Princess revamps disembarkation process

[hazelson]

Princess Bids Farewell to Traditional Disembarkation Process

New, streamlined experience for passengers offers easy and comfortable arrival and departure

The traditional "hurry up and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag colour to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark, Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium near the gangway and creates a more relaxed flow for morning breakfast.In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, departing passengers can also take advantage of an express disembarkation option. Guests who choose to carry their own luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting the ship, thus allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise travel plans.

The new disembarkation process complements Princess Cruises' innovative early embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.

[sailingrose]

We got to experience it and it was great!!!!

[Dan]

We did the express walk-off. The ship docked just before 7am, we were off by 720 and at FLL shortly after 730. Managed to catch an earlier flight to Detroit on standby, but unfortunately couldn't get on the earlier flight from there to home. Still worth it, as we had a very short connection originally.

There's also something in the wind about a new boarding process, where they will allow new passengers to start boarding very soon after the departing passengers have left. I'm pretty sure I heard a Princess rep tell somebody in the line that they had started boarding shortly after 10am. Not having heard of a new procedure at that point, I either assumed he mis-spoke (or I mis-heard), or he maybe meant crew members or back-to-back passengers who were sailing again.

[honestokie]

We arrived at the port at 11 and was onboard by 11:30---went very smoothly for us.

We experienced the new disembarkation process and again I had no complaints at all!!!! We met in the casino for a 9 am disembaration. Were off the ship by 9:35! It went fast, although we sat on the transport back to the airport for a while HA!!!

Word to those first timers.... beware if you are leaving from FTL airport, you get there early, but can't check luggage until 4 hours before flight and there are tons of people sitting around all morning. Can't go through security until 2 hours before flight. But still, overall it was a great experience!!!!

[JoeyandDavid]

RCI also uses a feature similar to this... very convenient!

[elfed]

Looking forward to our next cruise with Princess(our free cruise) on the Caribbean Princess (2nd time)in April and their new disembarkation procedure. Also I agree with honestokie re Fort Lauderdale Airport check in. It's a disgrace! Having to wait outside in 85 degree weather for over an hour before being let into the terminal was dreadful after our return from the Carnival Miracle last week. Still the cruise was great and I hope to write a small review over the next week or 3!!

Regards,

James.

[zebra]

Way to go Princess!! I love the fact that you can always go straight to your cabin...and we've always boarded at approx. 11:00 am!

[TheSkipper]

I like the fact that you can get lunch in the dining room rather than in the mess that usually develops in the Horizon Court on the first day as folks try and figure out where things are.

[MrsAmanda7]

I'm excited about the new disembarkation process. Last 2 cruises, we were able to embark at 11:00am. I can't wait to eat in the dining room instead of the buffet! I'm not big on the buffet for all obvious reasons. I rave Princess Cruises.