Has anyone else had problems embarking and disembarking a cruise ship? The whole experience my family had getting on and off when taking a cruise with Carnival last year was awful. That was our only complaint, the cruise in of itself was great and we had a wonderful time. Just getting on and off the ship was such a nightmare. Lots of lines, disorganized crowds, long waits; it took us almost two hours just to get on! We’re doing another Carnival cruise this year to the Caribbean again since we did enjoy the cruise, but we sure aren’t looking forward to that mess of getting on and off again. Does anyone have any suggestions to make it easier?
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Embarking and Disembarking cruise ships
I think everyone who has gone on a cruise has worried about this, especially if flying in or out for a cruise. Being early is the key. If you do fly to the port of departure, try and do it the day before and stay at a local hotel overnight. You can take a taxi to the port the next day and check in. Do the same thing when leaving. Unfortunately, there are bound to be lines when you get there. Be prepared for any kind of weather, and take along an Ipod to listen to music or something to keep you occupied during the wait. On the last night of the cruise, your ship will have precise instructions on what you need to do. You usually need to have your luggage packed and outside your cabin the night before, with color-coded tags attached that the cruise ship has supplied you. Remember your color; you’ll need to know it to retrieve your luggage. You are supposed to wait in your cabin or another designated spot until the cruise ship calls your color, letting you know you can disembark. Here’s a tip: you can now buy a “Lost Item Locator” that has a 30 foot range; it’s a great way to easily locate your luggage! The most important thing to remember is that everyone has the same goal; it just takes a while to get all of those people on and off. Pack a big dose of patience before you go!