Will an 11:44 flight home from Victory be ok?

[Meishie]

It's cheaper for us to take the 11:44 flight home from Miami on our Victory cruise than to take the 1pm flight. The 2:20 is the same price as the 11:44 but I don't know if we can stand the wait in the airport. We don't want to do the Miami tour thing either. I know ICPAGEJR had an 11:15 flight and got there ok, Carnival says I have to take a 1 or later flight - is that true?

Triumph 4/03
Adventure of the Seas 11/03

[lcpagejr]

Meishe...You should be fine!! Especially if you do the self-assisted debarkation. Cabs are lined up outside and they whisk you the Airport. Just do not purchase Carnival Airport transfers...That could delay you, Just take a cab. I could have been off the ship by 7:30...I chose to leave at 8:30 and was at the airport right around 9. You will also miss the long checkin lines because most cruise folks won't arrive until 10 or 11

Until 4/4 Victory cruise
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008080&cdt=2004;4;4;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[CruiseFever]

That's too close for Miami, take the 2:20.

If you must take the earlier flight be prepared to pull out all the stops to insure you make it on time.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Carnival Victory 12/19/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[lcpagejr]

While I respect Chris'd feedback...I have cruised more than a dozen times and have scheduled half my cruise flights between 11 and 12...Never have had a close call. Maybe my time is coming up (lol). True...unforeseen delays could happen, but I choose to take that gamble/risk. I have found the cruise lines to be very accomodating. The only thing that can delay you is immigration. The boats are docked by 5:30 or 6:00 unless eally bad weather and fog is in the area

Until 4/4 Victory cruise
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008080&cdt=2004;4;4;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[klfrodo]

Personally, I wouldn't chance it. Who needs the added stress the last day of the cruise wondering "will I make my flight?".
Why not plan on the 2pm flight, relax when you get up. Have a nice breakfast. Watch 3000 other people fret and fight to get off the ship on time, and then around 10 or 10:30 you can just stroll off the ship and take a relaxing ride back to the airport.

If you do decide to chance it, make sure you have back up plans. The days of missing flights and just catching the next flight are long gone. Yes, you'll be put on standby for the next flights but that may mean that people are split up due to not enough seats and it could also mean additional fee's to change your flights.

[CruiseFever]

If you do choose to attempt the early flight there are some things you can do to help insure all goes well:

Time, we all agree, is what this is all about. Right now see if it's possible to carry on all your stuff and not check luggage going TO your cruise. If you can then maybe you can not check luggage coming FROM your cruise which will save time. After the cruise you will not have to wade through the sea of luggage to find yours. Transporting it from port to airport will be easier. Getting on the plane will be quicker too.

Get early off tags for your luggage. Go see the Purser as soon as possible and get that nailed down- you'll not have it looming in the background clouding your fabulous cruise experience

You don't mention which airline you'll be flying but if it is one that you can print a boarding pass off any computer 24 hours in advance go to the Internet cafe on your ship the day before and do this- big time saver

On the morning of Disembarkation get to the place designated for the early off people early. Grab some danish and coffee and take it with you but be there early and one of the first off the ship

Have your identification and customs form ready and in your hand as you get off the ship and be realistic about declaring stuff that might have gone over the limit. Also, this might not be a good trip to purposely bring home so much stuff that you will need to pay duty on it- check the limits and stay pretty close to them

About your ground transportation: If you've done all the above you are now standing at curbside ready to be whisked off to the airport (as noted above by Linda, memorize the layout of the terminal). All that won't do you much good if your ground transport is not waiting. Get a good limo company and exchange phone numbers- when your ship comes in call to let them know you have docked, call again when you're about to walk off the ship so they will be in position to receive you

Between now and then refine and hone your plans. i.e. Budster (above) indicated an hour an fifteen minutes travel time, search this board or post questions finding out the other variables such as time from curb at airport to waiting inside at gate, all checked in

If you're in the market for a really good and agressive limo driver I suggestLincoln LimousinesThey are NOT the least expensive but they are really good. From their site "Before we start, if your shopping for the "Cheapest Price", kindly keep rowing to another site! If you're primary interest is dependable service along with safety for your family and loved ones, at a reasonable price, then keep on reading! "

Before you go research other possible return flights just in case the bottom falls out of your plans and you have to take a later flight. Good information and quick thinking can get you seats in a first-come-first-served situation.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Carnival Victory 12/19/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[Cotton]

The latest Carnival brochure suggests not booking an outbound flight prior to 2pm. You never really know how long the ship debarkation might take, due to customs, etc. All it takes is a coupla of folks trying to deal with custom agents - makes the long, long lines frustrating. (Happened to me last cruise.)

