Missing Embarking?

[ktate82]

DH and I will be north of Fort Lauderdale in December for DH's work. He is attending training there, and I'm along for the trip. We are debating taking a 4 day Merrytime cruise on the Magic out of Miami. I could be there early morning, but DH's training will cut him pretty close. What is the latest they will let him board? If he misses embarking, he could rent a car and be in Key West the next morning (the Magic's first stop). Would they let him board there? We have passports.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The latest embarkation time is usually 3:45pm. They might not let him board the following day in Key West. My understanding is that having even just one passenger board at a different US port creates a problem with the Passenger Vessel Services Act, but I don't know the specifics.

 

[ScooterScott44]

If he misses he will not be allowed to board in Key West as mentioned, it will violate the PVSA. He has to embark/disembark at the same US port to be legal.

Sounds like if you want to try, he shoots out ASAP after class into an Uber that whisks him to the port and hope for minimal traffic. Good luck!

 

[ktate82]

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The latest embarkation time is usually 3:45pm. They might not let him board the following day in Key West. My understanding is that having even just one passenger board at a different US port creates a problem with the Passenger Vessel Services Act, but I don't know the specifics.

Well, it's not really the one passenger boarding at a different port that changes things. It's that, according to the PVSA, a foreign flagged ship may not embark and debark any passenger at 2 different US ports without a stop in a distant foreign port A distant foreign port is any port NOT "in North America, Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (including the Bahama Islands, but not including the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao)."

 

[TrishaK]

Maybe he can just leave a bit early....? Like during the lunch break or an afternoon bathroom break. Might be less obvious.

 

[ktate82]

Maybe he can just leave a bit early....? Like during the lunch break or an afternoon bathroom break. Might be less obvious.

He has a meeting in the morning, and then another from 1-3. He was planning to leave about 2:30. Mapquest and Uber estimates say it's about a 50 minute drive, putting him there at 3:20. We are debating if we want to book it and try to make it or just skip it. We are two cruises away from being platinum and have a big cruise planned next October, so were trying to reach that milestone before October. Since work is paying for his way down, it's a cheaper way to get a cruise in. Plus I really want to do a Marrytime cruise lol.

How is traffic that time of day? Is it feasible or am I dreaming big cruise dreams?

 

[Dug720]

He has a meeting in the morning, and then another from 1-3. He was planning to leave about 2:30. Mapquest and Uber estimates say it's about a 50 minute drive, putting him there at 3:20. We are debating if we want to book it and try to make it or just skip it. We are two cruises away from being platinum and have a big cruise planned next October, so were trying to reach that milestone before October. Since work is paying for his way down, it's a cheaper way to get a cruise in. Plus I really want to do a Marrytime cruise lol.

How is traffic that time of day? Is it feasible or am I dreaming big cruise dreams?

For me? It would be way too risky. I'm that person that if I have plenty of time, the subway trains are just pulling into the station as I clear the turnstiles (I live in NYC - if I drove it would be that the roads were clear and I hit every green light), but if I'm running the tiniest bit late there are massive delays (if it was when I was driving, it would mean hitting every red light and having massive traffic everywhere).

If he could cut out at 2, that would be more comfortable if it were me. I would be too stressed out otherwise.

Of course, if you're comfortable going on the cruise by yourself... That would push you (along with one more) to being Platinum, and as long as you're in the stateroom with him on that October cruise, you'd get the Platinum benefits.

 

[FSU Girl]

I wouldn’t risk it. You never know if there will be any traffic delays. Like today for me on my drive home, I needed to be somewhere by 6pm and with my normal traffic I would easily be there by 5:45. Well on the highway there was an alart of an accident that caused a 45 minute delay and I had to go on side streets. I know the area well and still was late because of this. It wasn’t that big of a deal for me being late, but if a delay was happening like that’s going to a cruise it would have made me miss the boat. And I live in south Florida, traffic here can be bad especially in Miami

 

[OrcaPotter]

Traffic in that part of the state is horrendous at any hour. If he can’t skip out early I wouldn’t chance it. Maybe a different sailing?

