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Serenade of the Seas Early Departure for Flight

Colorado Babe

By Colorado Babe,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Colorado Babe

Colorado Babe

Posted
Posted

Has anyone ever tried to get a 9:30 a.m. flight after sailing the Serenade of the Seas? I have a fusion in my back and always try to get non stop flights back home. We will be sailing on the Serenade in March and it's time to book our air travel since the rates are fairly reasonable this morning.

 

We just sailed on the Harmony a week ago and had no problem getting a 9:15 a.m. flight and had plenty of time once we got to the airport to enjoy breakfast and coffee. We carried our luggage off the ship at 6:30 a.m. However, the Serenade would be a little later as it doesn't get into port until 7:00 a.m. vs 6:00 a.m.

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hallasm

hallasm

Posted
Posted

For our Equinox arrival time into port Everglades was 7 am. and at 7 pm, we went down to deck 5, in line to be among the first to go ashore - already a huge queue for self-disembarkation!

Already at 7:15 the queue did start to move and 8:45 we were off the ship in line for immigration.

Pretty fast and just before 8 am we entered a taxi (no waiting line) for the airport - With United premier access and 'TSA Pre' check-in and security took less that 20 minutes.

So just in time for a 9.00 am flight - 9:30 certainly doable but a bit risky with a 7 am ship arrival.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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troykahack

troykahack

Posted
Posted
Has anyone ever tried to get a 9:30 a.m. flight after sailing the Serenade of the Seas? I have a fusion in my back and always try to get non stop flights back home. We will be sailing on the Serenade in March and it's time to book our air travel since the rates are fairly reasonable this morning.

 

We just sailed on the Harmony a week ago and had no problem getting a 9:15 a.m. flight and had plenty of time once we got to the airport to enjoy breakfast and coffee. We carried our luggage off the ship at 6:30 a.m. However, the Serenade would be a little later as it doesn't get into port until 7:00 a.m. vs 6:00 a.m.

 

Was on Serenade 11/21 11 night cruise. This is not typical of Royal but we arrived in Port as scheduled but during heavy rains. We were in Suites and first walk off wasn't until 0830. Our luggage was there but nobody else. I believe the early self depart was on another gangway with their luggage (same time). We were on I95 headed North at 0915.

 

Everything was delayed due to the storms. This is not usual but can happen.

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island lady "Live from...." Rare

island lady

Posted
Posted (edited)

On our last year 10 night Serenade out of Ft. Lauderdale, there was an unusually

high amount of pax doing self assist. Just as they were about to let them out onto

the gangway, a medical emergency stopped the process. Those pax were standing

in line for an hour, waiting for the medical team and ambulance to depart the

pier.

 

Ship did not start the process again until after 8:30 am. We were one of the early

numbers seated in the dining room, having checked our bags. We did not depart

until well after 9 am, and then found a huge line of pax waiting to go through

customs. That took another hour. Did not clear the terminal until after 10 am.

 

Not that this might happen on your particular cruise...but......

Edited by island lady
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Biker19

Biker19

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Posted

Assuming everything is on schedule, the earliest you can walk off is about 7:30 (if you get in the self debark line at about 5 AM) and catch a cab about 10-15 min later. That would get you to the airport around 8. That is the best case scenario - you can see other examples in previous posts.

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Biker19

Biker19

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Posted
For our Equinox arrival time into port Everglades was 7 am. and at 7 pm, we went down to deck 5, in line to be among the first to go ashore - already a huge queue for self-disembarkation!

People slept in the debarkation line? :eek:

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ONECRUISER

ONECRUISER

Posted
Posted (edited)
Has anyone ever tried to get a 9:30 a.m. flight after sailing the Serenade of the Seas? I have a fusion in my back and always try to get non stop flights back home. We will be sailing on the Serenade in March and it's time to book our air travel since the rates are fairly reasonable this morning.

 

We just sailed on the Harmony a week ago and had no problem getting a 9:15 a.m. flight and had plenty of time once we got to the airport to enjoy breakfast and coffee. We carried our luggage off the ship at 6:30 a.m. However, the Serenade would be a little later as it doesn't get into port until 7:00 a.m. vs 6:00 a.m.

 

I wouldn't that early. Sailed Serenade 7 times out of Ft Lauderdale last yr and 2-3 times 9:30 either too close or miss a flight. Last Friday changed to Pier 25 and was actually quicker then the Allure's Pier 18. If do make sure you carry luggage off early. Having the pre-TSA and new mobile passport app would help.

Edited by ONECRUISER
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Biker19

Biker19

Posted
Posted
I guess we will have to do the 11:30 flight with a stopover in Texas. I was really wanting to avoid a stopover but I guess better safe than sorry. Thanks all!

 

Depending on the fare, changes on the day of the flight might be possible. If you do end up at the airport early enough, you could try switching to the earlier non-stop.

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island lady "Live from...." Rare

island lady

Posted
Posted (edited)
I guess we will have to do the 11:30 flight with a stopover in Texas. I was really wanting to avoid a stopover but I guess better safe than sorry. Thanks all!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

IMHO, you made the right choice. No sense stressing out on your vacation

to save a few hours.

 

A lot of cruisers take flights out of FLL from the cruise port, and knowing many

of them don't opt for them since they may not make it in time to do the early flights

....they lower the prices for those flights that have a lesser demand. Supply

and demand economics.

Edited by island lady
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crbonfiber

crbonfiber

Posted
Posted
Has anyone ever tried to get a 9:30 a.m. flight after sailing the Serenade of the Seas? I have a fusion in my back and always try to get non stop flights back home. We will be sailing on the Serenade in March and it's time to book our air travel since the rates are fairly reasonable this morning.

 

We just sailed on the Harmony a week ago and had no problem getting a 9:15 a.m. flight and had plenty of time once we got to the airport to enjoy breakfast and coffee. We carried our luggage off the ship at 6:30 a.m. However, the Serenade would be a little later as it doesn't get into port until 7:00 a.m. vs 6:00 a.m.

 

I have made even earlier flights walk off with your own luggage ASAP and you will make it NO problem.

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msmayor

msmayor

Posted
Posted

Last March we were debarking the Serenade in the self assist group to make an 11:30am flight out of Miami...we had a private car service picking us up at 8am for the trip north.

 

We were docked by 6am and in line by 7am. As another posted had happen on their trip, a medical emergency delayed the start...only in our case it was not one but TWO ambulances alongside. The line to get off snaked all the way aft.

 

We (and those around us) had been outside in line a good 45-50 minutes when a group of four pushed their way through and wanted to cut the line. None of us budged...we pointed aft to the end of the line...

 

A man responded rudely "No, we have to make an early international flight...we will wait here!"

 

I responded "We all have flights to make...that's why we got in line early. Sorry, but the end is that way (pointed back)."

 

Don't be 'that guy'...plan wisely.

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Coralc

Coralc

Posted
Posted (edited)

Maybe. If you do walk off express departure. Our flight was at 10:40 and we did regular departure. I was beginning to wonder if we were going to make it. We entered the line at 8 and we were at the airport at 9:15~9:30. We used the Global Entry line at Port Everglades. These questions are always difficult. Friends (Pinnacle) said they were through by 8:15 with a concierge escort.

 

But we have no way of knowing on this particular cruise, how it went earlier. :)

Edited by Coralc
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