Never been to Tampa airport or port......question?

[paminohio]

This is our first time traveling through Tampa airport to catch a carnival cruise ship, in Tampa. We just got a email from the airlines that they've changed our return flight home to 11:40 am. Do you think we will be able to make such an early flight? Any tips or suggestions so this leg of our trip doesn't erase any of the stress relief we got on our cruise?

 

Thanks in advance for any help! Pam

[cbMcruiser]

This is our first time traveling through Tampa airport to catch a carnival cruise ship, in Tampa. We just got a email from the airlines that they've changed our return flight home to 11:40 am. Do you think we will be able to make such an early flight? Any tips or suggestions so this leg of our trip doesn't erase any of the stress relief we got on our cruise?

 

Thanks in advance for any help! Pam

 

There are many comments on previous inquiries about this issue. We cruised from Tampa on January 22nd. It was our first cruise out of that port. We arrived back (Jan 29th) at about 10:00 as we were delayed by a broken thruster. We were supposed to dock around 7:00. It kept our cruising speed down significantly. We had to wait for tugs to escort us to the terminal. Tampa also has very documented fog issues that are complicated by having to come in under a bridge.

 

So, I guess my comment is, "Do you feel lucky?" Or do you want to impact your pleasant cruise experience by worrying about getting back in time. So, if you can...change your departure time. My 2cents worth.

[skrufy]

If everything stays on schedule you can make it. Self-disembakk will help save yo time.

[FlaGrl4Evr]

Pam,

 

You should be just fine making your 11:40 am flight. We have cruised/ flown out of Tampa twice. Our first cruise, we had a later flight so just did the traditional debark but our cruise last Oct, we had an

11:35 am flight back to Indy. We did the self-assist debark and were at the airport by 9:30 am. In fact, we could have been at the airport by 8:45 am except we had a 45 min. delay waiting for 3 non-US citizens to report to customs.

 

Just do the self-assist debark and grab a taxi ($25 flat fee) to TIA. You should be just fine.

 

 

:):)

[monicajay]

March 11th NCL Star. Self-disembark. Taxi to the airport. No checked luggage. At our gate at 9h15 am for our 10h25 flight time.

 

Don't dawdle and you will be fine.

[SeaPA1]

Barring a bad delay due to weather, mechanical issues, or fools messing things up with customs, you'll make it without issue.

 

I live about an hour from the port, and have sailed out of there about 10 times. I usually go to work on the day of return, and don't think it's ever been later than around 10 to 10:30 when I get to my desk.

[paminohio]

Thanks for all the info......you've put my mind at ease!