Disembarkation: Miami … Night & Day

So, I was wondering a few days ago how NCL would disembark 3,000 people in Miami … where we were one of seven mega ships in port today.

Here’s how it went.

A couple of hours of comfort in the Observation Lounge as we waited for our disembarkation group to be called.

Nearly an hour of misery once we swiped off the ship … which could have been easily avoided if the schedule had been followed and the NCL early transfer/tour groups had been called before the independents. But that’s not what they did. Instead, they started calling the priority (Haven pax and high-level members of the NCL loyalty club) and independent groups early, allowing the transfer/tour groups to cut into the line as they were escorted off the ship. This caused quite a bit of back-up on the gangway; and frayed nerves. All quite unnecessarily.

The good news? After that hour of misery, it took us just five minutes to collect our bags, snag a porter, and have him escort us to immigration … by-passing the long queue of passengers who had opted not to use the services of a porter.

Welcomed back to the USA by a friendly immigration agent, we walked out of the terminal and into a large van taxi for the three of us and our bags … no waiting!

Now to do a bit of wandering around Miami … after we drop off our bags at the hotel.Les mer