June 4 - Seattle disembarkation, best way back to airport for 9 a.m. flight?

[sas80]

When we return, my sister has a 9 a.m. flight out of the seattle airport.

Is she going to be able to make that flight?

What's the best way to get to the airport? NCL transfers, a taxi, a private shuttle serive, ?

Anyone have any reccomendations?

Does anyone know what time the ships shuttle typically leaves the dock?

[lorenweeks]

When we return, my sister has a 9 a.m. flight out of the seattle airport.

Is she going to be able to make that flight?

What's the best way to get to the airport? NCL transfers, a taxi, a private shuttle serive, ?

Anyone have any reccomendations?

Does anyone know what time the ships shuttle typically leaves the dock?

thats an easy one

carry your own bags down the ramp

theres a form for early exit

about 715 they will turn you loose

i breezed throught the security and the cabs are right there

we were checked in at the airport by 815

a $28 cab ride with almost no traffic on sunday am

there was zero security that day, at the port

that could gum up the works if they get serious

but we were about the first ones off the boat

just hustle a bit, no problem

[Fblack]

It's no picnic dragging 3 or 4 bags from your cabin to the taxi stand.

And if the ship arrives late, or there are custom or immigration issues, you may be held up. A 45 minute delay means you will miss your flight.

Why not try to get an 11:00AM flight.

[Roz]

I can't believe anyone would book a 9 am flight. That's a plan for disaster.

Roz

[wrp96]

Don't think it will even be possible to make that flight.

BUT here's what she needs to do.

When she gets onboard, talk to the purser and make sure she is absolutely the 1st person off the ship.

Carry all her own bags off. In fact, pack so light that she doesn't have to check bags at the airport either.

Have a car service waiting to take her to the airport.

Check in online in advance if her airline offers it.

[doone]

I agree with the others here, that's way too early, I'd try for another flight also.

[Mary Ellen]

I was thinking teleportation would be the ONLY way to get to the airport by 7am (check-in time for a 9am flight).

[peaches from georgia]

There's no guarantee you will be docked by 7 and there certainly is no guarantee the ship will be cleared for disembarkation quickly. It usually is 8 or after that all the people who need to check with Immigration have completed all that process and all those who pay their ship acct. by cash have been found and paid and the ship is cleared. NO ONE is allowed off until the Immigration/Custom officials say the ship is cleared.

The Seatac airport is not 5 minutes away either like in FLL. It's halfway between Seattle and Tacoma. Why take the chance of a 9 AM flight when most TA's, from experience, will tell you 11-noon at the very earliest. :confused:

[sail7seas]

I wouldn't dream of booking any flight for 9:00 A.M. debarking from any ship at any port for any airport.

If she can change the flight, she should. If she CAN'T change the flight, she should.

No one can say that it is absolutely impossible to make it but the odds are not stacked in her favor.


JMHO......

[RedmondCruiser]

Get a later flight. Disembarkation normally does not start until 8:30. There are far too many variables that could easily push you way past your flight time. Ship arrives late - Customs does not clear the boat in a timely manner --- traffic on the way to the airport -- long lines at the TSA at the airport. Ive seen all of these and please do yourself a favor and schedule a later flight.

[Krazy Kruizers]

OP - you really need to have your sister change her flight plans as soon as possible. Yes - she will pay a fee. But as you can see many of we veterans are telling you that she cannot possibly make a 9 AM flight. We have done quite a number of cruises and I can tell you that the ship would have to clear extremely early. Luggage has to be taken off the ship before clearance is given for passengers to disembark. It is a rare occassion when a ship arrives at its embarkation port very early in the morning. We always are in suites and we rarely get off the ship before 8:30 AM in any port.

[kryos]

I can't believe anyone would book a 9 am flight. That's a plan for disaster.

Roz
I'm known for being "extreme," but even I wouldn't chance that. You're right ... it's a recipe for disaster. Sure, you might make it ... but then again there is just as good a chance that you won't. Any number of things could go wrong ... some idiot not showing up to pay his bill, immigration issues, the ship getting in late ... you name it.

