Disembarking FLL after Transatlantic cruise...

[Love 2 Travel]

I have been checking out flights for our trip home after our TA cruise in October. I am hoping for some first hand experience about the feasibility of catching an 11:15am flight out of Fort Lauderdale. We usually don't book anything earlier than noon.  The reason we are considering this earlier 11:15am flight is the next flight out for us would not be until 3:35pm and would get us home after midnight. We are tied to using Delta because we have 2 e credits we need to use up before the end of 2023.

Thanks for sharing any of your experiences. Let me also say, we are ok with self disembarking if that would help.

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

Discussed daily on the Florida Departures board, here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/

 

Yes, you can make an 11:15 flight. Self disembarking is a good idea.

[jollyjones]

Or, for a stress free option, stay overnight in Lauderdale and go the next morning.

[FlaMariner]

Easily done.......

 

We did early disembarkation Saturday (12/3) and were at the curb/pick up area by 7:45am. (Holland America Line Nieuw Statendam)

 

We did early disembarkation in November 2021 (Holland America Line Rotterdam) and were at the Fort Lauderdale Amtrak station by 8:10am (further than the airport)...Plenty of time to catch the northbound 8:50am train. 

 

(As native Floridians not from South Florida, we tend to get out of Fort Lauderdale as fast as we can...(very high hotel prices "in season")...you can easily do that as well)

[hallasm]

I have done am flights out of FFL several times - 11:15am should not be a problem.

 

[CruiserBruce]

2 hours ago, hallasm said:

I have done am flights out of FFL several times - 11:15am should not be a problem.

 

FLL is Ft Lauderdale.

[hallasm]

4 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

FLL is Ft Lauderdale.

Sorry - FLL - didn’t check my spelling before posting.

[FionaMG]

Isn't it the case, though, that disembarkation from trans-Atlantic cruises can be badly delayed? I have no personal experience but have read about frequent issues because of immigration (?) on these cruises. Deferring to those of you who have more experience but just throwing it out there in case it would make a difference. 

[CruiserBruce]

5 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

Isn't it the case, though, that disembarkation from trans-Atlantic cruises can be badly delayed? I have no personal experience but have read about frequent issues because of immigration (?) on these cruises. Deferring to those of you who have more experience but just throwing it out there in case it would make a difference. 

"Badly delayed"? Not usually. The issue is frequently that if a ship is returning to the US after an extended period overseas, like a season in Europe, there are extensive Coast Guard and Public Health inspections. Boarding of the next load of pax can be delayed.

 

Entering the US is the same procedure as at the airport. Lines will be the delay. We saw this at Boston this year, as our ship was returning to the US after the summer in Europe. There were a number of Coast Guard personnel standing by, waiting for the bulk of the passengers to disembark before they could start their inspections. 

[FionaMG]

37 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

"Badly delayed"? Not usually. The issue is frequently that if a ship is returning to the US after an extended period overseas, like a season in Europe, there are extensive Coast Guard and Public Health inspections. Boarding of the next load of pax can be delayed.

 

Entering the US is the same procedure as at the airport. Lines will be the delay. We saw this at Boston this year, as our ship was returning to the US after the summer in Europe. There were a number of Coast Guard personnel standing by, waiting for the bulk of the passengers to disembark before they could start their inspections. 

Got it. So being as close to the front of the line as possible is going to be key to mitigate any issues, right?

Edited December 9, 2022 by FionaMG

[CruiserBruce]

Just now, FionaMG said:

Got it. So being as close to the front of the line is going to be key to mitigate any issues, right?

Yep. Carrying off your luggage and any other method to get towards the front off the line always helps.

[FlaMariner]

4 hours ago, FionaMG said:

Isn't it the case, though, that disembarkation from trans-Atlantic cruises can be badly delayed?

 

We've experienced nothing different from dis-embarking on a TA cruise (2021 Rotterdam) or a 7 day Caribbean jaunt (2022 Nieuw Statendam) at Port Everglades.

 

If anything, the TA dis-embarkation was faster because w/early dis-embarkation, there were less people taking advantage of that because they probably had more luggage.