How far are you willing to drive to a port?

[jeffbook]

We drove to our very first cruise (9/24/01 on Majesty) from Columbus to Miami (1200 miles),stopping to visit fiends in Punta Gorda for one night. We had planned to fly and had airline tickets through RCL, but note our departure date. We drove because we were not sure that the airlines would spool up quick enough to be certain that the flights would actually happen.

 

Our next cruise (Sovereign) was with our two daughters and son-in-law. For economic reasons we drove to Port Canaveral. Two days each way, but it was fun. We have flown since, but after we retire, driving is possible, maybe even probable for Florida departures. We will stop along the way and visit friends, extending what will certainly be a most enjoyable vacation on either X or sometimes RCL (but NOT Genesis, Freedom, or Voyager class)

[Texed]

I am in outside sales. I drive everyday. For a cruise, I hate driving to the airport.:D

[F5Loar]

Since 911 we simply do not fly particularly as a family. We are in central NC and have no problem driving a full day (up to 15 hours) to get to the Ports in New York, Charleston,Norfolk,Baltimore,Boston, Port Canv., Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and now Jax. We even took an extra week to drive to Seattle for an Alaskan cruise. Usually ships are back in and you are off the ship by 10AM allowing you plenty of time to drive it back in one day.

[Liat]

We have done it twice for RT Mexican Riviera cruises. It takes a little over 5 1/2 hours, we stay overnight at a hotel which keeps the car for the week of the cruise, included in the one night hotel rack rate of about $130.00 includuing tax. It sure beats the airport hustle, security hassle, concern over luggage, getting from LAX to San Pedro and the pier etc.

On the other hand, we have flown to San Diego twice since Southwest and America West have very reasonable flights and you can roll your luggage from Lindbergh Field to the Cruise Pier. A slight exaggeration, but it is only a 10 minute, $10.00 cab ride.

[fireofficer5]

20 mins. to Port Everglades, 30 mins. to the Port of Miami. I'd walk if it were closer.

[canderson]

So how long of a drive are you willing to make for a cruise?

We're kinda screwed out here -- Colorado is, to put it clearly, seriously landlocked. As a result, we've never considered driving due to the extra time involved both pre- and post-cruise. Our closest ports would be LA at about 1100 miles, or Galveston, for as long as that lasts, and it's about 1200 miles! The port at Seattle is about 1300 miles. At 2 days each way, we're talking an additional 4 days added to the trip.

 

Everything else is even further, so we're pretty much at the mercy of the airlines for the time being. It'd take a really big earthquake -- something to create beachfront property on the western slope of the Rockies, before we're likely to drive one.

[WeBeCruisin']

From Charlotte, we can make it to Jacksonville, Charleston, Norfolk, and even Baltimore in one day, then overnight and get a great night's sleep and board the next day, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

 

Anything longer than a one-day drive involves the expense of additional lodging, meals and gas and would begin to be about the equivalent of flying in cost and time. To me, anything in excess of 6-8 hours on the road seems to take its toll.

 

We always try to arrive a day early to our port city, just to avoid the fear of missed flights, car trouble on the road, etc.

 

Allen

[dmarch@islc.net]

About eight hours. Anything longer than that and we'll fly. We used to fly everywhere but it's too much of a pain now. Just easier to drive past the airport and keep on going....how sad.