newbie

[barbnurse]

I just booked our 1st cruise(Carnival Liberty, Eastern Caribbean in march) and am so overwhelmed. First thing I need is to get our flights but wondered how early could I book a flight out of Miami safely to make sure we have enough time to get there once we debark? I sure I will be posting more questions but want to get our flights done first. Thanks ahead of time!!:)

[momofzeke]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :D

 

If AT ALL possible.......fly in the day BEFORE your ship departs. If you absolutely cannot fly in the day before, get the earliest flight you possibly can. So much can go wrong with flight delays, weather, mechanical problems. You must check in to your ship at least 90 minutes before it's scheduled departure. The very best thing to do is fly in the day before.

 

The one time we flew in the same day was our first cruise. It was a short flight here on the West Coast to L.A. ~ only about a 2 hour flight ~ scheduled to land a good 4 hours before the ship departed. We were delayed due to weather. Almost didn't make it. Fortunately for us, the ship was delayed as well, due to a medical emergency. If not for that, I'm not sure we would have made it in time. I swore I would never fly in the same day again......WAY too much stress.

 

Good luck, and let us know if you have more questions.

[baseball921]

I second the fly in a day early, you just never know what can happen. Also, for your flight home, try to book at least 4 hours after you are scheduled to dock. I just got off the Conquest in Galveston yesterday, we docked at 6am, didn't get clearance to leave until around 8, DH and I were not off the ship until 10:30 and it took over an hour to go through the customs line. If you want to carry all your luggage off with you, they allow you to leave fairly early, but I don't like carrying all the crap I bring all over the ship.

 

~Kristie

[barbnurse]

We are flying in the day before but my concern is the flights we can get out on the day we dock--10:15, 11:20. The 10:15 I am sure is too early but what about the 11:20?

[Thirsty Cruiser]

We are flying in the day before but my concern is the flights we can get out on the day we dock--10:15, 11:20. The 10:15 I am sure is too early but what about the 11:20?

Fortunately, the air port is very close, so it all depends on your comfort level. If the ship is late getting in, or there are problems with debarkation (customs, etc), it can be stressful. Depending on the published arrival time back to Miami, 11:20 should be doable. I always book afternoon if possible so I know I will have plenty of time.;)

[KruznKel]

We are flying in the day before but my concern is the flights we can get out on the day we dock--10:15, 11:20. The 10:15 I am sure is too early but what about the 11:20?

 

As mentioned there are alot of reasons you could miss your flight.. Carnival suggests booking a flight after 12 I think.. but if all goes well 11:20 is doable .. have done it... and will be doing it again in a few months.. just make sure to do self-assist!!;)

[momofzeke]

11:20 is early, but if all goes well you should be able to make it. If you can carry all of your bags off the ship, do self-assist debarkation. That way, you already have your bags which is one less step after debarkation. If you don't feel like you can carry all your baggage, take your flight information to the Purser's desk and get early debarkation tags. You will be among the first off the ship, but will then have to find your bags before you proceed through Immigration.

 

Good luck!

[barbnurse]

Thanks for all the help. We got our flights out at 2:30 so that should give us enough time. I am not sleeping at night because I can't stop thinking about our cruise!!! I am spending totally too much time on this site but I can't get enough!!