Time for flight home from Fort Lauderdale

[OCVTSGIRL]

We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale in January 2024.  I'm looking at flights and I see one for 10:00 a.m.  Is this feasible?  Our itinerary shows us docking in Fort Lauderdale at 6:15 a.m.  The next flight isn't until after 3:00 in the afternoon.  Also, how does everyone get from the ship to the airport?

[colesc15]

We've made it for a 10:30 FLL flight before with plenty of time to spare. You just can't experience any delays in getting off the ship or anything. Actually have another 10:30 am flight booked coming up. 

[HaveWeMetYet]

10.00am is easy to make.

I have done Fort Lauderdale to Miami by 10am.

Of course, if the ship is late that changes.

 

If you have an early flight take uber or a taxi. Self assist luggage also helps but you have time to do the pickup if you want.

Nothing worse than having to wait on shuttles with an early flight.

[ILCTCRUISER]

Self-assist luggage.   You could try putting out luggage the night before and picking up the next day.  However, having your luggage with you is the sure thing.  No chance for it to go missing.

 

Usually clearance to disembark is 7AM.  You need to get in line though.  We tend to get in line about 6:30 and are often amazed by the number of people already in line.  Large ship?  We’ve seen very, very long lines.   

 

Day of week.  Weekend, very little traffic so you’re at airport 15 minutes or so.  May be more traffic weekdays but not a deal breaker.

 

We take taxi rather than ride share because taxis are lined up waiting

[RD64]

Whatever time makes you comfortable. It depends on your personal level of risk. Ask 100 people and you will get 150 different answers. Not every Saturday / Sunday arrival works according to plan - there are many different variables. Just one thing not going according to the precise timetable may cause your original plans to be null and void. This weekend there is an event in Miami that may cause traffic delays. Were the people that purchased airfare six months ago aware of this?

 

Have a back up plan, and be prepared to spend extra $$$$ just in case - especially if you do not have the foresight to purchase insurance.

Edited March 21, 2023 by RD64

[basenji56]

If you have luggage, use curbside pickup if available because the lines to check your baggage inside the terminal are often insanely long.  Tip the porters.

 

[d9704011]

Just now, basenji56 said:

If you have luggage, use curbside pickup if available because the lines to check your baggage inside the terminal are often insanely long.  Tip the porters.

 

What does this have to do with catching a 1000 flight out of Fort Lauderdale following a cruise?

[njkruzer]

1 minute ago, d9704011 said:

What does this have to do with catching a 1000 flight out of Fort Lauderdale following a cruise?

If time is close and you have to wait 30 minutes to check luggage and don't forget TSA line.

[d9704011]

12 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

If time is close and you have to wait 30 minutes to check luggage and don't forget TSA line.

Evidently, there is a time-saving service I wasn't aware of.... you can pay somebody to check your luggage on your behalf and head directly to security with a boarding pass in hand (hopefully with TSA Pre-Check)?

[rockmom]

5 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Evidently, there is a time-saving service I wasn't aware of.... you can pay somebody to check your luggage on your behalf and head directly to security with a boarding pass in hand (hopefully with TSA Pre-Check)?

Many airports have baggage drop off outside the main doors. You get out of your taxi, go to the 'Skycap' stand for YOUR airline, show your boarding pass and they check your bags before you even enter the building.  Not all airlines have this, and those that do, don't always have them set up. But if they are out there and checking bags, it's a huge timesaver.  But you definitely need to have some cash tips, and some airlines charge a small fee too.   They cannot help you if you have any ticketing issues or other problems. They are strictly there to take checked bags.  

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by rockmom

[HaveWeMetYet]

10am is easy to make from ship to airport at Fort Lauderdale .

Relax.

[OCVTSGIRL]

Thanks everyone.  JetBlue is the airline I am flying.  We arrive back at Fort Lauderdale on a Sunday.  We always carry our luggage off the ship...so much better in our opinion than having them take the luggage.

[njkruzer]

19 minutes ago, OCVTSGIRL said:

Thanks everyone.  JetBlue is the airline I am flying.  We arrive back at Fort Lauderdale on a Sunday.  We always carry our luggage off the ship...so much better in our opinion than having them take the luggage.

Good luck.

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, OCVTSGIRL said:

We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale in January 2024.  I'm looking at flights and I see one for 10:00 a.m.  Is this feasible?  Our itinerary shows us docking in Fort Lauderdale at 6:15 a.m.  The next flight isn't until after 3:00 in the afternoon.  Also, how does everyone get from the ship to the airport?

10:00 is no problem at all. Have a great cruise!

[basenji56]

10 hours ago, rockmom said:

Many airports have baggage drop off outside the main doors. You get out of your taxi, go to the 'Skycap' stand for YOUR airline, show your boarding pass and they check your bags before you even enter the building.  Not all airlines have this, and those that do, don't always have them set up. But if they are out there and checking bags, it's a huge timesaver.  But you definitely need to have some cash tips, and some airlines charge a small fee too.   They cannot help you if you have any ticketing issues or other problems. They are strictly there to take checked bags.  

