Leaving the ship at port (specifically Key West) - how long does it take?

[Aimeedyan]

I've done cruises in the past but cannot recall how long it took to actually get off the ship at each port. I'm working on planning our day in Key West and am wondering how long it might take to leave the ship that morning - and if there is a time of day that is more crowded. Do most leave as soon as the ship docks? After breakfast? Mid-morning?

I'm traveling with my mom and she has real issues standing for very long so I want to minimize lines if we can.

Thanks

 

[mmouse37]

I have to say at most ports we have not encountered lines to get off the ship. We have been to KW many times via DCL and I remember leaving the ship pretty soon after docking and don't recall lines but I am sure each cruise could be different. When the DCL excursions leave the ship they leave as a group and at those times it could be a mass of people leaving at once. Excursions leave all different times. Weather plays a part too...if the weather is rainy you may not have as many people wanting to get off the ship first thing unless they have an excursion.

What I am trying to say that it hit or miss if you will encounter a line. The process is simple...all people have to do to leave the ship is tap their KTTW card upon exiting so even if there are 15 people in front of you it goes very quickly. They usually have two lines going for disembarking.

I think you will be fine. We will be on the Wonder going to KW next week.

MJ

 

[monarchsfan16]

Key West is a unique port. If you have been to foreign ports first (Nassau and Castaway Cay count), you will have to clear immigrations before getting off the ship. This is NOT customs. It is simply immigrations officials checking your passport or birth certificate and room key and putting a sticker on your room key to say you've cleared. EVERY single person on the ship must go through this. However, Disney assigns times to report to the theater for this, the line moves continually once the officials are on board, and you are free to do as you please once you've got your sticker on your key. If Key West is your first stop, as best as I can tell, this process doesn't happen. When I cruised the Wonder in April, we never found a long line to get off the ship, but we found Key West to have the shortest line. I suspect this was because people trickled off the ship after immigrations. We generally waited half an hour or so after we were cleared to go ashore (at the other ports), and never had to wait long at all. Disney is an expert at people moving, and this carries over to the ships!

 

[Shanti]

I've done cruises in the past but cannot recall how long it took to actually get off the ship at each port. I'm working on planning our day in Key West and am wondering how long it might take to leave the ship that morning - and if there is a time of day that is more crowded. Do most leave as soon as the ship docks? After breakfast? Mid-morning?

I'm traveling with my mom and she has real issues standing for very long so I want to minimize lines if we can.

Thanks

In my experience, lines are worst right when the ship opens up, because the morning excursion groups and the eager beavers want to be off the ship asap. Last week we waited on a packed Fantasy staircase in Tortola, waiting for things to start moving so we could get off the ship, and that was right after the announcement that the ship was open. Going through customs was nicer than waiting in that crowd.

If you want to avoid lines for your mother's sake, I recommend waiting for at least 30 minutes or an hour after the ship opens before trying to disembark. Anytime after that will likely be an easy walk-off.

 

[dispromn]

Just curious whether anyone has had experience with coming back to the ship for lunch? I read a trip report from another cruise line where they returned to the ship for lunch at Key West and then disembarked again for more fun on Key West. I'm curious whether that is a good idea, or if we should just plan on enjoying lunch somewhere onshore.

 

[dclpluto]

Just curious whether anyone has had experience with coming back to the ship for lunch? I read a trip report from another cruise line where they returned to the ship for lunch at Key West and then disembarked again for more fun on Key West. I'm curious whether that is a good idea, or if we should just plan on enjoying lunch somewhere onshore.

Excellent idea. Myself I don't like paying double for my lunch unless I really have to.

 

[Shanti]

Just curious whether anyone has had experience with coming back to the ship for lunch? I read a trip report from another cruise line where they returned to the ship for lunch at Key West and then disembarked again for more fun on Key West. I'm curious whether that is a good idea, or if we should just plan on enjoying lunch somewhere onshore.

I haven't done it specifically for lunch, but have returned to the ship to shower and change, and then go back out. It was no problem. On port days we tend to just eat a big breakfast, then a late lunch after being done with the port, but returning to the ship for lunch would be my next preference after that. Lunch on the ship is complimentary, and usually higher quality food than what you'd get in port.

 

[OKW Lover]

Our experience in getting off the ship in any port is that the lines are long when first opened but about 30 minutes later there's no line at all.

As far as returning to the ship for lunch, sure you can do that. However, you miss trying some of the local restaurants (or tourist traps) and you also wind up using some potentially valuable port time. It's your decision.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Key West is a unique port. If you have been to foreign ports first (Nassau and Castaway Cay count), you will have to clear immigrations before getting off the ship. This is NOT customs. It is simply immigrations officials checking your passport or birth certificate and room key and putting a sticker on your room key to say you've cleared. EVERY single person on the ship must go through this. However, Disney assigns times to report to the theater for this, the line moves continually once the officials are on board, and you are free to do as you please once you've got your sticker on your key. If Key West is your first stop, as best as I can tell, this process doesn't happen. When I cruised the Wonder in April, we never found a long line to get off the ship, but we found Key West to have the shortest line. I suspect this was because people trickled off the ship after immigrations. We generally waited half an hour or so after we were cleared to go ashore (at the other ports), and never had to wait long at all. Disney is an expert at people moving, and this carries over to the ships!

Interesting! We are stopping at Castaway Cay first so it's nice to have a head's up that this will happen on board. Sounds like it might be a good thing for us in regards to lines and crowds. Thank you!

 

[mmouse37]

Just curious whether anyone has had experience with coming back to the ship for lunch? I read a trip report from another cruise line where they returned to the ship for lunch at Key West and then disembarked again for more fun on Key West. I'm curious whether that is a good idea, or if we should just plan on enjoying lunch somewhere onshore.

Very doable. KW is not that large so very easy to get off and on ship. Though, there are many nice places for lunch if you want some local flavor. You really should at least try the Key Lime Pie, even if you don't eat lunch on shore.

MJ

 

[dcassetta]

Just curious whether anyone has had experience with coming back to the ship for lunch? I read a trip report from another cruise line where they returned to the ship for lunch at Key West and then disembarked again for more fun on Key West. I'm curious whether that is a good idea, or if we should just plan on enjoying lunch somewhere onshore.

Coming back to the ship for lunch really depends on where the ship docks. If you're at Pier B which is very close to Mallory Square, coming back to the ship for lunch would be very easy to do. If you're at the Outer Mole, which is at the Navy base, that involves taking a shuttle to and from Mallory Square to the ship. That obviously takes more time.


http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/department/calendar.php This calendar will let you know where your particular cruise is docking.