Port of Miami questions

[poss]

I'm posting here rather than on the "Ports" section of CC because if my information is correct, Regent docks at a different place (Terminal J) than most other cruise lines.   So details may be different.

 

We live on the west coast of Florida, and when we've in the past flown from Miami airport for a vacation of at least two weeks, we've hired a car service.   Our upcoming cruise to the Caribbean is only 10 days, so parking fees for the period shouldn't be all that high.    Thus my inclination to drive.    HOWEVER, I'm concerned how our baggage will get from our car onto the ship.    I'm assuming that it's not a long walk from where one parks to the ship.    But we can't lug baggage very far these days.   What  I'm hoping is that someone can tell me whether there are carts at the parking lots that a person can use to walk over to the ship with (and then somehow return??) Or that there are porters, or — what?

 

Thanks for any relevant input.

[ronrick1943]

Not sure as we use a car service.  However I think you can drop off your bags at the ship, then go park your car and return to the ship.  I've seen others do this.  On your return one of you can wait with the luggage while the other goes and gets the car.

[Anchorbuoy]

36 minutes ago, poss said:

We live on the west coast of Florida, and when we've in the past flown from Miami airport for a vacation of at least two weeks, we've hired a car service.   Our upcoming cruise to the Caribbean is only 10 days, so parking fees for the period shouldn't be all that high.    Thus my inclination to drive.    HOWEVER, I'm concerned how our baggage will get from our car onto the ship.    I'm assuming that it's not a long walk from where one parks to the ship.    But we can't lug baggage very far these days.   What  I'm hoping is that someone can tell me whether there are carts at the parking lots that a person can use to walk over to the ship with (and then somehow return??) Or that there are porters, or — what?

 

The parking garage for Terminal J is across the street from the terminal building.  When you arrive to the terminal, simply pull up to the curbside and drop your bags with the awaiting porters.  Then drive around the parking garage, enter and pre-pay, park, and walk across the street to the terminal and check in.  The fee is $22 per day for parking.

 

When the cruise is over, you can either take your bags to your car, or pick up your car and drive back around to the terminal to load your bags, or get a porter who will escort you with your bags to the parking garage.

 

No carts.  Plenty of porters eager to help.

[taxare]

Hi Poss. I hope you enjoy your cruise. I know you are concerned about this but there is really no need to be. As mentioned in a previous thread and by Anchorbuoy above the porters will be readily available and identifiable and if you are concerned just ask one of the police officers there to confirm.You will also see taxis and car service vehicles dropping off passengers and bags.  Anchorbuoy's description of the process is very good.  There are elevators in the garage and if needed handicapped parking as well.

[poss]

Thanks so very much for your kind and patient explanations.   More and more I seem to be overly concerned about pretty much everything.    Comes with aging I guess, or at least came for this particular hyper-worrier.

The idea of giving our luggage to a porter and then disappearing makes me uneasy.    Would I not be able to drop my husband and our bags off near the ship, and he wait for me while I go off to park?    

Also, even though I've looked at website/photos of the Port, I remain unclear about the whole terminal situation, e.g. where/when/how passport/ID activities take place.

[Hambagahle]

I have checked in at Terminal J three times now and the procedure has been the same each time - drive up (in your own car, with a friend driving you or in a cab) and then give your bags to the porters.  They have huge metal containers that they put the bags into.  Right in front of your eyes.  They also expect tips for about 3 minutes of work!   Once the bags are in the containers there is nothing you can do aside from leave them to the porters to push into the terminal.   And when I say "huge" - these things take maybe 20 bags at a time.

 

You really have no choice other than to do as Anchorbuoy suggests above...

 

For the rest - you walk into the Terminal, ride the escalator to the first floor (maybe you call it the second...?) and then fill in the health form.  Sit down - plenty of comfortable seating - and wait for boarding to start.   Then give your passport to the person at the registration desk, be photographed, get your key card and walk onto the ship.