 

I started using the skycaps at Fort Lauderdale after a Delta employee, surveying the line almost out the door, suggested we go to the Skycap stand if all we needed was to check bags.  I got my bag checked within a few minutes.

 

[firefly333]

12 hours ago, OCVTSGIRL said:

We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale in January 2024.  I'm looking at flights and I see one for 10:00 a.m.  Is this feasible?  Our itinerary shows us docking in Fort Lauderdale at 6:15 a.m.  The next flight isn't until after 3:00 in the afternoon.  Also, how does everyone get from the ship to the airport?

We didnt rush off oasis and made it about 9 am I think. We had to wait at least 15 minutes for a taxi. 

[MiniChunks]

My stress levels when traveling are too high to book a 10:00 flight out of anywhere even though it is entirely possible. We've even been back at the airport early enough for a 10:00 flight when using Royal's disembark number process, but I prefer to book the 3:00 flight and take an airboat ride in the everglades or something. Its far more relaxing than worrying about missing your flight. Your luggage goes on the excursion in the bus and gets dropped off with you at the airport. 

[Husky1987]

As most others have said, 10:00 should be fine if you self-disembark.

 

We've been sitting at our gate at FLL at 8:00 quite a few times.

[poocher]

How about a 12:30 FLL flight from POM?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, MiniChunks said:

My stress levels when traveling are too high to book a 10:00 flight out of anywhere even though it is entirely possible. 

 on our very first cruise we booked a 10 am return flight. We barely made it to the gate when they were closing the door.

Never again.

We now only book 12 pm and later. I don't need this stress - all I get is a migraine. Nor do we want to get up at 6 am for disembarkation and rush out without having a proper breakfast and an unrushed cup of coffee.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Itchy&Scratchy

[moposh]

15 hours ago, OCVTSGIRL said:

We are cruising out of Fort Lauderdale in January 2024.  I'm looking at flights and I see one for 10:00 a.m.  Is this feasible?  Our itinerary shows us docking in Fort Lauderdale at 6:15 a.m.  The next flight isn't until after 3:00 in the afternoon.  Also, how does everyone get from the ship to the airport?

Good luck and enjoy your cruise.  You could also do an excursion that will take you to airport if you wanted to do later flight.

Edited March 22, 2023 by moposh

[MiniChunks]

8 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

 on our very first cruise we booked a 10 am return flight. We barely made it to the gate when they were closing the door.

Never again.

We now only book 12 pm and later. I don't need this stress - all I get is a migraine. Nor do we want to get up at 6 am for disembarkation and rush out without having a proper breakfast and an unrushed cup of coffee.

 

I've done it a couple of times and decided that getting home a few hours earlier isn't worth the stress. If the only options are 10AM or 7PM departure, that's a different story. I'll take 3PM 100 times out of 100

[moposh]

1 minute ago, MiniChunks said:

 

I've done it a couple of times and decided that getting home a few hours earlier isn't worth the stress. If the only options are 10AM or 7PM departure, that's a different story. I'll take 3PM 100 times out of 100

I wouldn't like the stress either.  I'm doing a shore excursion when we return to Miami.  Flight times weren't great so this way we don't have to rush or stress.

[pcur]

I got off the Vision 2 days ago, 3/20/23.  The ship was cleared at 7:30 am.  

 

If you are in a suite, or are Pinnacle, you are escorted off the ship immediately, and your luggage is in the holding area right up front next to Immigration.

 

Self-assist is the other option for quick debarkation.  The line starts very early, too.

 

What I love about Miami and Fort Lauderdale home ports is the facial recognition software Customs/Immigration are using now.  So much faster!

 

Outside, to the left, is the pick-up area for Lyft/Uber, etc. I recommend this because you have your own dedicated car, and YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK TO FIND YOUR TRANSPORTATION: it comes to you. Much more time is spent if you hire a driver or take a shuttle/bus.

 

BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR CELL PHONE SETTINGS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE BEEN USING THE SHIP'S WIFI.  THE RIDE SHARE APP WON'T WORK, OTHERWISE.

 

Stand outside the crowded ride-share lines, either at the very beginning of the pick-up area, or the very end.  Tell the driver, using the app, what you're wearing.  This helps them ID you as they drive up. I found many Uber cars don't have front license plates, so you're waiting for "that Chevy Blazer" to actually drive PAST you in order to see if it's "your Chevy Blazer".  Let the driver recognize you as he/she drives up.

 

I eyeball the inside kiosks for luggage checking as we drive up at the airport.  But, I find that arriving early means the lines inside and outside aren't bad.

 

Two days ago I was walking off the ship as soon as it was cleared (I'm Pinnacle), and my sister and I were out on the sidewalk waiting for our Uber less than 10 minutes later.  We were at the FLL airport by 8am, and had time for breakfast before my 10:30 am boarding time for my flight.

[BecciBoo]

Perfectly done!