Disembarkation in Ft Lauderdale from Equinox

[SoonerDog]

Did a search, but unable to locate any info.  Anyone have any idea as to the earliest time one can get off the ship?  Trying to book a flight out of FLL and the best available departs at 9:45, so need to be at the airport around 8;30'ish.  Don't mind handling our own luggage and just walking off if that's an option?

[39august]

That is an option and you probably can be off the ship around 7:30. I would not risk that early a flight even tho' the airport is only about 10-12 minutes from the port. If you have TSA pre-check that helps a lot. Also what day of the week will you depart? If Sat. or Sun. airport will be very crowded.

[BermudaBound2014]

How flexible are you? A 9:45 a.m. flight is possible, but FLL on a cruise date is a mad house. TSA pre-check will help immensely, but it's still a risk. I had a cruise come late (noonish) two years ago due to a medical emergency. Most people missed their flights that day. Debarkation from Equinox was smooth in Miami, I suspect is it smooth in FLL also. Visual recognition also speeds things up significantly, but ultimately..... 'how lucky do you feel?". 

 

Personally, I wouldn't do it without a very solid back up plan.

 

[phoenix_dream]

Is it possible?  Yes, if all goes perfectly.  We have had cruises where disembarkation has been delayed until 9:30 am (rare, but it has happened to us twice, in US ports).  The airport is close, but...……..make sure you have a back-up plan as these days if you miss a flight the next few flights are likely to be fully booked.

[mhafod]

From my own experience, anything before 11AM is to be avoided. FLL tends to be highly congested on a cruise day.

[hcat]

So many  people do carry off, it does not save that much time.  If you are in a suite, you'd have a shot at getting off and thru customs first..but still very tight.  I would not even attempt it..

[jelayne]

We did carry off from the Equinox last summer.  The line when we got to deck 5 was from the midship on deck 5 through the Ensemble Lounge. We got there 45 minutes ahead of the time they said.  The ship was delayed getting cleared so it was 8 when walk-off started.  By then passengers with luggage tags that would normally have been called between 7:30 & 8 had gone down to deck 5 trying to exit.  It was a madhouse.

 

We got to FLL at 9:20, bags checked and through security took 25 minutes (TSA pre check). 

 

Twp months later we did walk-off and were off the ship and in a Uber by 7:30.

 

[rollie]

14 hours ago, SoonerDog said:

Did a search, but unable to locate any info.  Anyone have any idea as to the earliest time one can get off the ship?  Trying to book a flight out of FLL and the best available departs at 9:45, so need to be at the airport around 8;30'ish.  Don't mind handling our own luggage and just walking off if that's an option?

I think you are playing with fire.  If you get off the ship ok, you still will have to get through the very long security line at Fll.  That airport is a madhouse on the busy cruise days.  [Saturday and Sunday]  I would never risk it.

 

Rollie

[SoonerDog]

Thanks Everyone for the advice.  I've managed to book a later flight so all good 🙂

[Denny01]

Good idea SoonerDog. You can relax and not worry about all the hiccups that could befall you. Just picture yourself the day prior sitting and stressing about trying to make a 9:45 flight and taking away from the whole point of a cruise and vacation. 

 

Den

[hcat]

Good  decision!

Because you just never know.

 

..Sometimes, if possible,  we stay over in Ft Lauderdale for   an extra day/ night...Avoids a hassled rush to the airport for an early flight....b/c you can arrive before any cruisers the next am

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

1 hour ago, hcat said:

Good  decision!

Because you just never know.

 

..Sometimes, if possible,  we stay over in Ft Lauderdale for   an extra day/ night...Avoids a hassled rush to the airport for an early flight....b/c you can arrive before any cruisers the next am

 

I've booked a post-cruise night in Ft Lauderdale and Miami (pre-cruise as well) because I don't have my flights yet for Feb. Once I have my flights, I'll cancel the pre-night I don't need and cancel one or both of the post-nights depending on which airline of those I'll fly (ie: NOT Southwest or that type - Frontier, Spirit, etc.) gives me the best option for time and pricing.

[rollie]

17 hours ago, SoonerDog said:

Thanks Everyone for the advice.  I've managed to book a later flight so all good 🙂

Good choice.  Now you can sit back with no worries.  The stress can age you.

 

Rollie