Disembarkation Day

[florence11]

Hi,

We are booked on our 1st Princess cruise in March 2023. I am just wondering what happens when we get back to Fort Lauderdale, are we allowed to stay on board a bit later  or do we all have to leave by a certain time? The reason I am asking this is because in the past we have cruised with P&O and have been allowed to stay on board until our flight is due.

Thanks

[Lady Arwen]

Unfortunately, you won’t be allowed to stay on board past 9:00 am or so.   Make sure you request last disembarkation time slot.  What time is your flight home?   I’ve ever sailed P&O, but that perk sounds wonderful.  How do they manage to get the ship ready for new passengers if the prior passengers are still onboard?

[MissP22]

Now that they've got the medallions, they'll know exactly where to fine you & escort you off the ship. You can't delay getting off any longer. 😄

[florence11]

• We have always done this in the caribbean. we fly to Barbados and on our last day we book a day room to store our hand luggage and go to the beach for the day. We have our passports and security done on board the evening before and all our cases are taken in a lorry to the airport, we have to leave our room early but can stay on board until our flights are called and we transfer straight to the departure lounge at the airport. Its great

[beg3yrs]

26 minutes ago, florence11 said:

• We have always done this in the caribbean. we fly to Barbados and on our last day we book a day room to store our hand luggage and go to the beach for the day. We have our passports and security done on board the evening before and all our cases are taken in a lorry to the airport, we have to leave our room early but can stay on board until our flights are called and we transfer straight to the departure lounge at the airport. Its great

There's the difference. You were disembarking in Barbados and that's feasible. Disembarking in the USA, ships are required to get to a zero passenger count before new passengers are allowed to board. This is even true for passengers who are staying on for the next cruise although they are not required to pack up their cabins...

[SiliconCruiser]

We usually request the latest disembarkation so that we can go to the MDR for a leisurely breakfast before leaving.  In the case of Port Everglades, we were on a b2b.  The folks that were b2b were escorted as a group off the ship through a cursory CBP check, and then back onto the ship.  We didn't go back on, as we were meeting someone in Ft. Lauderdale.  Before we left, they gave us instructions for expedited boarding, by-passing the embarkation passengers.

[skynight]

2 hours ago, florence11 said:

• We have always done this in the Caribbean. we fly to Barbados and on our last day we book a day room to store our hand luggage and go to the beach for the day. We have our passports and security done on board the evening before and all our cases are taken in a lorry to the airport, we have to leave our room early but can stay on board until our flights are called and we transfer straight to the departure lounge at the airport. Its great

By law you are not permitted to remain on board in Fort Lauderdale. Every passenger must leave the ship. If even one passenger remains on board that passenger must be located and be escorted off the ship. Once disembarked passengers that are not on b2bs not permitted back on board. Those on b2bs go through immigration and once all passengers are off the b2b passengers are permitted back on board. 

[SiliconCruiser]

3 hours ago, skynight said:

By law you are not permitted to remain on board in Fort Lauderdale. Every passenger must leave the ship. If even one passenger remains on board that passenger must be located and be escorted off the ship. Once disembarked passengers that are not on b2bs not permitted back on board. Those on b2bs go through immigration and once all passengers are off the b2b passengers are permitted back on board. 

Isn't that the same procedure at any U.S. port for b2b's?

 

[Thrak]

If you have flights out of FLL be aware that you most likely won't be able to enter the terminal early.  If you have a 4:00 PM flight for instance don't show up at 10:00 AM. They tend to leave people sitting on the floor, the planters, etc. waiting until someone finally comes out to process people for your flight. Until that time you can't go on further inside, sit in a chair, order a drink, get something to eat, etc. We were appalled and were stuck waiting in the entry portion for several hours before the person for our airline came out to process people. There were a lot of people waiting for several airlines to process them. It was extremely uncomfortable and there were a lot of really peeved people.

[GOARMY]

Thrak:  

 

Absolutely!  ---our November, 2021 experience at FLL.  This facility is ill-equipped to deal with the reality of increased numbers of cruisers disembarking either at Miami or Ft. Lauderdale--and streaming to the airport.  I am reticent to name that specific airline---

 

But, if encouraged, will do so.  It was really-bad.  Lesson-learned. Ours was a 1830H departure.  

