Don't forget your stateroom key: What to know about cruise disembarkation

USA Today

28-03-2025

Don't forget your stateroom key: What to know about cruise disembarkation
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Cruise passengers must disembark the ship on the last day so the crew can prepare for new guests.
Passengers can typically choose to carry off their own luggage or leave it outside their cabin the night before disembarkation.
Most cruise ships keep at least one dining venue open for breakfast on disembarkation day.
Alisa Myatt and her husband, Jason, have their end-of-cruise routine down. The couple, who have been on more than 50 cruises, usually get breakfast, grab their luggage and get off the ship as soon as it's cleared by the port.
'We have the attitude (that) when it's over, it's over,' said Myatt, a travel vlogger who runs the YouTube channel, EECC Travels, with Jason. 'Get off and go home.'
For newer cruisers, the disembarkation process may not seem so straightforward. Travelers who are used to staying in hotels or Airbnbs might miss the key differences before clearing out their cabin and starting the journey home.
How does cruise disembarkation work?
▶ When a cruise ends, passengers must pack and leave the ship so the crew can prepare for the next group of guests, who often board later that same day. Myatt said most cruises she has taken have started the process at 8 a.m., but some may begin earlier depending on the port, with a set window to complete the process.
▶ Even if guests don't disembark first thing, they typically must vacate their cabins by a certain time, which cruise lines communicate during the sailing.
▶ Unlike a hotel, passengers should make sure to bring their stateroom key card with them so the ship can scan them out when they're ready to leave. Guests don't always need to present passports or other documentation during the process, but it's a good idea to have those handy, too.
▶ If travelers didn't drive and park at the port, they can get a rideshare or taxi from there or book a transfer through the cruise line (luxury brands may include those transfers with the fare, but they cost extra on most mainstream lines).
Do I have to carry my luggage off the cruise ship?
Not necessarily. Passengers who can carry their bags can opt for 'self-assist' – like the Myatts do – which allows them to get off the ship as soon as possible. Those who want or need assistance can tag and set their luggage outside their stateroom the night before disembarking and pick it up inside the cruise terminal. Bags usually need to be outside the door by midnight, Myatt said.
'I have friends that are heavy packers, and they're like, 'There's no way I can do (self-assist). I need my suitcases, I need lots of options.' And they do put their bags out,' she said. 'And then you're assigned a time to get off.'
Cruise lines often distribute bag tags to each cabin, but Myatt said some instruct guests to pick them up at a designated location to reduce waste.
She cautioned guests who leave their bags outside their cabins to be sure they remove any items they need for the morning. 'Because people don't think sometimes, and they'll put everything in their checked bag and then the next morning they go to brush their teeth, and 'Oops, my suitcase is gone, and I can't brush my teeth,'' she said.
Are cruise restaurants open on disembarkation day?
Myatt said the main dining room and buffet are open for breakfast so passengers can grab a bite before leaving. 'And oftentimes they'll even have a lounge or a bar that has a small buffet set up in there as well,' she added.
What time are cruise cabins ready?: Your guide to embarkation day
What else should I know about cruise disembarkation?
For guests flying to and from the cruise, Myatt recommended booking air travel with disembarkation in mind. She usually suggests looking for flight departure times no earlier than noon.
'You know, if you can get a mid-afternoon flight, and you've really got that buffer time,' she said.
Travelers may need to meet with immigration officials depending on where the sailing ends, too, which could add extra time to the process.
Cruise lines also offer disembarkation talks that go over what passengers can expect, according to Myatt. Those usually take place a day or two before the sailing ends, and are usually recorded so guests can watch them later on their cabin TVs.
'So those people who are not familiar with the disembarkation process should either attend it or watch that in their room, just so they have an idea of what to do.'
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [e-mail].