No one likes debarkation morning, You get up early, get off the ship and it’s back to reality.
One of the first things you see when you get out of bed that morning is the folio. Or better known as the piece of paper that tells you how long you’ll be paying off your vacation. That folio usually means that everything was settled to your debit or credit card and you can disembark the ship with your luggage and memories.
But, every once in a while a charge may pop up after you get back.
How to Avoid?
1. Don’t Be a Night Owl
They usually close and settles accounts around 3am. If you’re a late night partier, you might see those drink charges a couple days after you leave the ship. The same could be said if you make a stop at the coffee bar on disembarkation morning.
2. Failure To Return Towel or Robes
When you get a towel from the pool deck, you have to sign it out and return it before you get off the ship. If you don’t return it, you can be charged $25. This same can be said for the towels and robes in your stateroom. They aren’t yours, so don’t walk off the ship with them.
3. Leave the Mini Bar Alone
photo credit: Wiki
Some cabins come stocked with a mini bar and each item is charged on a per unit basis. The mini bar inventory is done by your cabin steward on debaration morning. Meaning, if you make a late night Jack and Coke you’ll get charged.
Most cruise lines lock the mini bar the night before debark, but in the case that it’s still open — and you drink — you will be charged.
4. Don’t Damage Your Cabin
Obvious enough. If you damage the cabin, you could be getting charged for it. This doesn’t just come from punching a hole through the wall (who does that?) but also smoking. If you get hit with a smoking fee, expect to pay around $250. The cruise lines have to bring in machines to fumigate the room.
5. Private Islands
If your cruise has a private island stop (Coco Cay, Castaway Cay, Half Moon Cay) you’ll have to use your sail and sign card to buy an excursion, drinks, or rent a floating mat. If the private island is the last day before disembarkation, the charges may not process and you could see those a couple days later.
6. Dont’ Buy Internet Late
If you buy internet packages on the last night, they could also miss the deadline for when your account is settled. You could see the charges come up on your credit card or bank statement. This happened to me when I was sailing on a Costa Caribbean cruise.
7. Don’t Buy Photos the Last Night
photo: wiki
Do yourself a favor and buy your cruise photos before you go to sleep on the last night of your cruise. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase them when you’re getting off the ship, but again, the charges will show up later.
Final Thoughts
Any charges you make after your folio is placed under your door will be reflected at a later date.
Buy your drinks early, don’t steal the towels, stay out of the mini bar, don’t damage the cabin and buy your internet package early on the last day.
With a little due diligence, you can prevent those pesky post-cruise charges from popping up.
Feature photo by Joe Tolley, Cruisehangout.com
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