? About Check-In At Port

[MomTo2Princess]

We plan to rent a car from Budget at MCO and drive to the Port. What I'ld like to do is have DH drop me and kids off at the port and he goes and drops off car at Budget himself. My questions are:
(1) Do we need to just hang out somewhere until he comes before we can check-in?
(2) Are porters pretty readily available to take my bags as soon as we get drop off?
(3) Will DH need to physically be there to show his passport and ID or can I check-in for him and he can just meet us in the boarding line?
(4) Can you help me visualize the steps of check-in (i.e., get porter to take bags when get drop off, go inside terminal, go through security gates, go to check-in counters like at the airport, then go stand in line to board the ship)?

Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

We have done this a few times but with Avis and this is how it works. We all drive up to the terminal in the rental car. Everyone over 18 in the car must show ID and cruise docs at the gate. They direct you where to pull up to the curb. As soon as you pull up to the curb at the terminal there are porters there to take your bags. Keep your carryons with you. Don't forget to tip the porters...going rate is approx. $1-$2 per bag.

Hubby or whoever will then take the car to the rental return and hop the shuttle back to the port. As he leaves, you will then walk down the sidewalk around to the front of the terminal where you will have your carryons scanned at the x-ray machine just like at the airport. You will have to show ID again, and then you proceed up the escalator to the check-in lines. Just hop on the shortest line. You can check yourself and family members in EXCEPT YOUR HUSBAND. He must check himself in when he gets to the terminal. Make sure he has his ID and cruise docs with him, not you or they won't let him in the terminal. I usually send one of my kids to stand in the boarding line while I am checking us in. We then get in line to hold our place. When hubby gets there tell him to get on a line and check himself in. The line to board can get very long and snakes around the terminal. We usually try to get there at about 10:30 - 10:45. There is a coffee shop, TV's that play cartoons, sofa, rest rooms, some of the characters come out for a bit. Not everyone in your party must stand in line the whole time. We usually take turns walking around the terminal while someones stands in line. If you let the people around you know what you are doing and how many are in your group, they will not have a problem with you getting back in line. We have never had a problem in 7 DCL cruises. Everyone is in such a happy mood!!!

It all works very well and you should have no problems. JUST MAKE SURE HUBBY HAS HIS ID AND CRUISE DOCS WITH HIM. Boarding usually takes place at 12:15 or so.

MJ