How long does it take to disembark from a Cruise ship?

Question

I am cruising on a Royal Caribbean ship which gets into Miami at 7am. Just wondering if anyone knew how long it typically took to get off the ship, claim luggage etc.?

Answer 1

I just got back Sunday from a Royal Caribbean cruise on the Radiance. We too arrived in Ft. Lauderdale FL around 7 AM. They started to disembark around 8:30 calling the color of your luggage tag. They first start with walk-offs (those wishing to carry off their own luggage) and then people with shore excursions in FL and then onto those colrs. The colors represent your group and if you have an early flight to catch, later flight, etc. We had an early afternoon flight and needed to get to Miami airport so we were called by 9:15. It doesn't take long at all and going through customs was a breeze. They don't even hardly look at the Customs form you fill out. We were at the Miami airport by 10:00. Not bad at all timewise. It shouldn't take long at all.

If you have any other questions, please let me know.

Answer 2

it will depend on which deck you are on.they take you one deck at a time and then you will have to seach for your bags in a warehouse.but you can also self disembark like me and my gf did 2 weeks ago.you take your own bags with you instaed of puting them outside your cabin the night before.it took us about 20 mins to go from our cabin to the car in the deck in new orleans.customs may be your biggest wait.ous was a quick pass through.have fun and dont get sunburned.

Answer 3

It should take about as long as checking out of a hotel does.

Answer 4

About half way through your cruise your cabin attendant will leave you a "Disembarkation Questionnaire".  This form asks you to indicate what your plans are after leaving the ship.  For example, did you purchase airfare and transfers from the cruise line, did you buy your own airfare - what time is your flight, is someone picking you up, is your car parked at the pier . . .  and on and on...

Depending upon your response, you will be given colored tags to place on your luggage when you put it out in the hall the night before your cruise ends.

On the day of departure you will be called off the ship by the color of your luggage tag, as the cruise line has timed and staggerard your departure based on the "urgency" of your plans (flight times, tours...).  

Once off the ship you first go through immigration then you will find your luggage lined-up under the color of the tag.  You will then proceed through customs.  

The longest part of the entire process is waiting for the ship to call your color.  After that the it takes about 20 minutes.

Royal Caribbean has instituted a wonderful new program that allows you to carry your own luggage off the ship (if you can!)and depart anytime you're ready.  That's one of the options you can check-off on the questionnaire - we did it in October because we had an early flight - it worked like a charm.

I hope this information is helpful.  Bon Voyage.