Priority disembarkation

Unread post by **mrsnoah41** » 26 Jul 2014, 22:39

Why have P&O dispensed with different coloured disembarkation passes?

On a recent Azura cruise, as Baltic members, we were given Priority disembarkation labels for our luggage but no actual passes. We were directed to a particular lounge which was designated for Priority passengers and advised that a "silent" process was now being implemented.
What actually happened was that hundreds of passengers without the appropriate labels became wise to the fact that there was no check on who was eligible to be there and consequently congregated in that room. When an officer came into the room and announced that we could now disembark it became mayhem with what appeared like half of the ship trying to take advantage of this early departure.
We have no desires to become 'elitist' but priority should mean just that and not a free- for- all resulting in a shambolic end to a most enjoyable cruise.
Bring back the coloured passes!!!

Unread post by **Manoverboard** » 27 Jul 2014, 08:35

The tickets didn't work either as those with the next departure time just blocked the entire ship trying to be first in the queue regarding their own particular ' ticket colour '.

The revised system of heading off to allocated public areas worked very well in our experience but there will always be those who think that rules are for everybody else.

For those who must be first off the ship then surely the simple answer is to disembark circa 07:00, albeit carrying their own luggage ?

The best idea imo is to get off ' last '

Unread post by **david63** » 27 Jul 2014, 08:42

I doubt that there is any system that will not be abused by someone.

In some ways P&O are not that concerned about any abuse of the disembarkation process, unless it was to be a security/safety issue, as they want the ship cleared as quickly as possible.

A possible solution would be to have the disembarkation cards which you had to hand in when you went into the lounge but there would be some who would just loiter around the area waiting to disembark.

Unread post by **oldbluefox** » 27 Jul 2014, 08:49

I must say the current disembarkation system is a lot better than the old one where people blocked corridors and stair wells waiting to be first off.

Maybe an amalgamation of the coloured card system would eliminate those who abuse it. Show your card to get into the lounge and hand it in as you leave the ship. No card and you go back whence you came and join your proper group. No card and you get off last.

People who think rules do not apply to them just irritate and clog the whole system up.

Unread post by **Meg 50** » 27 Jul 2014, 09:36

They were still using cards on Adonia a month or 2 ago

Unread post by **towny44** » 27 Jul 2014, 10:36

What is all the fuss about? We always ask for a time earlier than we know we will want and then make our way straight to the disembarkation queue once we are ready.
Never have a problem and therefore don't become stressed, simples.

Unread post by **Quizzical Bob** » 27 Jul 2014, 16:32

It's always a complete shambles we have priority disembarkation and it practically means nothing. The yellow luggage labels just mean that your bags could be anywhere in the baggage hall instead of just in your deck area.

Unread post by **Manoverboard** » 27 Jul 2014, 17:28

Do those who are Baltic or Lingurian-ish have a black label as per those passengers who have a suite which means that they can get off whenever they wish .... like wot we did on Aurora in 2013 ?

Unread post by **daib GC** » 27 Jul 2014, 18:56

Manoverboard wrote:
Do those who are Baltic or Lingurian-ish have a black label as per those passengers who have a suite which means that they can get off whenever they wish .... like wot we did on Aurora in 2013 ?

Suite passengers and two top tier passengers both get yellow stickers and priority disembarkation. If you are Baltic as we are and in a suite you get two lots.

If I get any more priority I will have to get off by tender as we sail up Southampton Water.

Oh I forgot about disability as well.

Gan Canny

Dai

Unread post by **mrsnoah41** » 27 Jul 2014, 19:12

I agree that there is no prefect system but the old system where coloured cards were issued and collected at the top of the gangway seemed to work. It is definitely better to have groups assemble in designated lounges but a check on who is eligible to be there - cards checked on the way in and collected at the gangway .

I seem to recall that Marine Safety dictates that there is a limit to the number of passengers in each disembarkation group and this was obviously not adhered to on this occasion. We actually overheard passengers discussing the fact that they had been given a later time but 'who knows, no-one's checking'

As it has been said, rules are for other people. Just imagine what these people would do in an emergency!

Unread post by **wolfie** » 27 Jul 2014, 23:04

We've done many P&O cruises and therefore have experienced many of their disembarkation procedures. They vary in efficiency, even with us having priority disembarkation, from fairly easy to horrendous delays with their coloured card system.

Recently on disembarking Celebrity, we wandered off, no queues, near to our scheduled time of 8am, chosen by us as we had a taxi waiting to take us home the 200+miles, and we had found our luggage, most of it in the same place, (unlike P&O where it is scattered everywhere), and were in the taxi by 8.20am.

Embarkation was another matter with huge delays and we have found that P&O do that far better.

Unread post by **Quizzical Bob** » 27 Jul 2014, 23:20

wolfie wrote:
We've done many P&O cruises and therefore have experienced many of their disembarkation procedures. They vary in efficiency, even with us having priority disembarkation, from fairly easy to horrendous delays with their coloured card system.

Recently on disembarking Celebrity, we wandered off, no queues, near to our scheduled time of 8am, chosen by us as we had a taxi waiting to take us home the 200+miles, and we had found our luggage, most of it in the same place, (unlike P&O where it is scattered everywhere), and were in the taxi by 8.20am.

