Port Everglades

[Firsttimecruiser2016]

Since I have never cruised before, I was wondering if there are any tips that I should have at the port. In particular, port Everglades. Thanks so much!!

[cruiserking]

Since I have never cruised before, I was wondering if there are any tips that I should have at the port. In particular, port Everglades. Thanks so much!!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic Firsttimecruiser2016.

 

What cruise line and ship are you traveling on?

 

Make sure you join the Roll Call for your cruise. Go to the Roll Call Section here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34

 

Scroll through all of the lines until you find yours, then the ship and the specific sail date. Here you will have a chance to chat with many people booked on your cruise, lots of great information here.

 

Get to the cruise terminal around 10 am and beat the rush. Check your bags with the porters outside make sure to tip them as you would at the airport, usually $5 per bag.

 

Check-in starts around 10 to 10:30 am and with any luck you'll be aboard by 11 to 11:30 am.

 

If you are not sailing out of your home port you should definitely plan on arriving a day in advance. You do not want to risk missing the ship due to flight delays or weather issues.

 

Once you're on board head up to the Lido for lunch, then explore the ship.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

Jonathan

[Keith1010]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

You can get information here but a great place to post any questions you have about the port or about even Fort Lauderdale would be on the Florida Departures Board. which you can reach:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=495

 

Keith

[Firsttimecruiser2016]

I am going on the March 19, 2016 Royal Caribbean cruise that is only the navigator of the seas. Thanks for your help!!

[cruiserking]

I am going on the March 19, 2016 Royal Caribbean cruise that is only the navigator of the seas. Thanks for your help!!

 

You picked a great cruise line. Here's a link to your the Roll Call for your cruise.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2040474

 

The Windjammer is the Buffet Restaurant where you'll go the for lunch after you board, it's on deck 11 at the back of the ship.

 

Have you arranged your dining yet? It's nice to have a table with six or eight people at night, you will look forward to seeing your dinner companions each night.

 

Have you explored the ship online to see if there are any specialty restaurants you'd like to enjoy. It's a good idea to book any excursions you're interested ahead of time as they sell out.

 

If this is your first cruise booking an excursion with the cruise line is a good idea because if the tour is late returning to port, the ship will wait for you. If it's a private tour and late you it's another story.

 

Jonathan

Edited November 7, 2015 by cruiserking

[Hlitner]

Port Everglades is an excellent port and we can think of no "tips" other then it is always less expensive to simply take a taxi from the airport then pay for some kind of cruise line transfer. We also suggest ignoring advice to the contrary...and planning to arrive at the port between 11 and noon. Yes, you will likely have to wait in the terminal but you will also be among the early boarders and can avail yourself of lunch (onboard) at a reasonable time in the afternoon. And since you are paying for a cruise and that embarkation day is a day of your cruise, it makes sense to be aboard as early as possible to enjoy the ship.

 

Also keep in mind that it can be several hours until your luggage is delivered to your cabin. So if you might want to change into comfy swimwear or perhaps more casual clothes you should have that outfit in your carry-on. We often go to lunch, and then change into swim suits in our cabin (we have it in our carryon) and spend the afternoon in a deck chair people watching. It is amazing how many folks are walking around the ship on a hot day and wearing heavy sweaters, long sleeve shirts, etc.

 

Hank

[montekat]

We only tip $1/bag. If you look around, there are actually signs that say tipping is NOT necessary. The guys that take your bags and move them about 5 feet over to cages are longshoremen, not cruise line employees. They are VERY well paid, so the tip is merely a courtesy.

Edited November 7, 2015 by montekat

[SuiteTraveler]

Port Everglades is well organized and one of the nicer ports we've sailed from. Just take a taxi to the port and pay the luggage guy $1 per suitcase you send with them. Carry your medications/swimsuit/makeup in your small carryon. Don't wear a bunch of metal jewelry on embarkation day because you have to go through a metal detector at the port and you send your carryon and purse through an X-ray machine just like at the airport. If you forget your luggage tags, the porter on the dock will have one for you and can write your stateroom number on them. If you forget your cruise documents, they can be found from your ID and credit card. You will find once you are onboard, you can put your wallet and valuables in the safe and just carry your cruise card around the ship. The only time you will need money or credit card or your ID is on shore excursions. Be sure to have your passport out and ready to be viewed when you enter the port building and if you have your cruise documents, have those out as well. (My husband once forgot our cruise documents, but RCCL had no problem finding them once we got inside.)

[Treven]

I agree that Port Everglades is a very easy terminal to get through. I've never had any problems getting through there.

Also yes, don't buy the transfers. The port is almost spittin' distance from the airport. It's basically get on the freeway and two exits later, just minutes, you're getting off and into the port complex. Have your passport out in case the guard at the gate asks to see it - that's hit and miss, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.

[capriccio]

The port is almost spittin' distance from the airport. It's basically get on the freeway and two exits later, just minutes, you're getting off and into the port complex. Have your passport out in case the guard at the gate asks to see it - that's hit and miss, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.

 

It's so close that we were leaving on a cruise and my DB was leaving on a flight and he called from the airport and said "I can see your ship!"

 

Last month they asked for ID (passport) and cruise documentation - and that is what they note on their official website (http://www.porteverglades.net) so be prepared to show both.

[Firsttimecruiser2016]

We have a friend that lives in west palm beach so we are flying down a day earlier and staying with her and her family and then driving the hour to get to the port. We want to be at the port by 10:30 or so so we can get on the ship and figure stuff out since this is all new to us. Thanks for all your help!!