Disembarking From a Cruise Ship: Safe & Simple Tips

All good things must come to an end, and that includes your Royal Caribbean adventure. The good news is that by the last day of your cruise, you’ll be feeling rested and headed home with stories from your adventures abroad (as well as on board).

If you’re headed home or on to the next destination, here’s everything you need to know to prepare for disembarking from the cruise ship.

Key Takeaways: Cruise Ship Disembarking

●  Prepare your luggage: Pack most items the night before, attach the provided tags and leave bags outside your stateroom for crew pickup.

●  Review the departure guide: Check the "As You Depart" guide delivered to your room for your specific departure time and assigned waiting lounge.

●  Packing essentials: Keep a small carry-on bag with important travel documents, like your passport and SeaPass card, easily accessible for departure.

●  Check your SeaPass® card: Review your onboard account and visit Guest Services to resolve any remaining charges before leaving the ship.

●  Plan transportation: Book Royal Caribbean airport transfers in advance for a small fee to ensure a seamless ride to your terminal.

●  Waiting in Lounges: Eat breakfast and relax in your assigned lounge with refreshments or family games until your specific group is called.

●  Self-assist departure: Keep your bags in your room and carry everything off the ship yourself for the quickest, earliest departure possible.

●  Extending the trip: Book Royal CruiseTours or special hotel packages to add guided land excursions and extra days to your overall vacation.

●  Book your cruise and get ready for an incredible vacation from start to finish.

1. The Night Before

There are a few important steps you need to take on the last day of your cruise to ensure a successful departure — especially if it’s your first time cruising. Don’t worry — your last night on board will still have the amenities and experiences you’ve enjoyed throughout your cruise, like an array of dining options and free, top-quality entertainment.

Disembarking a cruise ship is relatively straightforward. However, before you skip down the passageways to enjoy your final evening, here’s what you need to know. Your stateroom attendant will drop off important information to your stateroom, including:

●  Luggage tags for your bags: Each tag will have a number that corresponds to your departure time the next day.

●  An “As You Depart” guide: This guide provides detailed information on timing, where to grab breakfast and other important instructions.

You will also see the departure process screened on your stateroom television. Here are the most important elements to organize the night before departure:

Preparing Your Luggage

Crew members pick up your bags at night to ensure they are waiting on land for you on your departure day. This frees you and your family from the stress of keeping track of your luggage. On your final evening, you’ll need to pack up most of your items so you can leave your larger luggage pieces in front of your stateroom for pick-up.

In general, your bags must be put out by 11 p.m., but the dedicated team on board your ship will inform you of the exact time. Make sure you’ve securely attached name tags before placing them outside.

If you have only a few belongings and prefer a Self-Assist Early Departure (where you carry your own items off the ship), see the recommendations and process below.

Checking Your Departure Time and Departure Lounge

The “As You Depart” guide will inform you of your departure time and which lounge you’ll need to await departure the following day. All you need to do is check you’re clear on this information to ensure your departure goes smoothly.

Arranging Customs and Documentation

As with packing for your first day, make sure you keep a small carry-on with essentials, like travel documents — especially your passport and SeaPass card — handy so they’re easily accessible when you get off the ship.

Before you hit the hay, make sure you check your onboard account one last time (you can do this throughout your trip as well). If you see something that doesn’t look right, visit the Guest Services Desk to resolve it early.

Planning Transportation

For a small fee, the Royal Caribbean crew can set up your airport transfer. Since it’s recommended you book transfers two weeks before sailing, you should discuss this option while making your reservations, if needed.

If you can’t bear to go home after such an exciting vacation, there’s also the option to extend your trip, which we’ll talk about shortly.

2. The Day Of Departure

First things first: breakfast will be available on the ship, so you can fuel up before you leave. Everyone will have an assigned departure lounge and time that corresponds with your tagged luggage, detailed in your “As You Depart” guide.

Refreshments are available at the lounges, so this brief waiting period can be a chance to sip coffee, relax and reminisce. There is also a family zone, so younger guests can enjoy toys and games while waiting.

Once your group is called, the crew will be on hand to show you the way to direct you to your luggage, your Royal Caribbean airport transfer, taxi or awaiting family.

3. Self-Assist Early Departure

Want to be among the first off the ship? Self-Assist Early Departure is a great cruise tip for guests who can carry all their own luggage and don’t need assistance.

You’ll keep your bags in your stateroom the night before — no luggage tags needed. In the morning, take everything with you and head straight to the gangway with your SeaPass card. Your final invoice will be delivered to your room the night before.

After clearing immigration and customs, you’ll proceed directly to the transportation area.

Please note that wheelchair assistance is not available with this option.

4. Extending Your Vacation

If you decide to extend your vacation, Royal Cruisetours are an excellent way to further explore your destinations, since they add guided land excursions to the beginning or end of your cruise. You can explore landscapes and native treasures with the help of local Adventure Specialists.

On an Alaska CruiseTour, you can add additional nights to your vacation in the Last Frontier. All experiences include visits to local sites, where you can glimpse wildlife and discover stunning scenery during your time.

Canadian Cruisetours are also an option. You might get the opportunity to relax in natural hot springs or ride through the Rockies in a vintage railcar. If you’re feeling ambitious and really aren’t ready to head home, you can combine both for an extended vacation through two countries and several northern mountains.

Alternatively, if you’d simply like to enjoy a destination for another few days, the Royal Caribbean special hotel packages make it easy, and they’re available in many parts of the world.

Get Ready for Smooth Sailings From the Ship to Shore

While saying goodbye to the open sea is never easy, a smooth departure is the final touch on a perfect vacation. By taking a few simple steps the night before, you ensure that your transition back to land is as relaxing as your time spent on board.

The journey doesn't have to end at the gangway. With options to extend your stay through guided land tours or hotel packages, the world is still yours to explore.

Explore cruises and start planning your next great story at sea.