Independence-Ft Lauderdale Express Disembark

[hmsdos]

Is anyone on-line who has used the express disembarking process... I've read several reviews and all say it was bad... hoping it has improved since they have used that Port a few times....

Specific questions

What time does did disembark start?

What deck did you actually leave the ship?

Any other issues you wish you had known early?

thanks!

[CrusingJoe]

Is anyone on-line who has used the express disembarking process... I've read several reviews and all say it was bad... hoping it has improved since they have used that Port a few times....

Specific questions

What time does did disembark start?

What deck did you actually leave the ship?

Any other issues you wish you had known early?

thanks!

 

I have not been on IOS, have done EXPRESS DISEMBARKING on other RCCL ship in FLL. It starts around 8am and your off by 8:30am. I'm a Diamond plus member and we get of first than general PAX express disemberking. Hope this help.

 

Joe

[FinallyConvincedDH2Cruise]

Is anyone on-line who has used the express disembarking process... I've read several reviews and all say it was bad... hoping it has improved since they have used that Port a few times....

Specific questions

What time does did disembark start?

What deck did you actually leave the ship?

Any other issues you wish you had known early?

thanks!

 

This Sun 12/7 was a nightmare. They started letting people off around 8:30 (ship cleared around 8am)

Left ship on Deck 1, first 2 groups (white and beige) were told to wait on deck 3 in Studio B. Was a mob scene, hot and crowded.

[caribbeanboy]

I had no 10 last Sunday which means that we were suppose to disembark at 10:15 . We went down to the lounge at 9:45 and immediately we could disembark. In exactly 30 minutes we were on the car rental shuttle to the airport, so I had a very good experience.

[Gaynors]

This Sun 12/7 was a nightmare. They started letting people off around 8:30 (ship cleared around 8am)

Left ship on Deck 1, first 2 groups (white and beige) were told to wait on deck 3 in Studio B. Was a mob scene, hot and crowded.

 

We were on the week before and it was a nightmare as well. We were gray (4th color) which on the schedule was 9:15. They didn't call us until after 10:15. I understand it was a major mob scene for those trying to express checkout (carry their own bags). We kept hearing announcements asking people to get out of the stairwells...:rolleyes: I don't think it helped.

[Fblack]

Express debarkation has turned into a nightmare. Especially at some ports where lots of steps are involved and they have one small elevator.

 

Too many people including some elderly and infirm try to drag 3 or 4 bags plus their carry on bags off the ship. The halls, stairways ad gangways are clogged with people struggling to leave.

 

There has to be a better way.

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

We have done express before with no issues, but considering what people have been encountering on the Indy, we won't be doing it this time. Is there any way to estimate when we will be called to disembark? We are on deck 7, if that makes any difference. And, what do we do while we are waiting? And where? What time do we have to be out of the room? What time is breakfast (if any) open 'till? We aren't flying out until the day after our cruise, so at least we don't have to worry about that...

[maggieq]

why so bad at fll? We just did the express debarkation in MIA on the FOS and were were sitting at the airport, checked in at 7:30 a.m. If the ship docks at 7:00 (same as the FOS) what would be the hold up?

[Tyron]

I had no 10 last Sunday which means that we were suppose to disembark at 10:15 . We went down to the lounge at 9:45 and immediately we could disembark. In exactly 30 minutes we were on the car rental shuttle to the airport, so I had a very good experience.

 

we were also on the Indy this past Sunday and disembarked the ship around 9:30 and had no issues. our longest wait was for a taxi outside the terminal and that wasn't too bad.

[hmsdos]

Well.... our experience reflects most of the posts.... we came off in three groups... The express, The Diamond, and the White.... (Ft. Lauderdale/Independence) The Diamond had to bring their small luggage they kept out down 5 flights of stairs... The express were "mixed in" with wheel chairs... which they thought was dangerous... and the "White tags" which got off pretty much as anticipated. For us there is a major difference in the way Miami is able to clear ships and Ft Lauderdale.... don't know if this has anything to do with RCCL or if it has to do with the Port Authority..... Do think there is room for improvement.... especially before the Oasis arrives.

As far as us, personally, we were very fortunate and had a very nice member of the Guest Services Staff who made sure we were where we belonged and moved with our appropriate group.

[cruiseray1]

Is anyone on-line who has used the express disembarking process... I've read several reviews and all say it was bad... hoping it has improved since they have used that Port a few times....

Specific questions

What time does did disembark start?

What deck did you actually leave the ship?

Any other issues you wish you had known early?

thanks!

 

just got off the Indy 2 days ago...

Unless you must get off early (why?) I would not use express departure....

eat a good breakfast and let the crowd thin out.

We had blue tags (9:40)...off the ship in 10 minutes...a breeze.

wait for taxi took some time but thats not Royals fault...

[lazygal]

Okay - here's my story. I think express would have been easier than my ordeal Express waited on deck 3 near the ice rink and had their own time to get their luggage there. Unfortunately, I had a leg injury and went from an aft cabin all the way forward to the Pryamid Lounge waiting area. When called to be escorted, we had to go all the way aft again, THEN DOWN FIVE FLIGHTS OF STEPS - dragging a carryon, a rolling Vodka moblile (duty free) and what I now think is another hairline hip fracture after those stairs.

 

There were many people in our group who should not have been corralled down those stairs.

 

Word needs to get out that deck one is the disembarking deck in Port Everglades on the Indy.

 

If I had known, I could have hobbled down there at my own pace, or ordered a wheelchair.

 

I did not start this cruise in bad condition. The quest did me in (ha-ha) and falling off a barstool in Costa Maya.