Exiting the Ship after Cruise

[NJBILL]

I understand that everyone must disembark by 9am. My question is my flight is scheduled for noon that day. Do you see a problem getting off the ship and through customs and still making the flight? Can you request to be one of the first people off? How does the disembarkment process work.
Thanks for your comments.

 

[WHITEHC]

We disembarked around 8:30 both times we cruised and it only took about 5 minutes to walk off and find our luggage. I think we only had to flash our ID when we walked off and that was it.

 

[lrmillen]

you'll definately make it. just don't be lazy with breakfast and hop on a bus right away. the process of disembarkation is really easy. most of it (packing, tipping, filling out forms) takes place friday night. on saturday we went to topsiders for breakfast, dropped our comment slip in the box and walked right off the ship. simple and nothing to be worried about.

 

[CamColt]

We had late seating breakfast, didnt rush off the ship at all, used TTC, and were at the airport by 10:00am. Im sure with trying you could make it even earlier.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

The latest we've ever been to the airport, taking the DCL busses, and through security was around 10:15am, and this was in the fall of 2001, during the height of useless security measures (no luggage check at port, "armed" national guards at both port and airport, ridiculously long waits at airport security while an 80-year old woman is strip-searched, you get the picture). We usually get up fairly early an have breakfast in the dining room (first seating). The ship usually clears shortly after we finish breakfast, around 7:30 or so. After that, as has been posted, it's easy to hop off the ship, find your luggage, and go.

DCL is different from other cruise lines in that they don't designate groups and times when passengers can debark. Their cruise terminal is big enough for all the luggage, so it's easy to claim. You can get off the ship as early or late as you like.

 

[Auntie Bon]

Can it be done - yes. Would I recommend it - no. There are too many variables that might cause you problems getting off the ship. I took a cruise last year and customs was 2 hours late boarding our ship! No one can leave until customs is on board, clears the ship and deals with the non-American passengers. Also, it is 45-1 hour ride back to the airport (assuming MCO) if there was every a moment for Murphy's law to kick in and have construction or something happen to delay traffic this would be the one time it would strike (perhaps that just my luck ). why stress yourself out like that worrying etc. I would recommend a later flight if at all possible.

 

[joanb]

We made our 11:30 flight just last week. We had second breakfast then off the ship. Delta had us cut in line at port to check baggage and then on bus to airport with plenty of time.