Self-Assist Program / Express Debarkation

Self-Assist Program / Express Debarkation

The Self Assist Program will permit guests who are capable of carrying off their own luggage and wish to do so, to disembark the ship as the first group. Upon completion of the Self Assist Program, general debarkation will begin.

Presently, we are conducting this program at the following embarkation ports; in the future, other ports may be added with the consent of local authorities.

Note: Ports in blue = only U.S. Citizens may participate.

Miami	Port Canaveral	Charleston
Mobile	Galveston	Jacksonville
New York	Tampa	Norfolk
New Orleans	Fort Lauderdale	Honolulu, Hawaii
Long Beach	San Diego

In order to take advantage of the Self Assist Program, guests must meet the following requirements:

• Have travel documentation ready to show to Customs Border Protection (CBP) Inspectors at the gangway as they disembark.
• Have all their belongings with them and be capable of carrying them off the ship on their own (self assist). Guests must truly be able to handle their luggage, including navigating stairs and escalators as they debark.
• Properly filled out Customs Declaration Form, one per family, and family must present themselves together to the CBP Inspectors.
• Any money owed for duty on purchases exceeding the duty-free allowance must be paid to the CBP Inspectors onboard prior to debarking.

Embarkation/Debarkation Luggage Information

Embarkation/Debarkation
Luggage Information

Luggage Information

• Guests are encouraged to limit their luggage to two suitcases per guest.
• Each suitcase should not weigh more than 50 pounds and not exceed 16"h x 24"w x 30"length. This is printed on the eDoc bags as well.

·         If traveling by air, each airline has its own restrictions on the maximum size, weight and the number of suitcases allowed per person.

·         In order to offset high fuel costs, some airlines are charging fees for the 2nd suitcase checked; some airlines are charging for the 1st suitcase checked as well.

·         The guest is responsible for contacting the airline to learn about the restrictions and policies for that airline.

• All checked luggage must be unlocked and have a Carnival luggage tag attached listing the guest's name and stateroom number.
• For those guests who wish to carry-on their luggage, it cannot exceed 16"h x 24"w; anything larger must be checked-in with a curbside porter.

Embarkation Baggage Procedures
After arriving at the cruise port, all guests will follow the same procedure with their luggage, whether they arrive by taxi, car or transfer bus.

• Luggage tags are included in the guest’s Electronic Documents, through Carnival’s web portal, www.carnival.com/mydocuments. These tags are personalized with the Guest's name, booking number, departure date stateroom number, deck and if applicable, VIP status.
• Additional tags can be obtained at curbside from the porter, if necessary.
• Guests with a TBA assignment will receive new tags at the pier; the porters will re-tag the luggage according to final stateroom assignment.
• Each piece of luggage must be unlocked before turning over to the porters in order to avoid any inconvenience or delay in delivering the luggage to the stateroom. Should a guest choose not to unlock their bags and prohibited items are found during screening, the luggage will be retained until the guest can open it in front of security personnel.
• Since the delivery of checked luggage may take some time to reach the stateroom, guests may elect to bring their luggage on board if they do not exceed 24"w x 16"h (no restriction on bag length). Carnival assumes no responsibility for carry-on luggage. Note: Luggage larger than 24"W x 16"H must be checked-in with a curbside porter.
• Curbside porters are available at the pier to take luggage to the vessel for delivery to the guest's stateroom by shipboard personnel. Guests must first identify their bags to a curbside porter. Customary tip is $1 per bag. Curbside porters are not employees of Carnival; therefore, if the guest experiences any problems, they must report them to porter management on site.
• Additionally, we highly recommend that guests personally carry-on any boarding documentation (passports, Visas, I.Ds), valuables, medications and items, which require special handling on/off the ship. 

• Note: There is limited porter service on 2/3-day Cruises-to-Nowhere.
• Coolers: Carnival Cruise Lines does not allow guests to bring large coolers on board its vessels.  Small, personal-sized coolers no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage. Screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security screening process and therefore large coolers are not permitted as carry-on or checked luggage. 

Debarkation Baggage Advice 

• In order to be cleared off the ship shortly after arrival in the homeport, in most of our ports, the guest has the option of participating in our Self-Assist Debark Program if they elect to carry off their own luggage. The guest should first consider the size of the luggage and whether it can safely be maneuvered through stairs, hallways and escalators. See Self Assist Debarkation Program for a complete list of ports.
• Alternatively, guests will be given numbered debarkation tags for their luggage. The tag needs to be filled out and attached to the luggage. The guest must place their luggage outside of their stateroom door on the last night of the cruise sometime between 9:30pm to 11:00pm; the luggage will be collected and stored in a holding area. Upon arrival at the port of debarkation, the luggage is unloaded and separated (by zone number) in the baggage claim area of the terminal. The guests must personally locate their luggage and either carry it out or seek the assistance of a porter. The customary tip is $1.00 per bag.

