departing flight

[critter944]

I am seeing mixed opinions on whether it is safe to have an early departing flight. we are on the imagination and had free miles to use but the flight is at 1045am.....do we even have a chance of making it? if we miss it we can standby for the next flight for free but it would be nice to get home. we also prefer to walk off with our luggage and not have it picked up the night before. this is our first carnival cruise so please tell me of your expierences....we normally cruise RCCL and we are always off the ship by 9-10am so i guess i assumed it would be the same.

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Enchantment 9/29/03

[PINEVIEW01]

Critter, I did a 7 day on the Inspiration and I and others had a horrid time getting off. That was out of Tampa and carry off wasn't an option. This was in December.

My daughter did the 4 day Western in Feb. on the Fascination out of Miami. She did the carry off and would have easily done the 10:45.

As long as you can do stand by for free I'd do it based on her schedual looking closer to yours.

Me,I'd book later. I missed my flinght, 11:45, and they got me on the next for the same price. Go figure they wouldn't let me book the later one for the same price.

Melody

Paradise, 9-5-04
Holiday, 4-10-04
Inspiration, 11-30-03
Inspiration, 1-26-03
Victory,3-31-02
Sensation, 11-28-98
Holiday, 3-19-94

[katie286]

What exactly does happen if you miss your flight? We have a 12:30 flight out of Tampa and the ship arrives in port at 8:00. This is the only thing I am nervous about. Would we have to pay one-way airfares? There are five of us and that would be costly! Or, would they try to put us on another flight?

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SENSATION! FIRST CRUISE! 7/10/04

[TakeMeAway1001]

We had booked an 1130 flight out of MCO and were denied Carnival transfers because it was before noon we decided to rebook. The rules for standby were too much, we decided to rebook for 1pm. I personally would just want to get on my flight after the cruise and not be annoyed by potentially missing the flight, but thats just me. Not sure where you were flying out of but even if you got off the ship by 9 or 10 it wouldn't leave much driving and/or checking in time at the airport. Good luck with your decision. Have a great trip!

Kristen
Triumph 10/01
Pride 11/02
Glory 10/04

Till I marry my Marine
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Till my "Glory-ous" Honeymoon

[stlrboo]

IF the ship arrives in port as scheduled, IF there is no one detained for smuggling too much contraband off the ship, IF you can do the easy roll-off, you should be able to make it with no trouble. Tampa airport is easier than most others!
The only problem I've had in Tampa is USAir losing a plane they thought was in maintenance, and cancelling flights for no good reason other than "we don't know why they cancelled it"!
I've had three flights out of Tampa, and all three were a bust! I'm going via Miami! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Good luck.. at least you'll be at the airport in time!!

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This much time until I leave to marry my best friend

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Triumph 4/04
Imagination 5/00
OceanBreeze 11/96
USS 'Neversail' SanDiego 10/65

[Shipbound]

Since 911 I would not book a flight before 1:00
pm since you do not know what can happen that is out of your control.
Have fun on your cruise!!!

Gary

[NinaCO]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by katie286:
What exactly does happen if you miss your flight? We have a 12:30 flight out of Tampa and the ship arrives in port at 8:00. This is the only thing I am nervous about. Would we have to pay one-way airfares? There are five of us and that would be costly! Or, would they try to put us on another flight?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've missed flights twice. Once after a cruise on RCI's Enchantment, and once after a cruise on Sensation when it's home port was Tampa. It was stressful both times. With Enchantment, RCI had booked the flights (last time I ever let the cl book flights!) and had booked the returning flight too early. I didn't stand a chance. Made it to the gate after boarding had started and watched as my seat was given to someone in standby. Took the entire day to get home. Because RCI had booked the flights, it didn't cost me anything.

The second time was due to fog in Tampa, and thousands of people missed flights because the port was closed. Lines were long, and there was no way to get a flight out that day. The airline did not charge me a fee for changing the flights. But, many people were charged a $100 fee. Travel insurance companies reimbursed those who were covered, and my insurance company reimbursed me for meals & a hotel room.

Bottom line: It could cost $100 per person to rebook the flights. Unless it's a port closure, chances are you'll be able to get a flight later in the day, but you could easily spend hours waiting in lines if you miss the flight.

Sleazy 3 on Conquest in Just:
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[Cotton]

Please consider rebooking a later flight. 10:45 is VERY early. There are just too many things that COULD delay your leaving the ship.

Carnival's latest brochure suggests booking outbound flights NO EARLIER than 2pm.

You just never know, and I'd sure rather be safe than sorry. Good luck! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif



Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003

[Orcrone]

My son and DIL were on the inspiration week of 3/28/04. Upon arriving back in Tampa on April 4 some bonehead decided that customs was not serious about drug smuggling and got caught with drugs. They were held up for about 3 1/2 hours in the lounge. They made their 2:30 flights, but many people with noon flights or later missed theirs. Better safe than sorry.

We were on the ship last year. There were no problems, but you should have heard all the people getting upset because they had flights around the time you're looking at and were getting nervous. Is that they way you want to end your vacation, stressing over whether you're going to make your flight?

[serene56]

I can tell you that Royal and Carnival are two distinctive lines when it comes to disembarking.
Why stress an air flight after a nice realxing weeks vacation.
When on the Victory the colors were not even started to be called until after 10am. (some people thought they were gonna get out of paying thier bill and held up the entire ship)
Even though your papers say the ship docks t 8am customs may not release the ship until 9-10am. How is your airport for disembarkation? I would never go to Mia after a cruise for that early. All those ships pullin gin on Saturday and SUnday that early...yuck.

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