What a Turnaround!

One popular gripe from cruisers is the time of final disembarkation as this is generally about 9am on the last day of your holiday.

I have just taken 2 days off work to prepare my house for Christmas. For me, someone who is borderline OCD, this involves cleaning everything. Windows, oven, cushions, freezer, nothing is left uncleaned. Every ornament is removed and packed away and replaced by a piece of festive glassware or a beautiful candle. Every carpet is steamed, curtains washed and spiders made homeless.

Imagine then having to wave goodbye to thousands of guests at 9am and welcoming thousands more to your home at 1pm! For the cruise lines this is turnaround day. The day one voyage ends and another begins and everything must be ready for the new journey.

On a ship the size of Ruby Princess, which takes up to 3,575 passengers, 1,542 cabins have to be stripped and scrubbed and inspected during these 4 hours. Mountains of food and drink are loaded onto the ship including 33,800kg of fruit and 20,760kg of meat for an average 12 day cruise. Repairs have to be carried out, up to 100 flower arrangements are made. The laundry staff work flat out to cope with all the fresh towels and linen and uniforms. The 6 washing machines take 300lbs each, equivalent to 50 sheets, in one 45 minute cycle which then goes into the 8 dryers and on to be pressed.

On our recent cruise on MSC Presiosa, we saw a part of the enormity of the behind the scenes work on a galley tour.

So when you have to vacate your cabin at 8am, don’t complain, remember how nice and welcoming everything was when you boarded the ship.