Port of Miami VIP embarkation procedure, and taxi question for disembarkation.

[rajones007]

We recently booked the Liberty out of Miami for the 24 Nov 2012 sailing. I was able to book a suite and we're quite excited to be trying Carnival for the first time.

 

I've been reading and reading and either I'm misunderstanding some posts or the other cruiselines I've been on (NCL, Princess) have a completely different way of boarding passengers. We've been in a suite on each of those cruises too and they also offer priority boarding. (I have hip problems and I cannot stand for long periods of time. It's not crippling, just painful and very uncomfortable. So getting priority boarding where I can get in and out quickly is important to me.)

 

So, can somebody please step me thru the VIP boarding procedure? A step-by-step breakdown of events that happen between getting dropped off at the curb and standing on the ship would be greatly appreciated. I like to know what to expect ahead of time.

 

Also, what's the taxi situation like when disembarking? Is there much of a wait? Our flight leaves MIA at 1:20PM. Would walking off the ship at 10AM leave an adequate amount of time for luggage pickup, US customs, and getting into a taxi headed to MIA? I'd prefer to be at the airport somewhere between 10:30 and 11.

 

(The reason I ask the taxi question is because we were almost an hour waiting for a taxi in Fort Lauderdale. And I'd like to avoid a wait like that again, if at all possible.)

[firefly333]

Ive never had a wait for a taxi at any port.. but then I have never waited until 10 am.. the very last minute to get off a ship. I am greatly surprised that if you wait that late, that there is a wait at ft. Lauderdale.

 

Your boarding pass will say VIP on it for boarding.. just show it when you enter the port and they will direct you to where to check in for VIPs.

 

You might want to consider HC boarding, as they are supposed to get on right before VIP boarding.. just ask and explain about your hip. If you have trouble walking .. there will also be wheelchairs they will take you onboard in .. and for disembarkation if you think the walking will be too much for you. I wouldnt push it. You will get enough walking in on the ship.

 

Maybe you should aim for being off the ship by 9:30 if you want to be to the airport in 30 to 45 minutes from the time you clear customs.

[klfrodo]

When you get to the port the following should happen with VIP.

1. Give luggage to porter

2. When entering building, someone standing at door will request to see your documentation. When they see the VIP, they will point to or guide you to a special VIP line.

3. You will pass thru a metal detector along with x-ray for any carry on luggage.

4. You will be pointed to a special VIP lounge

5. When you enter the lounge, someone at the counter will check you in. (Verify ID, verify charging privlidges, issue you your Sail and Sign cards.

6. You can then sit and wait in the nice lounge area until boarding begins.

7. When boarding begins, you will be escorted to the line to begin boarding the ship. (welcome aboard pictures, etc.)

8. Welcomed aboard the ship

 

Debarkation

On the last night of the cruise, you will be provided with Zone 1 luggage tags. Zone 1 will debark immediatly after those who wish to carry off their own luggage. If all goes well and there is no Customs or Immigrations delays and the ship arrived in port on time, there's no reason why you shouldn't be hailing a taxi by 9 or 9:30

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I have found the quickest way to get a taxi after the cruise is to get a porter to get your luggage.

 

He has always taken us to the front of the taxi line and hailed us a cab.

 

Bill

[iowagirl411]

In Miami, after dropping your bags with a porter, you may proceed to the

terminal main boarding entrance. Depending on the time of your arrival,

the line for general boarding may extend outside of the terminal. You do

not need to stand in this line. The first level of the terminal where you

enter is where you go through "security". There is a seperate VIP line to

go through security. This line may begin along the side near where you

enter or toward the back, but it will take you right down to the center

front. There will probably be a Carnival employee who will ask to see your

boarding pass before allowing you to enter this line. If there are no lines

waiting to go through security, there is no need, at this point, to worry

about using the VIP line. It may not even be in use if there is no waiting.

After you "clear" security, you will be directed to an escalator. At the top

of the escalator and to the left (before the mass boarding lines) there

are double doors marked "VIP". This is the "VIP" lounge where they

check you in and you will wait to board. There are comfy sofas, chairs and

lemonaide. Here again there may be a Carnival employee directing traffic

near the top of the escalator who may ask to see your boarding pass

before allowing you to proceed in that direction.

[Hurricane Girl]

In Miami, after dropping your bags with a porter, you may proceed to the

terminal main boarding entrance. Depending on the time of your arrival,

the line for general boarding may extend outside of the terminal. You do

not need to stand in this line. The first level of the terminal where you

enter is where you go through "security". There is a seperate VIP line to

go through security. This line may begin along the side near where you

enter or toward the back, but it will take you right down to the center

front. There will probably be a Carnival employee who will ask to see your

boarding pass before allowing you to enter this line. If there are no lines

waiting to go through security, there is no need, at this point, to worry

about using the VIP line. It may not even be in use if there is no waiting.

After you "clear" security, you will be directed to an escalator. At the top

of the escalator and to the left (before the mass boarding lines) there

are double doors marked "VIP". This is the "VIP" lounge where they

check you in and you will wait to board. There are comfy sofas, chairs and

lemonaide. Here again there may be a Carnival employee directing traffic

near the top of the escalator who may ask to see your boarding pass

before allowing you to proceed in that direction.

