Even a Rival Admires DCL's Disembarkation!

[inkkognito]

My friend/neighbor, who is a longtime cruise director for another cruise line, did her first DCL cruise last week. Of course I was anxious to hear her feedback and comparisons. One of the biggest things she admired was DCL's disembarkation process. Her line does the typical process where you have to wait to be called. She was amazed that she finished a leisurely breakfast, walked off the ship, and was at her car 15 mins. later.

She also loved the adult pool and other areas. She had an interesting perspective on why other lines don't have the same. She said that the number of kids on her ships varies widely from lots during holidays to virtually none during the school year. Therefore it makes no sense to set aside an area when it's not really needed much of the time. But on DCL, their kid to adult ratio is higher and much more consist throughout the year, so it makes sense to have areas geared to different age groups.

All in all, it was neat to hear positive feedback on DCL even from a "rival."

 

[tvguy]

Interesting. I'd have been happy with Disney's lack of a system too if I had that quick a disembarkation. 45 minute line here.

 

[Vanvmom]

We've had very smooth disembarking experiences on both our DCL out of FL and our DCL out of Los Angeles. We ate, walked right off the ship, right through customs, directly to a porter to get our luggage, and off to our car - leaving the port by 8:30. We went through so quickly the first time that we almost forgot one piece of our luggage and had to go back into the baggage area to get it before we left the port.

On our 11/2006 cruise, we cruised with friends who had previously cruised on other lines and they were shocked at how smooth disembarkation on DCL was. They were prepared for a lot of sitting around and waiting, not even getting off the ship until close to 10.

 

[M4travels]

We've only been twice (3rd time coming up in December) but we were amazed at how easy our disembark was. We waited on the bus ready to leave longer than it took to zip down the stairs, grab the bags, and then zip through customs.

Glad you were able to hear it from another line's CD.

Michael

 

[DAggiesRWe]

Back in 2005, my company took all employees and their spouses on a cruise on RCCL. This was a group of about 150, and we had made some special arrangements for a couple of events on board, so RCCL knew we were all together. It was a fantastic trip, and even more fun because we knew so many people, but the ending almost ruined the whole thing.

However, for disembarkation our group was spread over all the disembarkation groups. My wife and I were in the first group, so we fairly quickly got our luggage and made it through customs. Then we spent the next three hours sitting on the curb with our luggage as part of our ever growing group . The port people wouldn't allow the busses to come to the pickup area until our entire group was there, plus they griped at us for stacking our luggage on the sidewalks. Finally after three hours, most of us decided to trek with our luggage the quarter mile to the busses so we could at least sit down. Finally after another hour, the busses were allowed to move near the doors and load the last of our group. Of course they didn't have it much better than us because they had to sit in their assigned waiting area to get called and were treated like criminals if they dared to wander out of that area looking for a bathroom.

Does anyone know why the other cruise lines break everyone into groups, and won't let you get off the ship until everyone in the group in front of you is completely done? My guess is that it is too expensive to have enough luggage space for everyone's bags at one time, so they divide them into 5 or 6 groups and only put out one group at a time. Also, this way they don't have to have as many Customs agents on hand.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Our disembark is always horrible. I'm not sure, but it might have something to do with all of the kicking and screaming I'm doing...

 

[Cruise]

Both times on Disney, we walked right off.

Our one (first and last) time on Carnival, we had to sit in a restaurant for 2.5 hours waiting to be called.

 

[nezy]

The only time we had to wait a bit to disembark DCL was when we were detoured to Port Everglades during a TS. I do recall waiting on Carnival and then waiting on a long line that seemed to snake through the whole ship--until finally you could get off the ship.

 

[Pansy]

Our disembark is always horrible. I'm not sure, but it might have something to do with all of the kicking and screaming I'm doing...

 

[SeaSpray]

Does anyone know why the other cruise lines break everyone into groups, and won't let you get off the ship until everyone in the group in front of you is completely done? My guess is that it is too expensive to have enough luggage space for everyone's bags at one time, so they divide them into 5 or 6 groups and only put out one group at a time. Also, this way they don't have to have as many Customs agents on hand.

