Learn some tips to ensure your disembarkation day goes smoothly
Every disembarkation day is bittersweet. It’s always good to return to home and loved ones and sad to leave your home on the sea with all its adventures and new friends.
You want to take your cruise “high” home with you to share with all your friends, but if you make mistakes when disembarking, your “high” could come crashing down. We don’t want that to happen to you, so we’ve put together a list of things you don’t want to do on disembarkation day or when getting off a cruise ship at ports.
We hope this list will make your cruise disembarkation go smoothly and have you ready to plan your next trip.
Don’t Forget to Check Your Bill
Overcharges and mistakes happen, and occasionally a refund hasn’t been posted by disembarkation day. Go over your bill prior to leaving the ship. If a mistake is found, you can get it taken care of easily while you are still on board.
The ships are known for good customer service, but when you are talking on the phone days later to someone in the corporate office, it could be difficult to have the outcome you want.
Don’t Forget to Leave Out Clothes to Wear
It may be hard to imagine, but people have been so busy packing and being sure they have everything ready to go that they forget to leave out clothes for disembarkation day.
We suggest taking out a blouse/shirt and slacks or shorts the night before, so when your bags are taken you aren’t left with only the pajamas you wore to bed. This can be slightly embarrassing.
Don’t Forget to Purchase the Photos You Want
Since many cruise line photo galleries to get rid of photos quickly, don’t miss out. If you wait to the last minute, you may be disappointed you didn’t get that special souvenir photo you wanted.
Purchase them at least by the night before you disembark, preferably sooner as you will be busy that last night getting all packed up.
Some ships have electronic storage for photos, but it will be purged as soon as the cruise ends in order to make room for the next series of images.
Don’t Forget Your Keycard in Your Cabin
Unlike a hotel keycard, the one issued by your cruise line is identification, allowing them to know who is on the ship and who is off at port stops. It also lets your ship’s security staff know when everyone has left the ship at the end of the cruise.
You will have to swipe your card a final time when leaving your ship in order to record your departure. You won’t be allowed off the ship without swiping your keycard, so don’t forget it unless you want to hike back to your room to retrieve it.
