9:55 AM flight out of Fort Lauderdale?

[BballinQT24]

If we do the self debarkation on the Emerald Princess in December, is it possible to make it in time for a 9:55am flight out of FLL? I know that is cutting it really close. What is the earliest you can disembark the ship?

 

We usually err on the side of caution and leave in the late afternoon because I don't want to cut it too close, but for the day we're coming home the flight at 9:55 is about $300 less than the next cheapest flight in the afternoon. Not sure if it's worth the risk of not making it in time though?

[paul929207]

When is the ship scheduled to arrive? It will then take 30 minutes or so for the local authorities to clear the ship. If you sign up for self debarkation, you will be in the first group off the ship. Just about everyone in that group will have an early flight. You will have to carry all your luggage. If you dock at 7am, it will be tight. If you dock at 8am, not much hope.

[cwtravel]

Yes.

I was on the Celebrity Solstice 6/27-7/4, had a 9:50am flight from FLL. As always, did self disembarkation and was at the airport by 8:15am. In December, was on the Ruby and made a 10am flight with plenty of time.

 

Can things go wrong at the port, or can you have a delayed arrival...sure. But, over the past 6 years have been on 10 cruises from Ft. Lauderdale and when doing self disembarkation have never been off the ship, with luggage and in a cab no later than 8:30am, even when there are multiple ships in port.

 

If you book this flight you definately need to do self disembarkation and take a cab to the airport. Advantages are, besides not sitting around the airport, the security lines, at least at the Southwest/Jet Blue terminal is generally much shorter than after 9am.

 

Just my 2 cents. Good luck. By the way, lots of people on this board will tell you no way, so use your good judgement.

 

Chris

[BballinQT24]

The ship is scheduled to dock at 7 and the flight is with Southwest. How do you sign up for the self disembarkation?

 

Thanks for the input!

[luvs2travl]

I won't tell you yes or no because we have never done it (cutting it that close). Call me paranoid, but we try to get a late afternoon flight if we must leave the same day, but generally, we stay over one night and leave the next day.

 

Remember - yours won't be the only ship debarking passengers that morning and they all will be heading to the airport as well. Getting through security can be a royal pain!

[luvs2travl]

The ship is scheduled to dock at 7 and the flight is with Southwest. How do you sign up for the self disembarkation?

 

Thanks for the input!

 

You will do that on board. Documents will be delivered to your cabin a couple of days before debarkation morning. Just fill out the section that says you will do the "walk-off" debarkation. Be sure and put on there that you have a 9:50AM flight so you will be in the first group off. Just remember that you must carry ALL your luggage off by yourselves. So - pack light!

 

Best of luck!

[caribill]

How do you sign up for the self disembarkation?

 

 

There should be a form sent to your cabin a few days before the end of the cruise.

[cwtravel]

Sign up for the self disembarkation is easy, there is usually a mention in the Princess Patter. You will not get the color luggage tags and you will not put your luggage outside the door the night before.

 

You must take all your luggage off yourself so, if you are not physically able or if you are like many cruisers and pack way too much stuff I would say take a later flight.

 

Yes, there are a fair number of people that now do the self disembarkation but, it generally works out well. If you do this, get out of your stateroom early, find a comfortable place to sit (around the International Cafe or Casino has worked well for my wife and I in the past) and I generally avoid the mid-ship elevators because they can get crowded.

 

Good luck. If this sounds too complicated (it is not) book a later flight.

 

Chris

[paul929207]

The ship is scheduled to dock at 7 and the flight is with Southwest. How do you sign up for the self disembarkation?

 

Thanks for the input!

At the Purser's Desk. With Self Debarkation, you must carry all your bags off the ship. Do not put any out the last night.

[BosoxI]

We don't have a dog, so we've never debarked:p, but when we'll done the self disembarkation in FLL, we have always made a 9AM flight with the aid of a $15 taxi ride.

[bhopal21]

The ship is scheduled to dock at 7 and the flight is with Southwest. How do you sign up for the self disembarkation?

 

Thanks for the input!

 

We have made a 1005 twice with no problem and plenty of time at the gate.

 

There were 10 ships in port one of those days as well.

 

Btw Southwest had a truck on the curb at the terminal in February where people could hand over their bags which will help you even more than us since we were flying Delta.

 

Go for it.

 

Mike:)

[luvs2travl]

We don't have a dog, so we've never debarked:p, but when we'll done the self disembarkation in FLL, we have always made a 9AM flight with the aid of a $15 taxi ride.

 

 

Accoding to Webster's New World Dictionary:

 

de-bark: (from the french: debarquer): to unload from or leave a ship or aircraft.

[BobT172]

If all goes well and smooth, you will make it to the airport... and then you have to go thru check in lines and security....

