Earliest Return flight from Ft. Lauderdale

[Chris-n-Cheryl]

Hello,

What is the earliest recommended return flight home from Ft. Lauderdale on the Zuiderdam? I remember being told not to book a flight before 2:00 p.m. on previous cruises. I'm wondering what HAL recommends and what your previous experiences with flights are.

Thank you in advance,
Cheryl :)

[Sierrachik]

Hello,

What is the earliest recommended return flight home from Ft. Lauderdale on the Zuiderdam? I remember being told not to book a flight before 2:00 p.m. on previous cruises. I'm wondering what HAL recommends and what your previous experiences with flights are.

Thank you in advance,
Cheryl :)
Noon is the earliest you should book your flight. Ours left at 12:45 and we had no problems. There were literally hundreds of people in the TSA line at FLL and I thought we might have a problem getting through in time, however, security made sure to go back through the line calling for early flights and then all of a sudden the line started moving very quickly, in total took us about 30-40 minutes to get through the line.

[michmike]

I agree.. noon is the EARLIEST I would book a flight. There are too many things that can cause a delay in getting off the ship, and esp if you are looking at a Saturday there will be other cruise lines spilling people into the mix as well. We gnerally book no earlier than 1:00. It's just not worth the heartache and worrying involved in booking anything earlier than 12.

[jhannah]

Count me in with the no-earlier-than-noon crowd. When we were there earlier in the year, things went smoothly and we were off the ship quickly, retrieved our luggage, hopped a cab, and were at the airport in less than 30 minutes. However, there was a 50-minute wait in the TSA line. Had someone not showed up at immigration on the ship causing a delay in disembarkation, we'd have been too tight for comfort.

[superstein61]

In August, we booked an 11:15am flight and had no problem whatsoever. Even waited a while in the airport for it. Just be in the first group or two off the ship, get a taxi and your set

[jazzsea]

HAL says noon or later. They will not offer transfers for purchase for a flight before noon.

[joyceb]

In the spring we had an 11 something flight - (think it was 11:15 or 11:30) we told the front desk they gave us some early dis-embarkation group (which by the way went in abosolutely no logical order - so don't try to guess when they will call you!) We got off quickly grabbed our bags walked outside. I would definately take a taxi and avoid the transfers. The taxi's were outside waiting. The airport was chaos - we use AA and have some sort of priority club card that got us through fast. THe lines appeared to never move because they had to keep calling out all the departing flights and move those peopel forward so the lines never appeared to change. We had time to spare, if we had to wait in the lines, I think we would have made it also - but do to the inefficient way they handled it only when they called out the next group of departing flights!

[Robin7]

what your previous experiences with flights are.We flew home on October 10th on a 9:50am flight. We were the fourth couple off the ship and the first through customs, and we made it in time, but I would NEVER AGAIN book a flight before noon. It was so stressful to worry about making it after having just enjoyed a week of pampering. I wished we'd had time to eat a leisurely breakfast and then nap or read while waiting for our disembarkation number to be called instead of running from the minute our eyes popped open.

Robin

[gliles]

We came home last Sunday from the Oosterdam that came into FLL but we made it to Miami and a flight out of there at 11:47pm with time to spare and it's about a 40 min cab ride to MIA vs about 10 mins to FLL!

[iowacruiser]

I think the airline you're flying has a lot to do with it.. The last time we cruised in and out of FLL we flew American.. They have so many flights going out at virtually the same time the check in process waas a nightmare..
Our friends flew Southwest and breezed on through.. Airlines like United, Northwest, Southwest...that only have a couple of flights are much quicker than say American, Delta, U.S Air.
With thaat said noon or later is safer. I know the airlines offer cheaper fares for those taking the earlier flights. If you'tre a gambler, go for it

[bepsf]

What is everyone in such a hurry for???
:confused:

Contrary to popular belief, nobody is waiting with a million-dollar check at the finish line for being the first to reach your destination.:rolleyes:

The dirty laundry, bills and junk mail will all still be there waiting for you...

[Chris-n-Cheryl]

Brian,

For me it's not about being in a hurry. Our flight choices are very limited; 12:30 or 6:30 p.m. In the 'olden days' of cruising, lines recommended you book flights after 2:00 p.m. For reasons which should appear quite obvious, I'd rather take the 12:30.

Thank you to all who responded,
Cheryl :)

[doone]

You'll be fine with the 12:30 flight. I have taken this flight numerous times and never had a problem. Enjoy your cruise.