I just got back from a Royal Caribbean cruise (which I LOVED, by the way!). Our disembarkation was done according to which color luggage tags you were given, and these were given out according to your location/deck, on the ship.

When our color was called, we went into the terminal where we saw ALL of the colors in sections and that's where you found your luggage. This particular terminal was large enough to hold ALL of the luggage at one time (and it did, we saw everyone's luggage set up in difference colored sections, around the terminal), but if they let all of the guests off at one time it would've been crazy trying to get in and out of there. There were plenty of US Customs agents at the terminal, that part of the process was great, no line and no wait at that point.

The thing that differentiates our DCL disembarkation from the RCI disembarkation is that on the last morning, there is not assigned breakfast time or location on RCI. The dining room is open and you eat when and at whichever table you want, therefore it's possible that everyone on the ship might eat and want to leave at the exact same time, so they use the colored tags as a way to keep the exits from getting clogged with people.

DCL does it better where you're assigned to your original table at a specific time, thereby eliminating the possibility that ALL of the passengers will be getting off the ship at one time.

(As a side note, on both cruise lines the buffet restaurant also serves breakfast).




Disembarkation and PALO were the 2 areas where I saw a big difference between our 2 DCL cruises (both on the Magic) and my 2 RCI cruises, and DCL wins the contest in those 2 areas. Otherwise, RCL *does* offer a very high quality cruise ship, staff, and entire experience IN MY OPINION and from my experiences. I'll definitely be sailing both cruise lines again in the future!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Princess cruises disembarkation put me off, waiting to be called to let you go off, I think in the end I was last off! All coaches had gone and we had a long wait for one to come back from the airport.

 

[BethA]

I do like the open dining room on RCL--you just go in when you want and sit down during the time it is open.

the rest was a nightmare on our 2 RCL cruises, but especially the last one. I thought they gave the colors based on your flight time, but maybe that's wrong since we barely made it to the airport in time. We waited forever and finally went before our color was called since it was getting so late. Then we stood in line for nearly an hour to get to where the luggage was and of course not all our luggage was there and had to wait again.

On DCL we usually take our time and never have had to wait when we are ready to get off.- or should I say when we are forced to get off.

I know on the RCL they have an adult pool, I didn't realize other lines did not, but it makes sense if there are few kids.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

My hubby and I love to cruise with RC (without kids!) Unfortunately, I do agree that the long wait for disembarkation is the pits!! It would almost ruin the cruise if I wasn't prepared for it from previous experience. We just cruised in October and finished breakfast a little after 8. It was almost 11:00 before our "colored tag" was called to leave. And yes, it has nothing to do with the amount of space to hold luggage. All the luggage was in the holding area when we entered. While we love to cruise with RC, I really wish they would fix that disembarkation nightmare! When we sailed with Disney we were off the ship, luggage in the car and on our way within 1/2 hour -45 minutes from finishing breakfast!!

 

[outahere]

The only long wait we've had, disembarking from a DCL cruise, was on the EB repo in 2005. Since that was a 14 day cruise, I think people packed a lot more and there was a huge amount of luggage in the terminal. Since everyone needed to find all of their luggage, it was taking longer than usual for everyone to clear customs. We were in line for maybe 20 - 30 minutes. Every other DCL cruise has been a snap to disembark.

The worst disembarkation was from the SS Norway in Miami (over 2000 passengers). We waited over 2 hours for our group to be called and the luggage was not grouped at all. All of the suitcases had been lined up in rows (at least 20 very long rows) so the drug dogs could go through it. We had to wander up and down each row looking for our suitcases...... then stand in line to go through customs. Friends that we were traveling with must have looked suspicious, because customs went through each one of their suitcases. I sure hope NCL has changed they way they disembark in Miami.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

The only long wait we've had, disembarking from a DCL cruise, was on the EB repo in 2005. Since that was a 14 day cruise, I think people packed a lot more and there was a huge amount of luggage in the terminal. Since everyone needed to find all of their luggage, it was taking longer than usual for everyone to clear customs. We were in line for maybe 20 - 30 minutes. Every other DCL cruise has been a snap to disembark.

