The last day of a cruise always comes too fast. But eventually, you do have to get off the ship, and before that happens you have to decide what to do with your luggage.
Do you leave it outside your stateroom for the crew to take off for you, or do you opt for the “self-assist” route and carry it off yourself? A recent post on Reddit dug into this discussion, with veteran cruisers giving their take on the best option for them and why either route has its faults.
The original post highly recommended self-assist, with a cruise passenger describing a recent experience:
“If you can, carry your own luggage off the ship at the end of your cruise… We were able to do self serve and were off the ship by 8am. Getting through immigration and the cruise terminal was soooo smooth! No long lines, no big crowds to work through. It was marvelous. 10/10 experience…”
Personally, I almost always use self-assist when getting off the ship. I like how it’s easy and fast, and I don’t have to hunt down my luggage in the “Where’s Waldo” of suitcases in the terminal.
But self-assist isn’t without its downsides. Here’s a look at the benefits and drawbacks shared by the cruising community in the Reddit thread:
Read more: 8 mistakes cruisers make on disembarkation day
The Upside: Speed and Freedom
The most obvious reason to choose self-assist disembarkation is the ability to get off the ship as fast as possible. This is especially key if you have an early flight you don’t want to miss.
By keeping your bags with you, you can usually leave the ship as soon as it’s cleared, bypassing the waiting periods for each luggage tag color.
Another frequently mentioned benefit in the thread was the convenience of having access to all your bags right up until you leave your cabin. Unlike the standard process where bags are placed in the hallway the night before, self-assist allows you to pack and use items on the final morning.
One user noted the advantage of “Not having to put your bags out the night before so you have them for getting ready in the morning.”
With self-assist you also have less to worry about with your luggage getting misplaced or lost. While it doesn’t happen very often, the most common issue is when a passenger grabs the wrong bag, causing a domino effect of problems.
And of course, self-assist is a lot easier when you pack light and don’t have a lot of large bags.
The Downside: The Lugging and the Lines
Self-assist is not for everyone. Sure, you can be among the first to get off the ship and back to reality, but you also have to lug around your suitcases on what can be a very hectic day.
And depending on how much you packed, those suitcases can require quite the physical effort, making disembarkation day an unplanned workout.
One commenter stated, “Unless you are very young and strong- I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Navigating crowded elevators on disembarkation morning is another frequently mentioned challenge. With many passengers trying to move to the disembarkation decks, getting elevator space with luggage can be a struggle.
As one user put it, “Self-Disembark can be a nightmare when ALL the elevators are FULL of people and you have to wait & wait & wait“.
Taking the stairs with heavy bags is not ideal. I’ve done it before, but if you’re carrying an extra large suitcase, it’s probably going to bump on each step you take and require a lot of energy if you’re having to move several decks at once.
No Guarantees
While self-assist can speed up the process of getting off the ship, it doesn’t always guarantee a perfect experience. Depending on the port and the efficiency of customs and immigration, you might still encounter lines.
Ultimately, the choice between self-assist and standard disembarkation comes down to personal preference, physical capability, and how quickly you need or want to be off the ship.
What’s right for someone else might not be right for you. The key to a good experience, in my opinion, is to have another cruise booked right away!
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