Disembarkation question
 

We're crusing with my 85 year old mother-in-law on the Princess Grand in February. She is healthy and mobile, but doesn't have unlimited stamina or patience. I'm concerned about her having to stand in long lines to leave the ship.<BR><BR>We are on a Western Caribbean itinerary (Princess Cay, 2 ports in Mexico and Grand Cayman). Am I correct in thinking that only our arrival in Ft Lauderdale will involve lines? <BR><BR>Related question: there's no reason for us to rush off the ship at the end. Is it around 10 am when everyone is expected to have left the ship?

<BR>Hi Lorraine,<BR><BR>Simply go to the purser the day before embarkation and you will receive permission to leave with the handicapped. Note that you may be waiting in long security lines at the ariport.<BR><BR>Paul

Hi Lorraine, We returned last night from a cruise on the Grand Princess to the Western Caribbean and had a marvelous time. The only bad experience was at the Ft. Lauderdale airport on our return. The line going through security was over an hour long and the people were less than polite. I<BR>saw a woman in a wheelchair and felt a great deal of sympathy for her. Try to arrange beforehand a fast and easy way to avoid this congestion. I understand the need for security and appreciate it, but I've never experienced any thing like the nightmare at Ft. Lauderdale. Good luck. You will love the Grand Princess. My family did not want to leave at the end of our vacation.

We're also concerned about the disembarkation procedures for the RC Explorer! We've booked in the spring and leave out of Miami at 11:30am. Do you think that there will be any problems getting off the ship early so we don't have any problems with our outbound flight?

Glenn,<BR><BR>I was on Explorer of the Seas in December. I had an 11:20 flight.<BR><BR>I asked for early disemarkment tags (white). I was off the ship at 8 am and at my gate by 9:15 or so. I did take a cab verses the bus.<BR><BR>I wouldn't worry about making your flight. I had plenty of time.

Thanks, everyone. Since my mother-in-law lives near Ft Lauderdale, we don't have to worry about the airport. My concern is solely the disembarkation procedure from the ship, as I had read that you must report at an assigned time for immigration, which involves long, confused lines, then there's a long wait, then there are more lines in order to disembark. I was wondering what the best strategy for us would be to avoid having her wait in lines.

<BR>Hi Lorraine,<BR><BR>If your mother-in-law is truly handicapped have your travel agent contact the "Special Needs Department" of Princess. Explain her needs and they will do their best to accommodate.<BR><BR>The airlines are excellent when it comes to handicapped. Contact them for instructions.<BR><BR>If it is just stamina or patience it would be best not to fly or cruise. Too many negatives.<BR><BR>Paul