11 Tasks Cruise Pros Do on the Last Cruise Day
Updated: Nov 18
Sadly, “all good things come to an end,” and that’s especially true when you know your cruise will soon be over. Knowing what you must do before disembarkation day will reduce your stress and enable you to get the most out of your last 24 hours. THAT is “cruising like a pro.”
Ten chores may sound like a lot, but some may not apply to you. Knowing these cruise hacks, you can be organized to complete them quickly. My goal with this post is to prepare you so you can squeeze every last bit of fun out of that last day and night, enabling you to get the most of what you want out of your vacation. THAT also is “cruising like a pro.”
Detailed 10 Tasks for Your Last Day:
Read
Be better prepared for your disembarkation, luggage service, and other details and opportunities by reviewing materials that your cabin steward or butler previously put into your cabin or suite. Look this morning to see if there are any papers that you may have missed. You may find helpful tips or possibly have overlooked something that you will now have to have corrected.
The information available in advance includes where and when you may need to meet to exit the ship the next day. You want to be sure the time fits your needs and that you have the correctly color-coded baggage tags to match your next day’s travel plans. If this needs to be fixed, your chances are better if addressed with Guest Services as early as possible.
Airline Check-In
If you will be flying home the next day, use your phone or tablet to check in and get your mobile boarding pass. Or use the ship’s Internet Café to check in and print your boarding pass. Not checking in could result in you losing your seat assignments or even the cancellation of your flight reservation.
Bags Out
Unless you are going to “walk-off” the ship with all of your luggage, you will have a deadline by which you must have your luggage outside the door of your cabin. Before placing your luggage outside your door, be sure to attach the color-coded baggage tags that the cruise line gave to you. That’s vital to your being able to find your luggage after disembarkation.
The deadline for putting your bags out is typically 10pm or 11pm though I have had it as late as midnight. Your luggage will be collected, and you’ll catch up with it the next day in the port terminal. Which also means, if you do not keep out an outfit for the morning, you’ll be walking off the ship and into the terminal in your PJs! Keep a carry-on bag with you in the cabin with any toiletries, clothing, and other items you’ll need through the night and in the morning.
Cash In
If you’ve been enjoying the casino, be sure to cash in any chips or tickets before they close on your last night. The casino will not be open before disembarkation on the following day.
Check Your Account
It’s much easier to resolve account issues on the ship before your credit card is charged than it is to address them after you are home and your bank card has been charged. Cruise lines have various ways in which you can check your account. They may include checking your account on your cabin TV, on the cruise line’s cell phone app, with the Guest Services Desk, or at a kiosk near that desk. If you see any discrepancy, work with Guest Services today or tonight. The line can be long on the morning of disembarkation.
“Cruise pros” check their ship account multiple times during their cruise so they can catch any potential errors more timely. They know that errors don’t happen often, but they can happen.
Use Your Onboard Credits
Do you have Onboard Credits, also known as Shipboard Credits? Some types of credits can be refunded after a cruise, but most of them tie in with promotional prices and do not carry over. If you have “use it or lose it” credits, be sure to go buy something fun. My “cautionary tale” is that I realized about 10:30pm on the last night of a cruise that I had about $100 in credits that had not been used. I quickly dressed and ran down to the shops, only to find that they had already closed. I lost out on a quick $100 shopping spree. <sigh>
Receive Your Souvenir Liquor
If you purchased alcohol onboard or in a port, it was stored for you during your cruise. Staff will deliver it to your cabin, often before 9pm. In the unlikely event it doesn't show up, contact Guest Services.
Return Ship’s Stuff
If you enjoyed any of the books or games from the library, please return them by your last evening. Likewise, if you still have one of the ship’s beach towels that was supposed to be returned to the pool area, return it by the afternoon. I’ve seen lines list a $20 - $40 fee for their beach towels for unreturned towels.
Empty Your Safe Box
Empty your safe deposit box. You'd be surprised at the credit cards, cash and jewelry that can get left behind, adding worry and more chores for after you get home.
Check All Nooks & Crannies
AGAIN, go back over every drawer, shelf, vanity, under the sink, and in the shower. Even if you didn't store anything under the bed, get down on your knees if you are able and check to be sure nothing accidentally got kicked or knocked under it. If you use magnets to hang or hold anything to metal walls, be sure you've taken them down. Also thoroughly check your safe deposit box. At an airport on the way home from a trip, I realized I lost my MasterCard. It's black... the same color as the piece of felt that was on the bottom of my safe deposit box. I now pat that box down as well as looking inside much more mindfully.
Recognize Favorite Crew Members
Even if you prepaid your gratuities or have them charged to your cabin, you may wish to show appreciation to your favorite crew members. There are three ways to “share the love” with exceptional ship staff on your last day:
Extend an extra tip individually and deliver it in person. With very few exceptions in the industry, crew members are permitted to accept additional gratuities and are always appreciated.
Write a note to them. I like to pack a few some small note cards with envelopes. I’ll use the card to deliver an additional tip and may include a more personal message I’d like to write to that person. i.e. “I appreciate all you did for me this week, particularly keeping my ice bucket full. I’m glad your contract ends early enough for you to enjoy your son’s graduation while you are on break. I hope to see you again on future cruises.”
If the line has “Crew Comment Cards,” fill out the crew member’s name and why they were exceptional. You can check with the Guest Services desk.
When completing any post-cruise survey, give credit to outstanding crew members by name and example. I like to take photos of their name badges so I can recall names later.
R E C A P
Recap: 10 Tasks for Your Last Day
Read the literature your cabin steward or butler puts in your cabin.
If flying home the next day, complete your airline check-in.
Get your bags packed and outside your cabin unless you are walking off. Be sure to keep out what you need for the night and the next morning.
Cash in your casino chips.
Check your account for accuracy.
Use your onboard credits.
Receive your purchased bottles of alcohol.
Return the ship's stuff such as beach towels and library books/games.
Empty your safe.
Check every nook and cranny of your cabin.
Recognize outstanding crew members.
By knowing what you need to do on the last day of your cruise, you’ll be able to take care of these responsibilities, so you can get back to your job---- having fun like a cruise pro!
Would you like more tips? One of the many advantages of booking through a good cruise specialist instead of online is sharing our expertise with you.
Happy Traveling!
-Connie
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