How does post-cruise Ft. Lauderdale ship excursion work?

[drrich2]

Hi:

 

Family booked for an Allure cruise. Wife wanted to do an airboat trip in the past & didn't get to because our daughter was too young; now I want to surprise her with a quick post-cruise ship excursion. From Royal's cruise planner for us:

 

Embark on an exhilarating 30-minute guided airboat ride through Fort Lauderdale's remote "River of Grass" before being conveniently escorted to the airport for your flight. Skim across the brown waters of the Everglades, an expansive network of sawgrass marshes and tropical wetlands, where you might spot wading birds and sunning alligators during your journey. Join a trained alligator handler back on shore for a live wildlife demo before you are transferred to the airport. FT01

 

TIME 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

 

Our flight is in the evening on Southwest. My plan is to enroll us in Luggage Valet, which will still leave us hauling some carry-ons. We're supposed to have a 6:15 a.m. arrival per ship schedule.

 

Usually, we'd disembark from the ship, take a lengthy and annoying trek through Customs, if not using Luggage Valet turn our bags in, then get them back, go through security again and turn them back in (seems stupid to me), then take a bus back to the airport, hang out several hours & eventually board a plane.

 

 

So how does this post-ship excursion thing work? Do they get us off the ship before the rest of the passengers? Whisk us through Customs somehow? This is a ship excursion booked via Royal Caribbean's website, not a private vendor.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Richard.

[NoWhiners]

drrich2

 

I don't know the specific answer to your question. I can speculate: if you are on a ship excursion, they will work the details and assign you times to help you make the excursion (in my experience). But, I recommend you go post on the Florida Departures board where people have more knowledge and experience.

 

Here's the link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

 

Good luck

ML

 

PS: I think it's a great idea but if it's only 30 minutes and you have all day, maybe there are private tours that would do this and a little more, so you aren't stuck at the airport all afternoon. Again, post questions on Florida Departures board.

Edited January 27, 2017 by NoWhiners

[DonnaK]

We took that exact excursions many years ago, and it remains one of our all-time favorites.

 

We were given excursion tickets and a time/place to meet (it was something like 9am). We met outside next to the bus, so it was our responsibility to go through customs in a timely manner (although the bus did wait for latecomers). I've also seen it work the other way, were people met onboard and exited together, however I doubt they were whisked through customs ahead of people who disembarked earlier and were waiting.

 

So, we ate breakfast first, then disembarked and meet in front of the bus. Our luggage was stowed under the bus (we were allowed to bring personal items (handbag, backpack, etc) onto the bus with us).

 

When the excursion was over, we were taken to the airport. The bus pulled up in front of each terminal and announced the airline. Then, he retrieved the luggage for those who got off.

 

It was very easy and convenient. I remember that we got to the airport around 1:30pm, and our flight was 6pm, so we still had a lot of time to wait, but it wasn't really a big deal.

Edited January 27, 2017 by DonnaK

[vrock]

We just did this excursion in december when we were on the freedom of the seas. We met in studio b and were escorted to where we retrieved our luggage (we did not have any we used the luggage valet program it was worth the money we will do it again this year) then taken to a custom line and told to meet your guide outside after you get done with customs. When all in your group are done they escort you to the bus. We were a little bit disappointed our air boat ride was only about 20 minutes which I suspect was because our departure from the terminal was delayed because a family lost track of their children. So we had to wait for them. We were also delayed leaving the airboat place heading to the airport they had to go looking for the same family. But we did see a couple of alligators.

[vrock]

We arrived at the airport around 1:30 our flight was about 6:50 I was so pleased with the luggage vvalet program they printed out our boarding passes and checked us in ffor our flight. So we had only carry on bags and were able to go through security right away instead of having to wait to check our luggage and print boarding pass. I wwould highly recommend luggage valet program. Happy cruising :)

[EllaDuChien]

We took that exact excursions many years ago, and it remains one of our all-time favorites.

 

We were given excursion tickets and a time/place to meet (it was something like 9am). We met outside next to the bus, so it was our responsibility to go through customs in a timely manner (although the bus did wait for latecomers). I've also seen it work the other way, were people met onboard and exited together, however I doubt they were whisked through customs ahead of people who disembarked earlier and were waiting.

 

So, we ate breakfast first, then disembarked and meet in front of the bus. Our luggage was stowed under the bus (we were allowed to bring personal items (handbag, backpack, etc) onto the bus with us).

