A couple of weeks ago, I posted about what happens when you get on the ship. There’s not quite as much to going home as there is to arriving. Let’s begin with the day before, which is your last full day on board. There will likely be a disembarkation talk, or as some folks say, a “debarkation” talk. I’m told that either word is correct, but I prefer the former. So watch the schedule, and attend the talk, if you can. After having been on many cruises myself, I usually still go to them. I’m a little OCD, a big rule follower, and I’m always afraid I’m going to miss something. But here are the big things to know:

1. You’ll want to put your suitcase out in the hall on the last night, before the appointed time, so it can be taken off the ship for you. Just remember to keep things with you in a carry-on like your meds, passport, change of clothes, toothbrush and what-not. Many a person has sent ALL of their clothes off the night before and had to walk off the ship in a bathrobe! Don’t let this be you.
2. You’ll receive a customs form in your room on the last night that you will need to fill out. This is where you declare all the goodies you purchased and give the value of them. Keep that with your passport so you can hand it all to the CBP officer in the cruise terminal.
3. Rise and shine!! Know what time you are supposed to disembark, and get up in plenty of time to get ready, get one last breakfast on the ship, and go to your appointed place to wait. This part varies, depending on which line you’re cruising with. If it’s a smaller, upscale ship like a Windstar, or if you’re in a suite on any of the lines, you may be able to wait in your room until summoned. And recently, I was on the Norwegian Sky and was surprised that we were able to stroll off at our leisure within a certain window. But on my last Carnival cruise, I had to report to a certain dining room with a group of other cruisers until we were called. This may also have been because we had priority disembarkation and were able to get off at 6:45am. This is why it’s good to go to the talk on the last day.  It varies as to where you need to be at what time. All I can tell you is that it’s easier than it was 20 years ago. Back then, it almost always involved a long, uncomfortable wait in a public area on the ship. Many cruise lines have found ways to eliminate that.
4. After you say goodbye to the crew members standing by and make your way off the ship, you will collect your suitcases that you checked the night before. Now queue up for customs so you can show your passport and hand in your declaration form. There’s usually a bit of standing in line involved here, so be prepared for that.

After that, you’re free to go! You can catch an Uber or the cruise line’s bus to the airport or head to the parking lot if you drove. Next step? Call Azalea Travel to book your next cruise!