Waiting to Embark?

[cleobella]

We will be flying into Fort Lauderdale around 930 am and our embarkation time for the ship is 1230.  It should only take us a short time to get through the airport and taxi over to the ship.  Would we be able to board earlier or will we have to sit around with our luggage for a bit?  Can we drop our luggage off and go to a mall or restaurant nearby?  

Thanks

[JohninDC]

What cruise line and what ship?  Most lines start boarding about 11:00; not sure why you would be required to wait until 12:30.  By the time you collect your bags and taxi or Uber to the port you should be able to drop your bags with the porters and proceed with check in.

[CruiserBruce]

Great questions by JohninDC..the cruise line's boarding policies vary...so not sure exactly how that would apply to you. I will say boarding on most lines starts 11:30 or later. Status with the cruise line also matters.

[asalligo]

For Royal Caribbean last week, we arrived at the terminal at 10:15, they opened the doors to the terminal at 10:45 and we checked in and waited until about 11:45 to board. 

[cleobella]

Thanks for the info. We are on the Celebrity Edge. Hoping to get on the ship earlier then our 1230 embarkation "appointment", cause will have a very early start that day 

[BNBR]

Celebrity does not enforce the times.  Carnival is the only line I'm aware of that actually enforces it.  Royal Caribbean and Celebrity do not.  You can go straight to the port, no problem.  I boarded Celebrity Reflection a few weeks ago with a 1:30 boarding time, at 11AM.  We arrived to the terminal at 10AM.  You are fine.  Just go to the terminal.

[teknoge3k]

I would also like to point out something else that hasn't been mentioned. You did not say when your cruise is but you did say you plan on going from the airport to the cruise port. I hope you're not planning on flying to the port the day of your cruise in the winter time. If so, make sure you have good trip insurance. Just wanted to point that out. 

[thunderbay]

We are in the same situation with HAL. Just received niggificatythat our boarding time is 3:30 with sail away at 5. This is very late. We have to drop our rental car off at 10:30 that morning and will be stuttled to the port. So now we will have to wait several hours to get on the ship?? Is HAL strict about this?

[JohninDC]

I would post on the HAL board, but you should be able to board ealier.  Double check your documents - 3:30 is likely a deadline and not your assigned time.

[CruiserBruce]

HAL does not enforce the times. I agree asking...or even doing some reading on the HAL board would reveal this.