Tampa Embark/Debark

[Mugsy1976]

Hi! I was wondering how the embarkation & debarkation process is in Tampa? We are planning on arriving early (around 11:30am or so) because we are flying in the night before. I hear mixed reviews on the embarkation/debarkation process in Tampa as opposed to Miami, which i have had hectic experiences as well as fine ones. Also they say the debarkation process in Tampa is more lengthly. Our flight is at noon home. Should we self assist with our bags or just try to get off earlier. Any info would be appreciated~ :o Thanks

[ZedCruiser]

We flew into Tampa (Ybor City) on 12/04/04 for a 12/05/04 departure on the Miracle last year. We hung around at our hotel until 11:30am or so that morning. A quick shuttle (5 minute ride) to the port and we stood in line for what seemed to be hours! We stood around in a warehous for well over an hour. Then....after we checked in, we sat around for over another hour for our group number to be called so we could board. The process was so frustrating because there was no access to beverages or food. A cocktail would have lightened up everyone's mood! All in all, it was well worth the wait! Debarkation was the same....wait, wait, wait.

[sheilb4]

Embarkation/disembarkation are always a long line and wait unless you get priority with a suite cabin...I've also lined for about 2hrs, but the last cruise I had a cat 11 suite, so was taken on board, front of line immediately..that was awesome. I would suggest getting to the port around 2p, there usually is no line at all then. most pax seem to get to the port around 11a and its bedlam!

[sedbandmom]

Hi! I was wondering how the embarkation & debarkation process is in Tampa? We are planning on arriving early (around 11:30am or so) because we are flying in the night before. I hear mixed reviews on the embarkation/debarkation process in Tampa as opposed to Miami, which i have had hectic experiences as well as fine ones. Also they say the debarkation process in Tampa is more lengthly. Our flight is at noon home. Should we self assist with our bags or just try to get off earlier. Any info would be appreciated~ :o Thanks

 

We just got off the Miracle in Tampa this morning. Embarkation last Sunday, 23 October, was wonderful!!!! Best one yet! We arrived at the port by taxi at approximately 10:45am. Walked right in, went through processing and were assigned to group 2 (each group consists of 50 people), sat for a little while in a very comfortable waiting area with extremely pleasant and helpful Carnival employees, boarded soon after, and sat down to lunch in Horatio's at 11:30am.

 

In order to make your 12pm return flight, go to the purser's desk and show them your flight info. They will ask for your cabin number and give you VIP tags for all your luggage, even your carry on bags. The self assist passengers leave first and then the VIP passengers are escorted off the ship to the luggage area. We caught a cab and were at the airport by 9:30am.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!!

Sandy

[SROYCE]

We were at the port of Tampa on Oct. 15 to board the Inspiration. We got there around 12:45. There was a line but it moved very quickly. We were on the ship and eating lunch at 1:30. Debarkation was quick for self assist as they were heading off the ship at 7:35 am. We did not do the self assist and we were off the ship and heading to the parking garage at 9:15. I thought it went well both on and off the ship.

 

Sue

[Andmarnclt]

We were at the port of Tampa on Oct. 15 to board the Inspiration. We got there around 12:45. There was a line but it moved very quickly. We were on the ship and eating lunch at 1:30. Debarkation was quick for self assist as they were heading off the ship at 7:35 am. We did not do the self assist and we were off the ship and heading to the parking garage at 9:15. I thought it went well both on and off the ship.

 

Sue

 

We were on this same sailing and our experience mirrored the quoted post, except we DID do the self assist. We were in line for self assist at 7:00 and in our car at 7:45 or 7:50. If you can do self assist, definitely take that route.

 

Andmarnclt

[Jemima]

Do they take non-carryon luggage as soon as you arrive at the line? Is the line mostly outside or inside?

[brenchris]

We embarked ont the Miracle in Tamps on Oct. 9. Due to them having to dock at a different dock, we had to be bussed from the checkin area to the ship. Out of 10 cruises, this was the worst one ever. The lines at 12:15 (the shuttles could not get us there before 12 due to the bussing) were very long & seemed to take forever. They were short people because several did not show up for work that morning. Because I could not stand very long at a time due to back problems, they did accommodate me with either a chair to sit in & in the line to get sign & sail cards, they escorted my roommate & I to the front of the line, which was extremely nice of the. Disembarking on the 15th was probably one of the easiest ones we have ever had. Self-assist went first, then VIP's & then the rest of the passengers (not called by floor). We were probably off the ship with in 30 minutes of them starting the process. However, they did come through cabins at random that morning with dogs. Didn't take but about 5 minutes & they were gone. They had a long line of people doing self-assist, so guess that is why they did that. Didn't bother us though-just added security to me!