 

[FigmentSpark]

You could take all the luggage and if he parked at the port, he wouldn't have to return a rental. It would be park and walk on, but still... any delays.... You're essentially talking about driving through Miami, not on a highway to PC.

Wait - will he have a rental or was he going to take a taxi/uber?

 

[rwthompson82]

I agree with most commenters, traffic into Miami is not ideal. I have had my drive from west of Fort Lauderdale take over 2.5 hours (granted, that is during rush hour). If you are coming from north of Fort Lauderdale (Boca would be my guess), I think you would be okay if you had 90 minutes, but I wouldn’t feel safe without at least 2 hours.

Have you considered a 3 night dream And spending a couple of nights in a hotel? Looks like the Magic leaves on Wednesdays and the Dream leaves on Fridays. Or flying in the Friday before? Not sure what time he would need to be at the training at (in my experience, they never start early in Monday’s as people are traveling). You could be in South Florida by noon on Monday if you rented a car.

 

[ktate82]

You could take all the luggage and if he parked at the port, he wouldn't have to return a rental. It would be park and walk on, but still... any delays.... You're essentially talking about driving through Miami, not on a highway to PC.

Wait - will he have a rental or was he going to take a taxi/uber?

I’m going to return the rental car and the plan was him taking a lyft (or Uber) or prearranged taxi. We weren’t sure if I should take all the luggage or if he should bring it along so it’s with us should we not be able to go.

 

[ScooterScott44]

Traffic in that part of the state is horrendous at any hour. If he can’t skip out early I wouldn’t chance it. Maybe a different sailing?

I only travel to south Florida for work occasionally but agree traffic jams are possible at anytime. Once scheduled myself to leave work after midnight to avoid problems and still got stuck in a traffic jam at 1 am.

Agree that unless he ducks out a little early it is too risky. It seems driving north to catch a cruise on the dream would be a good option.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Best case is 3:20. That is high risk. I wouldn't. If he could rearrange his meetings it might be another thing.

 

[koala1966]

He has a meeting in the morning, and then another from 1-3. He was planning to leave about 2:30. Mapquest and Uber estimates say it's about a 50 minute drive, putting him there at 3:20. We are debating if we want to book it and try to make it or just skip it. We are two cruises away from being platinum and have a big cruise planned next October, so were trying to reach that milestone before October. Since work is paying for his way down, it's a cheaper way to get a cruise in. Plus I really want to do a Marrytime cruise lol.

How is traffic that time of day? Is it feasible or am I dreaming big cruise dreams?

No way I would risk Miami traffic with 25 minutes to spare. There are always traffic tie ups down there.

 

[dcassetta]

I’m going to return the rental car and the plan was him taking a lyft (or Uber) or prearranged taxi. We weren’t sure if I should take all the luggage or if he should bring it along so it’s with us should we not be able to go.

I agree that this is too risky. If you do decide to chance it, book a professional driver. You would want someone with knowledge of alternate routes. With Lyft or Uber the driver may just be relying on their car's navigation system.

 

[T & R]

Kind of off topic but what happens if you're already on the cruise and you miss getting back on at a port stop? Could you fly or boat over to the next port stop and get back on there?

 

[dcassetta]

Kind of off topic but what happens if you're already on the cruise and you miss getting back on at a port stop? Could you fly or boat over to the next port stop and get back on there?

Depending on which port you are in and which day of the cruise it is, the only option may be to pay to fly yourself home. This would be a time when a passport would be necessary.

 

[Dug720]

Kind of off topic but what happens if you're already on the cruise and you miss getting back on at a port stop? Could you fly or boat over to the next port stop and get back on there?

As Christiaan (IMHO the best Cruise Director ever who is now head of DCL Entertainment) used to say before Nassau... “If you miss the ship, make sure to have your camera ready. Because the Dream sailing off into the sunset? Is a beautiful shot.”