Key points of this page
- This guide outlines the often confusing stages of a first cruise: "Before boarding," "During the cruise," and "On the day of disembarkation."
- On the day of boarding, head to the port at the designated time. Your suitcases will be delivered to your cabin once checked in, so keep valuables, medications, and your passport in your carry-on luggage.
- The general rule for disembarking is to take your suitcases out of your cabin the night before. If you are on a foreign ship and have called at a port overseas, you will go through immigration and customs at the port of call upon returning to Japan.
Last confirmed: September 29, 2026 (Procedures vary by shipping company, so please be sure to check the final instructions.)
Even if it's your first cruise, don't worry! Let's go through the things you need to do, step by step, from the day you board to the day you disembark. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions below.
The process from boarding to disembarking
| Before departure | Receiving final information (boarding pass and luggage tags), online check-in, and preparing your belongings. |
|---|---|
| Embarkation date | Travel to the port → Check in your suitcases → Check-in (and (for foreign ships) immigration procedures → Security check → Boarding |
| Day 1 of the cruise | Evacuation drill (safety briefing) → Receive suitcases in your cabin → Check out restaurants and the ship → Departure |
| Port of Call Date | Disembark with your cruise card → Sightseeing → Return to the ship by the departure time. |
| The night before disembarking | Pack your bags → Place your tagged suitcase outside the room → Confirm payment |
| Disembarkation date | Leave your cabin → Disembark at the designated time → Collect your suitcases → (For foreign ships) Immigration and customs → Return home |
1. Preparations before departure
- Check your final itinerary: Shortly before departure, you will receive a final itinerary (final documents) containing your boarding pass, luggage tags, and boarding time. Be sure to read it before the day of departure.
- Online check-in: On foreign ships, you often complete the boarding procedures (passport information, credit card registration, etc.) in advance using the cruise company's app or website. There is a deadline (usually a few days before departure), so be sure to do it early.
- Passport: Required for cruises on foreign ships that call at overseas ports. There are also requirements regarding the remaining validity period (Princess Cruises requires at least 6 months remaining at the end of the cruise). Some cruise lines may also request a copy of your passport.
- What to bring: Cabins on foreign ships may not have pajamas or toothbrushes. The shape of electrical outlets and voltage also vary from ship to ship, so check in advance. For more information...Cruise packing checklistfart.
- Items that cannot be brought in: Irons for clothes, electric heating appliances such as coffee makers, candles, sharp objects, etc. are generally not allowed.
- Travel insurance: Medical expenses on board can be expensive, so it is recommended to purchase overseas travel insurance.
2. Embarkation Day: From arrival at port until boarding.
- What time should I go?: I'll go according to the final boarding time. On foreign ships, boarding usually starts around 12:00 and closes an hour before departure, so it's best to arrive at the port two hours before departure.
- Getting to the port: Terminal parking is often limited, so trains, buses, or taxis are recommended. There are also courier services that allow you to send your suitcases from your home to the port. Access to each port is as follows:Port of Call GuideIt is introduced there.
- Checking in your suitcase: If you check in your tagged suitcase at the terminal, it will be delivered to your cabin. It may take until the evening for it to arrive, so keep valuables, medicine, passport, and anything you'll need immediately in your carry-on luggage.
- Check-in and security screening: You will need to show your boarding pass and identification documents to complete the process. Foreign ships calling at overseas ports will have an exit immigration check, followed by security screening similar to that at an airport before boarding.
3. Things to do on the first day of boarding
- Evacuation Drill (Safety Briefing): This is an international rule and mandatory for all passengers. Follow the onboard instructions to confirm assembly points and other details.
- Cruise Card: This is an important card that serves as your cabin key, payment method on board, and identification for boarding and disembarking. Be sure not to lose it (some ships use smartphone apps or wristbands).
- Check your schedule: Use the daily onboard newspaper or the ship's app to find information about dinner times, shows, and the next day's ports of call. Early reservations are recommended for paid restaurants.
4. How to spend your time on board and payment
- Cashless payment: Payments on board are typically made with a cruise card, and final settlement is usually done with the registered credit card at the end of the cruise. On foreign ships, the onboard currency is often US dollars or other foreign currencies, and currency exchange may not be available on board, so be sure to prepare Japanese yen for use at ports of call before departure.
- Tips: On foreign ships, a tip (service charge) is often automatically added per night. Tips are not required on Japanese ships. A rough estimate of the cost is...Estimated cruise fares and best time to visitIt is introduced there.