Embarkation was another matter with huge delays and we have found that P&O do that far better.

The baggage handling is managed by the port and not P&O.

Unread post by **towny44** » 27 Jul 2014, 23:44

Quizzical Bob wrote:
wolfie wrote:
We've done many P&O cruises and therefore have experienced many of their disembarkation procedures. They vary in efficiency, even with us having priority disembarkation, from fairly easy to horrendous delays with their coloured card system.

Recently on disembarking Celebrity, we wandered off, no queues, near to our scheduled time of 8am, chosen by us as we had a taxi waiting to take us home the 200+miles, and we had found our luggage, most of it in the same place, (unlike P&O where it is scattered everywhere), and were in the taxi by 8.20am.

Embarkation was another matter with huge delays and we have found that P&O do that far better.
The baggage handling is managed by the port and not P&O.

In that case City terminal is far better than Ocean terminal, which I doubt. I imagine it is the way each ship loads the luggage into the metal pallet boxes that dictates whether the luggage is in some sort of order when the port baggage handlers unload them, and I have to agree with Wolfie that Eclipse do it better than Azura, Ventura, or even Emerald Princess.

Unread post by **Dark Knight** » 28 Jul 2014, 08:17

does it really matter?

your coach will wait, your taxi will wait, your car will still be there regardless of if you take an extra 5-10 minutes to get off.
why anyone would want to be the first shoved off the ship , is beyond me, as is priority boarding
is there some sort of kudos attached to be the first to get on or off a ship?

Unread post by **oldbluefox** » 28 Jul 2014, 08:33

Does it really matter?

Some people have trains or flights to catch or very long car journeys. It does make a difference whether you are early off the ship in some instances. I don't think the rest of the passengers waiting on the coaches would be too impressed by having to wait for somebody who strolls off the ship amongst the last batch. However there is a system in place if everybody adheres to it.

Of course for those who live close to Southampton their disembarkation can be much more relaxed.

Unread post by **Dark Knight** » 28 Jul 2014, 08:38

oldbluefox wrote:
Does it really matter?

Some people have trains or flights to catch or very long car journeys. It does make a difference whether you are early off the ship in some instances. I don't think the rest of the passengers waiting on the coaches would be too impressed by having to wait for somebody who strolls off the ship amongst the last batch. However there is a system in place if everybody adheres to it.

Of course for those who live close to Southampton their disembarkation can be much more relaxed.

Foxy
I am talking about the "kudos" of priority boarding and disembarkation, if people are stupid enough to miss a flight or train by waiting about, that is their own fault.
we have a long journey home, but getting off 10 minutes quicker than somebody on the tier

below, is going to make sod all difference.
people on cruises seem to get hung up over the most trivial things and priority boarding etc is just one of them

Unread post by **david63** » 28 Jul 2014, 08:53

I don't have a particular problem about how quickly I can get off the ship although with a four plus hour drive I like to be off sooner rather than later. What I do find a bit irritating is the "hanging around" in one of the lounges for a couple of hours waiting for "our turn"

Unread post by **towny44** » 28 Jul 2014, 09:21

We don't stress over when, how soon or how quickly we disembark, but I don't find it fun having to search for our 3 cases as we do on P&O and Princess, much better to find them all together as we do on Celebrity.

Unread post by **Dancing Queen** » 28 Jul 2014, 09:27

I think that is the worst part .. hanging around in a lounge, when we went on Eclipse you went and had breakfast then collected your hand luggage and just walked off the ship at a time to suit you, no queues, no pushing and shoving .. best disembarkation we've ever had - if Celebrity can do it why can't all the others

Unread post by **Dark Knight** » 28 Jul 2014, 09:32

DQ
exactly
why all this messing about herding folk here and there?
all seems rather silly giving people priority to get off, just collect your bags and go....simple

Unread post by **Meg 50** » 28 Jul 2014, 12:05

oldbluefox wrote:
Does it really matter?

Some people have trains or flights to catch or very long car journeys. It does make a difference whether you are early off the ship in some instances. I don't think the rest of the passengers waiting on the coaches would be too impressed by having to wait for somebody who strolls off the ship amongst the last batch. However there is a system in place if everybody adheres to it.

Of course for those who live close to Southampton their disembarkation can be much more relaxed.

when we have travelled to and from Soton by train we have taken a our disembarkation cards back to reception, explained our timings and changed them - no probs whatever

Unread post by **oldbluefox** » 28 Jul 2014, 14:49

We do the same Meg. We explain we have a long journey and have never had any problems.

Unread post by **Dark Knight** » 28 Jul 2014, 14:53

we just get off , when allocated and drive home
no drama, no fuss, no problem

Unread post by **Quizzical Bob** » 28 Jul 2014, 14:59

Dark Knight wrote:
does it really matter?

your coach will wait, your taxi will wait, your car will still be there regardless of if you take an extra 5-10 minutes to get off.
why anyone would want to be the first shoved off the ship , is beyond me, as is priority boarding
is there some sort of kudos attached to be the first to get on or off a ship?

You want to be off early before some barsteward walks off with your luggage.

Unread post by **Andrea S** » 28 Jul 2014, 15:51

Thank heavens we fly.

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