Is 9:00 way too early to get to the port?

[Jena Finn]

I really want to take the stretch Hummer to the port that can hold all 20 of us but, of course, I waited too long to book it and now they can either get us to the port at 9:00 or not 'til 12:30. I definitely don't want to wait 'til 12:30 but if we get there at 9:00 will we be standing out in the parking lot waiting for the doors to open?

 

[bengals01]

the earliest we ever got in was 10:00 am

 

[jel0511]

Yes, I believe the port doesn't open until at least 10AM and sometimes not until 10:30. You'll also be dropped off across the street since the port isn't opened, and you'll either have to hire a porter, or lug all your luggage across the street.

 

[smchan]

I got the port shortly before 10:00am for a 4 day Wonder cruise. They wouldn't let us anywhere near the terminal, so we had to queue up in our cars in the port parking area across the street from the terminal. Whiling queueing up, some got out of their car and started unloading their luggage in the port parking area. Security made them reload their luggage and get back in their car until (approximately) 10:30 check-in.

Based on that experience, I definitely think 9:00am is too early.

I, personally, would prefer to not arrive in a stretch Hummer over standing in the parking lot for an hour plus. (If the weather is bad, it'd be a really bad start to your vacation.)

Sam

 

[Hans Solo]

If you get to Port Canaveral that early, go get some breakfast to hold you over till you board. Grill's Seafood is right there at port across the basin from DCL and I believe they open at 600AM for breakfast. Check out Dave's site http://www.dcltribute.com/ for the map and link to them. You can sit there, have your morning coffee, and admire the ship before you board.

 

[kcashner]

Absolutely, 9:00 is too early. You will not be allowed into the port area. I don't mean the building, I mean the whole area around the terminal. This is controlled by the port authority, not by DCL. They do not open to incoming traffic until about 10 am, sometimes a bit later. It depends on how the clearing and disembarkation from the previous cruise happened--is security, etc. all on schedule? You won't be "standing waiting for the doors to open," you'll be a block away with quite a long trek to get to the luggage check in.

The counters open at 10:30. There is really no reason to be there before 10:25ish.

 

[Jena Finn]

Thanks for all your help everyone! I loved the breakfast idea until I thought about the 10 adults in our party shlepping 10 kids under 6 and all our luggage. So I guess we'll take seperate vans to the port and we'll all be together in the hummer on the way back to the airport to reminisce about all our fun times on the cruise.

 

[dianthus]

12:30 is not a bad time to arrive, as the initial line & rush will be over.

The only bad part is if you wanted to make Palo, or Spa ressies. If you are in a CAT 3 or above you can do that ahead of time, so that would work for you.

~ Linda

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by Jena Finn
Thanks for all your help everyone! I loved the breakfast idea until I thought about the 10 adults in our party shlepping 10 kids under 6 and all our luggage. So I guess we'll take seperate vans to the port and we'll all be together in the hummer on the way back to the airport to reminisce about all our fun times on the cruise.

Wise move, IMHO. The restaraunt is a lot further from the ship than the map leads one to believe.

Sam

 

[Hygiene99]

Try another Co. for the service has to be some Co. out there that can help u out im sure there is more than one strech hummer in Florida...........

 

[alexandrew]

if you show up at 9 in your stretch Hummer, no one will see you...afterall, a stretch Hummer is a car that screams "look at me, look at me"....

 

[Jena Finn]

no, really I just thought it would be fun for the 20 of us to go together and that's all I could find that would fit us! If it seems "look at me" then maybe I'd rather not take it. It's no big deal; doesn't cost anymore than taking 2 vans.

 

[alexandrew]

No, take the Hummer...I was just kidding....what a unique and cool experience....also, this is a great photo opp....imagine the 20 of you outside the Hummer with ship in background....just try to get there by 10, otherwise it's a long wait!!!!

 

[shelly3girls]

Where did you find the stretch hummer? We will have 19 in our group and would love to be able to make the trip together!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by shelly3girls
Where did you find the stretch hummer? We will have 19 in our group and would love to be able to make the trip together!

HappyLimo (www.happylimo.com) has one. Check out Barb and Tony's site www.castawayclub.com for a coupon on transportation to the port. Thanks inkognito!!!

 

[shelly3girls]

Thanks! Seems like a great idea for our "family reunion" cruise.

 

[Laughter]

I love the idea of a hummer and my what fun you are going to have going with so many people. I am so sure that howver you get to the ship will be great!