Using Global Entry at Ft. Lauderdale cruise terminal
 

I looked at the web site and the cruise terminal at Ft. Lauderdale does have Global Entry kiosks. I'm hoping to hear from someone who has used this recently.

Whenever I fly, I enter my Known Traveler ID # into the airline web site when I book my ticket, then when I return to the US the machine already "knows" which flight I was on. I went to Princess' web site and there was no place to enter my ID#. So my question is, when I get to Ft Lauderdale will the kiosk already know which cruise I was on, or do I have to type this in? I hope this question makes sense, sorry if it doesn't.

Thanks.

The Global Entry system at cruise terminals are relatively new compare to Airports. I think there is only signage to direct you to a priority line and that's about it. For cruise disembarkation, I would imagine the benefit of a Global Entry line would be minimal for speeding up the wait time since the line ups (if any) is not all that long to begin with.

In many cruise terminals (including Canada and overseas), I have never encounter long line ups through border security or customs, and many times, there were no customs or border security to go through. It is either that or my memory failed me completely.

Disembarkation is controlled by the ship and disembark by groups and time slots, they will make sure the lines are not too long as they have logistic challenge to get the luggage ashore, and the cruise line wants people get out of the boat and the terminal asap.

All I can say is border service is quite relaxed at cruise terminals. Unless something changes drastically (as in tighter control), Global Entry at cruise terminal is not going to be that much faster.

I have to agree with Eschew - we've never encountered any substantial lines for Immigration and/or Customs when disembarking from cruise ships no matter where we've been in the world and that includes coming back into the US in MIA and FLL.

We've had Global Entry almost since its inception (because we fly internationally a lot) but never had to use it when returning from a cruise. I don't remember it ever taking longer than 5 minutes to clear Immigration and Customs after leaving a ship in the US.

FYI - the longest we ever waited to clear Immigration & Customs after disembarking from a ship was in St. Petersburg, Russia and that took less than 10 minutes.

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad to know the lines at customs are short.

There are no kiosks at Port Everglades. You will need the card to show the workers and the immigration agents. Look carefully for the sign to direct you to the right line; it's easy to overlook.

And re: wait times, we have waited for over an hour in a line in the terminal to get through the customs/immigration checks. That is not the norm, of course, but if you have GE you may as well use it to make the wait even shorter on a good day.