jerry777777

BTW - I don't travel much but in hindsight I really should have applied for TSA pre-check or CLEAR. However, there is a new free service called Clear Reserve (offered at several airports including MCO) where you apply on their website 3 days before the flight departure and can request a specific time window to be allowed to use a dedicated/expedited TSA security lane which reportedly averages a 5 min wait. Unlike regular CLEAR still have to take off shoes etc. but potentially saving so much time by not having to wait on the regular TSA security line is nice for this trip.

Thank you for the additional very useful info.

Hi, Thank you very much for this very useful information. I'll follow-up about that time when I'm aboard the ship.

Hi, Thank you very much for this very useful information. I can now rest easy!

Hi, Thank you very much for the information, advice and suggestion. We think alike. It is not entirely necessary but it's the prudent thing to do. I would just substitute "worrier" (what people may perceive we are) with what we actually are: "careful, comprehensive, risk averse planners" . Thanks again and I wish you guys the very best on your next cruise!

Hello, It seems you folks certainly have enjoyed many cruises and have a wealth of expertise. My family of 3 will be self-departing from the ship with only carry-on luggage. Sun, April 16th from wonder of the seas at Port Canaveral. We will disembark as early as possible from deck 9. We are all able to carry our carry-on luggage down the stairs. Our flight home departs from MCO at 2:45 PM and we purchased Royal Caribbean's transfers for its shuttle bus. I know their shuttle bus is fairly large and needs to fill up before it leaves to drive to MCO. I've read that Royal Caribbean generally starts this self-departure at 7:15 AM. In your experience, if we get off the ship as early as possible (I know it has to be cleared by customs) will the Royal Caribbean transfer shuttle bus(es) already be there waiting for passengers, or do they only start to run and show up much later that morning. Also, how long does it take for one of their shuttle buses to fill up and begin to head to MCO? It would be a real drawback and time killer if we self-depart as early as possible and then have to wait at the dock for a long time for the Royal Caribbean transfer to show up and then also wait a long time for it to fill up. I know it's a full size bus and would expect it takes 30 mins to fill up... but if it arrives let's say at 10:00 AM and we have to wait on the pier all that time and if takes over an hour to fill up... then taking a Uber from the pier to the MCO would certainly seem to be the way to go to be assured that we arrive at the airport without undue time pressure to check-in (no checked luggage) and go through TSA security which I believe could take up to around 2 hours or more as I believe multiple cruise ships will be disembarking that morning and it's the end of spring break for many kids. Thank you for your advice! ~Jerry