 

When the excursion was over, we were taken to the airport. The bus pulled up in front of each terminal and announced the airline. Then, he retrieved the luggage for those who got off.

 

It was very easy and convenient. I remember that we got to the airport around 1:30pm, and our flight was 6pm, so we still had a lot of time to wait, but it wasn't really a big deal.

 

I just did this last Saturday (different cruise line, but Port Everglades) and it was awesome!

 

And my excursion happened the same way as Donna's. Met in a lounge on board but we were individually responsible for getting through customs. We disembarked right after the walk off group. I did not use the valet but our luggage was already out and waiting.

 

A tip on getting through customs...Port Everglades now accepts the Passport App on your phone and they have a separate line for people using the app. I used it and was through customs in about 10-15 mins total. Of course I then just sat on the bus until everyone else got through, but still super easy!

 

We went to Holiday Park and saw a ton of gators/wildlife/etc. Really enjoyed the excursion!

Edited January 27, 2017 by EllaDuChien

[EllaDuChien]

We arrived at the airport around 1:30 our flight was about 6:50 I was so pleased with the luggage vvalet program they printed out our boarding passes and checked us in ffor our flight. So we had only carry on bags and were able to go through security right away instead of having to wait to check our luggage and print boarding pass. I wwould highly recommend luggage valet program. Happy cruising :)

 

Oh...this is a fantastic reason for luggage valet. My flight was around the same time, and you can't check bags until 4 hours before flight time, so next time I will use valet!

[BillOh]

Hi:

 

Family booked for an Allure cruise. Wife wanted to do an airboat trip in the past & didn't get to because our daughter was too young; now I want to surprise her with a quick post-cruise ship excursion. From Royal's cruise planner for us:

 

 

 

 

 

Our flight is in the evening on Southwest. My plan is to enroll us in Luggage Valet, which will still leave us hauling some carry-ons. We're supposed to have a 6:15 a.m. arrival per ship schedule.

 

Usually, we'd disembark from the ship, take a lengthy and annoying trek through Customs, if not using Luggage Valet turn our bags in, then get them back, go through security again and turn them back in (seems stupid to me), then take a bus back to the airport, hang out several hours & eventually board a plane.

 

 

So how does this post-ship excursion thing work? Do they get us off the ship before the rest of the passengers? Whisk us through Customs somehow? This is a ship excursion booked via Royal Caribbean's website, not a private vendor.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Richard.

 

My experience with this exact post cruise excursion was pretty good, though it was 2013. If you don't do luggage valet, which you may not need to, you are given special embarkation bag tags and told to report to one location (Studio 1 in my case) Everyone is taken off the ship together, they get their luggage, board a bus and depart by around 8:30. Your bags stay on the bus during your tour and you are dropped off back at the airport in plenty of time.

[MCManders99]

When looking at the excursion details, it states that flights after 2:30. Our flight on Jetblue leaves at 2:54, would that be cutting it close if we booked the excursion? Obviously I don't want to get at the airport at 2:00 and rush to make our flight. I am willing to skip this excursion if needed, its not necessary but I know my Autistic son would love it.

[Pasquant]

Following. Our flight on Jetblue leaves at 2:30. We also booked the excursion but I definitely don't want to miss the flight. We plan to do luggage valet and have nexus cards if that makes a difference.

[LeeW]

We got to the airport around 1:30, but they asked on the bus when the earliest flights were and taylored the departure from Everglades Park to that.

[Cruising with Us]

I don't know if you can use Luggage Valet with JetBlue now. Can you?

[Pasquant]

I don't know if you can use Luggage Valet with JetBlue now. Can you?

 

 

It's listed as one of the available airlines on their website, so I hope so! I saw the info here: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentWithHero.do?pagename=luggage_valet_service

[CruisingMom-2016]

We just booked a 4:30 flight out of FLL - so looking into this as well. Though last time we were amongst the last off the ship (we didn't have a flight to catch) and we really loved that. Mini golf and pool area to ourselves ... would hate to give that up. 😂

[Cruising with Us]

It's listed as one of the available airlines on their website, so I hope so! I saw the info here: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentWithHero.do?pagename=luggage_valet_service

 

 

 

They must have recently added that. It was listed forever and then about three weeks ago JetBlue was gone. We were hoping to use this as well. Glad to see it is back!

[MCManders99]

I will wait and reserve once onboard I think. I want to make sure we will make our flight. I want to use luggage valet if we do the post cruise excursion.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums