Seven ships in FLL Sat 12/14/2013

[gimletgal]

The Port Everglades cruise guide will also show you number of ships sailing each day:

 

http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=177607

 

You can turn the pages to see the dates and ships in port. :)

[Hlitner]

We just came off the Eclipse in Port Everglades (Dec 14) and the situation was really bad. Since we had a 1pm flight we decided to ask for a later debarkation time and relax on the ship. We finally walked off about 9:50 and there was still a long line to just get into the luggage area (a port security person only allowed so many at a time). We finally got into the luggage area, grabbed our luggage, and then faced a long line to get through customs/immigration. Once we got out of the building (about 10:20) there was a huge line for taxis (would estimate it was at least a 45-60 min wait). So we joined with a few others and after a half hour wait were able to get aboard a large airport shuttle van ($11 per person). When we arrived at FLL it was already 11:20 and the place was a total zoo. Once we checked our luggage with SW, we had to join the longest security line we have ever experienced (and we have done a lot of air travel). I would estimate that it took at least 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to get through security. But the Southwest folks came through and pulled out folks with earlier flights and put us in another shorter line. So it "only" took us 55 min to get through TSA security and we finally got to our gate about 12:30 which meant it was more then 2 1/2 hours from when we left the ship until we got to our airport gate. No fun at all :(

 

I did have a friendly discussion with one of the off-duty TSA guys and he told me that this is now the norm for Saturdays with Sundays being a little bit faster. TSA did have every aisle functioning and seemed to have lots of staff, but the number of passengers going to the Southwest gate area just overwhelmed them. We thought that both TSA and the Southwest Airline folks did an awful lot to make sure everyone made their flights...but it was a real mess.

 

Hank

Edited December 15, 2013 by Hlitner

[Cruising89143]

We just came off the Eclipse in Port Everglades (Dec 14) and the situation was really bad. Since we had a 1pm flight we decided to ask for a later debarkation time and relax on the ship. We finally walked off about 9:50 and there was still a long line to just get into the luggage area (a port security person only allowed so many at a time). We finally got into the luggage area, grabbed our luggage, and then faced a long line to get through customs/immigration. Once we got out of the building (about 10:20) there was a huge line for taxis (would estimate it was at least a 45-60 min wait). So we joined with a few others and after a half hour wait were able to get aboard a large airport shuttle van ($11 per person). When we arrived at FLL it was already 11:20 and the place was a total zoo. Once we checked our luggage with SW, we had to join the longest security line we have ever experienced (and we have done a lot of air travel). I would estimate that it took at least 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to get through security. But the Southwest folks came through and pulled out folks with earlier flights and put us in another shorter line. So it "only" took us 55 min to get through TSA security and we finally got to our gate about 12:30 which meant it was more then 2 1/2 hours from when we left the ship until we got to our airport gate. No fun at all :(

 

I did have a friendly discussion with one of the off-duty TSA guys and he told me that this is now the norm for Saturdays with Sundays being a little bit faster. TSA did have every aisle functioning and seemed to have lots of staff, but the number of passengers going to the Southwest gate area just overwhelmed them. We thought that both TSA and the Southwest Airline folks did an awful lot to make sure everyone made their flights...but it was a real mess.

 

Hank

 

All of this is the reason that we now carry our own luggage off and get to the airport as soon as possible. We had one really bad experience at FLL some years ago (very similar to your experience) and no longer chance it. Of course we now do this in every port where possible.

[Lois R]

All of this is the reason that we now carry our own luggage off and get to the airport as soon as possible. We had one really bad experience at FLL some years ago (very similar to your experience) and no longer chance it. Of course we now do this in every port where possible.

 

Or book a very late afternoon or early evening flight.;)