I'm trying to choose transportation from our hotel to Port Canaveral and back to the airport after the cruise.

I have no idea how long it will take us to get off the ship. Some people say it's very quick. One company I just talked with said "Yes, we will wait for you, but we'll charge you $1/ per minute past the time you say you'll be there."

I'm not sure if this is standard for these companies. If this is the case, I think I'll spend a bit more and book through Carnival directly. I'm sure they have buses upon buses waiting.

Any words of wisdom for a first time cruiser?

By Bea on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 12:02 pm:

It will depend on what priority you get for disembarkation and how efficiently your ship disembarks. Those with flights to catch usually get off early. You'll get a questionnaire a few days before you get back. One cruiser who avoids immigration can hold up an entire ship. It's impossible to know exactly how quickly you'll get off. I'd simply call a cab. The busses can be a nightmare because of luggage handling.

By Yjja123 on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 03:01 pm:

When you book your cruise you will be asked how you are getting to/from cruise and time of flights etc. You can request early debarkation. You can also go to front desk once on the cruise and ask what color tag is first off and request that color tag. The colors are called and you debark by color. Some people enjoy waiting to get off ship. Me personally I want to be first or second off instead of sitting around waiting for my color to be called. We always request early debarking for that reason.
Enjoy your cruise!
Yvonne
PS...check out cruisecritic.com for lots of advice for first time cruisers

By Eve on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 05:44 pm:

Thank you, ladies. Bea, I would just take a cab, but there are 5 of us, and I don't want my Mom or my sister having to pay. I think I'm just going to schedule our pick up time for 10:30am, since we are not in a rush to get to the airport. Then, I'm just not going to worry! LOL!

I'll keep you posted! Thanks again.

By Annie2 on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 08:25 pm:

Eve, I know you have been looking into cruises. Where did you decide to go and what line did you choose?
You must be so excited. When do you travel?
I have never been on a cruise but would LOVE to one day.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 09:04 pm:

Yvonne, we read the cruisecritic website! LOL There was a guy on our last cruise who wrote *quite* the review, and someone else even made reference to us and some friends we made - called us *chair hogs* around the pool area!

Hey, it wasn't like we saved chairs and nobody used them. We were out there @ 6:30 AM IN them!

By Yjja123 on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 09:27 pm:

TOO Funny Karen!