Grand - Ft. Lauderdale disembark - how long?

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phaelon56

Guest
We're returinign to the Fort Lauderdale port on Sun Oct 19 (the ship arrives by 7 AM?). Our return flight home from the FTL airport is at 10:47 AM and we will be checking bags - not just carry on. Is this doable? I didn't really give it serious consideration before booking as the TA said it's about a ten minute cab ride from pier to airport. How long is this likely to really take? I've seen posts about people having it take until 9:30 AM to totally disembark. If it's no later than 9:30 I think we can make it (just barely) but hate to cut it too close. Anyone with personal experience to share?
 
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Einstein

Guest
I would NOT even attampt that time after 911 and with multiple ships possibly debarking. Change it if U possibly can to later (after 12 or the next day). No need to stress yourself out. I have known people to make that time by requesting the 1st debarkation time but ALL it takes is one snafu by customs and U are hung out to dry.


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Aggie

Guest
Disembarkation started promptly at 8:30. Theoretically you could make it, but remember that you have to go through Immigration, find your bags, go through Customs, and get a cab, any of which could delay you. At the airport, you will be directed to check your bags downstairs in the baggage claim area if you are a cruise passenger. That might slow you down some more. Then you go back upstairs to clear security. Any one of these could cause you to miss your flight.

However, we were off the ship and at the airport by 9:30, and were at the gate and waiting for our noon-ish flight before 10 AM. It CAN be done, but it's not a sure thing.
 
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DJA

Guest
We've done 11:00 flights off the Grand out of FLL several times (Doing an 11:10 off the Island Princess in January). Plenty of time to spare...we're usually checked in and through security by 9:30. Just make sure you tell the purser you've got an early flight (you have to show your tickets/reservation) so you can get the early-off luggage tags...usually the red ones. The airport is really close. It is in fact just a ten-minute cab ride and there are plenty of cabs when you get off in the first wave. Get a porter as you collect your luggage, you'll zip through customs and right out to a cab in no time flat.
 
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CruiseAholic

Guest
When I booked my flights for Thanksgiving, Princess told us not to have a flight before 10:30, it used to be 11:00 am. If the Pursers desk has your flight itinerary, they will put you in the earliest group off. Usually things go off without a hitch.
 
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DJA

Guest
P.S.

The Princess berth is at Northport, and there aren't any other ships there with it, so you won't have other ships passengers competing with you for cabs. Most of the other big ships berth at Midport which has its own cab line.
 
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Einstein

Guest
Another couple of factors to count in are it will be Thanksgiving which means the airports will be even worse and there will be LOTS of children around also which could play a factor. From the looks of it U will be doing battle with the Radiance of the Seas, Seven Sea Voyager, Maasdam, Costa Mediterranea, and the Celebrity Millennium. Which if booked full will account for an additional 6000+ people besides those cruising on the Grand. Considering Thanksgiving is the worst travel time of the year (even worse than Christmas) and that Sunday departures from Florida are always at a premium it could be an interesting travel day. Good Luck!!! :thumb


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phaelon56

Guest
My sailing (and flights) are actually in mid-October, not Thanksgiving. I'll follow the advice of showing the purser the return air tix (actually just a printed itinerary as they are e-tix) and get the red tags for early disembarkation. If 10:30 was the earliest recommended time previously and it's not a holiday weekend.... I'm guessing we should be okay.

Thanks to all for the great info.
 
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Einstein

Guest
Oops .. thinking about the other Thanksgiving Day thread when I was posting to this one. As its NOT Thanksgiving that should give U a MUCH BETTER chance. Enjoy!!! :thumb


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mlzangel78

Guest
I booked through my TA transfers through princess does that mean i'll have an early off the ship that would stink we booked a 8:00pm flight what else is there to do in Ft Lauderdale for 6 hours ???
 
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DJA

Guest
With an 8:00 PM flight, you won't have an early off, but even if you go off with the last group you'll still be off pretty early...could be as early as 9:30.

Never done anything there on the back end but Princess has a bunch of shore excursions for people with late flights (although the shore excursions define late flights as 4:00 at the latest). There are some city tours, boat trips, airboat rides, etc. You could also rent a car and roam around on your own...the Hertz bus comes right to the ship. There's a giant shopping mall called Sawgrass that's not too far...if you like malls you could probably spend a fair amount of time there.

Personally, I'd try and change to an earlier flight if possible...or at least dump the Princess transfers if it's not too late. In Fort Lauderdale the transfers add no value, all they do is put you in with a big crowd and slow you down. The pier is really close to the airport and car rentals, and taxis are really easy there.
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
Me too. Get an earlier flight if you can. Even with 12:15 PM flights (twice) we were bored to death sitting in the airport. And, the closer it gets to noon, the more crowded that little airport gets. We've done the Grand only twice, but both times, we were off the ship by 8:45-9:00 AM without requesting special debarkation tags.

I think you'll make it, but the only worry I'd have would be the long security line checks.
 
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mlzangel78

Guest
tHANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS :) AS USUAL YOU ALWAYS HELP. UNFORTUNATELY WE FY SPIRIT OUT OF ATLANTIC CITY BECAUSE ITS ONLY 5 MIN FROM THE HOUSE AND AIRFARE WAS 66.00 EACH WAY, AND ITS A DIRECT FLIGHT THE ONLY THAT STINKS ABOUT SPIRIT IS THAT THEY ONLY HAVE 2 FLIGHTS OUT OF FLL. wE HAVE ALREADY PAID THE CRUISE IN FULL SO TRANSFERS CANT BE REMOVED I GUESS WE'LL BE STUCK AT THE AIRPORT, IS THERE SOMETHING CLOSE BY THE AIRPORT TO WALK TO OR ANYTHING TO DO AT THE AIRPORT?? I KNOW ORLANDO HAS BARS AND RESTURANTS, NEVER BEEN TO FLL
 
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DJA

Guest
Not much to walk to from the pier or the airport. Rent a car and explore. You can skip the Princess transfer and pick up a rental car shuttle at the pier, or transfer to the airport and pick up the shuttle from there. If it were me, I'd go straight to the rental car bus from the ship.
 
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BurBunny

Guest
Princess is pretty good about refunding transfers which aren't used. If you'd prefer to cab it, just go to the Purser's desk and ask to have a credit for your return transfer.

At the airport, you're not permitted through security until 2 hours prior to your flight, so you can't access the bars and restaurants in the terminals. You'd be forced to wait out in the check-in area.
 
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MortgageChick

Guest
We may be facing the same thing in FLL in March. I have yet to decide whether we will stay the extra night and leave on the early morning flight Monday or ( our flight will be 6.45pm) if we will try for a cheap room on Priceline to hang out in - use pool until 5pm. Hanging around the airport with luggae for 10 hours is not my idea of fun.
 
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