 

You must have been at a different terminal in Miami than the one we were at last week. After going through security we went up the escalator and all the way across the large waiting area to the VIP check in counter. They checked us in and then directed us to a small waiting area at the opposite end of the large room. It had regular chairs and a couple of vending machines. We were not at all impressed with the VIP "lounge".

That was also the embarkation from HELL. Customs had 4 officers to clear 2 ships that morning, so we didn't start embarkation until almost 2:00, after arriving at 10:30.

[agc291]

Last year we waited until 10 am to get off in Miami because we were not flying out until the next day. Customs was a breeze and we were directed to a line towards the right side (looking across the street not at the port) for a taxi. We couldnt have been in line for more than 5 minutes. Taxis are pro rated to the airport from the port $24 and it takes about 25 minutes depending on traffic etc. There was none when were going back and forth.

[iowagirl411]

You must have been at a different terminal in Miami than the one we were at last week. After going through security we went up the escalator and all the way across the large waiting area to the VIP check in counter. They checked us in and then directed us to a small waiting area at the opposite end of the large room. It had regular chairs and a couple of vending machines. We were not at all impressed with the VIP "lounge".

That was also the embarkation from HELL. Customs had 4 officers to clear 2 ships that morning, so we didn't start embarkation until almost 2:00, after arriving at 10:30.

 

Wow! That's awful to hear. I boarded VIP in Miami once in 2010, twice in 2011 and once again earlier this year. Are there 2 terminals?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

You must have been at a different terminal in Miami than the one we were at last week. After going through security we went up the escalator and all the way across the large waiting area to the VIP check in counter. They checked us in and then directed us to a small waiting area at the opposite end of the large room. It had regular chairs and a couple of vending machines. We were not at all impressed with the VIP "lounge".

That was also the embarkation from HELL. Customs had 4 officers to clear 2 ships that morning, so we didn't start embarkation until almost 2:00, after arriving at 10:30.

 

Maybe they change the way they do it now but last time we were there you check in for your cruise in the VIP lounge.

 

We came up the escalator through a couple doors walked about 25 feet in the VIP lounge was on the left

[ShipShape2012]

Is there an elevator rather than an escalator nearby to get to the second level?

[DEERINH2O]

We boarded the Liberty on the 25th of August and it was super easy. We are VIP so we went to front of line, even though my DH had to make me, I felt bad for all the people in line. but we went to the front door, they looked at my tickets, then directed me inside, couple mins later we were through security and up the esculators to the VIP lounge. It was across the room though from the esculators. We walked in, they took our paperwork and told us to have a seat and that they would call us when ready. We barely sat down when they called us, gave us our sail and sign and away we went.... It was great.

I am sailing this weekend from Long Beach on the Splendor, hope its just as easy.

 

Kathy

[Hurricane Girl]

Wow! That's awful to hear. I boarded VIP in Miami once in 2010, twice in 2011 and once again earlier this year. Are there 2 terminals?

 

Yes, there are 2. We were boarding the Valor at one and the Liberty was boarding at the other one. Neither one sailed until 6:00.

[nitenurs2]

I guess this is my question about VIP boarding--we usually get to the terminal about 11:30 (seems the hotel shuttles generally dont leave until 11) and by then the lines are kinda long.

As VIP, do we wait in the line outside of the terminal and when we get to the person check ID veer off to the VIP line or do we skip that line and walk directly up to the person checking ID and show them our VIP boarding pass?

Seems kind of rude to cut line like that, but on the other hand, I don't want to wait if I really don't have to.

 

Thanks!

[Catrin]

Please join our Roll call!! It is very active and we would love for you to join us!

 

I will see you in the VIP area!

 

Catrin

[rajones007]

Thanks for all the fantastic replies. I sincerely appreciate it.

 

So what's a reasonable time to expect to be 1) walking off the ship, 2) through all the luggage pickup and customs stuff, and 3) be standing at the curb waiting for a taxi? Like I said, I have a 1:20PM flight, so I'd like to be at MIA sometime between 10:30 and 11:00AM.

 

You might want to consider HC boarding, as they are supposed to get on right before VIP boarding.. just ask and explain about your hip. If you have trouble walking .. there will also be wheelchairs they will take you onboard in .. and for disembarkation if you think the walking will be too much for you. I wouldnt push it. You will get enough walking in on the ship.

Heh. No, thank you. I'm not handicapped :) . I'm only 46, but I have arthritis in my hips and my feet. It runs in our family. My Dad was wheelchair bound when he was 17 and in the late-1940's some doctors decided he was a good candidate for cortisone trials. Long story short - he was their miracle patient. He still suffered from moderate arthritis pain, but it wasn't as debilitating as it once was. And it's something he passed along to all of his children in varying degrees. Myself included.

 

For me personally it normally isn't an issue, unless I'm standing for long periods of time. Humidity is a factor too. All I need to do is sit down. (I also can't sit for long periods of time either. I need to get up and get the joints moving.)