EMBARKATION DAY We drove from Tampa to the cruise terminal in Miami the morning of the cruise. Because we arrived relatively late at 2PM and because there were five other cruise ships in port loading passengers at the same time, the arrival process was rather chaotic and the parking garage adjacent to the Pearl was full. The only garage that was still open was at the other end of the terminal about a mile away. (The parking fee of $20 per day seems rather steep to me. While on the cruise, we heard from some passengers that they parked at the local Hilton for $10 a day). After dropping off bags at the terminal, parking in the garage and taking a shuttle from the garage back to the Pearl terminal, it was 2:30PM. The theme of the check in process was "all about lines".

Line #1: Outside of the terminal building and wrapping around the corner of the building. Arriving at the head of this line qualifies you to enter the building and join the "bullpen" line.

Line #2: "Bullpen" line. Just inside the terminal building is the "bullpen" line. This is the line you stand in to wait to join the "metal detector" line. No other reason. Reaching the head of the "bullpen" qualifies you to join the "metal detector" line. Read more