- Dress Code: Some ships have dress codes for dinner, such as "formal" or "smart casual." On formal nights, wear something a little more stylish, like a suit or a dress.
- Wi-Fi: Internet access on board ships is often not free. Make good use of Wi-Fi at ports of call or your smartphone's data plan.
- Seasickness: If you are worried about seasickness, bring motion sickness medication and choose a cabin in the middle or lower deck of the ship where there is less rocking.
5. Disembarkation and return to the ship at ports of call.
- When disembarking, you will need your cruise card and identification (a passport may also be required at some foreign ports).
- The return time (final boarding time) will be announced on board. The ship will not wait for you once the time is up, so please return with plenty of time to spare.
- In ports where ships cannot dock at the quay, passengers disembark using tender boats (smaller vessels). Due to potential crowding, numbered tickets may be distributed.
- How to spend time at each port of call varies by port.Port of Call GuidePlease refer to this.
6. Things to do the night before disembarking
- The night before, you will be given color tags indicating the order in which you should disembark. Attach the tags to your packed suitcases and place them outside your cabin (in the corridor) by the designated time.
- Keep your clothes for the next morning, toiletries, medicine, valuables, and passport with you instead of packing them in your suitcase.
- I will receive a detailed statement of my charges for use on board the ship, so I will check the contents.
- Some ships offer the option of disembarking early with all your luggage yourself (such as Princess Cruises' "Express Walk-Off"). In that case, you don't send your luggage out the night before.
7. Flow of events on the day of disembarkation
- It's common to leave your cabin by around 8 AM. After breakfast, you wait in the lounge or elsewhere until your turn to disembark is called.
- After disembarking, you'll find your suitcase at the terminal based on the color and number of its tag.
- On cruises that call at overseas ports on foreign ships, immigration and customs inspections are conducted at the port of return to Japan. A "Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Baggage" form must be submitted to customs.
- You can send your luggage home via the terminal's delivery service, allowing you to travel light.
Differences between Japanese ships and foreign ships
| item | Japanese ships (Asuka II & III, Mitsui Ocean Cruises, etc.) | Foreign ships (Princess, MSC, Costa, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Onboard language | Japanese | English is the primary language (some ships departing from or arriving in Japan also offer Japanese-language announcements). |
| passport | Not necessary for domestic cruises only | Necessary for calling at overseas ports |
| Departure and arrival procedures | It's not just a domestic cruise. | Exit immigration checks upon boarding, and entry immigration and customs checks upon return. |
| tip | Unnecessary | A service charge is often added per night. |
| Payments on board | JPY | Often in US dollars (payment by card). |
If you're unsure which ship to choose,List of cruise ships coming to JapanCompare the features of the ships.
FAQ
Q1What time should I go to the port on the day of departure?
Be sure to arrive at the port according to the check-in time written on your final boarding pass. On foreign ships, boarding is often scheduled from around 12:00 until one hour before departure, so it's best to arrive at the port two hours before departure to be safe.
Q2When will my suitcase arrive in my room?
Suitcases checked in at the terminal will be delivered to your cabin by the ship's staff. Since they may not arrive until the evening, keep valuables, medications, passports, and items you might need immediately (such as swimwear) in your carry-on luggage.
Q3Is it mandatory to participate in evacuation drills?
Yes. Evacuation drills (safety briefings) are mandatory for all passengers according to international rules. Please follow the instructions on board after boarding to participate.
Q4What should I do on the day of disembarkation?
On most ships, you attach a tag to your suitcase, which is distributed the night before, and leave it outside your cabin. The next morning, you disembark at a designated time to pick up your luggage at the port. Some ships also offer the option of disembarking earlier with your own luggage. You are usually required to leave your cabin by around 8 a.m.
Q5What are the procedures for returning to Japan on a foreign ship that departs from or arrives in Japan?
On cruises that call at overseas ports, you will undergo immigration and customs inspections upon returning to Japan. You will need to submit a "Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Baggage" form to customs.
Source/Reference Information
- Princess Cruises: "Things to Pack and Required Documents Before Your Cruise Departure"
- Princess Cruises: "Cruise Itinerary, Embarkation/Disembarkation, and Ports of Call"
- Norwegian Cruise Line: "What are the embarkation dates and embarkation times at ports of call?"
- Customs: "Submission of 'Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Baggage' upon entry into (returning to) the country."
Last confirmed: September 29, 2026. Procedures and times vary depending on the cruise line and cruise. Please be sure to follow the final itinerary and onboard instructions.