SANDY823 Posted April 26, 2010 #1 Share Posted April 26, 2010 wondering what the earliest time anyone has gotten off ----- and the Earliest flight times anyone has taken. looking at a very early return flight out of FLL--- yup, I know all the suggested times--- just curious how its been running if you want to get off very early.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javma Posted April 26, 2010 #2 Share Posted April 26, 2010 If you want to carry all of your own bags off the ship, you can leave as soon as the ship is cleared (approx 6:15 AM). I think the other departures begin at 7:00, but 6:15 is the earliest you can leave. A great feature that we wished we had known about before the cruise was the luggage valet. For $20 per person, all of your checked baggage leaves the ship Friday night, and you don't see it again until you land in your final destination. I think this is well worth it; our family of 5 with 3 young kids needed lots of help from porters with our many bags, and the tips add up! Not all airlines participate in the luggage valet, but the major carriers seem to (call RCI if you have a question about your airline). Flights from FLL and MIA are eligible. If you have an early flight, the luggage valet will save you the time standing in line to check bags. Passengers participating in the luggage valet were instructed to report to a specific location at 7:30 AM to get their boarding passes (because luggage is checked you have to be checked in as part of the process). I suspect they were able to leave shortly thereafter. Had I known about the luggage valet I would probably have opted for a different flight, knowing that dealing with 8 checked bags and a checked car seat would not have been part of the departure day logistics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deneen716 Posted April 26, 2010 #3 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Curious too. We have an early flight too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthy651 Posted April 26, 2010 #4 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Saturday April 24 - off the ship by 6:30, at the airport by 7:15am - our flight was at 11:15am - we had plenty of time. Could have easily had an earlier flight, but that was the first flight out to Toronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windjamming Posted April 26, 2010 #5 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Passengers participating in the luggage valet were instructed to report to a specific location at 7:30 AM to get their boarding passes (because luggage is checked you have to be checked in as part of the process). I suspect they were able to leave shortly thereafter. We did Luggage Valet, and it was worth every penny of the $20. We were asked to be at the Comedy Club by 7:45 and were escorted exactly at 7:45 off the ship. From there it was a quick walk right past all the people looking for their luggage and straight to Customs. We were out of the port in 5 minutes flat, at the airport by 8:15, and at the gate by 8:30. If the 9:45 flight hadn't been sold out, we could have made it easily. If you are looking at a flight earlier than 9:30, though, I wouldn't recommend luggage valet. The 7:45 ship departure time is for all passengers with flights before 1pm, and there is no earlier option. Passengers with flights after 1 were scheduled to leave the ship between 8 and 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmcphee26 Posted April 26, 2010 #6 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I had a 9:30 flight, so I disembarked carrying my own luggage at like 6:30 and made it to the airport in plenty of time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeship Posted April 26, 2010 #7 Share Posted April 26, 2010 The only nonstop flight that JetBlue offers to Austin is not until 3:30 PM. Guess we will take the Everglades tour that so many say is good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamilyn Posted April 26, 2010 #8 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I don't think it is really a question as to how early you get off the ship. I think that part is running fairly early most of the time and was when we got off on April 24. The problem you might have are the LONG (I mean LONG) lines at the airport. They didn't seem to be that long for other airlines, but Southwest curbside and inside check-in was lined up forever and then going through the screening process was another very long line. We may have hit it at peak time as we didn't get in a hurry to get off the ship but were still off by 8:00 maybe, I can't really remember. Finding our luggage and getting a cab was no problem. Our flight was at 1:05 and we were through all the lines by about 9:30 and at the gate. I'm sure it could be done a lot quicker carrying your luggage off starting about 6:30 and maybe the lines would be shorter then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc Posted April 26, 2010 #9 Share Posted April 26, 2010 i had a 9:30 flight, so i disembarked carrying my own luggage at like 6:30 and made it to the airport in plenty of time! do you have to set this up when you get on board? Or do you just not put out your luggage the night before and just get off when they announce early dismbarkation starts? Thanks in advance deb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmcphee26 Posted April 26, 2010 #10 Share Posted April 26, 2010 do you have to set this up when you get on board? Or do you just not put out your luggage the night before and just get off when they announce early dismbarkation starts? Thanks in advance deb Your cabin attendant will give you a departure survey form about halfway through your cruise. One of the choices is early departure, where you walk off with your own luggage as soon as you want after 6:15. Then you don't put your luggage out at night. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I mean, it was slightly inconvenient to have to drag my 60 lb suitcase off the ship myself, but having extra packing time was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc Posted April 26, 2010 #11 Share Posted April 26, 2010 your cabin attendant will give you a departure survey form about halfway through your cruise. One of the choices is early departure, where you walk off with your own luggage as soon as you want after 6:15. Then you don't put your luggage out at night. