Cruising: When Your Cruise Ends

When you find yourself not wanting to pack for your trip home, congratulate yourself for doing so well. It looks like you’ve enjoyed your cruise and are looking forward to telling your family, friends and acquaintances about your recent adventure at sea.

The cruise ship usually asks their passengers to pack their bags and leave them in the hallway for pick up during the night. This procedure is for the passengers who need to claim their baggage at the cruise ship terminal so they can get to other travel destinations using airports and train stations the following morning. Don’t worry about having to lug your suitcase off the ship. It will be done for you to claim the following morning after you disembark.

Those who have their vehicles parked in nearby parking garages or plan on using taxis and buses for transportation leave their luggage in their cabins. To save on time, passengers will handle their luggage on their own for a quick getaway from the ship.

Usually, passengers who have no travel plans other than to getting into their personal vehicles, taxis or buses can either get off the cruise ship as early as they want or stay and linger for a meal or a drink. Others have to follow a planned travel schedule. There is nothing as frustrating as missing your scheduled flight because you weren’t keeping track of the time.

Depending on how you planned your cruise, the adventure could be extended if you had already made plans. As a traveler on a cruise ship, you have the option of extending your cruise by arranging a day or more at your cruise destinations before or after the cruise. For instance, you can arrive in Honolulu to explore the sights before embarking on your tour of the Hawaiian Islands. After your cruise, you have the option of staying in Honolulu to tour its attractions. If you are headed towards Alaska, you can spend some time exploring Seattle before or after your cruise. It all depends on the time you have available and your budget. Nothing says you can’t extend your cruise vacation by exploring nearby cities and tourist destinations. Cruise lines offer excursions before and after the cruises, and you may work with them when it comes to your plans.

No matter how much fun you have on your cruise, you’re going to have to go home at some point.

During my first few cruises, I’d attend that last formal dinner and find my way to the nearest Laundromat near my cabin. I remember being one of many cruisers in the packed room, doing laundry. Doing the cruise laundry the night before leaving the ship was really a waste of time, but I did it because I didn’t want to face that fact that my vacation was over. Many experienced cruisers did their laundry during the cruise. For formal dinners, many people bypassed the laundry and dry cleaning services offered on the ship. They brought all their laundry for home or paid for the small packages supplied in the vending machines.

You can take your time packing and get it done long before that final dinner. Leave out what you need to wear, some toiletries and required medication. Activities don’t stop on the cruise ship just because people are going to leave the next morning. Of course, the restaurants, bars and other entertainment will continue to be available for you.

Before leaving the ship, you will have to pay the charges you have incurred onboard during your stay. Anything you had purchased on the ship is added onto the credit card that you had given to the cruise staff at the beginning of the cruise. Items purchased on the ship, including bar tabs, cruise photographs, souvenirs, excursions, restaurants or anything purchased from the ship shops will be billed to your credit card. You will receive your total credit card bill the day before you disembark. If you have a problem with the bill, you have to settle the problem with the front desk. Otherwise, when you leave, you will be asked to return to the front desk. Until you settle your bill, you will not be allowed to leave the ship.

As you leave the ship and make your way home, you probably have a good idea about cruising and the destinations you have visited. You don’t have to make a decision about your next vacation right away, but now you do know there are options when it comes to travel. A cruise is a relaxed way to travel to several destinations at one time. It can also be a preview for future travel.

Keep in mind a cruise is one of many ways for you to travel. If you are interested in a certain area you had visited while cruising, you can always make a return trip to stay longer. Instead of visiting several destinations over a period of a week, you can always pick a place and extend your visit for a longer vacation with a goal to explore.

A Note From Arlene: Successful cruise vacations are the result of careful planning. Check out my other Hubs on Cruising. If you've never been on a cruise,I hope you will be encouraged to try this mode of casual and relaxed travel.