[poss]

Thanks for the good detailed response.   

I'm now thinking that since this is only a 10 day cruise, and to the Caribbean at that, maybe I can pack lightly enough so that I won't even need to give anything to a porter.     I'm going to try to pack in a way that we can do it all carry-on ourselves.     I always pack way, way too much no matter the length or destination, but this time I'm going to work really hard at packing only essentials.    Neither of us is a clothes horse, or minds wearing same thing several times, so really shouldn't be a problem.    We shall see.

[rcandkc]

1 hour ago, poss said:

Thanks for the good detailed response.   

I'm now thinking that since this is only a 10 day cruise, and to the Caribbean at that, maybe I can pack lightly enough so that I won't even need to give anything to a porter.     I'm going to try to pack in a way that we can do it all carry-on ourselves.     I always pack way, way too much no matter the length or destination, but this time I'm going to work really hard at packing only essentials.    Neither of us is a clothes horse, or minds wearing same thing several times, so really shouldn't be a problem.    We shall see.

I always rewear clothing on a cruise.  I rotate.  If someone notices I really don’t care. 

[poss]

Yes, we re-wear a-plenty.    I suspect most people do.    I always come home with lots of stuff not worn at all.     Packing too much is a bad, silly habit, which I intend to dump for this cruise — and forevermore.   Ha!

[Hambagahle]

17 hours ago, poss said:

Thanks for the good detailed response.   

I'm now thinking that since this is only a 10 day cruise, and to the Caribbean at that, maybe I can pack lightly enough so that I won't even need to give anything to a porter.     I'm going to try to pack in a way that we can do it all carry-on ourselves.     I always pack way, way too much no matter the length or destination, but this time I'm going to work really hard at packing only essentials.    Neither of us is a clothes horse, or minds wearing same thing several times, so really shouldn't be a problem.    We shall see.

I wouldn't do that if you plan to board when boarding starts which is generally 1200.  Why?  because then you will have to "schlepp" your carry ons with you around the ship until you can get into your suite around 1430.  Which means taking them to lunch etc.  If you have carry ons that can contain everything you need for a 10 day cruise they must be reasonably bulky and heavy?  Why bother.   The bags go right into a bin which goes right on to the ship.  And there is a good chance that they will arrive in your suite when you do or before.  

 

Of course if you are in a "name" suite - Regent, Master or Grand - you can access your suite when you board so in that case you can simply drop them off there and then go to lunch.  That might make a difference ?  

[orvil]

As a couple, we typically take three bags on a cruise.  I also take a tote bag for my makeup and book as a purse on the airplane.  We carry on two of the bags as rollaboard bags.  The larger third bag is shared between us and is usually filled with shoes, suits, dresses and evening wear, if required.  We check this third bag.  We are certain that the two rollaboard bags will reach the final destination.  We take a chance with the third bag.

 

When we go aboard the ship, we put all three bags in the bin at the dockside.  I still carry the tote bag on myself.  My makeup and medication is much harder to replace than anything else.  I wouldn't hesitate to dump the rest of my bags into the bin.  Do be certain to carry your passport and tickets  in your purse/tote.  I put them in my rollaboard one time and only realized it as I walked away.  I had to go bag bin diving with the burly longshoreman in Brooklyn.    

 

Remember that when you board ask where the luggage check area is located.  RSS will have a designated area for tote bags.  They will give you a check ticket for however many bags you check.  One of the ship's crew will have them in their custody until you return from lunch to retrieve them prior to going to your cabin if you choose to check them upon boarding the ship.  

Edited January 3, 2020 by orvil

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I believe you can do carry-on-sized suitcases, rollaboards, and then just have a little bag that sits on top, hopefully via a strap, that can contain prescriptions, jewellery, electronics and other valuables.  That way, when you reach the actual port, you can just dump the rollaboards and carry your little tote bag around (or check it into the designated area.)  

