your passport if you are cruising overseas. You will receive your electronic cruise card. This card holds your ID and account information.
It is the key to your stateroom and also works as currency on board. Now you can board the ship. At the entrance is another small security and ID-check where your carry-on baggage is scanned (like in an airport). This procedure applies throughout your cruise holiday.
If you have mobility issues and have requested wheelchair assistance, you will be asked to wait in a designated area, fill out your details on a roll call.
If need medication, for example insulin, take what you need in the short term in a carry-on bag with you just in case there are any unforeseen delays.
Now Your Onboard
Your luggage may takes a while to arrive in your stateroom this is an opportune time to check out your stateroom, if you will be paying your account with cash as you go, go to the reception deck and top up your account.
Depending on the time you embark and the amount of passengers onboard, it may be wise to avoid the buffet — it’s could be teeming with passengers wanting to fill their empty stomachs.
As an alternative, check out other dining options onboard. From time to time extra eateries are open for a first-day lunch, and they aren’t jam-packed with hungry passengers.
After lunch wonder around the ship to get oriented, start from the top deck and work your way down.
If you do not have mobility issues, do not take the elevator, and leave it for people that really need to take them. The reason being is lifts are on embark day and crowded with passengers and crew carrying luggage between decks.
If you are cruising with children, make sure you visit the kids club and sign them up. This is a good time for parents to meet the counsellors and get familiar with the facilities.
When your luggage arrives in your stateroom, don’t rush to get back out on the lido deck to have another cocktail, take the time to carefully unpack and store your suitcase under the bed to give you enough room to manoeuvre around your stateroom – your now ready to enjoy your cruise!
By this time you should have already met your steward, and have asked them any questions you may have (remember they are all too happy to assist you where they can).
If this is your first cruise, you need to be aware that a muster drill on the first afternoon will occur and is mandatory.
Do not try to miss the muster drill (or you may be embarrassed when your name is called out on the PA) and you will be accountable for the ship setting sail on the scheduled time.
Now is the perfect time to make your last phone calls, texts and Facebook posts, and tweets while your phone can access cell towers and you’re not paying sky-high Internet and roaming fees.
It’s now time to grab another cocktail, enjoy the festivities of the sailaway party, but make sure you do not over indulge and miss out watching the sun set over the ocean, the welcome show, singing karaoke and shake your booty at the nightclub — your cruise starts now!..
until…
The Day Before Your Cruise Ends
That evening, you must also settle any outstanding bills at the reception. If you gave your credit card details upon embarkation you don’t have to do anything. Just check your invoice for any discrepancies.
Disembarking On The Last Day Of Your Cruise
As they say, all good things come to an end, and disembarkation is perhaps the most unpleasant part of your whole cruise.
You might have painted the cruise ship red all night but this is not the day to relax in bed– staff perform a military-style turnaround to get you off and prepare for the next journey and passengers that will arrive.
Before you disembark indulge in one last breakfast on the ship.
If your advised to be at a specific public area at a certain time, be there – you will be told to leave according to a colour code at a time instructed the previous day.
Make sure your luggage can be identified with no trouble in the terminal, or storage shed – a bright hi-vis band is usefully.
If you have a flight back home the same day be sure to book a flight with departure in the afternoon to safeguard yourself from any delays
