Suite Disembarkation Miami time ???

[Luckybee]

This is way early(our cruise isnt until next Nov) but...from the Pearl in Miami can anyone indicate what time a suite passenger might be able to disembark for an early flight if the ships arrival time says 8 am. Reason I ask is that we will be following the cruise with a week in Aruba and unless AA's schedule changes for next year(which it might altho these flights have been pretty consistent for years), there are 2 flights that would be available to us...the first is at 11:10 am, and the next is not until 7:25pm . I dont relish the idea of hanging around all day if we dont have to but, relish less missing the flight. I suppose the other option is booking the later flight then doing same day booking chg if we're off in time and there is still availability but....what do you all think ?

[david_sobe]

You will have priority disembarkation. But you cant get off the ship until the captain says so and other passengers are also allowed to get off. The concierge will meet you at a lounge at a specific time to take you off the ship. So you can grab breakfast then meet the concierge to get off the ship.

If you get off the ship at 9 am and clear customs by 930 am. The cab can get you to the airport before 10am and you should have no problem with the 11:10am flight.

[Cruisebehindthescenes]

Even though the itinerary may say the ship arrives at 8, as a crew member I can tell you we were always docked by 6am if not earlier. It did not usually take that long to have the ship cleared so if you are going with the "easy walk off" program where you just walk off with your bags, you should be able to get off pretty quickly (suite or otherwise). Customs/Immigration is a bit of mess in Miami so best to get off early and try to avoid the lines as much as possible. I would still be weary of booking an early flight because you still have other factors to deal with such as traffic to airport and security/check-in at the airport.

 

You should be ok for an 11am flight.

[garycarla]

i would say that in 90% plus of the time, you will be in great shape. Always that rare situation where immigration holds things up, but rare. With self disembark, VIP escort and just grabbing a cab, you should be at the airport by 9am or so.

[Luckybee]

I expect we'd have to much luggage to self disembark(2 piece ea.)...so that said what do you think now ?

[david_sobe]

I expect we'd have to much luggage to self disembark(2 piece ea.)...so that said what do you think now ?

If you are short on time, yes of course self disembark with your luggage. 2 pieces each is not that unusual and fairly common. If they take your luggage, it greatly increases the chances of you being late at the airport

[tweekster]

With being in a suite, your luggage will be marked priority, so it goes to a special area.

 

You still get your private escort to the disembarqation point and you should be one of the first ones off the ship.

[Vyhanek]

You can make that flight. We always choose early flights like that.

 

Choose to self disembark with your luggage. Tell the concierge a few days before that you want to disembark early with the suite passengers. He will escort you off the ship with the very first group and you will be in the front of the line for immigration and customs. You will be outside to catch the first cabs and head straight to the airport.

 

You will probably be at the airport by 9am. Getting there that early means you will beat all other cruise passengers. I've done it many times. YOu will make it.

[Luckybee]

Ok...now im confused :o Having been reading the boards and after speaking with NCL's reps I thought we actually had a private escort off the ship for priority disembarkation ? You mentioned something about being with the 1st group ? Am I completely confused ?

 

With the priority off the ship(which I had thought meant before virtually everyone else) I had thpught we might make it....now Im just ...well....hmmm...I think Im just confused...LOL !

[jdvmd]

Barring any complications, you should be fine. Have a backup plan if need be.

[dcowart]

I was on the Pearl in March in a suite and had a 10:15 am flight out of Ft Lauderdale. We met with Anoop the concierge at 6:30am and walked right off the ship. Customs was a little slower than normal but we were in a cab by 7:00 am and on our way to the airport.

[Luckybee]

Thanks all :)

[tweekster]

Ok...now im confused :o Having been reading the boards and after speaking with NCL's reps I thought we actually had a private escort off the ship for priority disembarkation ? You mentioned something about being with the 1st group ? Am I completely confused ?

 

With the priority off the ship(which I had thought meant before virtually everyone else) I had thpught we might make it....now Im just ...well....hmmm...I think Im just confused...LOL !

 

The concierge will escort you to a private exit and you get to the front of the line. You will be among the very first to leave the ship.

They will hold the line one you get to the disembarqation point, so you and your party can leave.

 

The OP were right, 90% of the time, you will not have a problem making your flight. But situations beyond NCL's control sometime slow down the process of the ship being cleared.

[Buffettfan 225]

With being in a suite, your luggage will be marked priority, so it goes to a special area.

 

You still get your private escort to the disembarqation point and you should be one of the first ones off the ship.

Our experience ahs been that self assist were already exiting ship before we did in VIP disembark having to wait in a lounge for an escort.

[Luckybee]

We've changed to the Epic...do any of your answers change given that we're now on a larger ship ? Thanks

[tweekster]

No, it has been about the same on every ship so far.