Mardi Gras early disembarkation

[Jring]

We are trying to see if we are able to catch a flight at 11am on a Saturday after we come back from the Mardi Gras cruise in Orlando. I know it takes an hour to get from port to MCO airport, but I'm wondering if it's possible to make it with all the traffic and crowds at the port.

 

Thank you all for your experience and insight.

 

[Joe817]

6 minutes ago, Jring said:

We are trying to see if we are able to catch a flight at 11am on a Saturday after we come back from the Mardi Gras cruise in Orlando. I know it takes an hour to get from port to MCO airport, but I'm wondering if it's possible to make it with all the traffic and crowds at the port.

 

Thank you all for your experience and insight.

 

I definitely would NOT attempt to do that with an 11am departing flight. To me that's an impossible task. Keep in mind that in perfect conditions, the returning passenger's don't even start debarkation until 8:30 or so, IF the ship docks at the scheduled time. And then you have the drive to the airport, and THEN you have airport check in. I honestly don't see how that would be possible. 

[mz-s]

Maybe if you are platinum/diamond and therefore get priority debarkation and are carrying your own luggage off you could get to the airport before 9. But I sort of doubt it.

 

I think you'll need a later flight.

[Jring]

10 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

I definitely would NOT attempt to do that with an 11am departing flight. To me that's an impossible task. Keep in mind that in perfect conditions, the returning passenger's don't even start debarkation until 8:30 or so, IF the ship docks at the scheduled time. And then you have the drive to the airport, and THEN you have airport check in. I honestly don't see how that would be possible. 

 Not sure about Carnival cause we had two RCL cruise last year disembarking from Miami, both times we picked the latest disembarking time so we could have breakfast and not having to wake up super early, and we were outside waiting for shuttle already at 9:00am. So I thought maybe the earliest time could have gotten us out by like 8

Edited May 7, 2022 by Jring

[Ireallyneedavacation]

I just got off of this ship last weekend. They started disembarkation a little after 7:00 for specific locations for those carrying off their own luggage. I’m platinum. We received a letter to meet at 8:00 to be escorted off, but we did not carry off our luggage. It was waiting on us with zone 3 tags. We could have left sooner, if we had carried it off.  If you book the 11:00 flight, you should carry off your luggage.

Edited May 7, 2022 by Ireallyneedavacation

[Ireallyneedavacation]

BTW, if you haven’t already, check flying into and out of Melbourne. I did this, because it was cheaper. This airport has much less foot traffic than MCO and my limited experience, shorter lines. The drive is about the same.

[Jring]

30 minutes ago, Ireallyneedavacation said:

I just got off of this ship last weekend. They started disembarkation a little after 7:00 for specific locations for those carrying off their own luggage. I’m platinum. We received a letter to meet at 8:00 to be escorted off, but we did not carry off our luggage. It was waiting on us with zone 3 tags. We could have left sooner, if we had carried it off.  If you book the 11:00 flight, you should carry off your luggage.

Do Platinum members get to get off earlier? or was the 7am for anyone on a certain deck/ those who carry their own luggages? we always carry our own anyways.

[Ireallyneedavacation]

15 minutes ago, Jring said:

Do Platinum members get to get off earlier? or was the 7am for anyone on a certain deck/ those who carry their own luggages? we always carry our own anyways.

It was between 7:00 and 7:15. It anyone with a certain muster station with self assist, along with Platinum/Diamond self assist.

Edited May 7, 2022 by Ireallyneedavacation

[mz-s]

13 minutes ago, Jring said:

Do Platinum members get to get off earlier? or was the 7am for anyone on a certain deck/ those who carry their own luggages? we always carry our own anyways.

yes, Diamond and platinum get priority debarkation.

[Illbcruzn4life]

We had #2 tags but switched to a higher number since we had a late flight.  
 

i made it for an early flight precovid but wouldn't try it these days. Too many moving parts

[Elaine5715]

You would need to get to MCO by 9 am unless you are not checking any luggage and you have TSA precheck or CLEAR.  MCO luggage drop off can be an hour with the Disney crowd having to check baggage.  The old days of Disney guests not standing in line with the now defunk Resort Airline luggage service is over.  Next security lines are slow with parents wrangling crying kids leaving the House of Mouse plus the the constant stoppages as people trying to bring liquids thru.  MCO is easily the slowest airport to catch a plane.

You would also need private transportation.  In Feb, Carnival buses did not arrive from Port Canaveral until after 9 am.