I would change my plane reservations to something later.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

OP - you really need to have your sister change her flight plans as soon as possible.
I find that the perfect flight time is around noon ... assuming that the airport is not too Godawful far from the cruise port. When I got my flight out from San Diego on my last cruise, I had time to have a quick breakfast in the Lido before disembarking, and then even had the time once at San Diego Airport to enjoy a Big Mac before boarding my flight. Sure beats airline food any day of the week. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[sail7seas]

:rolleyes: ENJOY a Big Mac??? Huh??? How does one enjoy a Big Mac??!!!
I'm having trouble putting those two words in the same sentence. :D

Kidding, only kidding.........
It's been so many years since I even set eyes on one, I can't imagine ......... ;)

[Grumpy1]

:rolleyes: ENJOY a Big Mac??? Huh??? How does one enjoy a Big Mac??!!!
I'm having trouble putting those two words in the same sentence. :D

Kidding, only kidding.........
It's been so many years since I even set eyes on one, I can't imagine ......... ;) Sail, I truely thought you enjoyed the finer things in life.:D

[Joy2Day]

:rolleyes: ENJOY a Big Mac??? Huh??? How does one enjoy a Big Mac??!!!
I'm having trouble putting those two words in the same sentence. :D

Kidding, only kidding.........
It's been so many years since I even set eyes on one, I can't imagine ......... ;)


Well, she DID compare it to airline food..

[kryos]

:rolleyes: ENJOY a Big Mac??? Huh??? How does one enjoy a Big Mac??!!!
I'm having trouble putting those two words in the same sentence. :D

Kidding, only kidding.........
It's been so many years since I even set eyes on one, I can't imagine ......... ;)
LOL ... what can I say? Sometimes I'm just a junk food junky ... and every now and then I get a terrible "Big Mac attack" that just has to be satisfied. For some reason, I got a couple of them while on that 30-day cruise, yet haven't had another one since until just this past week.

Sometimes that old junk food just hits the spot, I guess. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Krazy Kruizers]

OP - I would like to know who booked that early flight? Your sister?

Seattle airport is not close to the pier and traffic can be very heavy at times.

[bepsf]

9am?!?!
That's when breakfast should be delivered to me in bed!
:D

[cruisequeen10]

This is a joke right. I hope your sister is a good swimmer, because she will have to dive off the side of the ship and swim for shore. That is the only way she is going to make that flight. Have it changed. The sooner the better.

[Pudgesmom]

Well, she DID compare it to airline food..


What airline food?! :p Isn't that era over?

Beth

[Joy2Day]

What airline food?! :p Isn't that era over?

Beth


There's always the snack packs you can purchase. :-)

[babytraveler]

The only logical flight for me out of Seattle was in the 11ish range, and I called HAL and they recommended nothing before 1pm.

[kryos]

What airline food?! :p Isn't that era over?

Beth
Oh, no. You can still have food on the airplane ... you just have to pay for it ... if I recall, something like $9.00 for this sandwich that looked like something the cat would have dragged in. :(

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

The only logical flight for me out of Seattle was in the 11ish range, and I called HAL and they recommended nothing before 1pm.

Well, HAL is very conservative in their recommendations. I have had flights in the 11:15/11:30 range and everything worked out fine. In fact, on my cruise in October, I have a flight that leaves at about noon and have no worries about it. Sure, something could always go wrong, but not making it to the airport by noon is a stretch ... 11:00ish would be a stretch too. Usually you'll be fine. But 9:00 a.m.? Now that is really, really pushing it. I can't imagine any way someone could make a 9:00 a.m. flight ... even if NOTHING went wrong. Just getting off the ship ... even if you hauled your own luggage ... and then managing to hail a cab and getting to the airport ... you wouldn't even have time to get through the Security lines before your flight would be taking off.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Sunshine91]

sas80 - I'm no expert on Seattle & the cruises we've taken we've let HAL arrange our transportation. What I wanted to write here is that I remember a few weeks ago a couple of ships were several hours (like 8 or more?) late getting into Seattle due to extreme weather in the northwestern Pacific. Folks were asking questions about compensation due to lateness for having missed their flights. Some even had to stay over until the next day & then of course had hotel bills.

Try to think of it as connecting transportation. You know that the 3rd leg is scheduled to leave at 9am, but the 1st leg isn't as reliable timewise. Plus you still have the middle leg to muddle thru getting from ship to airport.

I hope sis is able to reschedule w/o penalty. How about yourself? Best of luck to you both & have a great cruise! :)