Early debarkation with early flights?

[bbiggar]

Does RCCL offer an early debarkation for people with early flights? We want to self disembark, but wondering if these people with proof of early flights get first off?

[Cruisingthesuitelife]

I think that anyone can self disembark. So, you could end up with everyone doing it (I know this wouldn't happen but well, you never know!) However, I have never seen any priority for people with early flights, you just have to be down there early to be one of the first off.

 

If it really is that tight, I would suggest a later flight - you never know what might delay the ship docking and being cleared.

[Clarea]

Does RCCL offer an early debarkation for people with early flights? We want to self disembark, but wondering if these people with proof of early flights get first off?

There is no assigned order to self-disembarkation. All you need to do is line up early.

[didicruiser]

If you have a very early flight, start lining up prior to "arrival" time. The line can get very long. This way customs won't be backed up IMHO

[bbiggar]

Thanks for all the replies. I wanted to book a later flight, but spending almost a whole day in FLL didn't sound much fun. We usually can be at the airport before 8am sailing on Carnival, but this is our first RCCL cruise.

 

Do you debark the ship the same place you embark?

[MommaBear55]

We have self disembarked many times. Sometimes we are off in 20 minutes, this last time was over an hour as there was a slight delay in the ship clearing customs. Many are now doing self disembark, using the elevators, not actually able to carry the load of luggage they have so that it is a disorganized mess. You didn't say what time your proposed flight is. Certainly you might make a 9 am flight but 10 or after is more realistic. It helps if you print off your boarding passes on ship and only have carry on luggage.

[Clarea]

Thanks for all the replies. I wanted to book a later flight, but spending almost a whole day in FLL didn't sound much fun. We usually can be at the airport before 8am sailing on Carnival, but this is our first RCCL cruise.

 

Do you debark the ship the same place you embark?

You will get a letter in your stateroom called "As You Depart" with details on the disembarkation process.

[spookwife]

Does RCCL offer an early debarkation for people with early flights? We want to self disembark, but wondering if these people with proof of early flights get first off?

 

ANYONE may self disembark. no need to prove anything. they will always be the first ones off no matter what. if you do not want to do this and still have an early flight then you must REQUEST to be in the first group called once Self disembarkation is done. generally speaking, usually within a half hour or so has been my experience.

 

they do ask for your flight numbers but whether or not you will be denied first group if you have a later flight, who knows. or just get a suite which is always first off after the SD peeps.

[spookwife]

If you have a very early flight, start lining up prior to "arrival" time. The line can get very long. This way customs won't be backed up IMHO

 

This. I have seen the line begin an hour before the ship was scheduled to be cleared and it was LONG. no clue how fast it moved cuz I went back inside to eat my breakfast in relative calm.

[spookwife]

 

Do you debark the ship the same place you embark?

 

not necessarily. could be a different deck altogether.

 

and some ships, depending on your category( such as a suite guests) you may get priority disembarkation and escorted around the lines straight to Customs. (this was SO nice in Baltimore)