Priority Departure

[magicolor_girl]

We have a cruise booked on Freedom of the Seas in December. We are planning to rent a car when we depart the ship but we don't know what time to reserve it. I am Diamond, DH is Platinum. We will be eligible for Priority Departure but what time will we actually be able to leave the ship? As we are heading out to a whirlwind day at DisneyWorld, we want to get started early. :D

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

[robtulipe]

Do the Express (self) departure where you carry off you own luggage if you can. That is the first group to disembark the ship typically between 7:30 and 8:00 after it has cleared Customs and Immigrations. Be warned though that if you are going to use the rental car shuttle for transport to the car rental location, they don't usually start coming to the Miami cruise port until around 9 AM. You could take a taxi if you want to get to the rental ASAP. Your C&A diamond status should get you off the ship just after those with flights before noon that day which will be around 8:30 so I would reserve the car for 10 AM. It will not be a problem if you arrive a bit early or later. They will hold the car for several hours after the pick up time.

[cb at sea]

I'm betting you'll be off the ship WAAAAY before 10am....I'd have them there by 9am, no later, so you don't have to wait and wait outside of the ship!

[Gonzo70]

I'm betting you'll be off the ship WAAAAY before 10am....I'd have them there by 9am, no later, so you don't have to wait and wait outside of the ship!

 

Have who there? :confused:

[robtulipe]

I'm betting you'll be off the ship WAAAAY before 10am....I'd have them there by 9am, no later, so you don't have to wait and wait outside of the ship!

Yes we called Alamo after our last Dec. X Century cruise into the port of Miami for the shuttle that took us to the rental location near MIA but waited over an hour until two buses came at around 9AM. It wasn't a limo service that you could specify what time you wanted to be picked up at the port. The reservation time is for the pick of the car at the rental location not the time you feel you will be off the ship or want the shuttle to be there. Just check with the car rental agency you have booked with to get a better idea when they will send a shuttle bus to pick up clients at the port.

[JanineM]

You can do express departure and be off the ship by 7, but on Freedom last month we just indicated that we wanted to be off the ship by 8:30 and were given a colour that was scheduled to depart at 8:15 am. We had just eaten breakfast and were wandering back to our cabin when they called our colour - at 7:45. So we were off the ship, picked up our luggage and through customs by about 8:10 am.

 

The only risk is if the ship is delayed into port, if customs holds you, or if there are a bunch of crew members departing. Otherwise, you should have plenty of time for Disney-ing.