We’ve made it to the end of my 9-day cruise on the Scarlet Lady. This will be a shorter blog post as my debarkation was scheduled for early in the morning. Keep reading on if you’d like to know what it was like the morning of disembarkation!

Signing Up for Disembarkation

On the evening of Day 7, everyone with the Virgin Voyages app received a notification that it’s time sign up for a disembarkation time. You’ll want to pay attention to this as Virgin Voyages allows you to get off the ship as late as 10:30 AM on the last day. 

To sign up for a slot, you’ll need to open your app and go to “Shore Things.” Click on your port city, in my case “MIA” and scroll down until you find “Port Disembarkation Group.” Times slots are offered in 15-minute increments from when you arrive at the port (7 AM for us) up until 10:30 AM. I also received a notification later for “express walk out” at 7:15 AM, meaning I need any bags hauled and just want to leave the ship. That’s an option, too!

By the time I looked at the app, maybe an hour after it was sent, the 10:30 AM and 10:15 AM slots were all taken. That’s okay though because I planned on leaving early. I signed up for the 8 AM slot which was fully available, and checked that off my list. Note: You don’t have to sign up for a slot, but it’s highly encouraged and you’ll keep getting reminders to do so.

Leaving Luggage Out the Night Prior

By this point you all know I’m a carry-on only kind of gal, and this cruise was no exception. Had I brought a checked bag or wanted my carry-on taken to the port for me, I would’ve left it outside my door the night before. The tag that the porters put on the bag when you get on the ship needs to be left on the bag as it’s used for getting off the ship. If you tear it off, you can get a new one at Sailor Services on the ship.

I wasn’t alone in hauling my own bag, and I even saw people leaving the ship rolling their big checked bags too. I guess they didn’t want to wait for the porters! 

Fast forwarding a little bit – when I eventually got off the ship, the checked bags were grouped by deck for easier organization. It seemed pretty easy to find the signs with your deck and search your bags from there. 

Waking Up in Miami

I had set my alarm to a disgustingly early time so I could wake up to see the ship dock in Miami, but we were already there when I woke up! I donned my outfit for the day and headed up to The Galley for my last meal on this voyage. Had I stayed later on the ship, I would’ve made reservations for brunch at The Wake or Razzle Dazzle to enjoy my last few hours. 

Instead, I walked around The Galley and looked at all the options before settling for a healthy plate of carbs and a classic breakfast plate of eggs, beans, and bacon. You’re not supposed to remove food from the ship, but I definitely snuck a few items from Well-Bread in a baggie so my husband could get a little taste of the cruise food. Don’t tell anyone. 

The Actual Disembarking Process

After breakfast, it was time for me to head downstairs and leave the ship. I had an 8 AM slot, and when I got downstairs there was absolutely no one there. No line or anything. There were just signs directing me to the gangway and it look me under a minute to leave the ship. I rolled my luggage down the bright red gangway that I started my journey on and then I was back inside Terminal V. 

Before exiting, there’s an area where guests can toss their cruise bands into a container for recycling. Pretty neat! After that area, you go down an escalator into the baggage bay which I walked straight through since I took my own bag. Customs at Terminal V use facial recognition so you just stand to get your picture taken and walk on through. The rideshare pick up is right across the entrance at the E1 area, and there were a lot of people heading that way.

The Rideshare Experience

I had pre-booked a Lyft to pick me up at 8:15 AM and the car got there at 8:45 AM because the driver didn’t account for morning traffic at the cruise terminal. If I had to do this over again, I would’ve selected an earlier time for the driver to arrive or booked a town car since they’re more reliable.

There are random cars that come up to the area calling out “Miami Airport” or “Fort Lauderdale Airport” and are willing to haggle, but I don’t know if I would trust them. Overall, had I planned my ride shares better, I’d say it was a pretty seamless experience getting off the ship and into the car. 

Thank Yous and Thoughts

I can’t believe we’re at the end! My first cruise ever checked off the list. I’m going to do another comprehensive blog with a summation of my thoughts based on this experience, but for now all I can say is thank you for following my journey. 

As an introvert, taking a cruise for the first time as a solo traveler was a bit daunting, but it ended up being a great time. I appreciated the adult-only environment and people aren’t lying when they say Virgin Voyages has amazing food. My favorite part was all the hours I would spend lying in the hammock reading a book and watching the sea go by. And the Diva, she was a hoot. 

If this blog series has inspired you to try out a cruise, please let me know! I love connecting with my readers over a shared love of travel. Until the next blog post!