Earliest Flight Time out of San Juan.

[Margaritaville TX]

Could we make a 9:50 AM flight off the Adventure Of The Seas.

Sovereign Of The Seas 02/00
Carnival Victory 07/02
Navigator Of The Seas 06/6/03
Mariner Of The Seas 02/01/04
Navigator Of The Seas 10/2/04

John and Cathy

[rkaplan]

We have cruised out of San Juan 3 times, and I think a 9:50 flight is unlikely to make. We had a bad experience getting off the ship in Miami and had a 12:45 flight. They wouldn't let us board even though we were one hour prior to departure and had to sit in Miami airport until 7:00 p.m.

I now won't take any flight before 12:30-1:00 now.

Hope this helps

Sea Princess 2000
Grandeur of the Seas 2001
Infinity 2002
Exployer of the Seas 2003
Radiance of the Seas 2004
upcoming Adventure of Seas Jan. 2005

[PhylSam]

After experiencing San Juan airport last August upon leaving the AOS, I would think that it is cutting it very close. The airport was one of the least organized and haphazard I had experienced. If the ship doesn't dock on time, if there is any delay upon the leaving of the ship and finding luggage, customs etc. A million variables. I think that it makes your relaxing vacation into a stressful morning negating all of the wonderful effects of the cruise. IMO.

[trish1c]

Margartitaville --

There's a reason the lines reccomend flights after 12 noon.

Let's say you are scheduled to dock at 7 but you're late getting back. So now it's 8. You don't get off the ship until 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. & it takes time to clear immigration & get your luggage. For agrument's sake, you are in a taxi @ 9:10 & at the AP by 9:30, assuming no traffic (in SJ on a Sunday -- not a chance). Now you have to check in -- probably another 1/2 hour -- the staff is not efficient. The closer to flight time you check in, the greater risk your bags won't make the flight. At this point you have already missed your flight but, oh joy, you still have to get through TSA. Even if you dock on time, it's still awfully tight w/ no margin for error.

Auugh. I'm stressed just thinking about that.

Enjoy your cruise & I wish you the best of luck if you chose to book a 9:50 flight.

Trish

[skigirl]

The San Juan airport is VERY crowded on Sundays, with both the Destiny and the AOS coming in. The lines to check in and then to get through security took forever. Also, I don't think there are many empty seats on later flights so if you miss your flight you are taking a chance of having quite a wait.

[serene56]

Why ruin a great realxing vacation with stressing about making a flight that is soo early.
Airlines like you to be at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of time. That time would be 7:40. I would bet at that time the ship isnt even done clearning the ship yet. Play it safe and book a later flight.

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[the_psycho]

So in other words, no, you can't make a 9:50 flight.

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<color=#8b0000>until Serenade of the Seas Spring Break 2004!!

[jkroach]

We just got our cruise air itinerary and are booked on a 10:00am flight out of San Juan. Has anyone been able to change cruise air?

[serene56]

You got your air fare through the cruise lines?? If so then dont worry- they are responsible to make sure you make the flight.
But if you booked that flight-- try to change it-- for a price.

But what I cant understand is why would cruiselines tell pople not to book flights before noon then book their own people for a fligth at 10am??

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[dobie]

When we were on the AOS in March it was a nightmare getting off. We actually stood in line, on the promenade deck, and then down the stairs to customs, for over an hour and a half. We had priority debarkation, and still didn't get off and to a taxi until after 10 o'clock. We were just headed to a hotel for the day, so it didn't really matter, but there were an awful lot of people in line with us who missed their flights. The customs people were going over passports etc with a fine toothed comb.

[jkroach]

yep, we booked through the cruise line. There are several other ways to get home the same day that they can put us on if we miss the 10am flight, so I guess we'll take our chances. Everything I've seen says we'll be in San Juan at 8:30...doesn't seem possible to me...

[LINANRIC]

jkroach

when do you cruise?

I have the same problem, but I did not go through the cruise line for flights, I used Priceline, and we go on Sept 26th and come back at 10:00 on the 3rd of Oct.
Priceline will not change the flight, so I guess we will be stuck in San Juan

Let me know what happens
[email]macx2@comcast.net[/email]

if you can let me know

LINDA LOVES TO CRUISE
WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE

DESTINY 9/26/04
NAVIGATOR of THE SEAS 9/20/03
SOVEREIGN of The Seas 10/1994

[lscole]

I was on the AOS in November and my air was through RCCL we had a 10:05 am flight, we were at there airport before 9am had a porter help us and sate at the gatewaiting. We iniitally were apprehensive we such an early flight but RCCL assured they do this all the time. I know they do advised you shouldn't book before 12.

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[johnnyb]

Hey- I'm the husband of jkroach, and I spoke to RCCI about our flight times. They say that they have a special disembarkation line for those of us who have early flight times so that we are first off the ship, and then escort us quickly to the airport. I'm not sure why they go to the trouble (wouldn't it be easier to just put us on a separate flight?), but they say we should not worry.

LINANRIC- I don't know if they would let you disembark early as well if you don't have your tickets through the cruise line, but it would be worth a call. By the way, we cuise 6-6-04, so we'll try to let you know how it goes.

--John

[SuzieQ123]

My experience was completely different then everyone here, we just got of the AOS Sunday, very smooth-we were at the airport and at the gate by 9:15 am for a 1:35 flight.

[Todd320]

I see it different than most on this topic. The following is a copy and paste from my 4/3/04 Serenade cruise. I have done 8 or more cruises out of SJU.

Just want to share my experience last week getting of the Serenade because it was such a pleasant one. We had a 11:30 flight booked on AA out of SJU but had an option to catch a 9:00 am flight at no extra charge. We did ask the concierge if we could get off early for that flight and she said yes but I need the flight number. We were given white baggage tags and to meet in the tropical theater by 7:25. When we arrived at the tropical theater the third purser verified our name and that our cabin number was on the list. There were about twenty of us and at exactly 7:25 we were marched to the gang way were the third purser handed the list off to a custom agent. We continued to immigration and customs were all lines were open for our small group. I have a passport but the wife and kids have BC's but that didn't slow us down. We grabbed a taxi and were at the AA counter by 7:55 AM and at the gate at 8:15 AM. The airport was not busy at that time of the mourning. The airport doesn't turn into a zoo until 10:00 AM so we did beat the rush.

Customs and immigration have complete control when debarkation starts but my impression was that since they know who is getting off in this early group by name and cabin number, it usually runs like clock work. Since there is no PA made the rest of the ship doesn't know when that early group gets off. The early group is for flights before 11:00 AM. From what I have seen of the airport and debarkation process is that you have a better chance of catching a 10:00-30 flight that a 12:00 flight.

Todd


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[elaineb]

The flight times from SJU to Boston were either 8:30, 10:40 2:40 or 5ish. We chose the 2:40 - I figure we'll book the San Juan tour excursion for $25 a person and that includes a drop off at the airport. That way we get to sight see instead of hanging around the airport all day and then the taxi to the airport would be probably half of the excursion price anyway. Has anyone else done this?

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[kitty1]

The earliest you can get off the ship is 8am. You have to go through customs, claim your luggage then go to the airport. We got off at 8am, and didn't get thru the security line at the airport until around 10. 10:40 would be pushing it.

We too flew out of Boston. We were on the 1:10 US Air flight.