9am flight--will i make it??

[navybankerteacher]

FLL tends to get jammed - in addition to about12,500 cruise passengers - many of whom will be flying, there will be a lot of land vacationers flying out on a Saturday. There is a reason why cruise lines regularly advise against booking flights before noon.

 

If you self-debark - carrying all your own bags and being ready to move when the first are cleared you will have a fair chance of making it.

[Laurie S.]

We couldn't get off a cruise in San Diego one year until 10 am. Two non- US. citizens refused to show up to customs. No one was allowed off the ship until everyone was cleared. My friend barely made his 11 am flight. I was staying over so had no worries, but there were a lot of frantic people that day.

[Velvetwater]

We have been on 2 cruises that docked 5.30/6.00 but did not have flights ourselves so we didn't rush out.

 

Both times clearance to disembark did not start until 7.00am and even then it was 7.30ish before it all really started.

 

I really do not think you will make it but follow the advice here to give you the best chance...especially the carry off your own luggage/self assist.

[wheezedr]

Previous posters have told you about self disembarking and carrying your own luggage. In addition it would help if you did not need to stop to check in luggage at the airport. For a 6 night cruise you should be able to pack it all in a carryon bag. This would save another step at the airport.

The only airport you might make it is in fact FLL . My personal experience off the Royal Princess. Ship arrived on time. DW and I were at the door for first off before it opened and were probably among the first 10-15 passengers off. Thus no line at customs, straight sprint to the taxi queue and off to the airport which is roughly 10 minutes away . Matters which airline as it is quicker to the first terminals. We were on Virgin and checking a piece so we’re lucky with no line. Through security with TSA pre and at the gate by 8:15 for a 10:10 flight I was told not to book.

Can you make it, maybe, but you must do everything possible to shorten your stops in lines at the ship, the taxi, check in and security and pray the ship is not late.

Good luck

[Suzanne123]

If I absolutely had to make a 9 AM flight out of FLL, I wouldn’t even take checked luggage. That will be your biggest headache, and I’m pretty sure you have to have your luggage checked in 45 minutes before take-off anyway, which makes your timeline even shorter.

Cruise with carry-ons only, forget about breakfast on the ship the last morning ( you can eat at the airport), be the first ones in line to get off the ship ( You will be shocked at how many other people have self-disembarkation, and I have seen the lines wrap around the atrium and through the theater with people entering from every stairway and elevator ), have Global Entry to get through customs quickly when you exit the ship, and grab a taxi. I hope you make it, or at least keep your sense of humor trying. Good Luck.

[klfrodo]

First cruise and we booked a 9am flight home---after reading the previous messages thinking we won't make it. What time does everyone normally fly out?

 

I enjoy spending some time in the casino but damnnnn,,, someone has a gambling problem the size of which I cannot conceive. :o

That's a huge gamble betting that you can make a 9AM flight.

 

Please let us know how it works out.

 

Anybody know a bookie taking side bets on this?

[zqvol]

First cruise and we booked a 9am flight home---after reading the previous messages thinking we won't make it. What time does everyone normally fly out?

 

It will take a miracle to make that flight. You won't be off the ship before 7:30 at the earliest and then you have to get luggage and to the airport.

[jollyjones]

To the OP:

You say there isn't another flight, presumably that day - have you checked to see if you can change your flight to the next day? If so, why not stay overnight in Lauderdale and save the stress?

It's likely what you'll be doing anyway when you miss your flight.

 

 

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[davekathy]

Can you use the luggage valet service with self disembarkation?

[Flatbush Flyer]

No other flights available—would have been nice to know this prior [emoji30]. I’ve gotten mixed reviews from people I’ve asked. I guess we will just have to hope for the best.

 

 

 

IMO, you'll be SOL. As for "no other flights": there's other flights. Of course you may not be able to fly non-stop or even direct. Use ITA Matrix on the web to see ALL the possibilities.

[navybankerteacher]

IMO, you'll be SOL. As for "no other flights": there's other flights. Of course you may not be able to fly non-stop or even direct. Use ITA Matrix on the web to see ALL the possibilities.

 

I am also curious about the "no other flights". I wonder where OP lives - so there could be only one (absurdly early) possible flight. Too many people translate "no desireable later flight" to "no other flight" --- and use the "is not an option" cliche to support questionable decisions.

[capriccio]

Can you use the luggage valet service with self disembarkation?

 

No cruise line will guarantee luggage valet with that early a flight. 1:00 am or 11:30 am is their usual earliest flight time.

