can someone explain the check in/debark procedure?

[Gixer]

I know the Freedom/Liberty usually leave Miami at 5pm but what time should we arrive at the cruise terminal? what time do they start letting people board the ship?

 

Also, what time do you usually get off the ship when you arrive back at Miami? how long does it take to get to the airport from the cruise terminal?

 

Thanks :)

[Inshape]

They allow people to start boarding usually around 11:15 am with priority boarding for platinum members and higher. You will not be able to get into the cabins until 1 pm so you will be dragging around your carryons if you did not check them all with the ship porters. Remember the first night is casual, as all of them are except for the formal nights, but on this night they even allow shorts. Debarkation depends on self express which is as early as the ship clears customs. Or by tag color. If you need to be off at a certain time just do self assist and take all your stuff with you and leave when you want. It is rather easy a procedure. Just make sure you have filled out all the forms for customs.

[CLQ]

For Miami, we've aimed for arriving about 10:30 am each time. We do that acknowledging the gamble since their posted boarding time is normally an official 2 pm. In reality, they have lunch set up in the WJ and we're normally aboard by about noon. There's some sitting around the Terminal, but well worth it we think. We do try to stay out of our Steward's way in the cabin, although we may drop off our carry-ons and keep moving. Disembarkation has seemed to vary by ship, and I don't have nearly as good a feel for that.

[wrp96]

Boarding usually begins between 11am and noon. You have to be onboard the ship no later than 90 minutes before the ship departs, so for a 5pm departure you have to be onboard by 3:30.

 

The ship normally starts disembarking sometime between 6:30 and 7:30am if there aren't any delays with immigration etc. The last people are usually forced off the ship around 10:30am. If you are trying to plan flights home, it's best not to plan one before noon.

[eem0924]

If your travel plans allow -- try and get to the pier early.

 

Often you can board by 11:30 or so. That gives you a longer first day to enjoy the ship. You can get lunch at the Windjammer and head up to the pool for sunning and swimming. If that's not for you, try exploring the ship before it's filled with passengers.

 

As a previous poster stated you can usually gain access to your stateroom by 1:00pm. If your luggage comes early you can unpack before the Muster Drill.

 

We did self-debarkation on our last cruise and walked off the ship by 8:30 am. Grabbed a cab at the pier and were at the airport by 9:00 am. You can never be sure how quickly the ship will clear customs so you can't count on a flight before 11:30 or so.

[Inshape]

We have a very early flight coming home after our mos cruise ...11 am. We will have to be off the ship by 8 grab the shuttle to get our rental car by be on the road by 8:30 to MCO. I figure the trip to be 1 hour( we have done it in 50 min) so that would get us to the airport at 9:30. It will cut it close but we are hoping for the best.

[Gixer]

Boarding usually begins between 11am and noon. You have to be onboard the ship no later than 90 minutes before the ship departs, so for a 5pm departure you have to be onboard by 3:30.

 

The ship normally starts disembarking sometime between 6:30 and 7:30am if there aren't any delays with immigration etc. The last people are usually forced off the ship around 10:30am. If you are trying to plan flights home, it's best not to plan one before noon.

 

 

Thanks - thats exactly what I am trying to plan, onward flights! The flight I have in mind is at 12.45 so that should be ok right?

[wrp96]

A flight at 12:45 should work fine.