costa cruises disembarkation time

21 Cruise Disembarkation Tips You Need to Know

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What cruise passengers need to know about cruise disembarkation, also known as debarkation day

The process of “checking out” of your cruise ship is very different from checking out of a hotel. If you’re a new cruiser, or even if it’s been a few years since you’ve cruised, it’s good to be aware of the debarkation procedures and what to expect.

In this post, I’ll go through some common questions and things you need to know about cruise disembarkation.

Disembarkation Day: The saddest day of the cruise

Cruise disembarkation (or debarkation) is something we cruisers don’t really want to think about. If you’re anything like me, you’d rather get to the fun stuff like planning excursions and making cruise packing lists , and NOT think about getting off the ship!

What to expect from the cruise disembarkation process

Cruise lines have small differences in their disembarkation procedures, but overall they’re pretty similar. The last morning of your cruise, you’ll have to disembark and leave what had become your very comfortable home away from home.

In this post, I’ll go through all the basics, so that you can know what to expect and plan for on the last day of your cruise.

Regular Disembarkation vs Self-Disembarkation

There are two types of disembarkation, regular disembarkation  and self-disembarkation (unfortunately both require you leaving the ship).

The disembarkation process is almost the same, with the main difference being that with self-disembarkation, you are responsible for taking your own luggage off the ship. I’ll go over the pros and cons of both at the end of this post.

21 things to know when disembarking from your cruise ship

1. what time will you be able to debark the cruise ship at the end of the cruise.

There’s no set time when cruisers can disembark and this will vary by cruise ship itinerary, cruise port and things that are actually beyond anyone’s control the last morning of the cruise.

However, something important to know, is that the scheduled docking time listed on your cruise itinerary will not be the time that you get off the cruise ship. This is because the ship needs to be cleared by customs , and given permission for passengers to debark.

For instance, if your cruise itinerary states that your ship will be back at port at 6:00 am the last morning of your cruise, you won’t be able to disembark until an announcement is made that the ship has been cleared.

This process can be an hour or two, and sometimes longer. The reality is that it’s not something the cruise line can control.

As a general rule most cruise ships will start the disembarkation process around 7:30-8 am, however your cruise line can give you more specific information.

2. Avoid booking an early flight home

Since it’s difficult to predict the exact time you can get off your ship, don’t book an early flight home.

You have to account for time to disembark from your ship, getting your luggage, going through customs and then travel time to the airport.

My best tip is to simply call the cruise line before you book your flight , or ask your travel agent to do so. Cruise lines have recommended flight times for each cruise port. Keep in mind if you’re an International traveler, you may need more time at the airport.

Another reason not to book a very early flight, is that even if you CAN make it, it’s possible for your ship to arrive late in port due to weather or other reasons. For instance, cruise ships in Galveston have been known to be late due to fog.

3. Cruise ship debarkation instructions

While on your cruise, your cabin attendant will give you some printed disembarkation instructions which will include what to do with your luggage as well as some basic custom information.

On the second to last day of your cruise, you’ll also notice that you can find the disembarkation information on one of the TV channels in your cabin. For new cruisers, your ship may offer an assembly to go over information, so you can check for that.

I’ll tell you what usually happens to me. I see this around day 5 on a 7 day cruise, and I don’t like it. The fact is that I don’t want anyone reminding me that this cruise will end, while I’m fully immersed in enjoying my cruise vacation. But, do take a look as there’s information to know. Then, as quickly as possible, get back to enjoying your day!

4. Luggage tags and debarkation times

Along with the printed disembarkation information,  you’ll also receive special luggage tags.

As you can imagine, debarking thousands of passengers almost all at the same time is quite a process. So, cruise lines keep things organized and moving along by assigning color coded luggage tags which correspond to certain disembarkation times.

Red 5 = 8:20 am

Purple 3 = 9:10 am…. and so on.

These assigned times, are really approximate and what the cruise line is hoping for, if all goes as planned.

5. Can I change my luggage tags if I don’t like the assigned time?

You may be wondering, “what can I do if I don’t really want the time the cruise line gave me?” .

Maybe you’re staying an extra day or two in port and you’d rather take things a bit slower in the morning, so you prefer a later time.

Maybe you’re driving straight home from the port and you’ve got 10 hours of road ahead of you, and an earlier time would be better.

For whatever your reason, if you’re given a time doesn’t work well for you, simply bring your luggage tags to guest services and ask if you can get an alternative time. Most of the time they can accommodate you.

If you need extra luggage tags, they can help with that too.

6. What do I do with my luggage*?

*This only applies to those doing regular disembarkation.

On the last night of your cruise, you’ll be asked to place your luggage outside your cabin door by a certain time in the evening (you’ll see the time on the instructions). The ship’s crew will be working hard that night taking the luggage to a holding area, so that it can be move off the ship quickly the next morning.