 

Follow-up was (were) a series of exchanges with that airline's "Customer Relations" Dept.  Of course, initially the usual, generic series of half-hearted apologies, together with boilerplate verbiage.  Finally, out of the goodness of their hearts, was granted two $50.00 credits for any upcoming fights. 

 

Just be warned. 

 

GOARMY!

 

[DallasGuy75219]

3 hours ago, SiliconCruiser said:

Isn't that the same procedure at any U.S. port for b2b's?

 

In some ports CBP will come aboard and process B2B pax. In one port (Jacksonville) we only had to go to guest services on debarkation morning so they could make a copy of our passport and they took care of everything with CBP.

[caribill]

4 hours ago, Thrak said:

If you have flights out of FLL be aware that you most likely won't be able to enter the terminal early.

 

You can enter the terminal, but you cannot check your luggage and check-in for your flight until three hours before scheduled flight time.

 

As pointed out above, there is no convenient place to wait until that three hour point in time.

[florence11]

10 hours ago, skynight said:

By law you are not permitted to remain on board in Fort Lauderdale. Every passenger must leave the ship. If even one passenger remains on board that passenger must be located and be escorted off the ship. Once disembarked passengers that are not on b2bs not permitted back on board. Those on b2bs go through immigration and once all passengers are off the b2b passengers are permitted back on board. 

I have been on  several celebrity cruises and I know you have to get off early, I was just enquiring about Princess how they did things and also stating  how P&O do things in the Caribbean which is great for us in the UK, they don't do it I the Mediterranean though.

[skynight]

11 hours ago, SiliconCruiser said:

Isn't that the same procedure at any U.S. port for b2b's?

 

Yes it is with a few differences. When you sail a b2b, Vancouver to Whitter, Whitter to Vancouver passengers clear US immigration in Vancouver during the initial boarding process. When the ship docks at Whitter there is no further immigration process and you can treat the day as a normal port day.

Another difference is when ships make their first US port of call in route, for example cruises from Quebec to NYC. Immigration inspection takes place at the first port of call, example Bar Harbor, Maine, where inspectors come on board. When the ship reaches the final disembarkation there is no further immigration inspection, but Customs can inspect luggage.

[arizonaperson]

On 8/9/2022 at 2:15 PM, florence11 said:

Hi,

We are booked on our 1st Princess cruise in March 2023. I am just wondering what happens when we get back to Fort Lauderdale, are we allowed to stay on board a bit later  or do we all have to leave by a certain time? The reason I am asking this is because in the past we have cruised with P&O and have been allowed to stay on board until our flight is due.

Thanks

Yes, unfortunately you will have to be out of your cabin by 8 am or 8:30 am,Give or take so your cabin steward can clean the room and prepare for the next guests.With that being said you could probably be out of your cabin and stay on board until the last people are off ,but then you Will just be waiting in the lounge or wandering the ship with hand luggage.(.  Unless there is a back up of disembarkation ,you’ll probably be off at 10 AM at the latest and that might be pushing it if you stay onboard until the last moment)

You could also sign up for a princess disembarkation tour ,they usually have those and you can inquire once on board. I’m assuming you have a late flight from Fort Lauderdale? you could get a day use hotel room in the Fort Lauderdale area ,we did that once when my husband wasn’t feeling well and we had a late flight and he just wanted to sleep. Or you could rent a car and have a place for your luggage and go tour  around the Fort Lauderdale area and beaches. 

Edited August 20, 2022 by arizonaperson

[CineGraphic]

14 hours ago, Thrak said:

If you have flights out of FLL be aware that you most likely won't be able to enter the terminal early.  If you have a 4:00 PM flight for instance don't show up at 10:00 AM. They tend to leave people sitting on the floor, the planters, etc. waiting until someone finally comes out to process people for your flight. Until that time you can't go on further inside, sit in a chair, order a drink, get something to eat, etc. We were appalled and were stuck waiting in the entry portion for several hours before the person for our airline came out to process people. There were a lot of people waiting for several airlines to process them. It was extremely uncomfortable and there were a lot of really peeved people.

 

Would you rather be packed like sardines inside with everyone who just disembarked off of 8 ships?