[Expat Cruise]

Change your flight now to the following day, the adds say you will not make it, and then it will cost you much more.

[Krazy Kruizers]

OP

I don't know who you booked your cruise through, but they should have advised you about flights.

You haven't mentioned when you are flying into Ft Lauderdale. Hopefully not the same day.

Wish you luck with all your flights.

[ontheweb]

Good luck.

 

I know this isn't totally relevant, but we once had to fly early out of Copenhagen as we had a super great flight deal. The flight was at 9 AM, and both Princess and our TA said it was way too early. We ended up booking the same flight for the next day, staying over a day in Copenhagen (not the worst thing in the world lol)

 

But, when we got our luggage tags for leaving, my DW noticed there was actually one for Continental flights at 9AM. I looked after she said that and saw that was not even the earliest one as there was one for flight at 8 AM.

 

So, I guess it's not impossible, but good luck. And changing the flight to the next day is probably a good idea especially if there are several ships docking that day.

[paul929207]

If you are saying that there are later flights, but they are all booked, then you may wind up spending the day at FLL hoping to clear the waitlist for one of them. Make sure you have something to read or a favorite game to play. It could be a long boring day.

[ger_77]

I'm following this and hope the OP comes back to tell us the outcome. I can only wish this first time cruiser a wonderful vacation, and hope all goes well.

 

Smooth Sailing! [emoji3] [emoji3] [emoji3]

 

 

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[davekathy]

No cruise line will guarantee luggage valet with that early a flight. 1:00 am or 11:30 am is their usual earliest flight time.

Not interested in doing the LV just curious how it works. We would never book a flight before noon. Not worth the stress the OP is currently experiencing.

[Yukonjake]

Yep-next time I will know :). Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

 

If there are no other flights, can you resked your flight for the next day and overnight?

 

Might be a way to extend your relaxation, whereas scrambling to get to the airport in such a rush would certainly make me cranky; not the feel I want coming off vacation.

[kitty9]

There are other considerations here other than just getting off the ship first. Once you’re at the airport, you have to stand in a long line to check your suitcases. Then another long line for TSA checks (on our last cruise, even the TSA Pre-Check took 15 minutes). Then you have to make it to your gate and be ON BOARD the plane at least 15 minutes before the plane departs, and depending on the airline, you might have to be on board 20 minutes before departure. So that means you have to be on the plane by at least 8:45. So taking all things into consideration, I don’t think you’ll make that flight even if you’re off the ship by 7:30. You still have to get a taxi, load your luggage into the cab, drive the 15 minutes to the airport, and fight the horrible traffic once on airport property.

 

Oh, and I forgot, on our last cruise there was only 2 Customs and Immigration officials working. That made things even slower.

[ElaineKeagy]

How about a flight later in the day from Miami instead of FLL?

 

 

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[Pudgesmom]

If you are saying that there are later flights, but they are all booked, then you may wind up spending the day at FLL hoping to clear the waitlist for one of them. Make sure you have something to read or a favorite game to play. It could be a long boring day.

 

So this. Ask yourself if you want to spend your day doing this. You will likely have to travel to the gate for each outgoing flight for the day, and wait until all others have boarded to see if there is room for your party, while enjoying airport food, only to possibly find out each time that the flights are in fact full, OR pay a change fee and switch to an available flight with a guaranteed seat the next day. Then spend the day at the beach.

 

I know what I would do, if I had the means and time to stay overnight in Fort Lauderdale.

[Host Walt]

If there are no other flights, can you resked your flight for the next day and overnight?

 

Might be a way to extend your relaxation, whereas scrambling to get to the airport in such a rush would certainly make me cranky; not the feel I want coming off vacation.

The one thing no one has mentioned is the impact this situation will have on the entire cruise. Can you imagine going to bed the last night worried about getting up early enough. And, of course, the close call on times on disembarking day will be on their mind for the entire cruise.

[davekathy]

The one thing no one has mentioned is the impact this situation will have on the entire cruise. Can you imagine going to bed the last night worried about getting up early enough. And, of course, the close call on times on disembarking day will be on their mind for the entire cruise.

Horrible way to spend a vacation...stressing! :rolleyes:

[squick64]

have Global Entry to get through customs quickly

I wasn't aware that GE was being used at cruise terminals these days? I'm pleased if so, not that I'm ever in a huge hurry when I'm leaving (or have a ridiculous line), but I thought it was more the norm to just have regular immigration for everyone because there wouldn't be enough "special cases" to justify special lines.