Port Everglades Princess Cruise Terminal Opening Time?

[funfamilytime]

Hello,

 

My mother has a flight coming in to FLL at 5:30 AM the morning of our cruise.

 

Does anyone know what time Port Everglades Princess Terminal Opens?

 

She is an Elite Member who is elderly and would like to sit and wait until the counters open up and boarding process begins.

 

Thank you.

[fishywood]

She would not be allowed inside the terminal until the ship is "zeroed out" from the previous cruise.

 

Earliest that might be is between 10-10:30 depending on the ship's arrival time. If Royal or Regal there is a chance it could be that early; if one of the other Princess ships (such as Caribbean) that often does not begin disembarkation until 8-8:30 then the doors may not open before 11:30-12:00.

 

I would just reserve a motel room for your mom, advise them on the very late check in (at dawn) and request late check out of 11:30-12:00. But you will receive more specific advice if you tell us which ship and what time of year. And from the context of your question it appears your mom is on a different flight than the rest of your party. So what are everyone else's plans for the morning?

[funfamilytime]

She is traveling on the Regal March 25th

[fishywood]

OK now how was she originally planning to get from FLL to Port Everglades? Path of least resistance may be to book the Princess transfer for her, wait at the airport until the first coach leaves, and when it arrives at the port someone should be able to assist her in finding a seat--though not necessarily indoors.

 

Again: is she travelling alone and separate from the rest of your party which is what I assume from how the opening question was phrased? No one else in your party can meet her at the airport? How does she plan to deal with her luggage?

[funfamilytime]

Thank you for your response. Good Advice - We are going to get her a hotel room and make arrangements. I think it's the best bet for her.

[moki'smommy]

This transportation arrangement sounds really hard on an elderly woman. In fact, we decided against a similar situation for our party; we are doing a red eye, but a day earlier--we can go to the hotel and hang out, check into our room as soon as it is ready, and crash. Then we'll go to the cruise terminal 28 hours or so later.

 

As above, they need to "close out" the previous cruise before the terminal will open to incoming passengers. And I wouldn't even try to hand over my luggage early and hope it got put in the right pile. I agree with the above--if she is traveling without assistance, the easiest thing will be to wait at the airport until she can meet up with the first Princess rep, probably about 8. They'll get her and her luggage onto the first bus, but she'll still have to wait a while longer at the airport. The good news is that she'll have access to some variety of food and beverage, bathroom, and air conditioning as well as luggage assistance. If she arrives at the cruise terminal, she'll find herself waiting outside with no amenities until they are ready for incoming passengers.

 

Waiting at the airport is not fun, but there are far worse places to wait. And outside a cruise terminal is one of them.

 

Just saw that you re-posted that you've decided on a hotel room for her. I guess it's too late to get a better flight time as well so that perhaps she could have more time to sleep before heading to the terminal.

[funfamilytime]

Thanks everyone for the advice. We are going to get her a room and car service to the hotel. It's the best way to go about her early flight arrival.

 

Appreciate all your responses.