Advice on 11:45am flight/self-assist please

[martdm]

Flights on our airline are limited on our return...choice of 11:45am or an early evening flight. I'd really like to make that 11:45am flight and get home at a decent hour rather than sitting around for hours & then getting home in the middle of the night. A few questions to help me decide:

 

Do we dare skip self-assist & do standard debarkation?

If we did do self-assist, do we have to leave early or can we leave whenever we are ready?

Refresh my memory, when do you have to be out of your cabin?

 

I really appreciate any advice those of you with Port Everglades/FLL experience can provide!

[Cotton]

Check out this thread from yesterday:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=295688

 

You definitely need to book the later flight.

[janetz]

I have not sailed Carnival yet so I do not know how the self assit works. However, we had a 11:45 flight out of FLL to MA last year. We advised Princess of our flight time and we were off the ship before 9:30. We walked into the terminal (sea of suitcases) and held up a $20 to get a porter (10 will work fine) who found our luggage right away, escorted us outside and got us a taxi..We were at the airport before 10. I think your earlier flight time is fine. :D:D:D:D:D

[GoinCruisin]

Flights on our airline are limited on our return...choice of 11:45am or an early evening flight. I'd really like to make that 11:45am flight and get home at a decent hour rather than sitting around for hours & then getting home in the middle of the night. A few questions to help me decide:

 

Do we dare skip self-assist & do standard debarkation?

If we did do self-assist, do we have to leave early or can we leave whenever we are ready?

Refresh my memory, when do you have to be out of your cabin?

 

I really appreciate any advice those of you with Port Everglades/FLL experience can provide!

 

If you do self assist, you have to leave early... there is a 1 hour window. It depends on when the ship clears customs as to when that window is (if they get it done with no problems, they should call for self assist maybe around 7:30?? or earlier). Definitely DO NOT do standard... and keep in mind that since you are booking a flight earlier than Carnival suggests, if you miss your flight, I don't think travel insurance will cover it. Good luck...

[dms_cruisers04]

Do we dare skip self-assist & do standard debarkation?

If we did do self-assist, do we have to leave early or can we leave whenever we are ready?

Refresh my memory, when do you have to be out of your cabin?

 

I really appreciate any advice those of you with Port Everglades/FLL experience can provide!

If you are truly set on the trying to make the 11:45 flight, then you'll definitely want to try self-assist. Don't set yourself up for failure though, be sure you bags are manageable up and down steps at home first.

If you're not wanting to leave early, then the idea of self-assist is mute as your would have to wait with everyone as they debark anyway. You would just be standing in line with them with your luggage. You still have to be checked out (via your S&S card) when you debark so you really can't cut line.

Last Carnival cruise we were required to be out of our cabin when our deck was called.

HTH

[martdm]

OK, thanks for the info. Let me ask another question if you'll indulge me...do suites fall any particular place in the line up (ie-first called, last called, etc.) or is it all just a crap shoot as others have explained?

[GoinCruisin]

OK, thanks for the info. Let me ask another question if you'll indulge me...do suites fall any particular place in the line up (ie-first called, last called, etc.) or is it all just a crap shoot as others have explained?

 

Not unless you are a Platinum member... otherwise, you are in the same lineup as everyone else.

[martdm]

Bummer...that was my last angle to play ;) I was hoping it might be a perk of having a suite. Ah well, decisions, decisions.

 

I really very much appreciate all the insight you've all provided!!

[margauxNH]

Just got off the Liberty in FLL this morning: We booked late afternoon flights, we did not do self assist, we were in Upper (6) aft, got off the ship before 9, went up to the USAir counter and changed our flights to a 12 noon departure, for $25 a piece, and we were drinking cokes in the soda fountain by 10 am. Otherwise I'd still be in the friendly skies now.

 

Our third member taking Delta home had the same good luck.

 

Maybe it was our lucky day, but based on that, I'd book the late flight for security, and cross your fingers that there will be space on the 11:45 when you are safely at the airport. good luck!

[b8tzm]

Flights on our airline are limited on our return...choice of 11:45am or an early evening flight. I'd really like to make that 11:45am flight and get home at a decent hour rather than sitting around for hours & then getting home in the middle of the night. A few questions to help me decide:

 

Do we dare skip self-assist & do standard debarkation?

If we did do self-assist, do we have to leave early or can we leave whenever we are ready?

Refresh my memory, when do you have to be out of your cabin?

 

I really appreciate any advice those of you with Port Everglades/FLL experience can provide!

 

It seems like from time to time there are delays, what is your airlines policy on changes? Do you have trip insurance? We did self assist and then had transportation/shuttle issues and almost didnt make our flite.

[serene56]

OK, thanks for the info. Let me ask another question if you'll indulge me...do suites fall any particular place in the line up (ie-first called, last called, etc.) or is it all just a crap shoot as others have explained?

 

Spa deck (which is a 6E oceanview) was called first after the self embarkation. We were onthe Empress deck and one of the last off. Seems EVERYone was off by 10am at the latest. We were still waiting for our shuttle by 10:30 and didnt seem like anyone else was getting off.

 

Self assist was getting off by 7:30- last call for self assist was 8:30

[cruisetmc]

Two years ago we made an 11:45 with about 30 minutes to spare. The security area backed up and they started calling people with flights leaving between 10 and noon to go to another line.

[Carnival Queen]

We were just off the Miracle last Sunday and had a 12:00 flight, so we decided to try the self-assist to be safe (since we had to call for our hotel shuttle when we got out and wait for them to come take us to the airport). I'd say we were off the ship around 8:40 a.m., and even after waiting about 45 minutes for our shuttle, we were at the airport by 9:45. Our friends did the regular debarkation and beat us to the airport. Carnival had a new policy on the Miracle where they don't call by decks anymore. Self-assist goes first, followed by handicapped/those needing assistance; then everyone else is free to leave whenever they want. They feel this works better.

 

I'm sure you'll have no problem whatsoever making your flight in plenty of time - but I'd do the self assist just to not stress over it. You really don't have to carry your bags much further than when you pick them up in the customs area - elevators and off the ship.

 

Good Luck!:)

[martdm]

Thanks for all the additional info everyone. It's funny how everyone has a completely different experience with disembarkation. Some say there is priority for early flights, others say there isn't and self-embarkation is the only option. Some say you have to wait to be called by deck, others say it's a free for all. Wow...my head is spinning :)

 

Given the mixed experiences, I think we will play it safe and plan to do self-assist so there are no worries. I'm not terribly excited about having to be ready to roll quite that early but better that than making a mad dash for the airport.