Freedom of the Seas embarkation

[Former Goalie]

I just received our cruise booklets. There is an add-on page, saying that the immigration process has been holding up passengers getting off the ship, and to not show up before 1 PM for 2 PM boarding of the Freedom OS. It also said that, due to capacity restrictions at the Port of Miami, we might be denied access were we to arrive before that time.

Could recent cruisers on FOS comment on whether the embarkation/dismebarkation process has become more lengthy?

Also, when are the ice show nights?

 

Thanks in advance!

[silentbob007]

I got that same add-in with my docs yesterday for Voyager.

[cb at sea]

They tell you that in ALL of the docs--for all ships! Get there around 11:30 am, you'll be fine. Might as well start the vacation you've paid for--after all, this counts as day 1.

The ice show times and when tickets will be handed out will be in the cruise compass, and announced over the loudspeakers. Tickets are handed out based upon when your dining time is. Just listen to the announcements! None of the shows interfere with any meal times or port times.

[Kruzeagain]

We got the same documents for our Dec 06 cruise on Explorer. But the day dawned sunny, so we headed to the port early figuring that if worst came to worst we would just work on our tans for a couple hours. Much to our surprise we were on board at 11:30AM (!). Nice.

 

I think RCI is simply paying it safe by cautioning people against taking the "risk".

 

Our Dec '07 cruise on Liberty will see us staying the night prior to departure at either the InterContinental or Holiday Inn around the corner from the pier. That way it's no big deal if the terminal's full; we'll just wander back to the hotel pool and chill.

 

Happy Cruising,

Alan

[The Reggies]

We cruised Freedom on Jan 14 and got the same add-on in our docs. We arrived at the pier at about 1:20 p.m. - would have been sooner but traffic was heavy - and basically walked right on board. The lines were very manageable by then - they line you up by deck number and it seems to work well. We went through the Platinum boarding line and only had a couple of passengers in line ahead of us. Remember to have your set-sail pass completed and signed - that speeds things up considerably.