Listen to Good Advice

[crochetcruise]

Flights can also be delayed and you could be too late for embarkation if you choose to fly on the same day. We have no control over fog, volcanic ash, heavy snowfall, cyclones, etc.

We fly a day early even if out embarking port in just an hour's flight away.

 

I ALWAYS plan to arrive early-compulsive over-estimator of needed time here! :D Dad and I did get stuck at the Adelaide Airport for several hours as we were on the early evening flight home after my Cancer Specialist appointment for the yearly review, and fluked getting in, assessed, xrays collected and back to the airport in time to change-at a cost of $50 EACH to the late afternoon flight. There was sport on the tv to watch-we both like cricket, and both pensioners so that $50 each would go a LONG way. I did say to Dad I couldn't see the sense in paying to get home earlier, when it had been planned to return at the later time and he agreed. Did get boring at the airport, those seats aren't always the most comfortable;) but that was the worst of the stress! Am going over earlier to stay with my cousins who will bring me in from their property to embark. Glen knows I can't hurry safely, so will allow plenty of time for traffic delays. They're about an hour north of Sydney so probably need to come through the CBD, which can be er "interesting!" My last time in Sydney by car was 30 years back, so expecting HUGE changes! Overnighting in Melbourne specifically to check out a recommended hotel and report back to the TA, and arrive home with everything clean-Laundromat at the hotel before checking out, luggage into the unit, and head out for tea!

[Steelers36]

I wouldn't even want to fly in same day if I had EZAir. Even though Princess would take care of us, I wouldn't want to miss the start of the voyage.

[IECalCruiser]

Our first cruise was on Carnival out of Port Canaveral. Our TA booked air through Carnival and they had us flying into Orlando from Chicago on the day of the cruise. The flight was delayed and by the time we reached Orlando the next to the last Carnival shuttle bus to Port Canaveral had left. We made it there on the last bus with about a half dozen other people. Check-in was a breeze as we got there just before they closed things down about an hour before departure. We boarded the ship hot, tired and exhausted and had to walk by all of the people relaxing by the pool with a drink in their hand. After that first cruise the only time we don't fly in a day before domestically or even two days internationally is when we drive to San Pedro.

[elliair]

On our upcoming two cruises, we're leaving 2-3 days ahead of the cruise. We're going to Disneyland first for 3 days, on our Panama Canal cruise we're leaving 2 days ahead of time. Thankful that we change planes in Las Vegas instead of Denver, Last time we did this, we almost got stuck in Denver due to snow. If we miss Disneyland, no big deal, we can drive 6 hours to the ship and still get there on time. We're not buying tickets to Disneyland JIC something gets cancelled. Always pays to have trip insurance - first thing we get after booking a cruise.

[elliair]

I ALWAYS plan to arrive early-compulsive over-estimator of needed time here! :D Dad and I did get stuck at the Adelaide Airport for several hours as we were on the early evening flight home after my Cancer Specialist appointment for the yearly review, and fluked getting in, assessed, xrays collected and back to the airport in time to change-at a cost of $50 EACH to the late afternoon flight. There was sport on the tv to watch-we both like cricket, and both pensioners so that $50 each would go a LONG way. I did say to Dad I couldn't see the sense in paying to get home earlier, when it had been planned to return at the later time and he agreed. Did get boring at the airport, those seats aren't always the most comfortable;) but that was the worst of the stress! Am going over earlier to stay with my cousins who will bring me in from their property to embark. Glen knows I can't hurry safely, so will allow plenty of time for traffic delays. They're about an hour north of Sydney so probably need to come through the CBD, which can be er "interesting!" My last time in Sydney by car was 30 years back, so expecting HUGE changes! Overnighting in Melbourne specifically to check out a recommended hotel and report back to the TA, and arrive home with everything clean-Laundromat at the hotel before checking out, luggage into the unit, and head out for tea!

 

I'm already exhausted with all you have to go through! Glad it's you and not me, but good luck just the same!

[caribill]

And some times the best made plans to fly in a day early can still mean missing the cruise based on some posts on an earlier thread.

 

The flight to the port on the day before the cruise was cancelled due to weather.

 

Because airlines are pretty well booked full these days, the next available flight to the port was two days after the ship departed.

 

Turned out the flight on the day of the cruise had no problem getting there, but there was no room on it for the people from the cancelled flight of the previous day. If they had originally booked the flight for the day of the cruise, they would have been ok.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...have your passport even on a closed loop cruise from the US (had to disembark early and fly home from Cabo).

 

YES! I have advised many about this, and some just don't believe that while you can enter Mexico by land or sea without a passport, you MUST have a passport to travel by air.

Edited August 1, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78

[Illyria]

We have been talking about this very thing in conjunction with our scheduled Alaska cruisetour next year. Although it is probably expensive to spend an extra night in Fairbanks we will probably fly in a day early just to "be sure".

We flew in the same day for our cruisetour but we had 2 overnights scheduled in Fairbanks, so we figured that even if worst came to worst, we could still catch up with the tour the next day (miss out on the day's excursions but still much more doable than trying to catch up with a ship!)