Just like when you got on the ship on embarkation day , remember it’s better not to pack valuables in your suitcase, but rather to leave them in your cruise carry on bag.

Put your cruise assigned luggage tags on all your suitcases before you put them in the hallway.

Tip: Either keep a luggage tag, or a tab, or even take a photo to remember your color and number.

7. Remember to keep out clothes and toiletries for disembarkation day

I’m sure there are a few people who forget this on every cruise! You don’t want to disembark in a cocktail dress, right?

Remember to keep a carry on bag for the last night and morning of your cruise. Things to think about include night clothes, morning clothes, toiletries, valuables, tech stuff like laptops and phone chargers and personal ID and documentation.

8. Verify your cruise account BEFORE you leave the ship

My husband and I like to keep an eye on our cruise account throughout the cruise, looking at it once every couple of days, just to make sure all is as it should be. It also keeps us a bit more cautious with our spending than we might be otherwise.

You can usually check this on your cruise app (for cruise lines that have one) or you can get a printed copy from a machine or at guest services. We always print one up the last full day of our cruise (not disembarkation morning), and go through it line by line, just to make sure.

Many people have their account linked to their credit card, so no need to settle your account. If you do want to pay off your account in cash, try and do this early in the day as the lines get long as the evening wears on.

If you notice a discrepancy, bring it to the attention of guest services as soon as possible. The fact is that once you leave the cruise ship, you are accepting the statement and it’s extremely difficult to go back and dispute any charges.

9. Fill out cruise staff appreciation cards

As a cruise passenger, simply filling out a comment card highlighting the good work of some favorite crew members, is one of the easiest things you can do. However, it makes a huge difference to those who work so hard so that we all have these incredible cruise vacation experiences.

I’ve been told that these comment cards help to earn crew members privileges and possibly even promotions. I also know the ship’s staff really treasure these positive comment cards, and it truly impacts them.

10. Purchase your favorite cruise photos

The photo studio is like a zoo on the last evening of the cruise, with people deciding now to buy their cruise photos and packages. It really gets hectic, so if you can go earlier in the day, or even earlier during the cruise, it will be better for you.

Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake I read about the other day in a cruise Facebook group. A woman was very upset as she found the packages on the cruise ship to be too expensive. She explained that she thought she would get home and contact the cruise line to complain about this and purchase them at that point.

Of course, she found out that this was not possible, and was very disappointed. Her photos were gone.

You can only purchase your cruise photos on your cruise. To my knowledge, they are not stored.

So, if you want them and they are a great memory – buy the photos. You won’t regret it!

11. Book a future cruise on-board

One way to help with future cruise blues , is to have an upcoming cruise to look forward to. Cruise lines offer several advantages to planning a future cruise onboard. In some cases, you can even buy a Future Cruise Deposit on an open booking, and choose your cruise once you get home.

Tip: Do this as early as possible in your cruise an don’t wait until the last night, as it will be very busy.

12. Disembarkation morning reality

On the morning of the last day of your cruise, you’ll notice that everyone (crew and passengers alike), are a wee bit stressed and that happy go lucky atmosphere you had, is starting to wane. The reality is, that the crew needs to clean and turn over that ship in a few short hours, so that new passengers can board. .

Hopefully, you’ve had a wonderful cruise and will be back to do it all again in the near future!

Recommended Post:  How To Know if You Have Post-Cruise Depression

13. Breakfast on the last day of the cruise

There will be a few options open for breakfast including the buffet, the cafe and in some cases the main dining room. Room service may or may not be available. Once you’re on your cruise ship, you’ll be informed of the options.

Since you’ll be leaving your cabin, this may mean bringing your carry on or other items with you to the buffet. Keep in mind it will likely be quite crowded.

We are often pretty tired the last morning, so the last few cruises we’ve just gone down to the cafe and picked up a coffee and muffin or one last delicious pastry to go. We bring it back to out cabin while we do some final things before we leave the cruise ship.

14. Check your cabin for any “forgotten” items

We actually do 2 checks, just to make sure.

After we pack up, on the last night of our cruise, we gather things together, and this includes all items that were in our cabin safe. I put chargers together and do a quick pack of our toiletry bag. We open all our drawers and check the shelves.

In the morning, do one last check. Make sure you’ve got your sunglasses, reading glasses (this happened to my friend), umbrellas etc. Parents, if you have children, go through their drawers and under their beds to make sure you’re all packed up and nothing is forgotten.

*Keep your cruise card on you – you will need it.

Tip: If you get home and realize that you did forget something, cruise lines have a toll free number that you can call to report lost items. There’s a chance that you may find it, however I haven’t heard of many success stories.

15. Getting off your cruise ship

Once you’re all packed up and ready to go, you’ll be asked to wait in designated public areas until your luggage tag number is called. Keep your cruise card in hand, as you’ll be scanned as you leave the ship.

