Princess Rolls Out Streamlined Disembarkation Process

Princess Cruises said the cruise industry’s traditional “hurry-up-and-wait” disembarkation process will become history as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers. Typically at the end of a cruise, passengers listen to the public address announcements for their luggage tag color to be called, signaling the staggered times they will disembark.

Princess has debuted what it says is a more efficient and relaxed process. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship’s staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

“We’ve been praised for our innovative embarkation program that enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including meals and beverages,” said Jan Swartz, Princess’ senior vice president of customer service. “Now with the addition of this new disembarkation process, which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their final morning with us, we believe we’re offering the best passenger experience both at the start and end of their vacation.”

Princess said the new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements.