fort lauderdale docking time

[adznyfan]

hi all

looking forward to a 3 day cruise from fort lauderdale to see lighthouse point! jetblue changed my flight to leave at 9:15 when we get back to port and will not give us a refund since the time change is 6 min under 2 hour time required to get a refund - am thinking of trying to make the flight - approx what time does the ship dock and should i take disney transp back or arrange to have someone there? thanks and did i mention jetblue is the worst!!!!


cindy

 

[SteveMouse]

You may have a bit of a challenge, especially if you do not fully self-disembark. Part of the issue is that the 11:00 flight was itself too early to use regular disembarkation. The time change just made it harder.

Typically, the first passengers may get off the ship between 7 and 7:15am, depending upon the ship being cleared.

The good news is that the Disney cruise terminal in Port Everglades is under 20 minutes to the Fort Lauderdale airport. JetBlue is towards the "front" of the airport, in terms of dropping off passengers.

You probably want to take a taxi. There should be an ample supply and you don't want a delay in trying to find a particular driver/vehicle.

It will be better if you have TSAPre or Clear to potentially shorten the line going through security: You may also face a line when checking baggage: I would pre-pay any baggage costs.

I would also not expect to stop before getting to your gate. Once there, you may find you have several minutes to use the restroom or grab some food.

I'd also want a good plan B.

 

[happycamper47]

There won't be any DCL trans that early. I really don't think it's even going to work if you use a cab.

 

[SteveMouse]

The issue is how quickly can you get off the ship. The rest is doable (but stressful) if off the ship and through customs/immigration by 7:45-7:50. I'm a Fort Lauderdale local (more or less).

 

[Cruzin’Sisters]

There won't be any DCL trans that early. I really don't think it's even going to work if you use a cab.

What time does the shuttle start? I was planning to walk off as well.

 

[happycamper47]

What time does the shuttle start? I was planning to walk off as well.

We were told the first bus usually doesn't leave until 8:00 or slightly after. They wouldn't even sell us transfers for an 11:15 flight had to be 11:30 or later.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have not sailed from that port, only Miami, but we did walk-off with our bags and were in our car (parked in the garage) well before 7:30am. We did early breakfast, kept our bags with us, and walked off as soon as it was cleared. The line moved fast and because we had no bags to claim, we just walked right out to the car.

In theory, we could have been even faster if we had jumped in a cab.

If the airport is 20 minutes away, you could be arriving by 8am or earlier which if security and bag drop cooperates, should be okay.

Don't let them take your bags.
Grab a cab that's waiting already.
Look into TSA precheck to help with security.
Even better, pack your entire cruise in a carry-on bag and don't even worry about bag drop at the airport.

A number of things could go wrong but I'm holding out hope you make it! I'm so sorry you're in this situation.

 

[lanejudy]

What time does the shuttle start? I was planning to walk off as well.

DCL won’t sell transfers for flights before a certain time. They don’t want to chance being blamed for guests missing the flight.

 

[adznyfan]

thanks so much for the help!!! keeping my fingers crossed it works - another questions - will there be taxis waiting that early or should i book one?

 

[jrez]

on 12/24/22 I made it from Port of Miami after my cruise on the Dream to FLL by 8:00 am.

 

[jrez]

…and I was at my gate by 8:15 am with TSA precheck on a Christmas Eve Saturday.

So, if I can do that from Port of Miami it’s certainly possible from Port Everglades.

 

[SteveMouse]

One other factor is the number of ships in port/number of other passengers attempting to clear airport security at the same time.

More people have TSAPre or Clear today than 2022.

 

[jrez]

One other factor is the number of ships in port/number of other passengers attempting to clear airport security at the same time.

More people have TSAPre or Clear today than 2022.

I’m not saying it’s the best plan. I was mildly concerned getting from Port of Miami to FLL for my 10:50 flight. I haven’t noticed that much of a difference in TSA lines since then (last week of 2022).

If I was the OP and I was to go forward with that flight, I would have all my bags and be lined up in the atrium and have a private car service waiting at that time. Have TSA precheck or Clear too.

If there is no delay getting the ship cleared the OP could conceivably make that flight easily.

 

[jrez]

I’m not saying it’s the best plan. I was mildly concerned getting from Port of Miami to FLL for my 10:50 flight. I haven’t noticed that much of a difference in TSA lines since then (last week of 2022).

If I was the OP and I was to go forward with that flight, I would have all my bags and be lined up in the atrium and have a private car service waiting at that time. Have TSA precheck or Clear too.

If there is no delay getting the ship cleared the OP could conceivably make that flight easily.

It took me a whopping 5 minutes to get thru TSA precheck at MCO after our Fantasy cruise on 12/23/23 and that was somewhere around 11:00 am.

 

[adznyfan]

thanks for all the info - i;m going to try it!! thanks for all the tips

 

[mmouse37]

We debarked the Dream this past Friday the 12th. Express walk off was called at 7:05 am. We didn't disembark until 10:00 am when they finally called our Orange Goofy luggage tags. That's the latest I have ever been onboard.

MJ

 

[jrez]

We debarked the Dream this past Friday the 12th. Express walk off was called at 7:05 am. We didn't disembark until 10:00 am when they finally called our Orange Goofy luggage tags. That's the latest I have ever been onboard.

MJ

Yeah the OP definitely has to express walk off with all their luggage first thing when the gangway opens.

 

[SteveMouse]

I’m not saying it’s the best plan. I was mildly concerned getting from Port of Miami to FLL for my 10:50 flight. I haven’t noticed that much of a difference in TSA lines since then (last week of 2022).

If I was the OP and I was to go forward with that flight, I would have all my bags and be lined up in the atrium and have a private car service waiting at that time. Have TSA precheck or Clear too.

If there is no delay getting the ship cleared the OP could conceivably make that flight easily.

Agreed, save I'd take the first taxi. They are plentiful at Port Everglades.

"It took me a whopping 5 minutes to get thru TSA precheck at MCO after our Fantasy cruise on 12/23/23 and that was somewhere around 11:00 am."

That is fairly unusual. MCO often has significant lines, often with lots of people unfamiliar with the process, slowing it din further.