Cruises - cruise ship neophyte has disembarkation question

Hi all,
I have traveled all over the world but never been on a cruise. I am about to rectify that and am looking forward to it.

Quick question: the cruise is on Princess and it leaves and returns to Fort Lauderdale. We are scheduled to dock at 7am EST on Sunday, 1/8. I normally teach an internet class at 9am EST every Sunday. Is it realistic to think that I can get off the ship and find a wireless internet connection by around 8:45am? My husband can come off later with our bags if need be; I just need to get off the ship with my laptop. Please advise as I would really like to teach this class.

Thanks!

If you put yourself down as a "walk off" meaning pulling your own bag you can be one of the first off. I would research and find the closes internet cafe and grab the first cab you see to that location. It is chancy but you might make it - be aware that "sometimes" the ship docks late or has trouble with customs. Are you going to Belize? That could be a problem as, for some reason, customs is alot slower when the ship has docked/tendered there.

Hi all,
I have traveled all over the world but never been on a cruise. I am about to rectify that and am looking forward to it.

Quick question: the cruise is on Princess and it leaves and returns to Fort Lauderdale. We are scheduled to dock at 7am EST on Sunday, 1/8. I normally teach an internet class at 9am EST every Sunday. Is it realistic to think that I can get off the ship and find a wireless internet connection by around 8:45am? My husband can come off later with our bags if need be; I just need to get off the ship with my laptop. Please advise as I would really like to teach this class.

Thanks!

You need to arrange exiting the ship with the 1st wave of passengers in advance. Either with through your travel agent or the cruise line

Thanks so much! No Belize, just the standard eastern Caribbean islands.

Thank you; I will contact my travel agent.

Usually, one can do the express self-debarkation (walk-off with one's own luggages) within 1 hour after docking at the pier, assuming that the ship is cleared by customs, etc. (immigration checks done inside the terminal and/or sometimes onboard)

Check out details on the Princess board over at cruisecritic dot com as there should be plenty of trip reports, reviews & tips about various tricks.

A quick check showed that county libraries and the airport (10 minutes ride away) has free wifi access - and/or look for the closest McD or Starbuck (depending on your bandwidth requirements, etc.)

Nowadays, once I'm not "roaming" on the ship's cellular signal or tower, I can flip on my unlocked smartphone's hotspot & surf (free) on the laptop or tablet as needed.

he cruise line can arrange for your needs....just figure where you can go for the wifi...

Chances are you will be OK, though it won't take much to mess it up on you. It's pretty painless, and as long as you are in the first group to walk off you should be fine clearing customs and the rest.

I did want to say though, don't count on the ships internet. They will shut it down sometime after docking, so don't have that as a backup plan. I've seen it go down as soon as they get to the dock, and other times it's lasted a bit longer, but don't rely on it.

as cordelli says, forget about using the cruise wifi.....they will have closed your shipboard account.....however, it never hurts to ask.....

Yes, I absolutely don't want to use the wifi on the ship--the class goes for three hours so I have to find one good place and sit for three hours. Thanks again!

BTW, this worked perfectly. I did express disembarkation and was off the ship and in the taxi line in less than 10 minutes. Thanks again!

BTW, this worked perfectly. I did express disembarkation and was off the ship and in the taxi line in less than 10 minutes. Thanks again!

^ Great, glad to hear that you're off your ship & gave your class. Your taxi'd to the airport & use its free WiFi (info was correct, I assumed). :)

FWIW, Port Everglades has free wi-fi. Otherwise, there is a FedEx/Kinko's right outside the port with free wi-fi (and workstations/desks).