Carnival Cruise Line has achieved a new milestone in guest services by extending its Digital Debarkation program to every ship in its North American fleet.
North American Carnival Sailings Employ Digital Debarkation
After much anticipation, Carnival Cruise Line has released its Digital Debark program across the entire North American fleet. The release comes after successful trials and positive guest feedback on select ships.
Available via the Carnival Hub app, Digital Debark enables passengers to schedule their debarkation time, reducing crowds and wait times on the final morning of the cruise. It also provides passengers with more control over when they choose to leave the ship.
John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador, enthusiastically announced the full fleet rollout. “We now have the digital debarkation system available on every ship sailing from North America.”
Digital Debark began testing out the new service in late November on Carnival Spirit sailings from Mobile, Alabama; Carnival Conquest sailings from Miami; Carnival Dream sailings from Galveston, Texas; and Carnival Elation voyages from Jacksonville, Florida.
It was met with such success that Carnival Cruise Line expanded it to more ships in December, appearing on Carnival Sunrise out of Charlestown, South Carolina; Carnival Dream out of Galveston, Texas; and Mardi Gras out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), before expanding to Carnival Breeze out of Fort Lauderdale and Carnival Panorama out of Los Angeles.
The program has now expanded to all ships sailing from North America, including the new Carnival Jubilee out of Galveston; Carnival Pride out of Baltimore; Carnival Glory out of New Orleans; Carnival Radiance out of Long Beach, California; Carnival Miracle out of Los Angeles; and Carnival Liberty, which sails out of Port Canaveral, and Carnival Magic, out of Miami.
Carnival Firenze, which was just transferred over from Costa, and Carnival Paradise from Tampa, which just completed its dry dock, have also received the program. Carnival Freedom, which recently suffered damage from a fire that cancelled two sailings, will also feature the program when it is repaired.
How Digital Debark Works
Through the Carnival Hub app, guests can now effortlessly plan their debarkation by selecting from two options in the My Planner feature. Both options provide approximate debarkation windows.
“Express Debarkation” works for those carrying their own luggage who wish to leave the ship early, while “Checked Luggage” provides options for passengers who need assistance with handling luggage.
Express Debarkation participants are reminded that no luggage tags are required as they will handle their luggage personally. For passengers choosing the Checked Luggage option, detailed instructions guide them through the process of luggage tag collection, including how many luggage tags are needed, placement times of luggage outside staterooms, and debarkation day procedures.
Each option allows guests to choose multiple travelers needed to disembark, including a simple option of selecting all guests in the same stateroom at once, as well as a way to ask for special assistance.
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Passengers will be given a choice of disembarkation times with 20-minute windows. Upon scheduling debarkation through the app, guests receive confirmation of their chosen time slot and any necessary instructions for their selected option.
It’s important to highlight that the Digital Debark system does not alter the debarkation process for passengers entitled to priority debarkation privileges.
This group comprises Diamond and Platinum members of the cruise line’s VIFP loyalty program, guests staying in suite accommodations, and those who have opted for the Faster to Fun program. These passengers will continue to receive onboard letters detailing their specific debarkation instructions.
