DanJ

If you take the US1 north exit and turn right on to SE 17th St, and then turn right on to Eisenhower, you can enter terminal 2 without having to stop at the security checkpoint. Might or might not be worth it, depending on how busy the port is that day.

It's a huge benefit if your flight is later and you want to do something before heading to the airport. I thought long and hard about doing it, but in the end, not spending 80 bucks won out for us.

The shuttle does a constant circuit. When we took it a few weeks ago, they had a couple buses running. Look for big decorated airport buses like below (sorry the pic isn't a bit bigger, it's from the airport website). Don't look for the typical blue/green Alamo/National buses.

Same thing.

 

You can check in 24 hours prior to your flight and you can obtain your boarding passes.

 

Very easy.

 

Assuming you provided your e mail to them then you will receive an e mail when it is time to check in or you can just go to their web site directly.

 

Keith

Different thing. OP is asking about the check-in process being done automatically, so you don't have to go online 24 hours ahead and actually do it. It's a process that Southwest, for example, sells for a small upcharge that people hope gets them a better boarding position.

I don't personally see the need for automatic check in if you have seats assigned, and if you don't have seats assigned, I would rather log in and actually pick my seats at the 24 hour mark.

Was on Oasis 2 weeks ago, and while MTD was on deck 3, they also would put people at tables on other decks as well. For example, 2 nights, the people at the 2 person table beside us on deck 5 booked alternate dining, and MTD passengers were seated at their table those nights. Our waiter said that when you book reservations at the other venues, the computer flags that and notifies the dining room that table so and so is available.

The one problem you may have to deal with is if you have to go through Customs in Ft. Lauderdale or if you are able to do it in Toronto. If you have to go through Customs that will delay you some what.

tigercat

They will pre-clear in Toronto before the flight.

Cool pics. The Disney Magic used to sail from there so it's really "Welcome Back"

The engines, machinery, fuel and water in the bottom of the ship weighs more than the empty volume of the superstructure.

 

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I recall when we sailed on the Grand Princess in 1999, when it was the largest cruise ship, they had a thing playing on the cabin TV's showing behind the scenes areas of the ship (the idea of charging a hundred and fifty bucks to show those areas hadn't dawned on them yet lol). Anyway, one clip was with the engineer and one question he said they get asked as ships get bigger and bigger is how do these ships stay upright when they are so tall. I can't recall exactly what number he used (perhaps you might know), but he said something along the lines that of the physical weight of the ship, some huge majority (I want to say he said 80-90%) of the weight was below the waterline. I remember the scene of him standing on the pier and waving his arm back at the ship and saying "what you see here is nothing in terms of how much the ship weighs".

Shuttle was running 2 weeks ago when we took it. Constellation (terminal 4) was the first ship we went to actually.

I think the only reason people would need to have a backup in place is if they want their Hyatt points. At some point this year, they are not going to be a Hyatt anymore. But it's not going to close it's doors after it's Hyatt affiliation ends. They will just become something generic like "The Pier 66 Hotel" or something until they are sold and the new owner applies to whatever hotel brand they hope to join (if any).

Similar thing just happened with the former Comfort Suites on Federal Highway and 17th St. The hotel is changing affiliation from Comfort Suites to Four Points by Sheraton and in the meantime, is known as the Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port Inn.

Remember you have to be on the ship earlier.

 

In general it is 90 minutes before the cruise embarks and some cruise lines require 2 hours.

 

The problem when people say no problem if the flight is on time there is great risk it won't be on time.

 

I would see if you can change the flight.

 

Keith

And yet, every week, almost every ship has people arriving and boarding right up until they pull the gangway and say that's it. Sailed on the Oasis 2 weeks ago and we didn't depart until shortly after 5 (430 is scheduled departure) as we were waiting for late arriving passengers making their way in late from the northeast storm.

I'm usually after trip cancellation and interruption insurance, as well as medical evac from the ship. My work coverage covers out of country injury/illness as well as medical evac from foreign to home. It's from the ship that I'm worried about. So, I typically end up buying a full coverage package, since the cost is only incremental to have the full coverage over picking the couple options I really want.

So even if conditions are dangerous, and it's not feasible to just "go around" the danger, a ship should still take off so people won't be unhappy?

 

Yeah, makes sense. 😕

 

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

No, not what I said. Go and watch the video that was posted of the captain explaining what happened. Information at the time was the storm wasn't going to be anything like it turned into (despite what all the weathermen who are now popping up on that other thread say). No ship would ever sail from the northeast if they stayed in port every time there was a low pressure system off the coast.

Been on Flyertalk for 11 years. Have heard the Embraers called Jungle Jets and the CRJ's called lawn darts, but never heard of 757's being called ghetto birds.

I agree, you will be fine, barring any delays with the flight. At least by the time you get to the cruise terminal, the line will be steadily moving, although it might appear to be pretty daunting when you show up.