A couple of the ship’s activities staff or officers may be near the exits to say goodbye and wish you a safe trip home. On a couple of occasions the Captain and/or Cruise Director have been there and it’s been a nice final opportunity for us to say a big thanks!

16. Getting your luggage

Once you get off the gangway, you’ll head into the cruise port and in a great big room (sort of like a hangar), you’ll find rows of luggage, grouped according to color and number.

This procedure is so much better than when we first cruised years ago. It used to be really hectic, but the last few cruises it’s been a fairly easy process.

There will be porters that can help you with your bags, if needed.

Tip: Keep a few small bills handy to tip the porters.

17. Going through customs after your cruise

Whether you’re American, Canadian or from any other country, you’ll be going through customs as a final step of your cruise disembarkation. It’s usually not too long a process – we’ve gone through this in 10-15 minutes.

During your cruise, keep track of your purchases including alcohol, cigarettes, and any large purchases. Be aware of the allowances for each in your home country. We keep our bills together during our trip to make it easier.

Tip: Keep your receipts together during your cruise by placing them in an envelope as you go. Small magnetic clips can also help to keep all your cabin items organized.

18. Heading home after your cruise

You’re all done! Hopefully it’s been a great cruise vacation and you’ve got dreams of future cruises in your head.

Getting to the airport

Most people get to the airport by taking a cab or by purchasing transfers with the cruise line. You can do this before your cruise with the cruise line or with help from your travel agent. You can often also add these on during your cruise at the guest services desk, but do verify.

Getting your car from cruise parking

Usually you’re ship will return to the same pier as when you departed on your cruise, and you’ll be able to get your car, load it up with your luggage and pay as your leave the cruise port.

In the rare case that your ship comes back to a different pier, if it’s not close walking distance, you’ll have a shuttle to bring you over to the original parking lot. This happened to us once a few years ago.

19. What to do if you have a late flight

If you have a late flight, you’ve got options. Consider booking a cruise excursion tour on the last day of your cruise.

You can store your bags in the luggage compartment of the coach bus, and you won’t have to sit around in the airport. Since the excursion included transportation to the airport, this can also be a good value.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Disembarkation

Here’s a quick explanation of the advantages and disadvantages self-embarkation, so you can know if this is the right thing for you and your party, at the end of your cruise.

20. Benefits if Self-Disembarkation

*Earliest to get off the ship

*No need to put luggage out on the last night of your cruise

*Leaving the cruise port as early as possible

21. Disadvantages of Self-Disembarkation

*You will not receive any help with your luggage

*You may need to carry it down several flights of stairs as elevators may be full

*You need to be up very early to vacate your cabin and get off the ship

This is only a good option for your party, if everyone is able bodied and can handle the luggage. If you need assistance, or happen to have a lot of luggage, this isn’t for you.

We’ve done both and there isn’t a right or wrong way to disembark. The choice will be yours, and you can decide what works best once on the cruise ship.

Recap: 21 cruise disembarkation tips you need to know

Cruising is so much fun, that it’s hard to think about the last day of your cruise and debarking from your cruise! I hope these tips have been helpful and in giving you the information you need for when you are getting off of your cruise ship for the last time.

If you’ve cruised before, do you prefer regular or self-disembarkation? What advice do you have for future cruisers? Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

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Recommended posts:

15 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips (for a great start of your cruise)

21 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On

30 Cruise Cabin Hacks (to keep your cabin organized)

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12 Comments

I liken the idea of being able to get some help with disembarking the ship. I feel like having someone to help you get through customs, as well as make sure that you get all your luggage there safely would be nice. I’ll have to consider getting someone to help me do that sort of thing if I decide to go on a cruise.

Once on the ship, you can definitely ask someone at guest services to help guide you through this. If you choose standard debarkation, the luggage will be taken off the ship for you, so not to worry.

We were also confused about custom documents on our first cruise, and were assisted with he expectations.

IF YOU ARE HEALTHY AND MOBILE, SELF DISEMBARKATION IS THE BEST WAY. NO ONE IS GONNA HELP YOU SO BE PREPARED TO WAG YOUR OWN BAGS. YOU WILL BE IN THE PARKING LOT, AT YOUR CAR IN NO TIME.WE SKIP B’FAST ON THE SHIP AND GRAB SOMETHING AT MICKEY D”s AS WE LEAVE THE PORT AREA. WORKS GREAT FOR US.

Sounds like our disembarkation mornings too Bob. Thanks for the great tips!

My wife And I started to back to back cruises. Last time we went to guest services. They gave us a new card for the coming week. Had us go to the wine bar. NCL asked us what we wanted to eat and drink. Ordered 6 wings and a Port wine. Few hours later the dozen of us were back in our old new clean rooms. Though you are only delaying getting off. Always been jealous of those who live on cruise ship. Meet a couple from England they were on 136 cruise. Were going to a hotel for three days. Followed by another 10 day cruise. I wish I could do that. Thanks for what you do!!! You are awesome!!!