 

But what is your plan if you don't? You will pay whatever the extra ticket charges are...and later flights will be filled with hundreds/thousands of others who are also off cruise ships and going home...extra seats will be hard to find...

 

 

Btw Southwest had a truck on the curb at the terminal in February where people could hand over their bags which will help you even more than us since we were flying Delta.

 

SWA will not take your bags for that flight at the pier. I think the earliest they will take is 11AM.

[NRG]

We did the self disembark, were the first off the ship at 7:30 am and at FLL airport by 7:50 am. It is doable, the truth is the earlier you get off that ship and to the airport the shorter ALL the lines will be. We were checked in and through security in 10 minutes. My main advice is to make sure that you do not have too much luggage for the self disembarkation. Everyone in your party must be able to manage their luggage with one hand free to get on the escalator at the cruise terminal. Otherwise they will have to wait for the elevator and that will slow you down.

[bhopal21]

Everyone in your party must be able to manage their luggage with one hand free to get on the escalator at the cruise terminal. Otherwise they will have to wait for the elevator and that will slow you down.

 

That is absolutely true. You MUST have one free hand to be able to take the escalator or face a long line waiting on the only elevator.

 

Mike:)

[paul929207]

Be sure you have a list of alternate flights in case you do miss yours.

[cattolica]

The main thing I noticed in the original post is that they are getting off the cruise ship in DECEMBER. So, I looked to see what date that might be in December. I am going to guess it is either the 8th or the 18th. If it is the 18th, that is the Saturday before Christmas.........isn't there a really big chance that FLL will be much busier than usual since it is so close to the holiday? OP should really have their backup plan in place just in case, if they are disembarking on Dec 18th.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Let's hope your ship doesn't have any mishaps that delay it. Good luck with that flight.

[Colo Cruiser]

I am doing 9:30. I am not worried. I have many options.

 

If you can do a 9:30 in San Juan, Fll will be a slam dunk. :D

[bhopal21]

I am doing 9:30. I am not worried. I have many options.

 

If you can do a 9:30 in San Juan, Fll will be a slam dunk. :D

 

Colo Cruiser is the person that encouraged me to do the 1005 my first time and there was nothing to it.

 

This February it was even Super Bowl Sunday and there were 10 ships in port, still went off without a hitch.

 

And FLL is more akin to a library than it is to the mayhem at San Juan, for sure.

 

Mike:)

[Pam in CA]

IMHO, it all depends on the time of year. If you are disembarking over a holiday period, forget about it. Even if you get to the airport by 7:30am, it could take 30+ minutes to check in curbside, well over an hour inside; then, another 45+ minutes to get through Security. Then you have to get to your gate. I've been on several cruises that didn't start disembarkation in Ft. Lauderdale until after 9am.

 

If you choose to do self-disembarkation, you not only need to be able to handle all of your luggage, carry-ons, coats, etc. but also have one hand free for the escalator. There is someone at the top of the escalator barring anyone who can't manage that. Otherwise, it's a long wait for the elevator, which kind of negates any advantage of disembarking early. I've been in the first group disembarking and picking up luggage pierside and still made it out of the building before those struggling with their luggage.

 

FYI, using Super Bowl Sunday as an example isn't really applicable. (Sorry, Mike.) Having been in FL through both the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, few leave the morning of the game so even though there might be 10 ships in port that day, FLL airport isn't crazy/busy. Our hotel was incredibly quiet that day with no one arriving or leaving. :) That Monday was wild in contrast.

[Whimsy]

If you didn't want to do self disembarkation what time do they usually let the first goup off the ship?

[kywildcatfanone]

If we do the self debarkation on the Emerald Princess in December, is it possible to make it in time for a 9:55am flight out of FLL? I know that is cutting it really close. What is the earliest you can disembark the ship?

 

We usually err on the side of caution and leave in the late afternoon because I don't want to cut it too close, but for the day we're coming home the flight at 9:55 is about $300 less than the next cheapest flight in the afternoon. Not sure if it's worth the risk of not making it in time though?

 

If the ship docks at 7am and everything goes right (ship docks on time, customs clears on time, etc), you should have no trouble making a 9:55am flight. Have done this several times. We always do self-disembarkation and get off the ship early. Usually at the airport before 8:30.

It all depends on if there are any problems or delays.

 

Mike

[Tak8]

Will you be at ease with your decision? Most times you will have no problem, but if things don't go right as they sometimes do, what would it cost you to take a different flight.

[whatcruiseisnext]

We have done a 9:25 flight out of FLL MANY times without any problem doing self disembarkation and taking a cab. Have bee to the airport between 7:25 and 7:45 each and every time. I know that someday we will miss the flight BUT all the money that we have saved (not to mention time) will more than pay for any added expenses. I would not hesitate to book the flight you are thinkng about.