Jewel/Houston Question

[Spanky My]

If I book a 10:40 am Flight out of Houston Hubby is that cutting it too close with an 8:00Am arrival?? Your thoughts?

[TxShipShape]

I think that very tight. you would have to be off the ship, past customs and in a fast taxi by 9:00 to make it. that's 40 minutes to Hobby ( Port site say 45) check in 1 hour before time ( airlines say 1.5 hr.)

 

I think NCL say 12:30 or after flight (Hobby). its on their site somewhere.

[JohnIreland]

You might make it , but I wouldn't risk it.

[rvsullivan]

With flight check in being 9:40, I think you are asking for disappointment. Better to follow the guidelines and book after noon time. Good luck.

[fer10]

I think it is very risky

[TXGalAJ]

The only possible way I think you could make this is if you carry your own bags off. We were on the Jewel last week and had priority dis-embarking so we got off right after the people that were carrying their own bags off. We were in our car at 9:10am. I would opt for the later flight for piece of mind.

[Toothferry]

My flight is at 10:50 with the next flight not til 6:00 pm I'm going to try and make it as I will have priority disembarkation. If not will deal with it.

[JohnIreland]

You will need to do easy walk off , it goes before anyone else including suites.

[rvsullivan]

You will need to do easy walk off , it goes before anyone else including suites.

 

Unless there is a recent change, suites go before anyone. They have always held the walk offs until we were off and through customs. Suite priority disembarkation wouldn't be much of a perk if they had to wait for several hundred others going first. After suites clear customs, then walk offs, then the colors begin.

Edited November 13, 2014 by rvsullivan

[Susie51]

In my experience suites go first. There is a short line through customs and our bags are in a separate location.

 

I've only done carry off my luggage once. There is mass confusion. The halls, public areas around the gangway, and stairwells are jammed with people. Catching a taxi was easy though.

 

That time is way too early. I hope there are no delays for you.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Susie51

[Susie51]

Suite priority disembarkation wouldn't be much of a perk if they had to wait for several hundred others going first.

 

Exactly

[JohnIreland]

I am going of the Jewel last Saturday.

 

I am not 100% so I'll try and find the letter to confirm.

[Rudyard]

Way too tight. We had issues with our disembarkation which led to a lengthy delay. We had the tags for an 8:30 debark and didn't actually get off the ship until close to 10:30.

[Spanky My]

I think I will go for the 12:00PM flight to be a little safer!

[GORDONCHICK]

IME, easy walk off has gone before suites, and this included 2013 Christmas on the Jewel.

 

Also, the OP needs to pray for no fog. Houston and Galveston are known for fog and delaying ship arrivals for hours.

[lj77346]

Based on the experience that Princess had cruising from Houston last year (from the same terminal NCL is using) about 1/4 of the sailings were affected by late arrivals/departures due to weather (fog). Therefore, be aware that there is also a reasonable chance that fog, especially in the winter, may delay the ship's arrival and make flights before noon a problem.

[Susie51]

Based on the experience that Princess had cruising from Houston last year (from the same terminal NCL is using) about 1/4 of the sailings were affected by late arrivals/departures due to weather (fog). Therefore, be aware that there is also a reasonable chance that fog, especially in the winter, may delay the ship's arrival and make flights before noon a problem.

 

I'm glad our plane leaves after 5 pm. We are going to do the NCL Houston Space Tour. Then we will be dropped of at Bush Int'l Airport.

[JohnIreland]

I'm glad our plane leaves after 5 pm. We are going to do the NCL Houston Space Tour. Then we will be dropped of at Bush Int'l Airport.

 

All tours ending in the Airport were cancelled last week. So have a backup plan.

 

We got a taxi to Avis in webster (~$40) and did a one way rental ($47) and drive to nasa ($6 parking + 2x~$20 for the tickets).

 

In the end is cost less then the tour and got us an extra hour in nasa.

[albertamom]

All tours ending in the Airport were cancelled last week. So have a backup plan.

 

Yikes!!! :eek:

 

How much notice was given? What was the reason? Does this happen often?

[TXGalAJ]

I was in a suite on the Jewel last week and we got off after all the people carrying their own luggage. It was still the fastest I've ever gone through customs (20 minutes from the moment we swiped our sign and sail cards for the last time until we were at the curb with our luggage.

[JohnIreland]

Yikes!!! :eek:

 

How much notice was given? What was the reason? Does this happen often?

 

Noticed it missing from my bill Wednesday night. Letter was on the door Thursday morning.

 

It was due to poor sales , only direct airport transfer was running.

 

Not sure how often it happens.

[albertamom]

Noticed it missing from my bill Wednesday night. Letter was on the door Thursday morning.

 

It was due to poor sales , only direct airport transfer was running.

 

Not sure how often it happens.

 

Thank you so much for posting this. We are a group of 11, most of whom have never cruised before. I really, really want them to enjoy cruising as much as I do, so am obsessively trying to make sure that I have everything well-planned. I will definitely get a back-up plan together. :)

[Susie51]

All tours ending in the Airport were cancelled last week. So have a backup plan.

 

We got a taxi to Avis in webster (~$40) and did a one way rental ($47) and drive to nasa ($6 parking + 2x~$20 for the tickets).

 

In the end is cost less then the tour and got us an extra hour in nasa.

 

Thanks for the "heads up " and car rental idea.

 

Are there shuttle vans at the curb of the cruise terminal to take people to Bush?

[Mdepfl]

Everything has to go perfectly. When's the last time that's ever happened...

[JohnIreland]

Thanks for the "heads up " and car rental idea.

 

Are there shuttle vans at the curb of the cruise terminal to take people to Bush?

 

There was an early and late bus for the airport. The late was 10am , so I didn't inquire further as we had a 16:40 flight.