That sounds amazing! We did one B2B and we definitely enjoyed the feeling of not having to disembark and pack up! I agree, life on a cruise ship almost full time sounds pretty good!

Thanks for taking the time to comment Russell! I hope you can get back on a cruise soon.

Let’s be a little more clear on regular disembarkation:

– You must put your suitcase outside your cabin door the night before by 11:00 or midnight. Your cabin steward will take it away. – You’ll be assigned a time to leave the ship. Let’s pretend you get 10:00 – 10:30 am. – When you leave the ship the next day — you and all the other 10:00 – 10:30 people — you will be ushered into a big room where all your suitcases are lined up — remember that about 95% of suitcases are plain black, so you should tie a bandana or something to yours. – Once you have found your suitcase, you’ll be able to join the line for customs. You will need to be able to haul your suitcase through customs by yourself. – Once you are through customs, if you need help getting your luggage to your car, porters are available. (Have tip money ready.)

In contrast, if you do self-disembarkation: – You do not put your suitcase out the night before. – You leave whenever you want, but you must carry your own suitcases. You might have to carry them up/down stairs, as the elevators will be slam-packed full. – You will bypass the big room full of suitcases and go straight to customs.

Thanks for sharing

My concern: how safe is it to put your luggage outside of your room the night before? Anyone walking by could get into your suitcase? Granted I would not leave valuables in there, but my clothes….🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️⚓️⚓️ Thank you! I will be a First timer in November on WOTS! I have been reading all of your articles and have signed up fo our emails! They are very helpful!

I have never heard of an issue and the luggage is removed by the crew on a fairly regular basis. Truthfully, people are so busy getting their own packing together and it has always seemed safe for me. I would not put your valuables and if this includes your clothing, it’s something for you to decide.

Have a great cruise,

If you self disembark, do you have to leave at a certain time still? Loved your post!

Great quesion. Yes, you usually disembark first before the others with luggage tags are called

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• Costa Cruises

disembarking procedure

By CountessP , February 14, 2014 in Costa Cruises

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I'm not sure what they call it, but does anyone know if Costa offers "early or self disembarkation" for those willing to carry their own luggage. Many companies allow you to leave whenever you want once the ship has cleared customs if you carry all your own luggage. Am hoping we can do this on the Costa Luminosa. Anyone know?

Thx in advance!

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I'm not sure what they call it, but does anyone know if Costa offers "early or self disembarkation" for those willing to carry their own luggage. Many companies allow you to leave whenever you want once the ship has cleared customs if you carry all your own luggage. Am hoping we can do this on the Costa Luminosa. Anyone know?   Thx in advance!

Yes, they offer it. Register with Guest Services as soon as possible.

Yes, this is explained at the disembarkation meeting which is held usually on the penultimate day.

You won't need to pick up coloured labels or put your cases out by 1.00 am the night before.

Depends on citizenship, the OP didn't mention hers.

Good Catch!! All American girl! My plan is to go directly to work that day, hoping to get there by 10AM, Ft Lauderdale area. Think I can make ???

If it was me I could make it!

It depends on US CBP (your tax dollars at work) but it's normally allowed for US/Canada, you're off the ship by 8 AM.

Fred&Lily

We just got back from the Luminosa and the process of getting through US Customs was pretty slow - not because of anything the Costa staff could do but because the US Customs agents were under-manned and it was slow dealing with all the in-transit aliens from Europe plus the Canadians are in the alien line as well. Blue and Brown tags were still trying to get off after 11:30 a.m but the taxi ride to MIA is only 15 minutes... here is the next catch.... TSA lines at the Delta terminal were a further 30 to 40 minutes...

But there were five big cruise ships being turned around on Saturday morning!

We just got back from the Luminosa and the process of getting through US Customs was pretty slow - not because of anything the Costa staff could do but because the US Customs agents were under-manned and it was slow dealing with all the in-transit aliens from Europe plus the Canadians are in the alien line as well. Blue and Brown tags were still trying to get off after 11:30 a.m but the taxi ride to MIA is only 15 minutes... here is the next catch.... TSA lines at the Delta terminal were a further 30 to 40 minutes...       But there were five big cruise ships being turned around on Saturday morning!

What time did you disembark? OP wants early disembarkation.

Our flight was 3 pm so being in the brown tag section wasn't an issue. We left around noon and got to the airport just after 12:20 pm then stood in TSA line for about 40 minutes - no panic there. But friends who had earlier flights at 1 p.m. said that getting off the ship in the early green tag - 9:30 am group was half an hour delayed.

