Debarking from freedom

[300EXPRESS]

Well, I've read a lot on these boards about debarking. Self assist vs not. I don't care which we do, rather not do the self assist. But.....if we don't do self assist will we make our 12:30 pm flight in Ft. Lauderdale? Some people say they get off the ship at 8:30 am and some say 10:30 am.

We are on Deck 6 (Upper) Room 6368. Can anyone offer any advice on this situation?

Also, how about the taxis once you get your luggage - do you have to wait or are the taxi cabs lined up waiting?

Thanks!

[bguppies]

If your flight is out of FLL airport, you should be fine, as it is a 5 minute drive from the taxi stand to the airport.

 

You could also go the purser's desk early on the last sea day before returning and see if 12:30 qualifies as being an early flight.

If it does it should get you off the ship just after the self debarking folks and the Luggage Express people.(make sure if you are interested in paying the extra for Luggage Express, ask about it early on in the cruise. Nothing was said on our cruise until the Debarkation talk, where the CD said it was too late now to sign up for it. :confused:)

 

They started self debark at 8AM.

 

I think numbers 1-5 were Luggage Express and early flights.

Numbers 6 and up were everyone else.

We had nunber 8 and were off the ship around 9-ish.

It took less than 15 minutes to leave the casino where we were waiting, walk down 2 flights to the lobby deck, off the ship, down the gangplank, get our bags, through customs and into a cab.

Fort Lauderdale definitely has their embarkation/debarkation down to a science. (as good as Port Canaveral or maybe slightly better)

 

Bill

[lisa1120]

We went to the Purser's desk and were given luggage tag #2.We didn't need to show paperwork, just told her our flight was at 12:00. We were called off at 8:00am and were checked in at the airport by 9:00am. No problem getting our luggage or taxis. The taxi was $15-20 depending on which way your driver went. Still cheaper then the $11 p/person shuttle. My SIL had #18 and was called off by 9:00. They won't check your luggage at the airport unless your flight leaves in three hours or less. Airport security was very slow.

 

We were considering doing self-assist, but we were happy we didn't end up doing that. You have to be ready to go by 7AM and carry your bags thru customs yourselves.

[cruisinbuddy]

When debarking the Freedom in January my group had #s 10,11,12. We were at the airport by 9:30. You're lucky with a 12:30 flight. We had to wait til 2:50.

[BrendaB1]

I did VIP self assist on Freedon in Ft Lauderdale & it was the worst, most disorganized mess I have ever experienced getting off a ship.

 

Many report it to be great but they do have bad weeks.

 

Airport is close so getting tags for early flights & doing regular debarkation, you should be fine.

 

Cabs are lined up & waiting.

[SunnyinMA]

We're off the freedom 2 weeks ago and had a 12:30 flight. Getting off the ship and to the airport was pretty painless. The airport was the nightmare. We had number 15 and were at the airport by about 10. Got in a line that went down and around the back of the terminal and didn't move for over a half an hour. An airport worker then pulled us out of line and told us to wait by security for her to come get us right before our flight as there was no way we would make it for our flight. It was a stressful end to a lovely vacation. If I had to do it again I would do the self-assist or the luggage express.

[Rstamper]

I just got off the Freedom this past Saturday. I did self assist because my flight was at 11:45. It was so easy and fast. I think from the time I got to the deck 0 - the deck that was debarking was at- it was about 5 minutes until I was out in front of the pier terminal. They started self assist debarking at 7:00 and ended it at 8:00 on our cruise. Got off about 7:55 and was at the airport at 8:30. I probably would have been at the airport earlier, but I was waiting for my daughters to debark.

 

We had pre-arranged for a shuttle to pick us up and take us to the airport. I arranged it from the motel - La Quinta - on the day we took the shuttle to the cruise pier. So check and see if your motel offers this option. My sister, her husband and my mom got a taxi and did not have any trouble getting one to the airport. It cost them $21.

[Izzy'smom]

We were also off the Freedom on Saturday. We had booked a Carnival transfer to the FLL airport for a 1:50 flight, and received #27 (out of 36) to debark the ship. We were off by 9:30 and onto the shuttle shortly thereafter. By the time the luggage was loaded on, we made it to the airport by about 10:15. The new debarking system is great! :)

 

I counted at least 7 ships in port on Saturday.

 

This is the sucky part - Our flight was on Southwest. When we got there, the line to check in was unbelieveable!!! They actually had 2 lines outside the terminal - one for curbside check in and one for inside counter check in. We waited for an hour and 15 minutes in line outside for the curbside. There was an older woman in front of us who nearly collpased from the heat. I was able to find a Southwest employee to take her in the terminal and help her out.

[anita0427]

my flight leave at 10:50am I hope we can get there with self embark?

[elsplace2]

We were also off the Freedom on Saturday. We had booked a Carnival transfer to the FLL airport for a 1:50 flight' date=' and received #27 (out of 36) to debark the ship. We were off by 9:30 and onto the shuttle shortly thereafter. By the time the luggage was loaded on, we made it to the airport by about 10:15. The new debarking system is great! :)

 

I counted at least 7 ships in port on Saturday.

 

This is the sucky part - Our flight was on Southwest. When we got there, the line to check in was unbelieveable!!! They actually had 2 lines outside the terminal - one for curbside check in and one for inside counter check in. We waited for an hour and 15 minutes in line outside for the curbside. There was an older woman in front of us who nearly collpased from the heat. I was able to find a Southwest employee to take her in the terminal and help her out.[/quote']

 

 

How much was your Carnival transfers? I have heard $11 and $15, seeing you just went recently, you should have the updated price. We sail the Freedom in Oct and will be flying out of FLL as well.

[Izzy'smom]

How much was your Carnival transfers? I have heard $11 and $15, seeing you just went recently, you should have the updated price. We sail the Freedom in Oct and will be flying out of FLL as well.

We paid $15 per person, and bought the transfers at the shore excursion desk on the ship.