Embarkation Nightmare on Freedom

We were on the June 14 sailing of the Freedom. We arrived at the pier at noon to find lines three deep that went on for a block. This was outside in 90 degree temperature. The line was hardly moving. It took an hour for us to enter the building - where there was the usual maze line to get to the check in counters. This was really a horrible start to our cruise.

When we returned to Ft Lauderdale for debarkation we were docked at another terminal - so maybe this will fix the problem. But I have never had to wait outside for any of about 40 cruises I have taken from Ft Lauderdale and Miami. I think it is totally unacceptable - especially since we were with very young children. I was told some people actually passed out from the heat.

Did you hear what problem occured to cause the hold up??

I have only done 3 cruises from Fort Lauderdale, I seem to remember all of them had a wait. We arrived I think for most of them somewhere around 11. Last one on Carnival we did get inside quickly no wait outside but waited over 1 1/2 hours after that. That was the only cruise I did that didn't have a long line outside first.

It sounds like the crew and staff were going through the 90 day customs inspection.

Once every 90 days ALL of the crew and staff have to visit the folks from CBP and be subjected to a rather thorough questioning and evaluation of purchases and such.

The same thing happen at every port with every ship.

I certainly understand how aggravating such events are as I've had to deal with it myself...

:(

We always arrive early but I guess that is why they say on the documents what time to arrive.. You never know when customs will hold things up and if you are there before they tell you to come I guess there maybe times you can not board early and there will be a wait.

I used to work shoreside for Celebrity in Baltimore. Once our ship was held up and we did not board until 6 pm. That was a very long day and thay did the best to make everyone comfortable but the ones who got to the Terminal at 9 in the morning had a really really long wait. If anyone ever sailed out of Baltimore about 6 years ago you will know that the terminal was any empty warehouse with chairs and fancy portable toilets in it. It was not a fun day. Everyone wants to get on as soon as possible but there are things that happen that make it not possible. I think that is the chance you take when you arrive early, not that it would stop us from trying to be the first on the ship. ( which we have been able to do a few times). I hope the rest of your cruise was great. Cindy

We used to have very short wait times if we went to the port around 11:00, but the last few cruises we've been on it seems there has been some sort of hold up. This August we are leaving from Miami, what time do you all think is the best time to get to the port?

This past Feb we left from Ft Lauderdale. We have VIP and were on in 15 minutes total. We were talking to some people that were in regular line. They were on in 30 minutes. Two years ago we were in regular line. It took us about 45 minutes. It was very hot. I love Miami the best for leaving. It only took us about 12 minutes on VIP. REgular was only 25 minutes. They are great in Miami. Nice VIP Lounge. Best one I have seen.

This past Feb we left from Ft Lauderdale. We have VIP and were on in 15 minutes total. We were talking to some people that were in regular line. They were on in 30 minutes. Two years ago we were in regular line. It took us about 45 minutes. It was very hot. I love Miami the best for leaving. It only took us about 12 minutes on VIP. REgular was only 25 minutes. They are great in Miami. Nice VIP Lounge. Best one I have seen.

I agree. My last cruise on the Freedom as a Platinum cruiser was great. They had a special line outside to let us know where to go. We by passed many many people. it took about 15 min

We arrived at noon. I don't think this is too early for a ship that is supposed to board at 12:30. This is the time we always arrive and we are always eating lunch by 1 oclock. Last Sunday we did not get on the ship until 1:30.

I guess maybe there was some sort of customs thing going on. Just didn't know if this is usual for Carnival as we usually are on RCCL, celebrity or HAL.

As I said we docked at a different terminal when we returned, so maybe Carnival was aware of the problem and moved the ship to a larger terminal. I sure hope so. It is way too hot to stand outside for that long in the afternoon.

We were just on the Freedom in May. This is the kind of horror story I was so worried about. I was pleasently suprized as I stated in my travel blog that from drop off to actual boarding was about an hour. 20 minutes of this time was spent sitting in the nice air conditioned building waiting to be called to board. I know that all of the boarding information says it starts at 12:30, but in order to board at 12:30 you need to be at the port and ready to start the process by at least 10:30. We were in boarding zone 3 and were actually on board before 12:30.

Same thing happened on the 5/31 sailing we were on. We took a picture from our balcony at 3:15pm and a line went about a block out from the building.

Has anyone had this happen to them on any other ship? Is it just the Carnival Freedom with this problem? If so Carnival better do something about it or someone will have a stroke out there.

As I said before, in 40 cruises from Florida we had never before had to wait outside in the heat of the day.

In 2004, the old Royal Princess had both a Coast Guard inspection and a Public Health inspection before passengers were allowed to board. This was at Pier 18 in Port Everglades. The interior lobby of the pier was full and there was a line extending along the side of the exterior of the pier. So, this kind of a situation is not uncommon. Not pleasant for the waiting-to-embark passengers, but really nothing that the cruise line can do about it.

We were on the June 14 sailing of the Freedom. We arrived at the pier at noon to find lines three deep that went on for a block. This was outside in 90 degree temperature. The line was hardly moving. It took an hour for us to enter the building - where there was the usual maze line to get to the check in counters. This was really a horrible start to our cruise.

 

When we returned to Ft Lauderdale for debarkation we were docked at another terminal - so maybe this will fix the problem. But I have never had to wait outside for any of about 40 cruises I have taken from Ft Lauderdale and Miami. I think it is totally unacceptable - especially since we were with very young children. I was told some people actually passed out from the heat.

Which terminals were used? This is my first cruise out of Port Everglades and I think we are supposed to go out of Terminal 19.

Has anyone had this happen to them on any other ship? Is it just the Carnival Freedom with this problem? If so Carnival better do something about it or someone will have a stroke out there.