Pink and Red luggage tags - 7:15 am - 8:15 am

White Luggage Label - 8:30 am

Yellow Luggage Label - 9:00 am

Green Luggage Label - 9:30 am

Purple Luggage Label - 10:00 am

Orange Luggage Label - 10:30 am

Blue Luggage Label - 11:00 am

Brown Labels - 11:30 am

Most of the Italians returning to Rome on Alitalia flight 631 which leaves MIA at 9 pm in the evening were crowding to get off early - likely for Evergaldes tours.

We just got back from the Luminosa and the process of getting through US Customs was pretty slow - not because of anything the Costa staff could do but because the US Customs agents were under-manned and it was slow dealing with all the in-transit aliens from Europe plus the Canadians are in the alien line as well. Blue and Brown tags were still trying to get off after 11:30 a.m but the taxi ride to MIA is only 15 minutes... here is the next catch.... TSA lines at the Delta terminal were a further 30 to 40 minutes...   But there were five big cruise ships being turned around on Saturday morning!

Yes, I do think there is a difference if you take care of your own luggage and disembark early.

As for your trip, did you file a trip report? We will be on the Luminosa in about 2 weeks and would love to hear about your cruise experience.

Wrote long review in which I try to counter all the negative reviews.

I rate the ship and itinerary at 5 stars.

A first-cruise newbie couple who came with us loved it. Lily rated it as one of the best ever - and she's cruised on 12 different ships.

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All aboard! What you need to know about cruise boarding times and how early to arrive for a cruise

The big day is approaching, and you're finally getting ready to head to the cruise port and board your ship. How can you ensure you're prepared to start your vacation on the right foot? You'll need a plan for getting to the port and some knowledge about the embarkation process, including your cruise ship boarding time.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines would often allow passengers to show up at the terminal on embarkation day whenever was convenient for them within a half-day window.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, lines began assigning boarding times to passengers or, more commonly, asking them to choose the window of time that they'd prefer in order to stagger the crowds. The new method has worked so well that it has largely remained in place for most cruise lines.

But what time do cruises board, and is there a best time to board a cruise ship? Read on to find out the answers, as well as when you should plan to arrive in your departure city before you set sail.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

When to arrive for a cruise

Ask "when should I arrive for my cruise?" and you likely mean one of two things: When should you arrive in your ship's departure port city before your sailing or when should you arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day?

The answer to the first question depends on how far of a commute you have to the cruise port. If you live within driving distance of your departure port, it's acceptable to make your way there the same day your ship leaves — unless you're looking at a multi-hour ride and don't want to cut it too close to boarding time.

If you're catching a plane, when to fly in for your cruise depends on several factors. I always advise flying in at least one day before you're scheduled to embark, just in case you encounter any delays or cancellations. That way, you have time to rebook yourself on a different flight if something goes wrong.

Related: Should I buy my flights through my cruise line

However, adding the cost of a pre-cruise hotel stay onto the overall bill isn't always doable for every traveler, especially those on tight budgets. If that's the case and you can find a super-early flight that gets you to your port city with some wiggle room, flying in the same day you sail is possible.

Either way, I recommend purchasing travel insurance (through a third party, not through your cruise line) that will protect your investment if something happens and you miss your ship.

What time do cruise ships board?

As for when to arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day, the answer depends on your boarding time.

Cruise ships usually begin boarding an hour or two after all passengers from the previous voyage have left the ship. Disembarkation generally wraps up by 10 a.m. at the latest, and some extra time is allowed for the crew to start on tasks like provisioning (restocking of supplies and food), bunkering (refueling) and cleaning of the vessel's cabins and public areas to ready them for the next round of guests.

Related: 27 cruise ship embarkation day do's and don'ts

Boarding begins roughly between 10 and 11 a.m., depending on the ship's schedule and how long it takes everyone from the last cruise to debark. Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than one to two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening.

Best time to board a cruise ship

The best time to board a cruise ship is obviously when there are few lines and short waits. The trick is knowing when that will be.

Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m.

By then, the morning rush of "me first" passengers has usually died down, and it allows enough time between your arrival at the port and "all aboard," the cutoff for when all passengers and crew must be on the vessel. (If you're someone who prefers to spend as much time as possible on board, you can elect to choose an earlier boarding time, but be warned that there could be long lines and wait times.)

Alternatively, if you have upper-tier loyalty status, you're booked in a high-end suite or you've purchased one of several perks packages (like Carnival Cruise Line 's Faster to the Fun, Royal Caribbean International 's The Key or Norwegian Cruise Line 's Priority Access), you can arrive at any time to take advantage of priority boarding or special embarkation lounge access to make your wait more comfortable. The latter often includes a separate sitting area with snacks and drinks.

There are several other tricks — like completing check-in online or via your cruise line's mobile app before you show up — that you can employ to speed up the embarkation process.

