Blanq Posted June 30, 2018 #1 Share Posted June 30, 2018 I am new to Oceania, sailing on the Riviera, with a return to MIA on 2/5/19. Does Oceania offer self assist debarkation, and if so, would someone let me know their experience and what I might expect? Am especially interested in the earliest debarkation time I might expect. Am eyeing one of two early flight times (10:00 am or 11:10 am) on AA, mainly because I can score flat bed seats on a 767-300 (763). If I miss one if those flights, there are over a dozen later flights to my destination that day, and I would have same day flight change & standby options with my ticket. I have global entry which also gives me TSA pre-check at MIA. Weighing the risk, and I get it’s a risk! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitraveler Posted June 30, 2018 #2 Share Posted June 30, 2018 you might want to read a forum before posting a new thread. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2437270 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanq Posted June 30, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted June 30, 2018 I did search the forums before posting and that thread you linked to does not answer my question, which is about self assist debarkation on Oceania. But, hey, thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted June 30, 2018 #4 Share Posted June 30, 2018 (edited) yes they offer self disembarkation as for time it depends on immigration & when the ship is released could be 30 mins or 1 hr I would not book before noon In Dec we flew AA & it took over 1 hr in security lines we had TSA pre check & in Bus class YMMV Surprised they have lie flat seats on short haul flights ... Edited June 30, 2018 by LHT28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanq Posted June 30, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted June 30, 2018 yes they offer self disembarkationas for time it depends on immigration & when the ship is released I would not book before noon In Dec we flew AA & it took over 1 hr in security lines we had TSA pre check & in Bus class YMMV Surprised they have lie flat seats on short haul flights ... Thank you so much for your reply about your experience in MIA! I once had a 1:10 pm flight leaving FLL, after a cruise from the Ft Lauderdale port, and walked out of the port at 1:15 pm, 5 minutes after my flight left. They were short customs staff, and it was a mess at the port. So, I am quite aware of the risk that comes with flights following a cruise. I have never done self disembarkation on previous cruises, and so am interested in that process on Oceania, since I am also new to that line. Yes, there are some lie-flat planes that fly domestically, but I often am not in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the planes that have them. In this instance I am, so just considering my options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted June 30, 2018 #6 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Oceania I guess works like other lines you must handle all your bags yourself Self disembarking pax will be the first group they call We have only done self disembark once on a Princess cruise it was not fun with people blocking the exit with large bags that they could not manage themselves thus holding up those that had a carry on size bag JME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted June 30, 2018 #7 Share Posted June 30, 2018 You have your luggage, you go stand in line, you wait until they release you, then you handle all your own luggage and get off the ship. Shouldn't be a big deal at MIA as it should be all level or ramps or escalators. We've carried ours down the gangway before in some ports. Obviously you know the risks and it looks like you have a backup plan. You will be in the first group off the ship, but it's up to you to decide how soon to go line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted June 30, 2018 #8 Share Posted June 30, 2018 The 10:00 should not be booked, period. Very low odds of making that flight. The 11:10 is doable if all goes well, but adds an element of risk. I generally advise post 12:00. How lucky do you feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted July 1, 2018 #9 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Interesting to read this thread. We only do self disembark on other lines but they usually let high status(frequent travelers) and suite passengers go before the other people on the ship. It seems that Oceania doesn't do this according to what has been written here. Is that correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruseforme Posted July 1, 2018 #10 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Interesting to read this thread. We only do self disembark on other lines but they usually let high status(frequent travelers) and suite passengers go before the other people on the ship. It seems that Oceania doesn't do this according to what has been written here.Is that correct? That is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted July 1, 2018 #11 Share Posted July 1, 2018 The 11:10 flight is doable. In our experience passengers were off the ship between 8 and 8:30. I don’t remember any immigration lines in the terminal. I recall showing a passport and a customs form as we walked. Prior to any disembarkation announcement, seat yourself with your bags on whatever floor the gangway is placed. Watch, listen and go. Cabs will be lined up outside the terminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 1, 2018 #12 Share Posted July 1, 2018 In addition it might be helpful to arrange for an airport transfer. The taxi lines can be very long and taxis not always readily available when there are many ships in port. Been there - done that :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyfeds Posted July 1, 2018 #13 Share Posted July 1, 2018 In addition it might be helpful to arrange for an airport transfer. The taxi lines can be very long and taxis not always readily available when there are many ships in port.Been there - done that :) Any suggestions for airport transfer in MIA? