Debarkation

Good advice.

When we were recently on the ms. Rotterdam, we departed in Boston. The immigration people came on board, the night before. We just walked off the ship the next day.

Kennicott we will also be flying Alaska Air to Seattle and then Kelowna. We've booked an excursion to the Everglades to put in some time. We've done the excursion before, but do enjoy the airboats. Our flight isn't until about 6pm out of FLL.

I wouldn't think you would have any problem at all. Get off the ship as soon as they open the gangway and do your own bags. Grab a cab.

We have used Port Everglades a lot. Our problem is the opposite of yours, we have to find a way to kill time as we fly to Seattle on Alaska Airlines in order to make Anchorage connections and they don't leave until around six PM. We usually take the ship's transfer which includes a local sightseeing trip. Unfortunately, they only have two options for the sightseeing and we have done those so many times it is getting boring.

We try to get off the ship as late as possible with the last wave of disembarking guests, but even then, including the sightseeing, we end up at the airport with five hours or more to go. They can't get you off the vessel fast enough at the end of the voyage, no hanging around on the ship even though you vacate your stateroom either.

Alaska Airlines' counter is closed until two hours or so before departure and seating at the Ft. Lauderdale airport, before one gets into the secure concourse, is sparse and crowded to say the least. Once one checks their bags and receives their final boarding pass there are some nice eateries and more room to sit in the departure areas. That situation should be better for us next time though, since Alaska merged with Virgin and their ticket counter will be open almost around the clock now.

That's crazy! We generally travel during peak times, like Spring Break, so lineups will be extra long. Our flight isn't until around 6pm so it could be busy.

Thanks for all the GREAT advice!! I am excited about our first cruise, but grew concerned over my return flight arrangements! I think with all of this information, we will be ok for an 11:15 flight!

We saw a couple we met on the cruise in a cab in the line for departures when our Uber driver went towards arrivals ... caught up with them later in the airport and they said it took over 45 minutes to get dropped off ...

That's a great idea - thanks for the tip. We don't fly out of FLL till March but I will remember to get dropped off at arrivals.

Here's a tip for the Ft Lauderdale airport ... have your driver drop you in arrivals (not departures where the lines getting into the airport can be massive) and simply take the elevator down to departures ... we've flown out of there many times and an old Uber driver taught us that trick and it really works!

definitely do self disembarkation-carry your luggage with you and you will get out ahead of all the people-in January at Fort Lauderdale, my brother and I did that and got in the self disembarkation line which looked pretty long but moved decently. We got in line just before 7:30, got off and thru security, got a taxi, checked in at the airport and went thru their security and were sitting in the gate area at 8:20am. It can be done.

jen2002 - here is another input for you. We just pack two bags - one carry on, and one 'checked' bag. On disembarkation, we carry both bags with us. Our level with Princess allows us to get off when we want, so once the customs clearance is received, we are usually in the first couple hundred to get off. (Not knowing your loyalty level, as mentioned above you can ask for departure group one or two on the ship).

We disembark about 0830, walk to the customs area, and NORMALLY get thru customs by 0900. YOU will have an advantage of the Global Entry. That line moves REALLY fast! Out to the taxi area or a pre-purchased shuttle ticket and we are off to the airport. 0930 at the latest.

FLL TSA can be fairly fast, or bogged down if multiple cruise ships enter port that morning. Again, since you are TSA pre-check, you should sail thru the line.

Without your Global Entry and TSA pre-check, we have had 1200 (ish) flights with no problems.

Summary. Get off asap. Carry your bags.Global Entry customs. Taxi to airport. TSA pre-check. Wait at your gate for your plane to leave. Close, but I think you can do it. Good luck!