flight time after sailing

[cruzcactus]

What time is the earliest flight allowed to have when leaving your cruise? If ships docks at 7am, can I get a 10am flight home from Fort Lauderdale?

[Pam in CA]

You can book a 10AM flight home but be sure to have "Plan B" in place. Everything would have to be perfect with no delays plus you'd have to do self-disembarkation in order to be one of the first to disembark. Hopefully, it won't take an hour to check in and perhaps a half hour to go through Security. It would help you to have TSA Pre-check.

 

Last October, when I was flying home to LA, I chose to book a flight at 3:30pm out of Miami rather than chance making an 11:30am flight out of FLL. Even then, it took an hour and a half to just go through TSA Security as there was only one line in the terminal for everyone. I have seen recent reports of similar problems at FLL.

 

I would never book a flight earlier than 11am out of FLL because I've flown out of that airport many times when there were delays with the ship being cleared for disembarkation after 9am or huge long lines at FLL to drop off bags and go through Security. Others will say they do it all the time with no problem. I believe in karma (and Murphy's Law.)

[cruzcactus]

Thank you Pam for your advice.

I am sure 10am would be pushing it. We have to take a 7pm flight, just seems like it will be a long day, especially when my Mom is handicap and being diabetic. The next day flights are really too expensive to fly home. Maybe there is a great excursion we can do in Fort Lauderdale to make the day go fast.

[riclop]

Just make sure you carry your luggage off and you should make it.

[bhopal21]

We always take a 945 with no problem. BUT we carry our own luggage and are first off.

 

No way could you make a 1000 with a handicap person and luggage in tow. Sorry.

 

Mike:)

[capriccio]

Thank you Pam for your advice.

I am sure 10am would be pushing it. We have to take a 7pm flight, just seems like it will be a long day, especially when my Mom is handicap and being diabetic. The next day flights are really too expensive to fly home. Maybe there is a great excursion we can do in Fort Lauderdale to make the day go fast.

 

Princess will offer excursions.

 

Alternatively you can rent a car and explore on your own (check out http://www.sunny.org for Florida attractions, restaurants, etc. - one of the most popular is the water taxi at http://www.watertaxi.com). That gives you freedom of movement plus somewhere to store your luggage during the day.

 

You will also have the option of using EZ Check (I think that is the name of the program) for a fee if your airline participates (put your luggage out the evening before disembarkation and not see it again until you arrive at your home airport).

 

If you don't use EZ Check, bags to go (http://www.bagstogo.net) will store your luggage at FLL for $6 (I think) per bag. Then you can take a taxi into Fort Lauderdale or, if you are disembarking on a Saturday or Sunday, take the free Sun Trolley. On Saturdays and Sundays the sun trolley stops at the airport. Check out details (including pick up stops) at http://www.broward.org/Airport/Trans...unTrolley.aspx. According to the website, at the visitors center you can purchase Fort Lauderdale Excursion passes. "The pass includes admission to museums and historic properties, discounts at restaurants and shops, and all-day passage on the free Sun Trolley."