Typical Time to Disembark?

What time do you typically leave the ship? Our flight leaves out of FLL at 11:40AM. How long does it usually take to disembark the ship and get through customs? I'm trying to figure out what time to have the car service pick us up at the port to take us back to the airport. I know the airport is only minutes away.

Last time I cruised out of FLL we were escorted off the ship and through customs within minutes thanks to the suite perks. This time we have to get off the ship ourselves and stand in line for customs and I have no idea how long that usually takes.

What time do you typically leave the ship? Our flight leaves out of FLL at 11:40AM. How long does it usually take to disembark the ship and get through customs? I'm trying to figure out what time to have the car service pick us up at the port to take us back to the airport. I know the airport is only minutes away.

 

Last time I cruised out of FLL we were escorted off the ship and through customs within minutes thanks to the suite perks. This time we have to get off the ship ourselves and stand in line for customs and I have no idea how long that usually takes.

As a Suite guest you can request early disembarkation letting the Front Desk know of your early flight. Should be able to get off around 8:30-9:00am. You say you have a car service but cabs are plenty at that time, cost to airport is around $20 and usually quick. Should be thru customs and to the airport by 10:00am. All this of course depends on how many ships are in port.

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As a Suite guest you can request early disembarkation letting the Front Desk know of your early flight. Should be able to get off around 8:30-9:00am. You say you have a car service but cabs are plenty at that time, cost to airport is around $20 and usually quick. Should be thru customs and to the airport by 10:00am. All this of course depends on how many ships are in port.

 

 

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Thanks for the help but this cruise, we don't have a suite and the reason I had to ask for help. What time do non-suite guests start getting off the ship? Is it reasonable to think we would disembark the ship around 9 and be through customs by 10? There are plenty of cabs waiting, even with the thousands of people disembarking? I was going to have a car service pick us up but if plenty of cabs are available, that will work too.

What time people "typically" get off the ship, and what you need to do for your flight time might be two different things. HAL tries very hard to start disembarking by 7:30, and to have cleared the ship by around 9:30. How long Immigration and Customs takes is not predictable.

If you look over on the Florida Departures board, you will see any flight after 11am is fine, and people are pretty comfortable even with 10:30 flights. So in your case, I would tell the ship either you have an early flight, in which case they will put you in a relatively early group getting off the ship, or tell them you wish to carry your bags off, which will put you very close to the front of the line for Immigration and Customs. Then catch a cab. To be honest, a car service is not required, and is a waste of money. There will be plenty of cabs- yes, even with thousands of pax getting off ships, particularly if you do the suggested things to get off the ship early.

In either case, you should be fine with a 11:40 flight.

Thanks for the help but this cruise, we don't have a suite and the reason I had to ask for help. What time do non-suite guests start getting off the ship? Is it reasonable to think we would disembark the ship around 9 and be through customs by 10? There are plenty of cabs waiting, even with the thousands of people disembarking? I was going to have a car service pick us up but if plenty of cabs are available, that will work too.

Still should not be an issue by just letting the FO of your early flight. We do cabs all the time, good luck!

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Thanks again for your help, Bruce and thank you Mllewis!! That sounds easy enough and shoot, I'll just save my money and grab a cab instead. I like to have everything planned and I make copies of everything and knock on wood, with every cruise so far, we've never had anything go wrong. Planning everything as well as possible also makes the time go by faster and gets me excited for the next cruise!!

Thanks again to both of you for your help and information!!!

we usually go off the ship at 07:15 with the expedited disembarkation. You have to carry your luggage yourself but on the other hand you are the first one at customs. We had an international flight from FLL and we had plenty of time.

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flight time was a bit after 11 o'clock too.

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Have had an 11:30 flight out of FLL and also got off just after the expedited passengers but before they called the next set of passengers (we also went to the front desk and asked for earliest disembarkation), claimed our luggage, breezed thru customs/immigration, grabbed a cab to the airport, checked our bags curbside, had our boarding passes. The TSA line was not too bad so no worries about making the flight. Do believe the reason was we got off at the end of the expedited passengers so few people were searching for their luggage, plus we put huge markers on the bags so easy to find.

We did have a customs delay once on a Saturday in FLL. Don't know what day you will be disembarking but if on a Saturday expect slower customs. Assume because more ships, customs spread thinner. Also traffic to port from park and ride which was near airport very slow and took probably 30 minutes when normally about 5 or 10. Just lots of traffic and they took "back" road. All other times when not on Sat. have had quick disembarkation and thru customs quickly especially if you do early walk off. There is a 2nd wave of walk off after suite/priority so you should be in that one which is still pretty early - maybe 8:00 or so. 11:40 flight should be late enough even if customs backed up I think.

Jane

You will receive a form -- usually on the 2nd day of the cruise -- to complete indicating what your plans are for the end of the cruise.

Check cruisetimetables to see how many ships will be in Ft Lauderdale with you. That determines how many immigration officials will be assigned to your pier.

We did have a customs delay once on a Saturday in FLL. Don't know what day you will be disembarking but if on a Saturday expect slower customs. Assume because more ships, customs spread thinner. Also traffic to port from park and ride which was near airport very slow and took probably 30 minutes when normally about 5 or 10. Just lots of traffic and they took "back" road. All other times when not on Sat. have had quick disembarkation and thru customs quickly especially if you do early walk off. There is a 2nd wave of walk off after suite/priority so you should be in that one which is still pretty early - maybe 8:00 or so. 11:40 flight should be late enough even if customs backed up I think.

Jane

Immigration and customs can be a problem when there are a lot of ships in port. One time there were only 2 Immigration officers (one for US citizens and 1 for International) for our ship and the process took well over an hour. This is one part of your trip where you have absolutely no control. If possible, I would use expedited debarkation where you carry all your luggage off and are the first group to go. I see you are traveling during the December holidays so you also need to consider the time it takes to get through TSA at the airport. Your flight time is definitely doable but everything has to line up in your favor.

Remember that if you have "Global Entry" you can speed up the custom process during disembarkation as Port Everglades now offers that exit.

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What time do you typically leave the ship? Our flight leaves out of FLL at 11:40AM. How long does it usually take to disembark the ship and get through customs? I'm trying to figure out what time to have the car service pick us up at the port to take us back to the airport. I know the airport is only minutes away.

 

Last time I cruised out of FLL we were escorted off the ship and through customs within minutes thanks to the suite perks. This time we have to get off the ship ourselves and stand in line for customs and I have no idea how long that usually takes.

Its hard to say when you will finally be out of the terminal, as Customs has been slow at times, plus the ship may be late getting in. As someone else mentioned, I would just take a taxi as there are many avialable and its only about a ten minute ride (cost about $15 plus tip). I know this is not as nice as having a car service, but it should be alot less hassle given the unkowns of the disembarkation process.

Immigration and customs can be a problem when there are a lot of ships in port. One time there were only 2 Immigration officers (one for US citizens and 1 for International) for our ship and the process took well over an hour. This is one part of your trip where you have absolutely no control. If possible, I would use expedited debarkation where you carry all your luggage off and are the first group to go. I see you are traveling during the December holidays so you also need to consider the time it takes to get through TSA at the airport. Your flight time is definitely doable but everything has to line up in your favor.

I just looked it up and we are the only ship to disembark that day (Tuesday). WOO HOO...I can only assume everything should go much more quickly/smoothly (knock on wood), since we are the only ship for customs.

Thanks for all the help everyone!!!