Miami Prepares for Irma

CRUISE TERMINAL 

Known worldwide as the "Cruise Capital of the World" PortMiami is the global headquarters for five leading cruise lines. But this week, it will become a ghost town as preparations are underway for an unwelcome guest, Hurricane Irma, which is still packing a huge punch.

Cruise lines are scrambling to make alternative plans for the vessels which were supposed to dock at PortMiami over the weekend.   See our other post, Hurricane Irma Cruise Ship Impact, for details on modified or cancelled cruise itineraries.

The following information was posted on PortMiami's website:

The Captain of the Port established Hurricane Port Readiness Condition XRAY for PortMiami effective Thursday, September 7th, at NOON (1200hrs). If Hurricane Irma continues its current track, the following conditions will be implemented:

YANKEE: Friday, September 8th at 0800hrs
TUNNEL LOCKDOWN: Friday, September 8th at NOON
BASCULE BRIDGE LOCKDOWN: Friday, September 8th at 1500hrs
ZULU- PORT CLOSURE: Friday, September 8th at 2000hrs 

Cargo users should contact PortMiami’s container terminals directly - POMTOC, Seaboard Marine, SFCT - for the latest information on their operations.

Cruise travelers should contact their cruise line directly for more information on cruise itineraries. 

As we continue to monitor #HurricaneIrma, please stay connected via http://www.portmiami.biz/ and on Twitter @PortMiami @MiamiDadeCounty @MiamiDadeEM for official updates.

Miami International Airport, founded in 1928, MIA now offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America’s second-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup over 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. Soon it will be closing as it too prepares for Hurricane Irma. Here is information posted on their website regarding operations for this weekend.

Important Notice                          

We continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Irma.

Before coming to the airport, please confirm that your flight is still operating.
Many flights have been canceled.

Follow us on Twitter at @IflyMIA for the latest updates.

City of Miami

HURRICANE IRMA

At this time, Miami Dade County is monitoring Hurricane Irma. Please visit their emergency website for the latest information on openings and closings in Miami Dade County

Emergency Website

click to enlarge           Courtesy: NWS South Florida

Hurricane Preparedness Mini-Series:

Disembarkation Day Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean
Allure of the Seas^SM

Disembarkation Day 

It is the wee hours of the morning and Allure of the Seas has pulled into Port Everglades, its home port in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

There is much to do in preparation for arrival in Ft. Lauderdale.  The ship arrives between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM and shortly thereafter begins the process of turnaround.   The U.S. Customs officials must clear the ship before anything or anyone is allowed to disembark.  This process on the Allure of the Seas went by without anyone even noticing as they were having their final breakfast onboard the ship.

Waiting for Departure 

Just like on most ships, disembarkation is done based on color-coded numbered luggage tags.  There is an option for early walk-off, without assistance, for those that can manage their own luggage and want to get an early start.

The remainder of the luggage tags are assigned based on information provided to guest services regarding your travel plans.   Guests traveling on post-cruise shore excursions and elite Crown & Anchor members are among the first that may disembark the ship.   

 When completing the disembarkation form, guests provide details about the flight arrangements which factors into the luggage tag assignment.   We had a flight at 11:30 AM from Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, so our tags were #14.   Since we knew approximately when our number would be called, we had proceeded to some benches near the gangway.  We monitored the electronic screen to see when our number was called.   According to the time on the screen, our number was called around 7:35 AM, but we took our time disembarking.

Where's Our Bags

Once off the ship, we proceeded to the customs luggage hall where all the bags were lined up by tag number.  It's amazing to think that the ship only docked 90 minutes ago and all this luggage was already in place and ready to be picked up.

We found our bags right away and headed towards the U.S. Customs counter where our passports were checked and our declaration form collected.
Taxi cabs can be found straight ahead and other transportation, such as tours and Royal Caribbean transfers are to the right as you exit Customs.

We found disembarkation to be a very efficient process !!    We were in a cab and on our way to the airport by 8:10 AM, plenty of time to check-in at the airport and go through security before heading to our gate.