Can You Make an 11:30 Flight Out of Civitaveccia?

[jhannah]

This question is asked often, so I'll share our experience. For us, the answer would have been 'yes, you can.'

Sunday, July 30, we were off the ship at 8:30. We were blue 4, one of the later disembarkations. We had a private car with 4 others and were driving out of the port at 9:00. Our driver drove like a bat on steroids and we were at FCO at 9:43. We checked our bags, and cleared security at 10:20. (For reference, there were 5 ships that I saw in port that day.)

So for our timetable, we would have had 40 minutes to arrive at our gate before the flight was called for boarding.

But be advised ... things went very smoothly for us. Disembarkation was not held up. Traffic was not heavy. There was not a huge backlog at the airport's security checkpoint.

Many variables can affect your experienced times. We could have made an 11:30 flight (even though we had not booked one that early) but I'm sure I would have been in a knot wondering if I could have made it. That sort of stress is not my preferred way of ending a relaxing cruise. But if you want to go for it, it is possible to make that early flight time.

[avalon1025]

agree!

[crystal808]

This question is asked often, so I'll share our experience. For us, the answer would have been 'yes, you can.'

Sunday, July 30, we were off the ship at 8:30. We were blue 4, one of the later disembarkations. We had a private car with 4 others and were driving out of the port at 9:00. Our driver drove like a bat on steroids and we were at FCO at 9:43. We checked our bags, and cleared security at 10:20. (For reference, there were 5 ships that I saw in port that day.)

So for our timetable, we would have had 40 minutes to arrive at our gate before the flight was called for boarding.

But be advised ... things went very smoothly for us. Disembarkation was not held up. Traffic was not heavy. There was not a huge backlog at the airport's security checkpoint.

Many variables can affect your experienced times. We could have made an 11:30 flight (even though we had not booked one that early) but I'm sure I would have been in a knot wondering if I could have made it. That sort of stress is not my preferred way of ending a relaxing cruise. But if you want to go for it, it is possible to make that early flight time.

Just to add an opinion about FCO airport:

I stayed an extra day and left the next morning from a HAL hotel, on a HAL-arranged shuttle. When we got to the airport (5 of us), we were met at the curb by a HAL-arranged employee (to my surprise & delight!). He, unfortunately, told us to line up in the "stand-by" line :eek: ...it took us 45 minutes to find out the error, and then another 45 minutes to wait in the next line over.

Once checked in, the rest of the airport experience went smoothly, and I had plenty of time for my 10:30 am flight, (left the hotel in Rome at 7:15 am). So, even though I'm sure it was an honest mistake, MISTAKES DO HAPPEN...and any flight earlier than noon from the port would be a "worrier" for me, too!!!

Paul
It was great fun spending the day with you & Donna, Jim! Glad you're back safely!!!

[momilani]

We've just learned that, for us, factoring an early (2-3 day) arrival and a late (1 full day) departure works best.

Port cities, especially Rome, have plenty to see/do and we avoid that "will we make it" anxiety that can end a relaxing vacation with a tension headache.

[celmed]

This ease at FCO might depend on the airline. When I was there on a Saturday in May, the lines for coach check-in on Delta were practically out the door and I heard from an FA some people actually missed our flight because they were still standing in line. One of the employees told me this is "normal" for that airline at that airport. We were fortunate to be flying biz class so we had no wait, but I felt bad for the distressed people--mostly Americans--in the coach lines. Not a nice way to end a great (I hope!) vacation!

So, even though Mr. Hannah had an easy experience, I wouldn't count on it. Better to be safe than sorry. (Although being stuck for an extra night in Rome is not a bad thing!)

[Aussie Gal]

No, in our instance it would not have worked. We were on the old Noordam in 2003 and we docked on time. We were off the ship at 8.30am and our chauffeur was waiting for us. No delays so far.

We started out on the freeway to the airport and we were about 30 minutes into the drive. He was driving sedately not like the usual Italian drivers. All of a sudden we came to a standstill and stayed like that for 40 minutes or so.

The road was under repair and that is the time it took for the traffic to get into one lane. Finally nearly an hour later we were on our way to Civitavecchia. We arrived there at 10.45am over two hours from when we left the port.

As we had a 12.30pm flight we were fine. Also we were flying Business, but if we had of been on an earlier flight there is no way we would have got it.

My advice would be to stay an extra night if the flight is early in the morning or take an afternoon flight. In Italy, you just never can tell what lies ahead of you.

Jennie

Jennie