What to expect when boarding your cruise ship

When you arrive at the terminal facility in your port of embarkation, you can expect the scene to be chaotic. Follow signs for the applicable arrival channel, whether that be parking or drop-offs via taxis, Ubers and shuttles.

Before you head inside, leave large bags with the porters, who will make sure they're safely loaded onto the ship. (Although it's not required, it's nice to give a dollar or two per bag as a tip.) You can't miss the porters and their baggage carts as they line up on the curb by the terminal.

When you enter the terminal building, you must show your ID and boarding documents and proceed through a security check. Your carry-on bags pass through a scanner, and you must walk through a metal detector. Although it's similar to the procedure at airport security, you won't have to take your shoes off or remove laptops or liquids from your bags (unless they find contraband alcohol or something else that looks suspicious).

Then, you'll proceed to the check-in desk, where an agent will help you complete the process. If you've already checked in online, the process will be faster. Exceptions are more advanced ports or cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity) that allow you to skip the check-in desk if you've already completed everything (check-in, onboard account setup and security photo) ahead of time using the app.

In cases where you don't receive a keycard at check-in, it will be waiting for you either at your cabin door or inside your room.

After check-in, you'll head up the gangway and onto the ship, where security will scan your card to log that you've boarded. (Each time you disembark or re-board in a port of call, you'll also have to swipe your card, so keep it with you.)

How long does it take to board a cruise ship?

The length of time it will take from curb to gangway will vary based on several considerations, including:

• Whether you're traveling light. If you have a carry-on only , you can proceed straight into the terminal building. If you have larger luggage, you'll have to leave it with a porter outside, which can take a few minutes.
• How technologically advanced the cruise terminal and cruise line are. At terminals where facial recognition is used, you can board a lot faster, as is the case for cruise lines that allow check-in and the setting up of onboard accounts via mobile app before the day you board. Technology allows passengers to skip traditional check-in methods, which usually involve waiting in line to speak with someone at the check-in desk.
• Whether you have priority boarding. If you're in the upper echelons of the line's loyalty program, purchased a package that includes priority embarkation or you're staying in a high-end suite, you'll have the privilege of boarding before most of your fellow cruisers, and the process will be expedited with dedicated lines and lounges.
• Whether passengers adhere to their assigned boarding times. The goal is to stagger the number of people arriving at any given time so it's more comfortable and streamlined for everyone involved. If people disregard their time, it can cause bottlenecks and slow down the boarding process.
• How crowded it is when you arrive. If there are lines for passenger parking, drop-off or check-in, it will take longer for you to make your way on board.
• How prepared everyone is. If travelers aren't organized and spend extra time rifling through their bags for their cruise tickets, passports and other items necessary for verification, it affects the flow of traffic at the terminal during check-in. This also applies to passengers who pack contraband in their bags, thereby holding up the security line.

Bottom line

It's a good idea to show up in your city of embarkation the day before your cruise if you're flying in. Ships usually start boarding shortly after the final passenger has disembarked from the previous sailing, usually between 10 and 11 a.m. Adhering to your assigned embarkation time will help to keep the boarding process running smoothly. (When choosing a time, aim for something in the afternoon, after the morning rush has died down.)

To ensure the shortest wait possible, make sure to check in and set up your onboard account online or using your cruise line's mobile app ahead of time. Also, have your ID and other boarding documents handy, and don't pack anything in your luggage that could cause you to be flagged at security.

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships?
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
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• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

• Costa Cruises

Disembarkation > Airport

By Nyccruiser33 , December 19, 2023 in Costa Cruises

Recommended Posts

Nyccruiser33

Has anyone used Costa’s bus service from Civitavecchia to FCO airport before? How was it?

and if we’re scheduled to arrive in port on the Costa Toscana at 8:30 AM, is a 1:50 PM flight safe or is that cutting it too close? 

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I have used it twice. Worked well both times.

It leaves at 10am and gets to the airport about 11.30.

• 4 weeks later...

On 12/19/2023 at 6:30 AM, Nyccruiser33 said: Has anyone used Costa’s bus service from Civitavecchia to FCO airport before? How was it?   and if we’re scheduled to arrive in port on the Costa Toscana at 8:30 AM, is a 1:50 PM flight safe or is that cutting it too close? 

Did you have any issues arriving to the airport and getting checked in?  Did you have sufficient time to check your luggage and get thru customs without rushing?

3 hours ago, crpurv59 said: Did you have any issues arriving to the airport and getting checked in?  Did you have sufficient time to check your luggage and get thru customs without rushing?

Check-in and luggage drop off opens two hours before departure and you don't go through customs during departure. Passort control at the border is very fast as long as your papers are in order, you didn't overstay or committed other illegal things.

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Disembarkation: Everything You Need to Know

By Sue Bryant

Last updated: April 27th, 2024

• Find a Cruise

Make the most of the day in your disembarkation port, which will run all the more smoothly with a little preparation and planning.