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 1, 2018 #14 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Any suggestions for airport transfer in MIA? Thanks! Sorry - I can’t help you. We had a Hertz rental pick up that day but the taxi line was brutal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted July 1, 2018 #15 Share Posted July 1, 2018 We do Uber most of the time anymore, we've been very happy with the prices and service. Generally much friendlier than standard taxi drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 2, 2018 #16 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Any suggestions for airport transfer in MIA? Thanks! I have used John's Car service a few time & shared with other pax from the roll call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted July 2, 2018 #17 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Immigration in Miami has been very fast on our last 5 Oceania cruises. And, since we no longer have to fill out those US Customs forms, it does go very quickly. We've been able to easily make an 11:20 flight. You'll find that disembarking from an Oceania cruise is quite a bit easier than from one of those behemoth mass market ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buggins0402 Posted July 2, 2018 #18 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Feb 5 is a Tuesday. I haven’t checked the port info for that day, but I would imagine there would be less port turnaround of the large ships, which would slow things down. There might be more traffic on the way to the airport, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambagahle Posted July 2, 2018 #19 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Rush hour traffic in Miami is awful - both on I95 and the airport expressway. I would allow at least an hour between leaving the port and getting to the airport and then hope to be there sooner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted July 2, 2018 #20 Share Posted July 2, 2018 The issue in MIA port is when you get released. We have been on cruises that get in at 6am and do not get released until near 9am. The last late one was on Oceania - close to 9am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted July 2, 2018 #21 Share Posted July 2, 2018 This exact same question gets asked repeatedly both here and on the Cruise Air forum. People wanting to book flights with narrow windows, whether it’s trips from the dock to the airport or tiny short airport layovers! We had people with 10:30 and 11:00 flights out of LHR when we were “scheduled “ to disembark in Southampton at 8:00. British customs allowed us to start the process at 9:00! They didn’t have a chance! Eliminate the risks and worries and book your flights after 12:00. 100% Safe, No, but a lot better than for the early birds! For those with the 10:30 reservations. One couple was on our flight out two days later. It was July, and that was the earliest flight out available for them having missed their flight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Acrusa Posted July 2, 2018 #22 Share Posted July 2, 2018 We are boarding the Feb 5 cruise and disembarking Feb 17 which is a Sunday . We have a Delta flight to LGA.I think we did h Sent from my SM-J320V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Acrusa Posted July 2, 2018 #23 Share Posted July 2, 2018 We have a Delta flight leaving MIA at 12: 10 pm. I would think traffic at 9 am on a Sunday would be fine. Sent from my SM-J320V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted July 2, 2018 #24 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Here's the thing, for every story like that there's a hundred that made it just fine. I can't count the times I've been sitting at my gate at the airport by 9:30. Having said that I always go in at least a day early and pretty much always try not to book a flight before noon. The idea is to reduce the obstacles and things that could go wrong. The more time you have the more things should go okay. But due to having to always make at least one connection to get home it's generally pretty late when we get home. This is why it's tempting for me to want to push the envelope and take an earlier flight out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallydave Posted July 2, 2018 #25 Share Posted July 2, 2018 One thing the OP and all of the responses did not cover is what time is the ship scheduled to dock. Depending on the scheduled docking time vs. the actual docking time can impact disembarkation a whole lot. Ships don't always make it to the dock when scheduled. Way too many variables in Miami to even try. Remember, a very strong union on the docks and NOBODY gets off the ship until all of the luggage is in the pickup area. Take a later flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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