[SoCal Cruiser78]

... there was no room on it for the people from the cancelled flight of the previous day...

 

I remember this thread. Just one more reason we now take only cruises we can drive to--even booking a flight a day or two early sometimes isn't enough these days :(.

Edited August 1, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78

[GUT2407]

Hope the rat of your cruise goes smoothly.

 

We live a two hour drive to the Port but try to go the day before.

 

There is just too much risk otherwise, an accident of th freeway, a fire, a car breakdown so many things that can go wrong.

[joe d]

While going a day in advance is helpful if your flight is delayed it may not be much help if your flight is cancelled. Planes are so full these days that it can take days to reschedule everyone if a flight is cancelled.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that if you are delayed because of bad weather other people may also be delayed. If enough people are delayed the ship may delay its departure. We once had one delayed for several hours because of bad weather. We had great weather all day but several large airport hubs in the US had problems.

 

We often go a day early in winter but fully realize that if there is a major storm that probably is not early enough.

 

When we fly in the day of the cruise we leave as early as possible and take direct flights whenever possible.

[skedaddle43]

On my last RCCL cruise out of Galveston - about 3 hours away - my friend and I left early am to get to the ship In plenty of time. All was fine and leisurely until we hit a huge, unexpected rainstorm that just hung over the area - In the middle of a drought. Rain so bad we couldn't see any lines on the highway. Took us 3 hours to go 30 miles. Just as we reached the port area, Princess called to see where we were. They literally pulled the gangplank up behind us!

Obviously we won't be flying day-of on the upcoming one out of seattle!

[ChiefBoats]

We fly in the day before and sometimes two days early especially if it is a holiday weekend. We have also gotten into the habit of flying out the day after disembarkation. That way we can get an early flight and the crowds are not as heavy.

__________________________________________

Island Princess 2008 Alaska, Island Princess 2009 (B2B) Alaska, Royal Princess (Old) 2010 Alaska, Golden Princess 2011 Alaska, Coral Princess 2012 Panama Canal, Star Princess 2012 Alaska, Island Princess 2013 Alaska, Crown Princess 2013 Western Caribbean, Caribbean Princess 2013 Western Caribbean, Royal Princess 2014 Eastern Caribbean, Royal Princess 2014 New England, Emerald Princess 2014 Western Caribbean, Emerald Princess 2015 Western Caribbean, Ruby Princess 2015 Alaska

Edited August 2, 2015 by ChiefBoats
Format error

[caribill]

On my last RCCL cruise out of Galveston - about 3 hours away - my friend and I left early am to get to the ship In plenty of time. All was fine and leisurely until we hit a huge, unexpected rainstorm that just hung over the area - In the middle of a drought. Rain so bad we couldn't see any lines on the highway. Took us 3 hours to go 30 miles. Just as we reached the port area, Princess called to see where we were. They literally pulled the gangplank up behind us!

Obviously we won't be flying day-of on the upcoming one out of seattle!

 

Now that is great customer service. Princess calling to make sure you get to your RCCL cruise.

[skedaddle43]

hahaha! You know I meant RCCL! ;) I just have Princess on the. Brain 'cuz that's who we are cruising with in 35!!! Days!

[PescadoAmarillo]

And some times the best made plans to fly in a day early can still mean missing the cruise based on some posts on an earlier thread.

 

The flight to the port on the day before the cruise was cancelled due to weather.

 

Because airlines are pretty well booked full these days, the next available flight to the port was two days after the ship departed.

 

Turned out the flight on the day of the cruise had no problem getting there, but there was no room on it for the people from the cancelled flight of the previous day. If they had originally booked the flight for the day of the cruise, they would have been ok.

This is an excellent point. Sadly, 98% of the people flying to a cruise simply don't have the flexibility to pre-plan for this.

 

We are sometimes in the 2% who can. If we are departing from a US port, we generally book our flights using Southwest Rapid Rewards points. We have a lot of Rapid Rewards Points because of their credit card bonuses. We will often book flights to a cruise on multiple days and then watch the weather and decide which day we want to leave home. Flights not used can be canceled and points are immediately returned to our accounts. Of course, this doesn't help with regard to non-weather related delays and cancellations, but it does provide great peace of mind when we fly out of a frequently weather-impacted airport in the winter.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Great example because even though many of us know this is prudent and follow it for our cruises, there are always new people joining CC who will benefit from these examples. Plus, it's a good reminder for all of us! Just not worth missing your cruise!! Good luck making your connections, OP, and have a great cruise! [emoji568]

[AZbeachboy]

Great Thread and good advice. We have always gone in early. Although I do not mind flying we have driven to 14 out of 18 cruises. We took a red eye one time because my wife could not get off in time and one time because the cruise left San Juan and we went in three days early.

 

Before i retired I traveled a lot and saw a lot of people miss their flights for cruises especially in the winter. Chicago was exceptionally bad. So never think it cannot happen to you.