Cruisers, you may be thinking now of your transportation schedule from where you live to the Miami Port terminal. This is important information regarding your plans:
The Triumph sails at 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 31. However, as in a hotel, if the cabins are ready, you will be able to board as early as 1:00 PM. A wonderful luncheon buffet will await you on board.
If you're arriving by air, train, bus or private vehicle, please make sure you get to the church on time. Allow yourself plenty of wiggle room in case you experience travel snafus. You MUST be at the Carnival terminal and checked in at least an hour before the 4:00 PM (EST) sailing or your booking will be considered forfeited and you will lose your fare. This is the policy of all cruise lines.
As in last year's freeper cruise, some folks will choose to arrive in Miami the afternoon or night before embarkation and stay overnight in a hotel or motel near the port. We will post the name of a recommended, reasonably-priced hotel as soon as we can so that freepers can stay there the night before if they choose, and paaaaarty!
Travel time between Miami airport by van or taxi is approximately 25 minutes.
You may choose to arrange your air transportation yourself or with your own travel agent. Or you may contact our freeper cruise agent, Wanda, at 1-800-890-7583 to make the arrangements for you. This is surely the painless way. She will help you find bargains and will ensure everything runs smoothly and painlessly for you.
The ship returns to port on Saturday, June 7 at 8:00 AM. However, you don't get off at 8:00 AM. First there are customs procedures for the ship itself. Then there is an orderly, very-well organized procedure for passengers to disembark in groups by a numbering or color-coded card. Passengers then go past the customs clerk which only takes a minute or two. Then you pick up your luggage in a warehouse-type room. A red-cap will take your luggage outside to the terminal curb.
The cruise line recommends booking your return flight to where you live for any time after 1:00 PM that day.
If this sounds complicated, it isn't. The cruise lines have terrific, time-tested systems for disembarkation, and you generally will be on land around 10:00 AM.
Bahama Mama does not answer questions for each cruiser's personal transportation plans. It would be an impossibility and she is not a travel agent. Please make your own arrangements. However, she will answer any general questions, so just post 'em here.
Bahama Mama
When we disembark, you'll be directed to where your luggage is awaiting you. The area is a large "warehouse" full of thousands of pieces of luggage. A number or color-coded card will have been issued to you prior so you can go directly to the section where your suitcases are. It's a smooth operation.
However, there'll be gobs of suitcases in your section, almost all in similar colors.
To find your suitcases quickly, I suggest you purchase some suitcase straps and put them on before you leave for Miami. They're invaluable. They are also somewhat difficult to find. I needed a few more and was fortunate to find some at J.C. Penney's in my mall. I purchased the bright lime-green color straps as they will be in contrast to my dark luggage.
If you don't want to purchase straps, tie some yellow or other bright color yarn "bows" on the handle of your suitcases.
Be sure every piece of your luggage has an ID tag attached to it with your name, address, phone number and/or email addy on it. This labeling should include your carry-ons.
Make sure you pack your mandatory ID papers first thing.
Don't worry if you don't have smart-looking, new luggage for this voyage. You should see some of my ancient, well-worn suitcases!
Your luggage is really handled with TLC by porters and loaders, so don't worry about that. But don't invest in new suitcases if you don't want to.
Further info on disembarkation is on reply # 152 of this Bahama Mama thread.
Bahama Mama