I'd certainly give some serious thought to booking at 2:20 flight. It won't be so bad sitting in the airport, and you'll KNOW FOR SURE you'll be on that plane! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

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

[Meishie]

Thank you all for your advice. Chris, I printed out your advice and showed it to my fiance and he was like, "I can't have that pressure on the last day of our vacation." So, I have booked the 1pm flight home. Your plan and lcpagejr's experience were great, but we're so bad under time pressure. On the bright side, after all of my freaking out, it is only a total of $34 more. So now I can take my time freaking out to secure my hotel in Miami for Saturday night and to figure out what we're going to do in San Juan from 5-midnight. Whew!

Melissa

Triumph 4/03
Adventure of the Seas 11/03

[Meishie]

Oh, I just wanted to add that on our November cruise on RCCL's (Mis)Adventure of the Seas, the ship was not cleared through customs until I believe noon or so, and we wound up getting off of the ship and out of there by 1:30 or 2 I think. (I've tried to block that whole vacation out...) Thankfully, we were staying overnight in a hotel and didn't need to rush, so we had an empty ship to explore and take final pictures of. If anything were to happen, it would happen to us, so all of your great advice aside, I will not risk it.

Melissa

Triumph 4/03
Adventure of the Seas 11/03

[jimmy627]

good move booking the later flight. while you may have made the eailer one why chance it .like others have said if just one person is hung up with customs you will be delayed getting off the ship.on one cruise they were paging this one man for over 2 hours before someone found him.seems that he drank a bit too much and did'nt matter to him that he was holding up the whole ship. a piece of mind is well worth the extra 34 dollars
ps. if you did miss your flight it's a chance that you would get one sometime that night or next day anyway http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/love/lieb24.gif



http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;11;27;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500
http://www.bigotis.com/jimmy627.gif


11/27/2004 CARIBBEAN PRINCESS

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;02;13;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500 http://www.bigotis.com/Miracle.gif THE MIRACLE 02-13-2005
http://www.agll06.ukgateway.net/JimKDGQtransp.gif cruisemates1@aol.com

[CruiseFever]

I think you made the right, prudent move. Chances are you might have made it just fine but, like you say, why chance it?

I know that the ONE time that a full Immigration check was done on a cruise we were on it was on one of our Victory sailings.

Now back to your sailing.

The Victory is, by far, our favorite ship of all times. We've sailed her 3 times and are going back for #4 in December for our holiday cruise, what we consider the most important. There is a seasoned core crew on board that knows their stuff and does it day in and day out.


A couple ship-specific tips:

To get the most out of your Victory cruise memorize the deck plans before boarding, especially the forward sections of each deck. One of the most common "complaints" about this ship is that it is difficult to navigate the first couple days until you learn the layout. You can do that at home and, in effect, add valuable quality time to your cruise experience/

Also, get to the port early. I mean 9:30AM. She's a big ship with a lot of passengers that, moreso than any ship I've seen, all seem to come at the same time: 11:30. Go at 9:30, be alert, and make your way to the front of the line. Funpass or Skippers Club priority boarding are pale in comparision to the line position you'll get by getting there early. In all likelihood you'll be on board by 11:30 or so, adding several valuable hours to your day on board.

Use them wisely

Go directly to your cabin and drop off your carrry-ons and put your valuables in the safe. They might not be quite through preparing your cabin. If they are not introduce yourself to your cabin steward and give them a $20 bill along with the words "Take good care of us and we will take good care of you". Odds are your luggage will arrive soon and your cabin will be completed before the others plus you'll get off on the right foot with a person who will be in and out of where you live at least two times a day.

From there go directly to your assigned dining room. It will be closed but go in anyway and check your table number. There should be little number plaques on each table. If, by the slim chance, the numbers are not on the tables yet ask somebody working there if there is anyone. There might not be as most crew is busy with embarkation but you can look. If there is anything wrong with your table, like you wanted a table for two and you're at a table for 8 or you were supposed to be dining with another booked cabin and you're not, go to the dining room where the Maitre d' is and get it fixed.

Now here's an important part of this:

Outside the dining rooms are pictures of the dining room management. Find which of the two dining rooms Francesco Tognini, one of the Maitre d's is working, ask for him by name, and get in his dining room. Email me and I'll tell you exactly what to say.

If he is still onboard when you cruise and you are in his dining room I can almost guarantee a fabulous dining experience every night.

Finally, take a walk of the ship to get your bearings. Hopefully you spent time memorizing the deck plans, specifically where things are in relation to your cabin. A quick walk around the public area decks will orient the reality of it to what's in your head and you'll be all set.

I'm not sure what itinerary you're on, when you sail or what category cabin and its location you have or I could be more specific.

In any event, you've picked an awesome ship and now you'll have a near-perfectly timed disembarkation day.

Let us know if we can be of further assistance

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Carnival Victory 12/19/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[skap826]

I cruised on the Victory in Feb. and had an 11:00am flight out of Miami. We took our own luggage and walked off the ship at 8:15am and were at the airport by 9:00am. We arrived prior to the crowds and there was no line for security. Taking your own luggage was a pleasure, no lines and plenty of cabs.