[Mugsy1976]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it! I get worried with the early flight home. I don't mind waiting to embark, i just wanted to try & get there earlier since we are coming in the night before for the first time. I alwasy was in long long lines around 1 or 2!

[NorthAlabama]

I was on the Inspiration out of Tampa on 9/26. Embarkation went extremely well, in my opinion, as a first time cruiser.

My mom has sailed before and she also felt it was vrey smooth.

We arrived at the terminal at about 10:25am, just wanting to be sure

we could find it. We ask a Port Authority Officer when they would begin

to let us on the ship and he told us to unload our car and park it at that

time. I pulled into the unloading area and dropped off the luggage

along with mom. I parked the car and walked back to the terminal.

We immediately were led to the area to complete our paperwork and

were on the ship and having lunch a little before 11:30

 

Debarkation was just as easy and painless. The ship was cleared by

shortly after 8:00am and I immediately went to the terminal and located our luggage. A porter loaded the luggage and by then, my mother had found her way to the area. I left mom with the luggage and went to get the car, got back and picked up her and the luggage and was on the

interstate headed home by 8:38am.

 

I was very satisfied with the procedures and time involved.

[Andmarnclt]

Do they take non-carryon luggage as soon as you arrive at the line? Is the line mostly outside or inside?

 

They take your non-carryon from you outside. Then you go upstairs, through security, into the line and onto the ship. It took us less than 20 minutes on 10-15-05 on the Inspiration.

 

Andmarnclt

[sixy-six]

We embarked 10/16/05 Had a little trouble. I was to have Wheelchair assist. Started with a proter and worked up to a Carnial Superviser. I was passed from one person to the next. I was not the only one that day with the same trouble. I ended up broading with out the wheelchair. with made my first day a very painful one. But it did go rather fast.

 

Disembarking went pretty fast. Had to wait just a little but not long. Everonme was trying to get off at the same time.

[Kudos2Fly]

We use to live in Tampa and have sailed from Tampa twice. Both times we waited untell around 2pm before going down to the port. We have never had to wait in line. If we have, it hasn't been for very long, maybe a few minutes. We do that with any port in Fl.

 

As far as getting off thats been hit or miss. One time we where the first ones to get off. Others times we have been the last. We just brings books to read while waiting.

 

Kim

[ppeckham]

If you arrive too early, you may be waiting a while. We arrived around 11 a.m. and had to sit for around 45 minutes. Fortunately we had seats. A few were standing.

 

Like you, we had flown in the day before. Before arriving at the port, you may want to pick up some snacks. My daughter and two others seated near us shared the cookies and Chex Mix we had brought.

[gtalum]

We did the Miracle on 9/25. The embrakation was painless. We arrived at th eport at 11:30 and were onboard the ship within 40 minutes. We did not have a suite or the accompanying priority embarkation.

 

Disembarkation was a zoo. It seems they don't have enough room for people who get off the ship and want to take private transportation home. Everyone was forced to go stand along Channelside Dr o wait for their rides. Fortunately we know the area and scooted down to the opposite end of the Channelside complex and waited in an uncrowded shady spot.

[airhead22]

My best suggestion for disembarkation is make sure your bags are easy to find. We tied huge yellow ribbions on all ours and it made it a snap to find them. We then walked outside and easily caught a cab to the airport. There are guys at the curbside to help, as we needed a van for all our luggage! (4 females, what can I say?)

[aloha16]

Since you all sailed Tampa's Carnival area...do they have valet parking at their port area like Celebrity does in their Tampa port area??

Makes life so much easier -get in ..get out..no problems.

[NorthAlabama]

Although we did not utilize the Valet parking, it was offered.

[davefan]

We did the same thing as you and left for the port around 11:30 as well. We were on the ship in a matter of 1 hour. As far as disembarkation, no so quick unfortunately. The usual huge line ups occur. You will make your 12pm flight. We hung around as long as we could because of the long lines (and our very late flight home-7pm) and were still off of the ship by 10:30am. No problem making your flight. Finding your suitcases is easier than it used to be as well.