Debarkation Procedures

• All guests must have travel documentation and a completed Customs Declaration Form (one per family) to show to Customs Border Protection Inspectors upon disembarking the ship. It is strongly recommended that guests travel with a passport since this will expedite the debarkation process.
• In order to “check out” of A-Pass (ship’s security system), each guest will need to present their Sail & Sign card as they leave the ship.

Customs Border Protection Inspection

• This is a formal but brief check of luggage and declared merchandise.
• Each guest is required to complete a customs declaration form (one form per family) prior to debarking the ship.

Luggage Loss / Damage / Luggage Left at the Pier

• If a guest discovers damage to their luggage while on board, they must make a claim at the Onboard Guest Services Desk.
• During debarkation, the guest must make a claim in writing with the Debarkation Staff prior to leaving the pier area.
• If the guest discovers after returning home that they have mistakenly claimed someone else's luggage or that their luggage is damaged, they must contact Carnival's Guest Care Department at 800 929-6400 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm; Sat, 9:00am-5:00pm).

• Left over luggage will be processed by the Guest Logistic Staff and kept at each respective port.
• After 30 days, all unclaimed/unidentified luggage(s) will be donated to Goodwill.

Embarkation Terminal Check-In Procedures

Embarkation Terminal Check-In Procedures

Guests Arriving at the Cruise Terminal by Shuttle

Arrival at the Cruise Terminal

• The guest will continue to the Baggage Drop-Off area to hand over their luggage to a Porter; customary tip is $1.00 per bag. However, if the luggage does not exceed 24"w x 16"h (no length restriction.), the guest may elect to bring his/her own bags on board.
• Note: We highly recommend our guests to personally carry any boarding documentation (passports, Visas, I.D.), valuables, medications and items requiring special handling on/off the ship.
• The guest will proceed into the cruise terminal for Check-In.

Embarkation Process for All Guests

• The guest must present his/her FunPass confirmation as they enter the terminal lobby. 
• The guest will proceed through the Security X-ray checkpoint with his/her carry-on luggage; luggage larger than 24"W x 16"H will not be permitted through the security machines and must be checked with a porter outside the terminal. 
• The guest will continue to the check-in counters. Those guests who have registered online (Complete status) will be directed to the Fun Pass Lane; all other guests will be directed to the Incomplete Lane. Proof of citizenship and photo ID must be presented at time of check-in, along with forms listed below:

            Complete (Fun Pass) Guests:

§         Sail & Sign Application – for details: Shipboard Knowledge, What About Money, Sail & Sign On Board Account

            Incomplete Guests:

§         Sail & Sign Application – for details: Shipboard Knowledge, What About Money, Sail & Sign On Board Account

§         Boarding Pass

§         Return Home Transportation Form

• For guests sailing on all ships (but excluding FA EC SE FS IM), each guest will be issued a Sail & Sign card, which is used to, 1) charge on their Sail & Sign Account, 2) use as a stateroom key, and 3) get on/off the ship.
• For guests sailing on the following ships (FA EC SE FS IM), each guest will be issued a Sail & Sign Card and Stateroom Key. The Sail & Sign Card is used to, 1) charge to their Sail & Sign Account, and 2) get on/off the ship.
• The guest will have a "Welcome Aboard" photo taken by our Ship's Photo Staff, which will be available for purchase on board the ship.
• The guest will continue to the A-Pass Kiosk where we will capture a required security photo. 
• At this time, the guest will proceed on board for the cruise vacation.

Shore Excursion Quandary...

The old man and I have been sitting around for two weeks trying to decide which shore excursion to do.  I know some were looking for adrenaline pumping types of fun and some were looking for complete R & R.   So I'm asking y'all "what shore excursion are you doing on the reunion cruise?".

Please post your shore excursion in the comments section of this post so we can all see what your doing.  

Thanks!
Darla


 p.s.  Be sure to register or log in online to do your Fun Pass (online check-in) and that's where you see the shore excursions.  They will be under the Plan Activities tab.


p.p.s.
If you get this post as an email...if you click on the post title, it should take you to the blog to post your comment.