Florida port: Boarding world's largest cruise ship will be a snap

[mercedes]

It's a truism of the cruise business: The bigger the ship, the more hassles there are embarking and disembarking at the beginning and end of a voyage.

But officials at Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades say the much-ballyhooed, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas -- by far the largest cruise ship ever built -- will be an exception to the rule when it debuts at the port later this year.

Industry watcher Johanna Jainchill of Travel Weekly today quotes port director Phillip Allen as saying the port plans on moving passengers from "curbside to shipboard in 15 minutes."

"With 6,000 people, you can well imagine the challenges we face," the news outlet quotes Allen as saying. But Travel Weekly says Allen is confident the port can manage the crowds.

In anticipation of the arrival of the Royal Caribbean vessel, which debuts in November, the port has done extensive renovations to one of its terminals to allow passengers to flow quickly on and off the ship. The port boasts that the terminal is now the largest single-ship cruise terminal in the world.

[zebra]

that is going to be one heck of a ship!! Fort Lauderdale is our favorite cruise port too.

[JoeyandDavid]

we too enjoy FLL... but curbside to on board in 15 minutes? without moving sidewalks.... those with walking hardships alone will hold the line back.. not to mention the money making "pre board photo"... I just don't see 15 minutes..

[TheSkipper]

I agree with you Joey. Sounds a little optimistic to me, but what the heck. Not sure we are ready for a ship that size, but who knows what the future will hold?

[TheSkipper]

I agree with you Joey. Sounds a little optimistic to me, but what the heck. Not sure we are ready for a ship that size, but who knows what the future will hold?