To be clearer, the porters are after you get off the ship. There are no porters to help you carry luggage off if that's something you are considering. When we disembarked in Baltimore, you lined up directly off the gangway to pass through immigration (passport control). Then you went into the warehouse to find your luggage if you put it out to be taken off for you. Then on the way out, you handed the customs declaration to the agent inside the exit door. Possible they have changed it since then.

Some ports, (like Port Everglades last weekend), we got off the ship, found our luggage, and got in line for immigration and this same agent was who we gave our declaration to and off we went.

A few hours away and that big thread on the RCI board is way beyond trying to catch up on. I followed a long a bit last night. So many arm chair cruise ship captains on there. Really, the suggestion to have gone out in front and around the storm was ridiculous. What, they were supposed to sail 1000 miles northeast and hope to get around a storm that was moving northeast? My suspicion was the captain, in consultation with others, looked at the forecast, and while not ideal, figured with the storm going northeast, to try to skirt inside on the west side, and when the storm moved, as they are well known to do, they were stuck in it with no where really to go. Reports are that the captain announced at the muster drill it would be a rough ride heading south, so he did know it was a risky routing. But the other choice was to sit in New Jersey and wait for the storm to pass. Yes, I'm sure that would have gone over well, even with those who claim that's what should have happened given their perfect 20/20 hindsight. What kind of cruise would it have been if it had started a couple days later? No one would have been happy, or thought about the fact they were safe.

Figured as much considering what that poster has stated, especially on the other thread he/she started and said you experienced a 45 degree list. I called BS on that one.

Same as the waves reaching above their balcony rails on deck 7 and 8. It's a matter of perspective, of where you are looking from and if the ship happens to be leaning one way or the other at that time too. I don't think people really have an idea of what 45 degrees feels like. Most people think an airplane takes off at that angle or more.

Wait what?? There aren't vests in your closet? I have not sailed RCCL but have Celebrity, Princess, NCL and a line in the Mediterranean and sell had our vests in the closet in our room.

The Oasis doesn't have life vests in the cabins either. No real reason to, you go to the muster station anyway, so no need to waste time going to the cabin, or people tripping over life vest straps on the way.

Wow, but better and upper deck than one below water.

 

A ceiling collapse isn't the same as a deck collapsing. Most of the ceilings are suspended ceilings, hanging by wires from the decking and beams above.

Deck 8 port side here. The injured Wookie sound perfectly nails the hangar noise. Our balcony separator also broke free but after flapping for hours it wedged shut. All our toiletries went into the sink to keep them stationary. No food but at least we have Internet and the Super Bowl. Given what's NOT being said, I have a feeling they might skip Canaveral at best, but hopefully not cut the cruise short. After 26+ foot waves and 130-knot winds, who knows...

I think Canaveral is where you will be as soon as possible.

You will be surprised at how uncrowded it feels most of the time.

I agree with that. 5800 on Oasis was a lot less crowded than 4100 on Carnival Dream, which was our last cruise. I had our waiter ask us about differences with Carnival and RCI, and I said "well for one thing, if Carnival had a ship this size, they would find a way to put 9000 passengers on it". I will say that I found the Oasis to be one of the easiest ships to figure out the layout and not get lost on. I never ended up on the starboard hallway looking for our cabin, and only once all week did I end up at the wrong end of the casino on deck 4 when I was going to the comedy club.

Last Saturday self assists could start leaving at 6:30 AM. The first check-luggage group was scheduled for 8:30 AM. I can't tell you if that went on schedule as we walked off at 7:40 AM. There was no line. We simply walked from the cabin to deck 5 and off of the ship. We were in a cab by 8:15 AM.

Same cruise. First group was scheduled at 815, and they were called slightly ahead of that. We were off 30 minutes behind you but things slowed down in that time. We had group 3 and were in the terminal for about an hour as the line snaked up and down and back and forth. I dont think they lay the luggage out in a good order. Number 1 should be closest to the escalator, not all the way near the front, where you have to fight the crowd to head back to the line for customs.

Like Carnival Freedom

The Oasis is essentially 2 Carnival Freedoms, with less than double the passengers. You are looking at another 230 feet in length and probably 40 feet across and a few decks higher. You won't feel as crowded on Oasis.

 

Does Princess have the "Marine Evacuation Systems" (large, multiple liferafts equipped with evacuation chutes) for passengers? If so, this is news to me, and I'd be interested in hearing which ships and how many. It was my understanding that while these systems had been approved for shipboard use, that they were not allowed for passenger use. I know that many ships use these over the old davit launched rafts for crew.

Not sure about Princess, but RCI has this on the Oasis class. Just on Oasis 2 weeks ago and they show pictures of the escape chute and mention some passengers may have to use this in an evacuation. Oasis life boats are rated at 370 passengers each, although I'm not sure what reality is, given, as you say, the average person is bigger than the averages used for calculations. I know I certainly am lol.