Disembarking a cruise ship is not the same as checking out of a hotel on your last day. Disembarkation day is a carefully choreographed event. It has to be, with sometimes 2,000 guests or more and their luggage to move from the ship to the cruise terminal and beyond in a short time.

Your Celebrity Cruises crew are highly experienced in this logistical exercise, though, and will do all they can to make that bittersweet goodbye as easy as possible.

What is a disembarkation port?

A disembarkation port is a port where a cruise ends. Most passengers will leave the ship here, apart from those who have booked back-to-back cruises.

The ship will then be “turned around”—cleaned top to bottom, refueled, and re-provisioned with everything that’s needed for the next voyage.

Once all the disembarking guests have left, after a brief lull, new arrivals will begin to check in, ready for the next cruise.

Typical disembarkation ports tend to be gateway cities with good air and road access, like Miami, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale in Florida; Cape Liberty, New Jersey; and San Juan, Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.

In Europe , disembarkation ports include Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Southampton, England. Sydney, Australia and Singapore are two of Celebrity’s disembarkation ports in the Asia-Pacific region.

What happens on disembarkation day?

Disembarkation day is a busy day on a cruise ship. You’ll be invited to put your luggage outside your stateroom the night before. It will be collected by the crew overnight and will be waiting for you in the terminal when you leave the ship.

You’ll make sure your final bill is settled the day before, pack your carry-on luggage, and have breakfast. When your pre-allocated disembarkation time comes, make your way to the gangway.

You will then identify and claim your luggage in the terminal, clear customs, and take whatever onward transportation you’ve arranged.

Read: Everything You Need to Know About Embarkation Day

How will I know on board what to expect on disembarkation day?

Towards the end of your cruise, there will be a talk on disembarkation procedures. This will be shown on your stateroom TV, too, in case you miss it. You’ll also find details in the daily program.

You will already have been asked about your arrangements on disembarkation day. These might include a transfer to the airport arranged by Celebrity Cruises, or a shore excursion that ends at the airport.

You may have made independent plans, in which case you will need to add your flight details to the form you’ll be given, or the time your private pickup is booked.

A day or so before the voyage ends, your stateroom attendant will deliver a disembarkation letter and a set of colored luggage tags. The letter will tell you what time you are due to disembark. On the day, you will be called by group number or color code. You should stick to these staggered times to avoid congestion at the gangway.

If you’re not happy with the time you have been allocated, take it up with Guest Services as soon as possible rather than waiting until disembarkation day.

Do I have to put my luggage out for collection the night before disembarkation?

The vast majority of cruisers put their luggage outside their stateroom door, color-tagged and locked, the night before disembarkation. It’s more convenient and practical, as dragging heavy bags into crowded elevators and down a sometimes steep gangway is no fun for anybody.

But if you feel strongly about hanging onto your bag, or are perhaps traveling light with only a small wheelie on a short cruise, you can opt for “self disembarkation”. This usually means you can leave the ship as soon as disembarkation has begun.

How long can you stay on the ship on disembarkation day?

Disembarkation day isn’t a time to linger on board as the crew has to work hard to prepare the ship for the next voyage. Normally, there’s a window between around 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. for disembarkation. If your flight isn’t until much later, you will be given a later slot in this window, but this isn’t a day to expect to sleep in.

If you’ve booked a back-to-back cruise, you can relax on board during disembarkation day, or join a shore excursion while the new guests are checking in.

You will normally be asked to vacate your stateroom by 8 a.m. so the stateroom attendant can prepare it for the next guest. If your allocated disembarkation time is later than this, there will be public areas on the ship where you can relax with your carry-on before you leave.

Read: The Only Cruise Packing List You’ll Ever Need

How early can you get off?

A ship will usually only have a short distance to travel from its penultimate port to the disembarkation port to account for any delays or weather issues; no cruise line wants to arrive late on turnaround day. So you may find you’re docked alongside very early in the morning.

But the ship has to be cleared by the local authorities before anybody can leave. Luggage has to be offloaded, too.

When you book your cruise, you will be told about the earliest reasonable flight departure time to choose. A very early morning flight, for example, is usually impractical. If you do have a relatively early flight, this will be factored in when disembarkation groups are allocated.

Disembarkation times vary from port to port, but it is unusual for the process to begin any earlier than 7 a.m.

Is there time for breakfast?

Of course! You are still on vacation and will never be sent away hungry. Most of the usual breakfast venues will be open, including Café al Bacio for coffee to go.

Restaurants may be busier than usual as everybody is preparing to leave within the same short timespan, and some people may have already left their staterooms and will be carrying their hand baggage with them.

Read: What Is Food on a Cruise Really Like?

What documents do I need for disembarkation and customs?

