Ahoy, Kim, and thanks for sailing by planDisney. I can’t believe your
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale is right around the corner! I too am planning a cruise from Fort Lauderdale in the next month, so I’m (almost) literally in the same boat as you.
While I never want my time on a Disney Cruise to end, I understand the convenience of being one of the first to disembark. You may notice the Disney Dream pulling into port around sunrise, but the ship usually isn’t cleared by local authorities until about 8 AM. Keep in mind, this is just an estimate and I’ve been on trips where I’ve seen this time fluctuate by about half an hour in either direction.
Even though you’ll be up with the sun, there’s still plenty of time to grab breakfast before you go. Since time is of the essence, I suggest stopping by
Cabanas for something quick, rather than sitting down to eat at your rotational dining restaurant where you had dinner the night before.
Once you walk off the ship with your luggage (and hopefully some fun souvenirs) in hand, you will still need to clear customs at Port Everglades before exiting the port terminal. If you plan to fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) that day, Disney Cruise Line recommends scheduling a
flight no earlier than 11:00 AM. One of the reasons I love cruising out of Fort Lauderdale so much is because of how close the airport is to the port (just about a 15-minute drive).
For the most up-to-date debarkation information, refer to your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and listen for any audio announcements made in public areas on the ship that morning. I also like to keep my stateroom TV tuned to the Cruise Director’s show for additional tips and insights while packing the night before debarkation day.
My fellow planDisney friend, Shannon, also offered some helpful tips for what to do on debarkation morning as an
Express Walk-Off Guest. If you have any other questions before your Bahamian getaway, I hope you’ll sail back to us here at
planDisney!
Bon voyage,
Sami