10:00AM flight out of San Juan?

[Rickster]

Is it possible? Can any RCI cruisers let me know what time the ships are cleared in San Juan. With express departure (carry your own bags off the ship) is a 10:00AM flight possible? We just cruised out of FLL and made it to the aiport by 8:25AM.

 

Thanks, Rick.

[erniesband]

Rick, I wouldn't chance it. Couple of years ago we got hung up with custom or immigration issues and couldn't get off Serenade till after 10AM. Getting through check-in lines, the USDA check, and security in SJU can take a long time on Saturdays.

Ernie

[Zada]

I would have to agree with erniesband on this one. While theoretically possible, there are a lot of variables that could derail your flight plans. Though I personally never had a USDA inspection delay at the San Juan airport, the fact remains that they could decide to take a prolonged and intimate interest in your baggage.

 

To help speed things along you should NOT remove your ship's tags from your bags. I recall being at the airport check-in counter and seeing people diverted to the USDA inspection area because they had taken off their ship's tags. Not only did they lose their place in a long line, they then had the added inconvenience of having to go through the screening process as well.

[texancruzer]

We also did Serenade in 2005. We paid extra to book a flight after noon.

 

Glad we did.

 

The San Juan airport is C-R-A-Z-Y !!! Worst one yet. Their system is to shout out your name after checking in at the kiosks - you'll see :D This is particularly funny when there are a few hundred waiting :eek:

[Rickster]

Thanks for the info, I'll keep my 2:00PM flight.

 

Regards, Rick.

[lovemylab]

We flew out of San Juan yesterday and there is no way I would consider a 10am flight. We were on the Adventure last week and were off the ship by 9am Sunday morning. Two years ago on the Serenade we were off at 8:30am.

 

At the airport, we didn't have the "name shouting" experience that texancruzer mentioned but there are three lines that you need to go through: 1) an agriculture inspection (I was told that everyone now has to go through this - even those with the ships tags still on their luggage) 2) another line for check-in/baggage 3) security. We flew out on a Monday which is a slower day and it took us approximately 40 minutes to reach our gate after we arrived at the airport.