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036: Self-service disembarkation

Essential Cruise Tips

Release Date: 07/30/2014

My Solution To The Biggest Issue With Cruises These Days! (Podcast #379) show art My Solution To The Biggest Issue With Cruises These Days! (Podcast #379)

Essential Cruise Tips

With cruise lines now pretty much able to sell their ships out completely at a hundred percent or higher capacity, I want to tell you how you can hunt down and find cruises and cruise ships that are not going to be completely packed to the rafters and will have the best cruise experience. This is the techniques that I use. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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Crafty Ways To Steer Clear Of The Crowds On Busy Cruises (podcast #378) show art Crafty Ways To Steer Clear Of The Crowds On Busy Cruises (podcast #378)

Essential Cruise Tips

Cruise lines are packing their ships full these days. They're admitting that they're selling at 100% or higher capacity. So, ships are really, really full, and I've seen this firsthand on a recent cruise, like MSC Cruises, Norwegian, or Caribbean, even Princess in Alaska. So, I want to share with you proven techniques to deal with managing crowds and avoiding crowds.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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Hot Issues Dividing Cruisers RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #377) show art Hot Issues Dividing Cruisers RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #377)

Essential Cruise Tips

On my last cruise, a Windstar Fjords cruise, I posted clips on Instagram of the best attended event of my entire cruise. It immediately ignited a fiery, lively, and divided debate about if the event was a good idea or not. It got me thinking about other things that I talk about on social media or in my videos, that spark heated debates and where cruisers fall into “for” or “against” camps, with few on the fence. So, let's find out where you stand on these right now as I suspect that, like me, your stand is shifting as we face a new world of cruising. Become a Tips For Travellers...

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I Cruise The World's I Cruise The World's "Most Popular" Small Ship Line: Windstar (Podcast #376)

Essential Cruise Tips

After loving recent cruises on 600 and 700 passenger ships, like Oceania Insignia, Azamara Quest and Seabourn Encore, I wanted to see if going ever smaller was even better, so I booked myself on an 11-night Windstar Star Pride “Lands of the Midnight Suns”. Now this ship only holds 312 passengers, and they claim to be the market leading small ship line and have both these yacht style engine-driven ships that I went on, but they also have sailing vessels as well.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For...

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Epic Highs & Unwanted Lows I Had Cruising In Paradise! (Podcast 375) show art Epic Highs & Unwanted Lows I Had Cruising In Paradise! (Podcast 375)

Essential Cruise Tips

It took me 26 hours, three flights, and a time change of 12 hours to get to my French Polynesian cruise in one of the remotest parts of the world. It was brutal, and so how did it go once there – and do I recommend putting yourself though all that? I explore all of this in this video Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:   

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My 11 River Cruises Taught Me These Eye-Opening Lessons (Podcast #374) show art My 11 River Cruises Taught Me These Eye-Opening Lessons (Podcast #374)

Essential Cruise Tips

I am often asked about river cruising and find many people do not fully understand what it is and is not, and this are the 6 things that I have come to appreciate about river cruising around the world that people need to know before they consider one Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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I Try Out Cruising In A Controversial Ship-Within-A-Ship show art I Try Out Cruising In A Controversial Ship-Within-A-Ship

Essential Cruise Tips

I test out cruising in Yacht Club, a limited access “ship-within-a-ship” on MSC Cruises, to see if it really is better than cruising as a “regular” passenger and if it is worth paying the premium for the experience and the perks.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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I Discover The Best & Worst Sides Of MSC CRUISES (Podcast #373) show art I Discover The Best & Worst Sides Of MSC CRUISES (Podcast #373)

Essential Cruise Tips

There are so many rumours, beliefs, stories, and misconceptions about MSC Cruises with many drawn by their great fares but worried about the reports about the ships, food, service and entertainment. I cruised with them to uncover the latest Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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People Keep Falling For These 7 Crafty Cruise Port Tricks! (Podcast #372) show art People Keep Falling For These 7 Crafty Cruise Port Tricks! (Podcast #372)

Essential Cruise Tips

I expose and looks at common scams that I have seen cruisers, including my friends and even myself, fall for when in a port on their cruise so you can avoid falling for these...   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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Questions I Wish I'd Asked BEFORE Cruising the Nile! (Podcast #371) show art Questions I Wish I'd Asked BEFORE Cruising the Nile! (Podcast #371)

Essential Cruise Tips

Seven out of ten travellers told me they really want to do a Nile River cruise. But almost all said they were unlikely to do it, because they had too many questions and concerns. Having done one, I have discovered the answers to those questions, and a few they should be asking but aren’t. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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More Episodes

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook

Subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio

Disembarkation off a cruise ship at the end of your cruise can be a long and frustrating experience, especially if you are travelling on a large ship carrying several thousand other passengers. Unless you are cruising in a premium suite or have high status in the cruise line frequent traveller program, you could find yourself sitting about in public rooms for many hours after 8am, when you have to vacate your cabin, waiting for your turn to disembark.

Many cruise lines offer a self-disembarkation option where you carry all your luggage off the ship yourself and can get off the ship first. You can be off the ship within half an hour to an hour after docking and being cleared by the local authorities using this option. I like this as it means less time hanging about, a chance to miss the crowds and ability to catch earlier transfers and flights home. When packing plan to take clothes and suitcases that you can comfortably carry. For example use four-wheel cases and hand luggage you carry on your back, like a rucksack, as there could be lot of walking through the ship and port terminal.