Disembarkation - Needs to be better

[Dug720]

This was not our experience on Celebrity last year on the Summit. It was a long, slow snake of a line that was torture. If it weren't for our slightly early flight home, I would have gladly sat in a lounge somewhere until the line was gone.

Interesting. I had the line up in a lounge experience on Summit in Summer 2023 and again on Beyond in Summer 2024. They made it really clear if you were self disembarking where you were supposed to go.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Interesting. I had the line up in a lounge experience on Summit in Summer 2023 and again on Beyond in Summer 2024. They made it really clear if you were self disembarking where you were supposed to go.

We sailed in March 2023. They were clear in what to do for self debarkation and we asked several times while in line to confirm, hoping there was an easier way.
It was also our experience on the Magic last October for the WBPC.

On DCL, there were some people who got in line simply because they thought everyone should. They didn't have their luggage and after talking to others, they were relieved they could get out of the line.

It wouldn't kill any cruise line to just have a CM walk along the line to tell everyone, "This line is for self debarkation. If you put your luggage outside your door last night, go relax in a chair somewhere because this line is not for you."

 

[ilovebassets]

DCL is indeed horrible with debarkation. I can never understand how a company that is so amazing with crowd and line management in the parks seems to fall apart with this one specific task. We have done self-carry/early debarkation, main breakfast in dining room, late breakfast in dining room, self-breakfast at Cabana. They've all been bad.

We have sailed multiple other cruise lines (most recently Royal Caribbean several times but others years ago). The consistent debarkation madness really is specific to DCL. Our three recent RC cruises were no problem whatsoever. Grabbed breakfast somewhere. Waited for our number to be called. Then walked off without any lines. I don't get why DCL can't figure it out. I guess they know it won't deter people from sailing with them again.

 

[happycamper47]

The consistent debarkation madness really is specific to DCL.

They are not alone and it's not consistent. Two of our 3 NCL's were right up there. Our last two DCL cruises we were in our car at the airport by 9:00 dropping friends off and we had breakfast in the MDR.

 

[tvguy]

I found Disney's lack of an organized disembarkation system to be a negative. Having cruised NCL, Celebrity, RCCL, HAL and NCL America, having assigned groups based on flight times works far better.

 

[tvguy]

This was not our experience on Celebrity last year on the Summit. It was a long, slow snake of a line that was torture. If it weren't for our slightly early flight home, I would have gladly sat in a lounge somewhere until the line was gone.

Our last cruise was on the Celebrity Eclipse disembarking in Los Angeles. We went to our assigned public room where they had pastries and coffee and juice and entertainment until it was our time to leave the ship. No lines, and a comfortable wait.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Grabbed breakfast somewhere. Waited for our number to be called. Then walked off without any lines.

We went to our assigned public room where they had pastries and coffee and juice and entertainment until it was our time to leave the ship.

So when people wait, as they should, it goes smoothly. When people see a line and hop into it, it’s chaos.

 

[mjkacmom]

They are not alone and it's not consistent. Two of our 3 NCL's were right up there. Our last two DCL cruises we were in our car at the airport by 9:00 dropping friends off and we had breakfast in the MDR.

We’ve sailed ncl 4 times out of NYC, early walk off, once we were home by 8:30, once we were still on the ship at 10:45. It has more to do with the port than the cruise line.