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I mean, it was slightly inconvenient to have to drag my 60 lb suitcase off the ship myself, but having extra packing time was great. awesome thanks so much, you were very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat848 Posted April 26, 2010 #12 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I really think the luggage valet sounds great and want to do it. I hope Jet Blue does it. My only question is what if customs wants to go through your luggage and you are not there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deneen716 Posted April 27, 2010 #13 Share Posted April 27, 2010 I really think the luggage valet sounds great and want to do it. I hope Jet Blue does it. My only question is what if customs wants to go through your luggage and you are not there. I can answer this one. It happened to me last year. They pulled my checked luggage and had me watch as they went through it. Then my luggage was given back to the luggage valet person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat848 Posted April 27, 2010 #14 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Thanks for your quick response but I don't get it. I thought you put your luggage out Friday night and didn't see it again until you arrived home. When are you and your luggage together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coop24 Posted April 27, 2010 #15 Share Posted April 27, 2010 We got off on Saturday the 24th. We put our luggage out before midnight had number 68 to disembark which was given a time of 840-9 but We got called about 915 or 930 got our luggage went threw customs walked out got a cab and was at the airport jetblue curbside no wait. skycab $2/bag at 955a. Had a 115 flight. You can only check your bags at FLL 4 hours before your flight and can only get into the gate 2 hours before your flight. Saw lots of people sitting in airport with all of their luggage. If you do have a comfy seat outside of the gate would recommend not rushing to the gate as there were not alot of seats to sit in at the gates.. Security went fairly quickly also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsagrl Posted April 27, 2010 #16 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Saturday April 24 - off the ship by 6:30, at the airport by 7:15am - our flight was at 11:15am - we had plenty of time. Could have easily had an earlier flight, but that was the first flight out to Toronto. That is fantastic to hear - I just booked our flights for October (great WestJet sale!!) and it departs FLL at 10:55am. My husband thought for sure we would be cutting it way too close....good to hear we have a chance :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysgrandma Posted April 27, 2010 #17 Share Posted April 27, 2010 I just called RCCL and asked what airlines participate. It figures mine, Southwest, does not! Here is the list of airlines they said participate: Air Canada, AirTran,Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, United and US Air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deneen716 Posted April 28, 2010 #18 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Thanks for your quick response but I don't get it. I thought you put your luggage out Friday night and didn't see it again until you arrived home. When are you and your luggage together? I put my luggage out Friday night, but they must have it close by because they had my bag right there. Maybe the dog sniffed something. I hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat848 Posted April 28, 2010 #19 Share Posted April 28, 2010 deneen - thanks for coming back and clearing that up. I definetly think I will do this. Someone checked with RCCL and Jet Blue does use this which is great. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JSR Posted April 28, 2010 #20 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I just called RCCL and asked what airlines participate. It figures mine, Southwest, does not! Here is the list of airlines they said participate: Air Canada, AirTran,Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, United and US Air. You can use bags to go for Southwest airlines but your flight has to be after 11:30. http://www.bagstogo.net/cruise-straight-to-the-gate.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maweberpa Posted April 30, 2010 #21 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I think the luggage valet is great. I did something similar in Disney last month. There you took your bags to the lobby as you were leaving to get the airport bus and then you didn't see them again until baggage claim at your home airport. What I don't understand here is the reference to leaving your bags out Friday night. How did you get ready the next day if you didn't have your luggage? I'm sure I'm missing something. Sorry for being dim about this. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parddr Posted April 30, 2010 #22 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Has anyone used southwest airlines with the luggage valet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmsworker Posted May 10, 2010 #23 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I noticed that the bags were there easily in enough time. We are leaving from MIA at 11:15. Can we still use luggage valet. We have 3 kids and 1 being an infant with lots of luggage. It would be extremely helpful if we could! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loeytalldog Posted May 10, 2010 #24 Share Posted May 10, 2010 The only nonstop flight that JetBlue offers to Austin is not until 3:30 PM. Guess we will take the Everglades tour that so many say is good! We are flying nonstop to Austin on Southwest. We will take Jetblue to Ft. Lauderdale but opted for Southwest on the way back because it had an early flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobiecat01 Posted May 10, 2010 #25 Share Posted May 10, 2010 DW and I swear by Luggage Valet! Worth every penny. We have used it 3 times, set our bags outside on the last night, debarked the next day, flew back to Atlanta and watched our bags pop out on the baggage carousel as we walked up. So Fine!! On our 4/17 Oasis cruise, one of our travel companion couples worked for Delta so were flying standby back home. They left the ship at 6:30 AM, carrying their own luggage, snagged a cab to the airport and made a 9:00 AM flight. They landed in Atlanta before we even made it to the airport! (We were slackers and left the ship at about 9:30 AM... they almost had to kick us off :D). ---------------------- Sea ya! Hobiecat01 Ron and Lee Canton, Ga Proud RCCL Platinum Member "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria." – Ben Franklin Previous Cruises – 66 Days at Sea! Carnival Mardis Gras - 3 Day Bahamas - April 1982 Carnival Destiny - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 1998 Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - April 1999 Princess Sea Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2000 Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2002 RCCL Navigator of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2003 RCCL Mariner of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 2005 RCCL Freedom of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - 6/18 - 6/25/2006 RCCL Liberty of the Seas - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - 7/19 - 7/26/2008 RCCL Oasis of the Seas –7 Days Eastern Carib. with our Friends – 4/17 – 4/24/2010 Booked & Paid Cruises Not yet… but on the way Planned Cruises RCCL Allure of the Seas – Our Neighborhood Cruise - 2011 The BIG One - Southeast Asia 14 day – 2012? The Med – 14 day – 2013? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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