Luggage direct & early disembarkation in FLL

[maggiekoolcruiser]

Hello fellow cruisers,

I'm in a conundrum as I found out from a HAL agent today at ship services that if I use luggage direct on my upcoming cruise to Caribbean , I will have to be one of the first people leaving the ship at FLL. Problem is that my flight is at 6:15 PM and I really wanted to linger a little bit with DH and have one last breakfast in MDR. We're planning on taking a taxi from the ship and wander around around Las Olas area without luggage. We also don't like the idea of renting a car but we can if we have to. Any comments will be most appreciated. And thanks to you all for helping. :):)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[RuthC]

You have to make a choice---Luggage Direct and disembark early, or take your luggage and disembark later.

If you want to wander, you'll still have your carry-ons to lug, so renting a car would hold all the luggage.

[mamaofami]

I love luggage direct and to me, it's worth it to be off the ship early. You can always take a taxi to Hyatt 66 and have a nice breakfast there and wander the grounds for a while. Take a HAL sponsored tour or grab the water taxi for a fun day.

[Irish Eyes Are Sailing]

I love luggage direct and to me, it's worth it to be off the ship early. You can always take a taxi to Hyatt 66 and have a nice breakfast there and wander the grounds for a while. Take a HAL sponsored tour or grab the water taxi for a fun day.

 

I agree.......Luggage Direct is the only way to go IMO if it is offered. You can always "cab it" to another location, like mamaofami said, and enjoy the day there rather than get stuck for the day at the (less than stellar) FLL airport.

[tangerinebunny]

Because of the lack of turn around time, the crew is focused on getting the returning passengers ashore and the ship cleaned for the new voyagers.

 

Meals are served early; cabins are not pleasant to stay in because crew members must constantly enter to clean and check items. Frankly, staying aboard isn't relaxing.

 

The FLL airport lounges aren't relaxing either.

 

We depart early with LD and then pay extra to use the Delta lounge for the day.

[djhsolara]

We use LD and either grab breakfast in the Lido or do room service. We've never had an issue having breakfast and still leaving the ship when we are supposed to.

[rkacruiser]

During disembarkation from the Westerdam on January 11th, the Luggage Direct people were called at 7:30 A. M. The Lido and Dining Room will be open for breakfast early and you will have time for a nice breakfast before you disembark.

 

The one time that I have used Luggage Direct, I purchased a day pass for the Delta Sky Club and enjoyed a pleasant stay there until my flight time from FLL and then again at ATL prior to my flight home.

[hattack]

The reason why if you use Luggage Express you have to exit as a group early is for. FAA airport security..when you place your S&S card in the machine and hear the "ding" that matches up with your bags that are in a secure area and already screened...also if they found something "questionable" they will be waiting for you to escort you to your bag for a physicalinspection

 

As other posters have indicated, you have two options...since your flight is at 615pm, I would

Utilize the LE option have a nice breakfast at a nearby hotel, spend the day getting your land legs back..show up to the airport around 330

 

Have a safe trip

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

do luggage direct belive me yyou do not want to luge you luggage or even try and find it. they are tour to take or just relax at a hotel bar. I love luggage direct I love the fact I can put it out the night before and not see it until I return to my home port

 

 

Mary

[Typhoon1]

Luggage Direct is the only way to go.

 

If you're looking for a way to kill time prior to your flight, hop a cab over to the Galleria Mall. You can spend the day wandering the Mall, with several places to grab a bite to eat.

[djhsolara]

Luggage Direct is the only way to go.

 

 

 

If you're looking for a way to kill time prior to your flight, hop a cab over to the Galleria Mall. You can spend the day wandering the Mall, with several places to grab a bite to eat.

 

 

That's what we do if we don't have enough time to go to Sawgrass.

[rileylewis]

Is luggage direct only for passengers who are flying out? We are driving but want to get off the ship as soon as we can because we have a long drive home. :(

 

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

[RuthC]

Is luggage direct only for passengers who are flying out? We are driving but want to get off the ship as soon as we can because we have a long drive home. :(

Yes, Luggage Direct is only for flyers.

 

If you want to be off early, and can handle all your own luggage with no assistance, you can do self-disembarkation.

You would not put your luggage out the night before, but would be the first group off the ship---taking it yourself.

[cinnamon123]

Hi

If you don't have breakfast on the ship there's a great place on Los olas

Called the Floridian. They serve breakfast all day & they have tables outside.

It's on the corner of Los loss & I think it's se15th st.

Now, if you want lunch there's the capital grill on sunrise blvd at the galleria mall.

It's my favorite place. Lunch is $18 with soup or salad & an entree.

Consistently excellent.

Hope this helps you and wish you a great cruise.

Cinnamon 123

[alwaysfrantic]

I know they say it's some one else's rule that you have to be off the ship early.....but I think they just want people off the ship. At Port Canaveral (DCL) they transfer and check the luggage as well (for free) but guests do not have to exit early enmass.

 

I think it's just the way HAL wants it done.

[CrabbyHarper]

Does anyone know if Luggage Direct works if you are flying Air Tran? Seems to me that last Feb when we cruised from FLL we could not use Luggage Direct because we were flying on Air Tran. Does my memory fail me (always possible!)

 

We fly home Feb 28 so a quick reply would be appreciated.:)

[djhsolara]

I know they say it's some one else's rule that you have to be off the ship early.....but I think they just want people off the ship. At Port Canaveral (DCL) they transfer and check the luggage as well (for free) but guests do not have to exit early enmass.

 

 

 

I think it's just the way HAL wants it done.

 

 

Different port, different cruise line, different rules. I will not be the one to hold up everyone's luggage so I will be exiting the ship when I'm supposed to when I use LD.

[travelinjones]

If you haven't taken it, we'd recommend the Land & Sea Excursion and Transfer when using Luggage Direct -- we did this in late December and the tour guide was fantastic -- first around Fort Lauderdale and bus and learn the history of the area, followed by getting on a double-decker boat and touring around the canals.

Then you get dropped off at the airport around 1 pm.