Noordam 8-28 March: turn-around day in Ft. Lauderdale

[Furleydog]

My husband and I are doing the 20-day back-to-back cruise on Noordam. What happens back in Ft. Lauderdale at the midpoint of the cruise? Are we allowed to leave the vessel? Are we required to leave? Do we go through Customs & Immigration? Is our shipboard account settled up for the first 10 days? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Counting the days.....

[grandgeezer]

You have to get off while custom clears the ship. If you don't have anyplace you want to go, you can go off as a group. When we did it, we got a letter a few days before telling us what to do. We met in the Theater and someone from Celebrity escourted us off the ship and into the terminal. They served cookies and coffee while we waited. After about 45 minutes, they let us back on. This was about an hour before they let the new passengers on so we beat the rush for lunch in the buffet.

[sail7seas]

You will have to clear Immigration in Port Everglades and will not be permitted back aboard until the ship has 'zeroed down' meaning everyone who is supposed to be leaving has done so. We find the usual wait for us is in the range of about 30 minutes or so. If you want to go off and do something in FLL rather than reboard the ship, you are free to do so after clearing Immigration.

It's not a big deal.

On HAL, you will get a letter the last night of your first cruise giving you instructions as well as what times dining areas are open and what lounges.

[Krazy Kruizers]

welcome to cruise critic

we have done your cruise and many other collector (back-to-back) cruises

your id card will be programmed for all 20 days

the night before the end of the first segment you will receive a letter and an intransit card indicating the time and place you are to report to on intransit day. you will be escorted off the ship -- this will usually happen around 9:30 as intransit people are the last ones to clear the ship -- you will need to take your passport with you as well as your intransit card to show the officials -- you can not get back onto the ship until it goes down to what is caalled "zero" count

if you want to leave earlier and go out on your own -- you need to notify the front desk -- and you will also have to fill out a customs form to turn in before you leave the building

on lour last couple cruises we were also informed that we could not take any back packs off the shp

keep in mind that you are not within walking distance of anything

[Furleydog]

grandgeezer, sail7seas and Krazy Kruizers,

Thanks for your quick and informative replies!

Furleydog