Edge embarkation Ft. Lauderdale: how early

[ConnMom]

   We will embark on Edge on Superbowl Sunday and have received an email from Celebrity warning about traffic congestion and delays when driving to  Ft. Lauderdale that day.  We usually try to arrive at the port around 10 am, and have been able to check in and embark without much delay.  In light of anticipated traffic issues, we are planning to drive to the port earlier than we usually would, but in case traffic does not slow us down, we do not want to arrive so early that we cannot drop our luggage or will have an extended wait to embark.

   Does anyone who has taken Edge from Ft. Lauderdale know how early check-in usually starts and when we might expect boarding to begin?  We have Elite status and our boarding info usually says that we may arrive at the port at our convenience,  although it does not do so this time.  

 Cheryl

[TommyD3]

Normally for all Celebrity ships in Florida boarding starts around 11 AM.

Suites first followed by AQ, CC, etc.

[pilot]

We are a Elite and boarded at 10:55 two days ago. 

[Oville]

7 minutes ago, TommyD3 said:

Normally for all Celebrity ships in Florida boarding starts around 11 AM.

Suites first followed by AQ, CC, etc.

I’m not sure suites on Edge impact start times for other categories as they have their own separate entrance/lounge removed from the other boarding areas.

[TommyD3]

Yes the suites and Zeniths have a separate lounge and even a separate gangway at Terminal 25.

Maybe they have changed but they always used to let the suites and Zeniths board first !!!

[Oville]

11 minutes ago, TommyD3 said:

Yes the suites and Zeniths have a separate lounge and even a separate gangway at Terminal 25.

Maybe they have changed but they always used to let the suites and Zeniths board first !!!

But now that they have a separate entrance so I’m not so sure. 

 

As a Zenith member how did you like Edge and the new embankment procedure?  We were zipped right along on January 12th as a suite passenger.

Edited January 22, 2020 by Oville

[TommyD3]

We have sailed on several Celebrity ships out of Terminal 25.

The Edge and updated ones used the concierges walking around with iPads while the non updated ones still used laptops at the lounge entrance.

It is nice having separate X-Ray machines and a bar.

Embarkation was not much different than Terminal 18 with staff escorting the suite and Zenith guests onboard.

[oneputt18]

I can't imagine traffic delays going to Port Everglades on Super Bowl Sunday. You are in the opposite direction of the stadium! 

[NCHPcruiser]

We received the same email and took it to mean there may be a shortage of taxi’s, Uber, etc. that day and to plan accordingly.   We are actually flying in that morning (something we never do but because of hotel room shortage/prices had to do this time) arriving at 9:25 and have arranged private transportation to the pier.  We should be at the pier by 10 and hope to be aboard by 11!

[Xport]

29 minutes ago, oneputt18 said:

I can't imagine traffic delays going to Port Everglades on Super Bowl Sunday. You are in the opposite direction of the stadium! 

 

The Super Bowl is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens; the northernmost community in Miami-Dade County...  It's actually much closer to Fort Lauderdale than it is--for instance--to downtown Miami and South Beach...

 

While timing is everything--traffic related to embarking/disembarking cruise passengers at Port Everglades should subside before game traffic really builds--delays in the Fort Lauderdale port/airport/hotel areas are still a distinct possibility...  You should also expect that major hotels/restaurants will be extremely busy that weekend...

 

As a local, I'm planning to stay at home!

Edited January 22, 2020 by Xport

[ConnMom]

Thanks for all the input.  I think we will plan just a bit of extra time getting to the off-site parking facility by mid-morning, hopefully missing the worst of the disembarkation chaos.  

[Oville]

On 1/21/2020 at 11:21 PM, TommyD3 said:

We have sailed on several Celebrity ships out of Terminal 25.

The Edge and updated ones used the concierges walking around with iPads while the non updated ones still used laptops at the lounge entrance.

It is nice having separate X-Ray machines and a bar.

Embarkation was not much different than Terminal 18 with staff escorting the suite and Zenith guests onboard.

Thanks, we were on the Silhouette in an RS in November and did have to check in at the desk but no lines.  Again on Edge on January 12th and we’re told take a seat we will get to you, probably less than 2 minutes.  Hopefully as more ships get “Revolutionized” it will apply to all as you said.

 

I may have missed your reply, but what were your thoughts on Edge?  

 

 

 

 

[oneputt18]

23 hours ago, Xport said:

 

The Super Bowl is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens; the northernmost community in Miami-Dade County...  It's actually much closer to Fort Lauderdale than it is--for instance--to downtown Miami and South Beach...

 

While timing is everything--traffic related to embarking/disembarking cruise passengers at Port Everglades should subside before game traffic really builds--delays in the Fort Lauderdale port/airport/hotel areas are still a distinct possibility...  You should also expect that major hotels/restaurants will be extremely busy that weekend...

 

As a local, I'm planning to stay at home!

 

They are driving to the port ,wanting to arrive around 11 AM. They should not be affected by anything Super Bowl related.

The last time it was here, other than the golf course being crowded, I felt no impact and I live in central Broward.

[Xport]

23 hours ago, Xport said:

While timing is everything--traffic related to embarking/disembarking cruise passengers at Port Everglades should subside before game traffic really builds--delays in the Fort Lauderdale port/airport/hotel areas are still a distinct possibility...

 

19 minutes ago, oneputt18 said:

 

They are driving to the port ,wanting to arrive around 11 AM. They should not be affected by anything Super Bowl related.

 

I believe I said the same thing...

 

I live less than a mile north of the Miami-Dade County/Broward County line and have been in residence during several Super Bowl games at what is now known as Hard Rock Stadium [I watch half-time fireworks from my terrace]…  All football games--whether a Super Bowl, the Orange Bowl or a Dolphins home game--increase traffic in the area south of downtown Fort Lauderdale and some of it will start far earlier than the few hours prior to game time as those staffing the stadium [security, catering, ushers]--especially true and larger in number for a sold-out/high security/high profile/"best foot forward" event--report to work...  For a Super Bowl, sports commentators with related equipment descend upon the area to set up and test international TV coverage [which starts hours before the game] and sportswriters set up/take over the press boxes...

 

At the same time those driving in for the game begin to arrive and, like some who have overnighted in the area, are in search of a place to spend a few hours--most often at a restaurant [the better ones will be mobbed beyond the usual seasonal crowds]--before heading to the stadium...  "Big Game" attendees are much like cruise ship passengers in that most are eager to get an early start on/maximize the day... By mid-afternoon local roads [no picnic day-to-day] will be heavily trafficked by limos, charter buses, and everything in between...

 

While the distance between our homes can't be all that great on a north/south basis [east/west could matter; I'm on the beach], our experiences have been very different...

[waterbug123]

If you do get there a bit too early, the new check in lounge in the Edge terminal for suites is really nice.  Nice seating, and they have drinks and snacks.  You can sit in comfy chairs and someone with an ipad will check you in and then you can just wait until they say you can begin to board.

[ConnMom]

   We are not in a suite, unfortunately, so we will not be able to enjoy the special embarkation perks, but we tend to be relatively patient once we get to the terminal.   I just received another e-mail from Celebrity regarding the expected traffic issues on Feb 2, and they asked me to respond to indicate that I have received the message. So I think we might  allow ourselves even more time.  On Saturday evening we will be staying about an hour north of the port, instead of the  usual 3 hour drive from our home, so we should be able to get there early.  

   9 days to go - getting excited.  This will be our first time on Edge, and I have read so many differing opinions that I can't wait to experience it for myself.