is it too close

[nanagu]

flying into FLL day of cruise from PVD should I chance an arriving flight for 1:50pm or pay the extra $200???:confused:

[cruiseryyc]

Pay the extra $200. A 1:50 arrival gives you no time for delays and if the ship sales at 4:00, you have to be onboard by 2:30 (90 minutes prior sailing).

[Zach1213]

That would be an absolutely terribly, terrible idea to rely on that flight. Sure, plenty of people do fly in the day of the cruise...but that late? It's just asking for trouble. One small issue, like a slightly late inbound aircraft (which is common) and you've missed your cruise. It's especially worse if you plan on checking baggage.

 

Don't risk it. What's worse - $200 or no vacation?

[Gunner22aa]

You have had one hell of a winter this year as has the east coast of Canada. Not sure when you are flying but so far this year literally 10's of thousands of flights were either cancelled or delayed in our two countries. Even a major thunder storm could delay your flight. The 1:50 flight won't cut it. Assume you land on time. 20 minutes to get off the plane. Another 20 to get your luggage. 10 minute wait for a cab. 15 min drive to the port. Total about an hour. You are already 20 minutes past the 90 minute cutoff for check in.

 

Book a flight that gives you at least 4 hours to play with, preferably more and even more preferably one that arrives the day before your cruise especially in winter.

[CruiserBruce]

1:50 arrival for a 2:30 all aboard time is CRAZY.

[6rugrats]

Think of it this way. It will cost you $200 more to take an earlier flight that gives you enough time to make your sailing. Estimate how much it will cost you in money and emotional stress if you chance the later flight (which is a terrible idea), and decide if the gamble is worth it to you.

 

Personally, I wouldn't touch those odds.

Edited March 12, 2014 by 6rugrats

[nanagu]

thanks everyone I did get the earlier flight...And RCCL did say we had until 3:30 to get to the port so thats why I considered the later flight..

[CruiserBruce]

thanks everyone I did get the earlier flight...And RCCL did say we had until 3:30 to get to the port so thats why I considered the later flight..

 

Well, going on at 3:30 for a 4pm sailing means you miss the lifeboat drill. Perhaps the person who told you this thought you had a 5pm sailing?

[alcpa1]

Whoever told you you could board at 3:30 deserves to be fired. Your boarding time is dictated by Homeland Security not any cruise line. The ship must file a manifest at a designated time well before 3:30. You would not have been permitted to board.

The only exception I am aware of personally was within weeks after 9/11 when sailing was halted in New York and departures were moved to other ports, in our case Philadelphia. We were officially checked in while on a cruise line shuttle from LGA to the pier in Philly.

OP next cruise consider flying in a day or more to your port. Even a late night flight is better than a day of.

[waterbug123]

Whoever told you you could board at 3:30 deserves to be fired.

 

If the ship sails at 5:00, all aboard would be 3:30. The OP has never said what time the ship sails; another poster assumed it was 4:00 and therefore said she'd need to be aboard at 2:30

[Keith1010]

Arrive the day before the cruise but certainly not at 1:50 pm.

 

Keith

[traveler916]

flying into FLL day of cruise from PVD should I chance an arriving flight for 1:50pm or pay the extra $200???:confused:

 

If what you are saying is, an earlier flight would cost $200 more than a "just in time" flight....I would definitely take the earlier flight and pay the $200.

 

Or - see about taking a cheaper flight the day before, and pay for one night in a motel.

 

But you definitely don't want to risk being delayed and then missing your cruise.

 

It would cost far more than $200 to book a plane ticket to the first stop of the cruise ship so you could get on.

[kenish]

Do you have a full-on, current passport (not a passport card)?

 

If you miss the ship in FLL, the next port on most sailings require a full passport to board a "catch-up" flight. The airline will not transport you if a passport is required to return to the US by air. They have no assurance you will board the cruise and have to assume you're flying back to the US. They are legally and financially responsible if you're not carrying the correct documents for a return flight.

 

Along with the very expensive "catch up" flight, if you need a passport it will add $135 for a new passport or $110 for a renewal to your hoped-for $200 fare savings. Read your trip insurance policy carefully, too. Most will deny a claim if your itinerary is too risky and aggressive. You have burden of proof that it wasn't...40 minutes between flight arrival and "all aboard" the ship will be *very* difficult to defend.

Edited March 17, 2014 by kenish