 

Congrats Poss on seeing the light about packing light, ha ha.  Hope it works out for you.

[poss]

Oh, I SAW that light some light years ago — shone like bright headlights right into my eyes.     (Reminds me of the title of one of my all-time favorite novels : All the Light We Cannot  See.)    Anyway, it's just getting the old brain to see the light and ACT on it.    We shall see (as it were).

[Wendy The Wanderer]

19 hours ago, poss said:

Oh, I SAW that light some light years ago — shone like bright headlights right into my eyes.     (Reminds me of the title of one of my all-time favorite novels : All the Light We Cannot  See.)    Anyway, it's just getting the old brain to see the light and ACT on it.    We shall see (as it were).

 

Thanks for the book tip!  Just put the ebook on hold from my library.

[RachelG]

I would think that you could drive up to where the taxis let you off, drop off bags and husband, park the car then come back to fetch them and check in.  As I recall, the place to check luggage in is right there by where the taxis drop people off.  As long as your bags are properly tagged, I wouldn’t worry too much.  

[cruise-a-holic]

On 12/31/2019 at 4:48 PM, ronrick1943 said:

Not sure as we use a car service.  However I think you can drop off your bags at the ship, then go park your car and return to the ship.  I've seen others do this.  On your return one of you can wait with the luggage while the other goes and gets the car.

Yes that is exactly how you it.

[Hambagahle]

I am learning new words here - what is a "rollabord" bag?  How big is it?  Never heard that expression before.

 

Also did not know that Regent has an area on board where you can check your carry ons while you have lunch.  Makes a LOT of sense to me!!  (Though we have been told we can go right to our suite which will ready from noon on)

[SusieQft]

2 minutes ago, Hambagahle said:

what is a "rollabord" bag?

a carry-on suitcase with wheels that you roll aboard the airplane.

[Hambagahle]

I see - a "wheelie bag" ??  My mind boggles as to how two people can go off on a cruise with only 2 carry ons (wheel ons...) . Congratulations to them.  Very disciplined people!!

[flossie009]

2 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

what is a "rollabord" bag? 

"Rollaboard" is the registered trademark of the luggage company "Travelpro", who claim to have invented the concept

[Hambagahle]

Thanks Flossie - I haven't heard of them either!!  But I get the picture - wheelie carry ons!!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

7 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

I see - a "wheelie bag" ??  My mind boggles as to how two people can go off on a cruise with only 2 carry ons (wheel ons...) . Congratulations to them.  Very disciplined people!!

 

We've done it three times now on cruises: Nile cruise with a few days in Paris (two climates); two week French Polynesia; and seven day Italian cruise with pre-cruise days in Florence and Rome (cold fall weather).

 

Don't intend to do this on our WC, I can tell you!

 

P.S., there was a 4th--our 12-day Seabourn Gulf of St. Lawrence cruise.  Cold, fall weather too!

Edited January 6, 2020 by Wendy The Wanderer

[bebop bonnie]

Hey, Wendy, I'm really impressed.  Never did just carry on (wheelie, roll aboard, whatever!) for any cruise.  But...for land trips, always!  My personal best was 17 days in Saigon, Hoi An, Hanoi and Bangkok!  I was really proud of that one! 😃.

 

 

[Hambagahle]

I once flew round the world (business trip).  Was gone a month.  3 seasons involved as well.   I had a Lands End shoulder type bag and my brief case.  That worked - then!  Now there are weight and size limits on carry ons and I am no longer to carry heavy weights either.   I am in awe of those who can!

[Henk123]

I wouldn't do that if you plan to board when boarding starts which is generally 1200.  Why?  because then you will have to "schlepp" your carry ons with you around the ship until you can get into your suite around 1430

 

You can drop you carry ons on board (last time for us was in the theater also where we did the check in). And also those you can find in your room later.

Edited January 7, 2020 by Henk123