 

 

[Sea Hag]

14 hours ago, Thrak said:

If you have flights out of FLL be aware that you most likely won't be able to enter the terminal early.  If you have a 4:00 PM flight for instance don't show up at 10:00 AM. They tend to leave people sitting on the floor, the planters, etc. waiting until someone finally comes out to process people for your flight. Until that time you can't go on further inside, sit in a chair, order a drink, get something to eat, etc. We were appalled and were stuck waiting in the entry portion for several hours before the person for our airline came out to process people. There were a lot of people waiting for several airlines to process them. It was extremely uncomfortable and there were a lot of really peeved people.

Wow! I don't like that at all. We're going to be flying back from there early next year. Bummer.

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

Would you rather be packed like sardines inside with everyone who just disembarked off of 8 ships?

 

At least those "sardines" have chairs. I have a trashed back and sitting on the floor or the edge of planter boxes for hours is extremely painful. Inside I might be packed in but would have a chair and access to "liquid relief" for my back.

[CineGraphic]

9 minutes ago, Thrak said:

At least those "sardines" have chairs.

 

The chairs are at gates. Gates that will already be full with folks with flights several hours before yours.

The airport simply doesn't want folks parking their behinds in seats for 4-8 hours, when they are needed for earlier flights. You don't have to stay outside the airport in the heat, spend your time elsewhere. There are chairs and liquid relief to found practically everywhere.

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

Wow! I don't like that at all. We're going to be flying back from there early next year. Bummer.

 

Not sure where in Northern California you are located but we always find flights from FLL to SMF (Sacramento) to be a drag. We always end up going through somewhere else with a long layover. (O'Hare was "interesting".) It's always a looooooooooooooooong day to get from FLL to SMF.

[Thrak]

4 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

The chairs are at gates. Gates that will already be full with folks with flights several hours before yours.

The airport simply doesn't want folks parking their behinds in seats for 4-8 hours, when they are needed for earlier flights. You don't have to stay outside the airport in the heat, spend your time elsewhere. There are chairs and liquid relief to found practically everywhere.

 

Yes, we won't make that mistake again but, if one isn't aware of the situation, it can be a real drag. I just wanted them to know the situation so they can make an informed decision regarding how to spend pre-flight time.

[Sea Hag]

4 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

Not sure where in Northern California you are located but we always find flights from FLL to SMF (Sacramento) to be a drag. We always end up going through somewhere else with a long layover. (O'Hare was "interesting".) It's always a looooooooooooooooong day to get from FLL to SMF.

We're in Oroville, so SMF is the logical choice. It's definitely a loooooong day to get back from FLL. I've got us going through DFW on the way out and AUS on the way back. This is in late February/early March, and I worry about weather. I kept us going the southern route, but even that may turn into a pumpkin. Not many choices this year.

[florence11]

4 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

Yes, unfortunately you will have to be out of your cabin by 8 am or 8:30 am,Give or take so your cabin steward can clean the room and prepare for the next guests.With that being said you could probably be out of your cabin and stay on board until the last people are off ,but then you Will just be waiting in the lounge or wandering the ship with hand luggage.(.  Unless there is a back up of disembarkation ,you’ll probably be off at 10 AM at the latest and that might be pushing it if you stay onboard until the last moment)

You could also sign up for a princess disembarkation tour ,they usually have those and you can inquire once on board. I’m assuming you have a late flight from Fort Lauderdale? you could get a day use hotel room in the Fort Lauderdale area ,we did that once when my husband wasn’t feeling well and we had a late flight and he just wanted to sleep. Or you could rent a car and have a place for your luggage and go tour  around the Fort Lauderdale area and beaches. 

We are planning on booking a  ship trip for the last day something that will take us to the Miami airport, we have a flight booked for 5pm back to the UK so its not too bad.

[jbhermes]

I didn't realize that we wouldn't be able to get into the FLL terminal until 3 hours before our flight!  UGH! Let me ask you this: our flight options back to Mpls are either 10:30 a.m. or 4:10 p.m.  If I book the 10:30 a.m. flight, do you think I'll get to the airport from the ship in time?  

[dobiemom]

@Thrak I use my Zuca as my carryon so I always have a place to sit.  (It can support up to 300 lbs.) This case meets FAA specifications for carry-on baggage.