The worst disembarkation was from the SS Norway in Miami (over 2000 passengers). We waited over 2 hours for our group to be called and the luggage was not grouped at all. All of the suitcases had been lined up in rows (at least 20 very long rows) so the drug dogs could go through it. We had to wander up and down each row looking for our suitcases...... then stand in line to go through customs. Friends that we were traveling with must have looked suspicious, because customs went through each one of their suitcases. I sure hope NCL has changed they way they disembark in Miami.

I remeber getting off the E/bound repo very quickly, must have been very lucky, my worst one was Princess cruises the other way at Los Angeles I think that was 10.30am.

 

[tvguy]

The worst disembarkation was from the SS Norway in Miami (over 2000 passengers). We waited over 2 hours for our group to be called and the luggage was not grouped at all. All of the suitcases had been lined up in rows (at least 20 very long rows) so the drug dogs could go through it. We had to wander up and down each row looking for our suitcases...... then stand in line to go through customs. Friends that we were traveling with must have looked suspicious, because customs went through each one of their suitcases. I sure hope NCL has changed they way they disembark in Miami.

Well, security has changed vastly since our cruises on the Norway out of Miami in 1983 and 1985, but I don't recall any problems.
We did cruise NCL America out of Honolulu in June, they used the system most lines use, you leave the ship by group depending on what time your flight leaves. One twist, they allow you to wait in your cabin until your group is called, which was nice.
Disney still was my worst disembarkation experience in 8 cruises, guess I'll just have to cruise Disney again to see if I have a better disembarkation experience.

 

[outahere]

I remeber getting off the E/bound repo very quickly, must have been very lucky

You must have either left pretty early or later in the morning. At one point, the line was all the back to Parrot Cay. I think it was around 8:30 - 9:00 when we tried to disembark and the back of the line was about half way to Parrot Cay. They were only allowing about 100 passengers off at a time. Still..... a lot better then what we've experienced on NCL in Miami.

 

[hawaiian mickey]

Aloha,
I have cruised on DCL 3X an never had a problem. We had a fast disembarkation on all of them. Even our trip on the Med. We took our time at breakfast and when we went to claim our bags there was no wait.
Of course if everyone decides to leave at the same time you must expect a wait. It's so seamless when you just take your time and enjoy the morning.

Aloha,

hawaiian mickey

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You must have either left pretty early or later in the morning. At one point, the line was all the back to Parrot Cay. I think it was around 8:30 - 9:00 when we tried to disembark and the back of the line was about half way to Parrot Cay. They were only allowing about 100 passengers off at a time. Still..... a lot better then what we've experienced on NCL in Miami.

Having the 6am immigration roll call meant we went to breakfast very early we joined that queue early and was off early.

 

[Verandah Man]

Our first five cruises were on DCL and we never had any problems with disembarking, this past Friday we disembarked from our 4 day cruise with RCI out of Port Canaveral, what a horrible experience that was.

We left our deck 9 cabin at 6:45am, went to deck 3 for breakfast, then had to go back up to deck 8 and wait for our color to called. We arrived at our meeting place to find others waiting. We sat there and never did hear our color called, it seems they skipped right past us. Someone from our group called the front desk and asked what happened and this person was told that our group was just announced, which it wasn't. So back down to deck 4 we headed. It's quite possible that our color was called when we were eating breakfast in the dining room, because we never heard the announcements in there(dining room noisy and speakers not turned up loud enough).

Our color was estimated to be called at 8:00am, by that time, three color groups after us were already being called. My family arrived at our meeting spot at 7:50am. We finally got off the ship and through customs around 9:00am. The first group left the ship between 7:00 and 7:15