West Indies Cruise Disembarkation

[stephenandrew]

Any advice for a traveler who is booking airfare independently as to the earliest flight one could book departing the San Juan airport after disembarking the Viking West Indies cruise on 12/30/23?  Was hoping the smaller size of the Viking ship and the early arrival time into San Juan (est. 3:00AM) might permit catching a 9:45 am flight.

 

Thanks.

[Jim Avery]

15 minutes ago, stephenandrew said:

Any advice for a traveler who is booking airfare independently as to the earliest flight one could book departing the San Juan airport after disembarking the Viking West Indies cruise on 12/30/23?  Was hoping the smaller size of the Viking ship and the early arrival time into San Juan (est. 3:00AM) might permit catching a 9:45 am flight.

 

Thanks.

It will if you arrange an early departure (say 6am) with the General Manager.  

[stephenandrew]

1 minute ago, Jim Avery said:

It will if you arrange an early departure (say 6am) with the General Manager.  

Thank you.

 

The flight options available to us are either on the early side or after 4 pm.  We have no where to be after our cruise and could take a later flight, but figured if we could make an earlier flight, it might be better than hanging around the airport for 6 hours.  Again, thanks.

[TayanaLorna]

You will want to be at airport 7:15-7:45. Hardly anyone in PR works between Dec 15 and January 6 so traffic should be light.  Plan on half hour to get to airport.  Yep Jim Avery has it about right.  

[Jim Avery]

19 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said:

You will want to be at airport 7:15-7:45. Hardly anyone in PR works between Dec 15 and January 6 so traffic should be light.  Plan on half hour to get to airport.  Yep Jim Avery has it about right.  

Haha, that's the same flight situation we have had time and time again at SJU.  Don't they fly mid day?

[stephenandrew]

1 hour ago, TayanaLorna said:

You will want to be at airport 7:15-7:45. Hardly anyone in PR works between Dec 15 and January 6 so traffic should be light.  Plan on half hour to get to airport.  Yep Jim Avery has it about right.  

Thank you!

[Peregrina651]

Everyone is saying no problem to get an early flight but I would check your Viking Guest Statement. Usually it says on the statement what the earliest time you can book a flight for is. Even if the ship arrives at 3 am, there is Customs and Passport Control to be considered. It all depends on when they show up for work how early folks can disembark.

 

If it is there, it will say something like this:

 

 

 

[Jim Avery]

That’s why we have spent the night in Old San Juan and got the early flight the next day. Lots to do there.

[CCWineLover]

4 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

That’s why we have spent the night in Old San Juan and got the early flight the next day. Lots to do there.

Jim - that’s what we did too!  Spent the day walking around old town-great place to walk.  Had a nice dinner outside as well.  Stayed at Sheraton.  This was mid-December (we were on same TA cruise with TayanaLorna). 

[TayanaLorna]

12 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Haha, that's the same flight situation we have had time and time again at SJU.  Don't they fly mid day?

Seems most non-stops are early morning or late afternoon to the states.

[TayanaLorna]

5 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

Jim - that’s what we did too!  Spent the day walking around old town-great place to walk.  Had a nice dinner outside as well.  Stayed at Sheraton.  This was mid-December (we were on same TA cruise with TayanaLorna). 

Yes i recall the ship was scheduled to arrive at 3 am but was at the dock around 1 am.  We disembarked around 9 am but a whole lot of people got off earlier.  We did have to walk by CBP who asked us if we were bringing anything fresh or agricultural in so as long as they are there at 6 am.