Oceania disembarkation time at Miami?

[comcox]

We will be docking at Port of Miami at the end of our Regatta Amazon cruise in December. Our itinerary shows a 7 am docking time, but we wanted to try to calculate a realistic disembarkation time so we could book a limo. We need to get to Ft. Lauderdale airport that morning; our flight is early afternoon. Has anyone had recent disembarkation experience on Oceania in Miami?

[LHT28]

Do not plan on being off before 9:30 & you will not be disappointed :D

 

It depends on how many people do not turn up at their appointed time how long it takes

 

Lyn

[neepawa]

On our March cruise on Regatta, we asked for and were able to get off the ship at 8:30. After finding our luggage, we were able to get a cab immediately and were at the Miami Airport by 9:30. Since you are going to Fort Lauderdale Airport, I suggest that you should have the limo booked for 9:00 which should get you to the airport in time for an afternoon flight.

 

Don

[happy cruzer]

So what is arriving in Miami like? When we arrived in Barcelona, we just walked off at 9. We never saw staff or passengers. Never saw anyone in ghe Barcelona terminal either. First person was at the taxi stand, a total of two taxis. Very different than major cruise lines arrivals.

 

Do they have you queue on the ship to go through customs or do you do that off the ship? Can you self debarc with your luggage?

[neepawa]

On our March 2010 sailing on Regatta, the passport and customs procedures were as follows:

 

US passport holders picked up their passports in the Reception Lobby between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on the day before arriving in Miami.

 

NON US Citizens picked their passports in the Regatta Lounge at 7:00 AM on the morning of debarkation in Miami.

 

Customs Clearance Forms were checked after we picked up our luggage.

 

Don

[A Knitter]

Amazon Cruise on December 23, 009, off by 0830 hours, smooth luggage recovery but a rather long taxi wait outside the terminal. A wait I would say 40 minutes. Got to my Hotel by 1000.

[happy cruzer]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. All details will help me be prepared.

[caroak]

Our cruise next spring will be docking at Civitavecchia at 5:a.m. We will not be in any rush to debark and I was wondering how late we could stay on the ship.

[HarryTravels]

I have the same question on the Nov. 27 trip out of Miami (Amazon) returning Dec. 18 also @ 7 AM.

We have a 2:15 fllight out of Ft. Lauderdale and planned to arrive at the airport at about 12:45. We plan to take a car service (a $20 premium over a taxi) to avoid the potential hassle of a 20-30 minute wait for a taxi if it is 75 degrees.

It would be terrific if we could disembark at 11 AM get our luggage and go through immigration/customs and jump in a car at 11:30. The trip to Ft. Lauderdale Airport is 23 miles but leaving enough time for some traffic it could take 45-60 minutes. I would appreciate miami port experience of 7 AM posted docking times over the pasr year or so.

[Marebear]

It is my experience that all people must be off the ship by 9:00 am.

[Friscorays]

It would be terrific if we could disembark at 11 AM get our luggage and go through immigration/customs and jump in a car at 11:30....

 

 

Our 2009 / 10 Christmas and New Years sailing "Currents" daily on disemarkation day in Miami reads "All guests must depart the vessel by no later than 9:30 a.m. ...." so I think you will find that you have time to spare.

[HarryTravels]

Are there car rental offices right at the Miami port?

[comcox]

If you check the Homeport forum under Florida-East Coast Departures, I believe there were several postings regarding this information.

[YoHoHo]

I would appreciate miami port experience of 7 AM posted docking times over the pasr year or so.

Although 2008 seems so long ago, within the year or so criterion, 1 1/2 years ago we disembarked in Miami Nov 25 2008. No fault of Oceania's our disembarkation was a very long wait and then wait some more. Immigration or security or customs type officials held us up. We aliens were required to present ourselves in the Lounge at 6 am. A little earlier than I would like - I wanted this to still be a bit of a vacation day.

 

Note we all were to pick up our passports the night before and the cruise itinerary had an arrival time as 7 a.m. We did not leave the ship close to that.

 

Please note this was our one and only experience with Miami and that there may be reasons why there was such a delay due to official type business but it was unexpected to us.

 

We arrived fifteen minutes before the required time and joined the long line that snaked through the casino. The line grew and grew. Many of the early birds were seniors who were growing tired standing in line for so long. I was impressed at how patient everyone was actually. Finally, soemtime after 7 as I recall, the doors opened and we were quickly and efficiently dealt with. While in line in the Lounge I overhead an official on a walkie-talkie nearby giving the ship permission to allow a couple of crew escorted by an officer on deck to connect water, etc hoses. The ship up to that point had not even been able to begin their maintenance operations.

We then went for a somewhat hurried breakfast after which we waited some more - all leaning on this post and that throughout the disembarkation deck with our carry-ons. Finally the ok was given. I did not note the time as we were in no rush taking a ship's transfer for a later in the day departure.

I am sure I would have been somewhat concerned had I needed to make a tight connection that morning especially no announcements as to the delays or expections.

[HarryTravels]

Not being a regular cruiser what prevents one from having the luggage outside the cabin at the requested hour, going to breakfast at 7:45 and going to your designated disembarking ;ounge area at say 8:30 if you are not in any particular rush to make a connection out of town?

[neepawa]

On our last cruise on the Regatta, luggage had to be in the hallway by 11:00 PM the night before arriving in Miami. All passengers had to be off the ship by 9:30 AM on debarkation day.

 

Don

[comcox]

Not being a regular cruiser what prevents one from having the luggage outside the cabin at the requested hour, going to breakfast at 7:45 and going to your designated disembarking ;ounge area at say 8:30 if you are not in any particular rush to make a connection out of town?

 

I know from previous cruises that customs & immigration rules in a particular port can impact the disembarkation process. In Australia & New Zealand customs is very strict and everyone had to slowing proceed through the question/answer process as well as pass all luggage by the sniffer dogs. Another time our embarkation for a cruise starting in Puerto Rico was seriously delayed because the previous sailing's disembarkation had turned into a nightmare. There had been many non-US citizens on board and few immigration officers; their disembarkation did not finish until 11 am! Other times and places, it's been a breeze.