Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. You've had a great cruise, and you want to end your vacation on a high note. Then comes the reality of disembarkation day.
Getting off a cruise ship is not the same as checking out of a hotel — you can't just leave the ship when you feel like it.
Small and luxury ships can have flexible, even leisurely, disembarkation plans. However, the final day on most big ships is a bit chaotic.
The crew needs to get everyone out of their cabins and off the ship quickly so they can prepare for the arrival of the next batch of thousands of passengers. It's a busy work day.
So, extend your calm vacation mindset a little longer by preparing yourself and taking these steps to avoid common disembarkation-day mistakes.
The night before disembarkation, a statement of everything you spent on the ship for drinks, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, souvenirs and any other splurges will arrive outside your cabin door.
Mistakes do happen, so there will inevitably be long lines at guest services on disembarkation day, with people discussing specific charges.
Avoid the crowd by either getting there super early or, better yet, heading to guest services on the last night of your cruise and asking for a printout. Carefully check the statement , and ask for any required adjustments. On some ships, you can even do this electronically on the cruise line's app or smart TV.
One line item you'll likely see on that statement is daily gratuities, which most cruise lines add automatically to cover standard service. If your room steward, waiter or another crew member went above and beyond, an extra cash tip on the last night is a nice — and appreciated — gesture, though it's not required.
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Pro tip: Don't assume you can fix billing issues after you get off the ship. It's nearly impossible to get cruise line land staff to fix onboard mistakes.
Related: 10 extra charges on cruise ships that will make you mad — and what to do about them
Your ship might arrive back in port at 6 a.m., but customs clearance might take two hours or more. Enjoy an extra hour or two of sleep — unless you still need to check your bill that morning.
There is a reason cruise lines recommend guests don't book return flights before noon. It takes several hours to clear a ship of thousands of passengers. You might also have to clear customs.
Then, you have to get to the airport, which could involve navigating through heavy traffic and waiting in security lines along with hundreds of other cruise travelers fresh off their ships.
Avoid unnecessary heart palpitations by booking afternoon flights.
Relate…