RCI express departure...have you done it?

[tursia]

We are sailing July 27 on the freedom out of Port Canaveral. I booked our flight out of Orlando at 12:15pm the day we return. I wasn't thinking how far PC was from Orlando when I booked the flights, so now I am nervous about making our flight and securing the right transportation. We are traveling with two kids 6&9 but thinking we need to do express walk off. How does it work and how early are you off the ship? Any suggestions about transportation? We are flying in the night before but worried about getting back to mco in time. Thanks

[Clarea]

I would arrange transportation with one of the shuttle services. Most people recommend Travelynx, Cocoa Beach Shuttle, and Executive VIP. With self-assist disembarkation, you should be off the ship and on the shuttle by 8:30am, and at the airport before 9:30am.

[tursia]

Thanks Bob!

[kwazi07]

We are sailing July 27 on the freedom out of Port Canaveral. I booked our flight out of Orlando at 12:15pm the day we return. I wasn't thinking how far PC was from Orlando when I booked the flights, so now I am nervous about making our flight and securing the right transportation. We are traveling with two kids 6&9 but thinking we need to do express walk off. How does it work and how early are you off the ship? Any suggestions about transportation? We are flying in the night before but worried about getting back to mco in time. Thanks

Basically, you carry your luggage off the ship, but you get off before the normal disembark.

 

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[setsail]

How does it work Thanks

 

You line up with your luggage early, the ship is cleared, and you walk off with your luggage. You are supposed to be able to carry your luggage

 

On some ships/cruises its fairly orderly, on others its has been a free for all with fellow passengers just showing up and pushing their way into the front of the line, delaying the departure of those already in line

Edited July 7, 2014 by setsail

[AZAficionado]

We are sailing July 27 on the freedom out of Port Canaveral. I booked our flight out of Orlando at 12:15pm the day we return. I wasn't thinking how far PC was from Orlando when I booked the flights, so now I am nervous about making our flight and securing the right transportation. We are traveling with two kids 6&9 but thinking we need to do express walk off. How does it work and how early are you off the ship? Any suggestions about transportation? We are flying in the night before but worried about getting back to mco in time. Thanks

Provided you can carry off all of your luggage, you should have no problem even without arranged transportation - there is always a line of cabs waiting at the terminal. Orlando is only a 40 minute drive from Port Canaveral. Even if you wait until RCI forces you off the ship (I don't recommend this), you should still make your flight.

[kwazi07]

It is convenient, but on our most recent cruise we had to either wait for a elevator or lug our suitcases up the stairs. Next time we are doing the normal disembark.

 

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[kahcarre]

We did normal disembark off the Freedom, and had one of the very last (maybe the last?) groups. We had no problems at all making our 12:30 flight, and in fact, had a lot of time at the airport to kill. We took the RCI "official" transfer from Canaveral to the MCO. You should have plenty of time. Enjoy your cruise!!

[aftop]

I did it on the Freedom in the fall of 2012. I was in an aft cabin on deck 9. The last night I received written instructions to go to the Schooner Bar on deck 4 for early self departure. I took the elevator to deck 4 and then realized I could not get to the Schooner Bar because the Casino was closed and locked. I would have to go up to deck 5, cross over and come back down to deck 4. Several passengers has formed a line on the walkway outside Boleros so I joined them. Security was set up to process people from Boleros and Schooner Bars.

 

I had driven to the port but my DD and SIL had an 1145 flight from MCO. I was parked directly across from the terminal exit and we were at MCO by 9:30.

[kwazi07]

By what time is everyone usually off of the ship? We drive home and don't want to incur a 15 dollar per dog late fee with our pet nanny (after 1pm).

 

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Edited July 7, 2014 by kwazi07
Typo

[kwazi07]

^it takes at least 2 hours to get home

 

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[Clarea]

By what time is everyone usually off of the ship? We drive home and don't want to incur a 15 dollar per dog late fee with our pet nanny (after 1pm).

On most ships, guests are off by 9:30 am or so. On Oasis/Allure, I believe it's a bit later, maybe 10:30am.

[BillOh]

Basically, you carry your luggage off the ship, but you get off before the normal disembark.

 

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Here is a key point since you said you were traveling with 2 small kids. Can you carry all of your luggage and keep track of your two kids?

[kwazi07]

Here is a key point since you said you were traveling with 2 small kids. Can you carry all of your luggage and keep track of your two kids?

A point of advice to the OP: if your kids are old enough make them carry something! Last time we did self disembark our kids were 8-12, so they carried their own luggage up the stairs.

 

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[AZAficionado]

Here is a key point since you said you were traveling with 2 small kids. Can you carry all of your luggage and keep track of your two kids?

This is the primary concern over everything else. I'm not saying it isn't doable with small children. But debarkation seems to cause everyone to be on less than their best behavior - it is a frustrating process (lots of "hurry up and wait").

[tursia]

Thanks for all the advise. My girls have cruised enough and get the hurry up and wait thing. They are usually excited about each carrying a piece of luggage so I will be trying to pack light this trip...(not my strong point). We booked a package with the Homewood Suites in Orlando, they have a package which includes free airport shuttle then round trip transfers to and from Port Canaveral. Planning on doing Express walk off, will let you know. I spoke to the transportation company they use (AAA) he said they pick up walk off guests between 8-8:30 so we should be to airport in plenty of time.

[aftop]

My written instructions stated I had to keep one hand free to use the escalator with my baggage. They didn't mention there is a small elevator just around the corner from the escalator.

[webzila]

We just did an express disembark with a 2 year old, stroller, 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks. Only 2 adults. It was the Navigator in Galveston. We were off the ship by 7:30 AM. If we could manage this, anyone can :D

[DTrain50]

We just did an express disembark with a 2 year old, stroller, 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks. Only 2 adults. It was the Navigator in Galveston. We were off the ship by 7:30 AM. If we could manage this, anyone can :D

 

webzila,

 

We are on the Navigator in Galveston on Oct 5th. What do you think our chances are of making our 11:30am flight out of Bush? We got bumped from our original 2:30pm flight.

 

We plan to do express disembark to be the first off the ship and book a shuttle.

Thanks

[dancinman66]

Get a car to meet you

Don't take too much luggage and do express departure

You are in a queue with your bags and kids for a bit but will get you there

 

 

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[thegima]

We have done express departure twice on FOS. Both times we were off and to the car within 15 minutes of them allowing us off. We live about an hour 1/2 away from the port and both times we were home by 8:30am (early Sunday traffic is basically non existent).

 

Kids might get bored standing in line waiting to depart, sometimes it takes a little bit and you just have to stand there. Lots of walking from the ship to the parking lot, it feels like a rat maze - be ready. Time wise though, you'll be more than fine if you have reliable transportation!

Edited July 30, 2014 by thegima