 

As I said before, in 40 cruises from Florida we had never before had to wait outside in the heat of the day.

A few others, including Host Randy have already answered you, by saying it happens to every ship.

When we took the Freedom in February, we arrived and were onboard in about 30 minutes. (before noon.) Incredibly fast embarkation and debarkation at Port Everglades.

My Parents have taken almost every cruiseline out of Florida.

I know for sure they had a 4 hour wait outside in Miami in August, for a HAL cruise and another couple hour wait outside in October in Port Canaveral on RCCL. (but that is out of 20+ cruises)

We have been lucky so far,(knock on wood) with 4 great embarkations out of 4 Carnival cruises.

Bill

Why get there so early to wait in line. arrive around 2 or 3 and get on with no wait.

Why get there so early to wait in line. arrive around 2 or 3 and get on with no wait.

BAD ADVICE!

As Carnival will tell you, you must be on board prior to 90 mnutes before sailing. That means by 2:30 you are too late if there is a line.........

I don't mean any offense, but some of you have a very loose definition of "horror" or "nightmare". I'm sorry this affected your entire vacation enough that it warranted a post after getting home from what was hopefully a fantastic week.

I think we waited in line for at least 3 hours the last time we sailed, since the shuttle the hotel booked us on was extremely early. Then after the official boarding time began we waited and waited and waited... however that didn't even make it into my review. Shake it off and enjoy your vacation - on board by 1:30, that's hardly what I would call a nightmare. I hope you had someone to send to grab some cold drinks.

We were on the June 14 sailing of the Freedom. We arrived at the pier at noon to find lines three deep that went on for a block. This was outside in 90 degree temperature. The line was hardly moving. It took an hour for us to enter the building - where there was the usual maze line to get to the check in counters. This was really a horrible start to our cruise.

 

When we returned to Ft Lauderdale for debarkation we were docked at another terminal - so maybe this will fix the problem. But I have never had to wait outside for any of about 40 cruises I have taken from Ft Lauderdale and Miami. I think it is totally unacceptable - especially since we were with very young children. I was told some people actually passed out from the heat.

Being a veteran of "40 cruises", you should know to arrive at the pier well in advance of the buses from the airport. You should know to be there before they open the door.... You're in, checked in and comfortable long before the airport folks arrive.

Being a veteran, you should know that anything can hold up embarkation; from Homeland Security, to Cruise line security, to being shorthanded, to folks trying to checkin without proper documents...and many other things.

Arriving early means you don't wait in line.

I was on this cruise also. This was the longest I've ever waited to board the ship. We arrived at 12:30 and did not get on the ship until 2:30. The computers at the check in desks went down a couple of times. An older gentleman in line next to me passed of from the heat inside the terminal. When we went to get our pictures for the sign and sail the computers went down on them also. However, once we got on the ship everything was great. Good service, food, and entertainment. Overall had a very good cruise. Just started out on a bad note but ended with a bang.

We were on the Freedom Cruise June 14th as well, but a unique perspective. It was the second half of a back-2-back for us. We had instructions to come to the lobby area, and wait till we were called. We were scheduled to be the last off, escorted, and the first people back on. We were the only family doing this that week.

We waited 90 minutes till we got off. We enjoyed this, since we were on chairs, near the exit, people-watching. It seemed that there were several minor incidents that people had to deal with, and perhaps all combined to make the wait longer.

Several people did not disembark as instructed. Their names were called repeatedly, and we overheard conversations of crew members about "looking for them". One family left on time, but they had carefully left passports and money locked in the safe. They had to come back, sign in, get stuff, sign out, etc. I think there were computer problems happening. We did not get our pictures taken for our new sign and sail accounts till leaving the ship in Key West the next day. Every time we got on or off the ship that week, everyone else quickly moved thru with Ding, Ding, Ding. We Dooonnng, Dooonnnggg, and held up the line every time. A bit annoying, but lived with it.

I know that we were back on the ship, I had gotten my computer from my room (we were told we alone could go to our room), and was up sitting by the lido deck food lines. The first cruisers were on at 11:30, and boy, was there a stampede to the food. Quite interesting.

I think the main problem might have been slow computer access. I'm sorry you had to wait so long.

Kathy

When we went on the Freedom May 31st, we got there about 10:30 in the morning. It was our first cruise, so I didn't know if that would be too early, but it turned out to be a perfect time. We got on the ship around 12:15 or so...by around 1 or 1:30, when I looked down at the pier, I could see a very LONG line of people standing in the sun. I was so glad we had gotten there early.

Seems like there should be enough indoor space to accomodate the largest line. Standing outside is torture in the noon heat. At least provide shade and water to drink!

Seems like there should be enough indoor space to accomodate the largest line. Standing outside is torture in the noon heat. At least provide shade and water to drink!

This will likely change only AFTER the first lawsuit. :eek:

I don't mean any offense, but some of you have a very loose definition of "horror" or "nightmare". I'm sorry this affected your entire vacation enough that it warranted a post after getting home from what was hopefully a fantastic week.

 

I think we waited in line for at least 3 hours the last time we sailed, since the shuttle the hotel booked us on was extremely early. Then after the official boarding time began we waited and waited and waited... however that didn't even make it into my review. Shake it off and enjoy your vacation - on board by 1:30, that's hardly what I would call a nightmare. I hope you had someone to send to grab some cold drinks.

I disagree. Standing outside in that heat, in line is a nightmare...especially for older people.

NOT fun.

I had a bad boarding experience in NY once....it certainly didn't ruin my cruise but it does put you in a foul mood for a little bit (until the first DOD arrives anyway) :D