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Flight times once OFF the ship in FLL

family cruisers

By family cruisers,
in Florida Departures

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family cruisers

family cruisers

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Posted

Thanks so much... We're used to sailing out of NYC home port areas and haven't flown to/from a port in years..

Much appreciated.

A little reading on this board will see this topic discussed almost daily. Ships are almost always tied up by around 6:30. Getting off can start by 7, frequently a little later. Consensus, don't book a flight before 11am.
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Lsimon

Lsimon

Posted
Posted
3/17 ruby princess from Ft.Lauderdale, returning 3/24.

What is the earliest flight you've booked from Fort Lauderdale airport once off the ship? If ship arrival time is 7am (I know things happen), what was the earliest you've been off ship and on your flight?

Thanks so much

 

The problem with this question is you're asking what was the earliest flight people have been able to make. If you were to search through the boards you'll find people that have made flights in the 9AM to 10AM time frame. But that presumes that everything goes perfectly including: Ship arrives on time; customs and port officials are on time; customs officials have no delay in clearing ship; passenger services the early disembarkation process which involves crazy unorganized lines, maneuvering bags down steps and off the ship themselves (as opposed to the normal disembarkation where the ship collects luggage the prior night and offloads it into the port terminal for you then schedules a later disembarkation group for you); no problem with customs lines in terminal; no long line for cab; no delays in checking luggage and clearing security at the airport. You will find reports from quite a few cruisers who have made these earlier flights but many others who have missed them or who say that it isn't too uncommon to have delays which make the early flights uncertain.

 

As you can see from my list there are a lot of things that can go wrong and most of them are out of the control of the cruise line and the passenger. While these things go smoothly most of the time. the times they don't are frequent enough that it is a making an early flight involves a good amount of risk. There is a reason why the earlier flights are cheaper; it's because they are not in high demand by cruise passengers because they are too early to reliably make. It is also the reason cruise lines don't recommend a flight before noon.

 

So the question I have for anyone contemplating an early flight are:

- Do you feel lucky?

- What is your backup plan if you don't make your flight?

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family cruisers

family cruisers

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We thought of that, but we're going to fly in early the day before. Have to be back at work that monday morning.. OTHERWISE, that would have been perfect.

Thanks for your idea. Much appreciated.

What you could do is stay overnight in the area and get an early flight out the following morning to still get that good price. Bob:)
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