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How long does it take to disembark a cruise ship in Seattle?

Passenger disembark usually begins at 7:30 a.m. at the earliest. After baggage retrieval, passengers begin exiting the cruise terminal approximately 10 - 15 minutes later. Debark is over around 10:30 a.m. when the last passenger is off the vessel.



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How far is the airport from the pier? Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located 15 miles from downtown Seattle. Depending on traffic, the drive could take 30-45 minutes.

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Bottom Line: Time to leave the ship can vary widely. If everything goes smoothly and there are automated kiosks for immigration, it can be as little as 15 minutes. However, delays and thousands of passengers leaving at once can lead to longer wait times of 1-2 hours until you are outside the cruise terminal.

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It could take a few minutes or an hour to walk off the ship once it's over. The entire process will take a few hours to get every single passenger off the ship when the cruise is over. Usually the last guests are walking off the ship in the 9:00am hour.

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When you get back on shore, you need time to get your land legs back. That usually happens within a few minutes or hours, but it can take up to 2 days. With mal de debarquement syndrome, though, you can't shake the feeling that you're still on the boat.

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On disembarkation day, the cruise disembarkation process usually starts at around 8 am. Usually, passengers with priority disembarkation and airport transfers sponsored by the cruise will be called first, followed by self-disembarkation and color-coded groups. Once your group is called, you will disembark the ship.

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Strategy #1: Opt for the “Self Assist” program. There will be no porters onboard or ashore to assist with your luggage, and since you're the first group called, you can often be off the ship by 7:15 or 7:30 am. If you don't mind an early departure and can handle your bags, it's a great way to get a jump on the crowds.

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Linger Where You Shouldn't Want to drive the crew crazy? Staying in your cabin past when you've been asked to leave or lingering in the atrium before your debarkation group has been called will do both as these will slow down the entire disembarkation process, delaying everything.

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If you are a U.S. citizen and your cruise embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada, you will always need your passport for the cruise (in some cases a passport card will suffice). You'll also need a passport for a cruise that begins and ends in different U.S. ports.

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What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship? The ship goes into emergency mode. The bridge will contact the Coast Guard and a search will begin. The ship will stop and the crew will try to pinpoint where and when it happened so they can start a thorough search in that area.

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Passenger disembark usually begins at 7:30 a.m. at the earliest. After baggage retrieval, passengers begin exiting the cruise terminal approximately 10 - 15 minutes later. Debark is over around 10:30 a.m. when the last passenger is off the vessel.

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Premier Airport Shuttle provides Seattle cruise shuttle services departing from SEA Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and nearby hotels, to and from the cruise ship terminals at Pier 66 and Pier 91. Prices are $28–33 per person one-way or $56-66 per person round-trip. Reservations are required.

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A one-way trip from Seattle airport to the Port of Seattle would cost you around $50 (€44.20), excluding tips. It is good to know that there are no price differences for day, night or weekend trips.

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If your ship is docked, you'll be able to simply walk off the vessel directly onto dry land via a movable ramp called a gangway. If it's anchored, you'll have to take a tender -- a small boat that ferries passengers ashore in groups.

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Generally, passengers are required to disembark within an hour or two after docking. However, some cruise lines may allow passengers to remain onboard for a few extra hours if they have special arrangements with the port authority.

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In most cases, you will be rebooked onto the next flight, and while that might add some frustration to your trip, it won't completely derail it. If you miss a ship in port, however, you will be stuck with the financial burden of meeting it at its next stop or returning home.

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