You will need your passport and receipts for any duty-free goods you have bought, in case you get stopped at customs. Normally, the ship will have been cleared by the local immigration authorities, but you may still be required to show a passport to officials when you disembark.

If you have already checked in for your flight and feel happier with a paper boarding pass, you can print this out in the ship’s internet center. If you’ve parked your car at the port, make sure you have the receipt and know where it is.

You will also need your SeaPass key card to leave the ship for one last time.

How long does it take to get off a cruise ship?

If everybody follows the instructions they have been given and shows up at the gangway when invited, getting off a ship is quick and easy. You should be able to disembark in 15 to 30 minutes, including collecting your baggage in the terminal.

There can be delays, though, and the ship is at the whim of the local immigration authorities. This is another compelling reason for leaving plenty of time between your scheduled disembarkation time and your flight home.

If you have booked an airport transfer or a disembarkation day tour with Celebrity, your transportation will wait until everybody is present.

How do I choose the right disembarkation port for my cruise?

First, to be clear, you can’t choose where to disembark your cruise. Unless there is some kind of personal emergency or you have booked two back-to-back cruises, everybody disembarks on the same day in the same port.

It’s worth thinking about where your cruise ends, though, and what you might want to do to extend your vacation. If, for example, you’ve always wanted to see Athens and you’ve booked a cruise that ends in the Greek capital, you’re not going to actually see Athens unless you extend your stay there. The transfer from the port to the airport will not take you through the city center.

The same applies to Rome and Barcelona . So by all means pick a disembarkation port that you want to see, but bear in mind that unless the ship arrives there the day before the end of the cruise, you will need to add on a night somewhere, or book an evening flight and plan your day carefully.

Can I arrange transportation from the disembarkation port to the airport or other destinations?

Yes, of course. Celebrity Cruises offers airport transfers, which can be pre-booked, either as a group transfer by coach or a private car or van. If you haven’t pre-booked and decide that you would like an airport transfer, this can be done on board through your Guest Account or the Celebrity Cruises app up to five days before the end of the cruise.

In the vast majority of disembarkation ports, taxis will wait to pick up independent travelers. But do your research first; in some instances, the airport is a long way from the seaport. If you disembark in Southampton, England , for example, the drive to London Heathrow Airport is at least one hour and a taxi will be expensive.

What happens if my flight is in the evening?

An evening flight means you have the whole day to enjoy your disembarkation port. But this needs to be planned, as you will most likely have luggage. There’s no fun in going straight to the airport and sitting there for eight hours or so—and your flight check-in will not be open, in any case.

There are various ways to make the most of your time in your disembarkation port. You could go to the airport and deposit your bags in a left luggage locker and then take off for a day in town. This is only practical if the airport is not too far from where you want to go, though.

Booking a day room in a hotel is an option and also means you can freshen up before your evening flight. Be sure to book somewhere that will allow early check-in.

Celebrity Cruises offers tours with airport and sometimes rail station and downtown hotel drop-offs in most ports. In Sydney , for example, you could join a city tour taking in the Opera House and Bondi Beach before being dropped off at the airport.

From Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, Italy , there’s the option of joining a wine-tasting tour in the Italian countryside before heading to the airport.

If your Alaska cruise ends in Vancouver , you could take a trip to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, deep in the forest, that ends with an airport drop-off.

Best of all, you could extend your stay. Celebrity Cruises offers a comprehensive City Stays program , which means everything will be organized for you.

In Alaska , you could pre-book a Cruisetour to extend your vacation, heading off to the wilds of Denali National Park to see a different face of the 49th state.

What are some things not to do on disembarkation day?

• Don’t pack all your clothes in your suitcase and leave it for collection the night before. Nobody wants to be disembarking in their PJs.
• Similarly, don’t pack your travel documents in your checked luggage. Keep them with you as you may need to show your passport in the customs hall.
• Don’t party too hard on your last night; while it’s tempting, disembarkation day is busy and comes with an early start, so a clear head helps.
• Don’t forget the valuables that you put in the safe on the first day.
• Don’t wait until disembarkation morning to check your final bill. If you need to ask questions about your account, this will delay your disembarkation. You can view your statement on your stateroom TV.
• Do not expect to use the ship’s facilities on disembarkation day; this is not the time for a last swim or a workout, and the onboard shops will be closed when the ship is in port.
• Don’t leave your key card in your stateroom. You will need it to leave the ship for the last time.
• Leave the bathrobe. The slippers are yours to take, but if you walk off with a bathrobe, the cost will be added to your account, even after you have left the ship.

Read: Things Not to Do on a Cruise

Ready to plan your next cruise vacation? Browse our itineraries and plan your dream escape.

Sue has been writing about cruising for 20 years and is lucky enough to have sailed all seven continents. She lives in London, where she is cruise editor of The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers, as well as a freelance contributor to magazines and websites worldwide.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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