Saturday, 7:30 am flight- what time to leave port?

We only have carryons, no checked luggage. Flying out of IST. How long to get through customs, etc, once we're at the airport?? How long of a ride on Saturday morning? What time would you leave the port????

We left the ship at 3:00 am for a 6:30 flight. We pre-arranged a taxi and the drive at that time of night was about 45 minutes. Give yourself at least 15 minutes to get down the gangway. Yes, there is a line and you must go through immigration in the pier terminal. Be sure that you have your Turkish visa in hand. You also have to go through a luggage scanner at the airport entrance before you check in with the airline, then another immigration check at the airport. After that it's a lovely new terminal and all the shops and lounges were open. (This was in September 2014)

We left the ship at 3:00 am for a 6:30 flight. We pre-arranged a taxi and the drive at that time of night was about 45 minutes. Give yourself at least 15 minutes to get down the gangway. Yes, there is a line and you must go through immigration in the pier terminal. Be sure that you have your Turkish visa in hand. You also have to go through a luggage scanner at the airport entrance before you check in with the airline, then another immigration check at the airport. After that it's a lovely new terminal and all the shops and lounges were open. (This was in September 2014)

Looking to book at 10:35am flight out. Would we be ok if we left by 7AM? Princess says we shouldn't book a flight prior to 11AM which is crazy as we arrive in port the previous morning at 8AM. Any body have a problem getting off early in the same situation?

As long as you are carrying off your belongings you will be fine. The baggage handlers may not be there. Let the cruise line know your plans in advance but last year in Istanbul people got off at all hours. Give yourself more time at the airport than you think you need . One hour to the airport ,time to get all the luggage thru the scanners before you get to check in.

How long to get through customs, etc, once we're at the airport??

You go through customs when you arrive in a country, not when you leave. Since you are arriving in the country by ship, you will go through customs as part of the ship debarkation process, not at the airport when you are leaving the country. At the airport you will have security and passport check.

Some countries you have to go through customs at the airport as well as when you disembark from the ship. Been there, done that.:)

Some countries you have to go through customs at the airport as well as when you disembark from the ship. Been there, done that.:)

Unless you are talking about flights from some airports in Ireland and Canada which do have pre-clearance of US customs for flights to the US, customs is a process that takes place upon arrival into the country as you declare certain goods you are bringing into the country. Since the OP is talking about a flight out of Istanbul, the OP will clear customs upon arrival into Turkey, i.e. when disembarking the ship at Istanbul, not when she goes to the IST airport.

Looking to book at 10:35am flight out. Would we be ok if we left by 7AM? Princess says we shouldn't book a flight prior to 11AM which is crazy as we arrive in port the previous morning at 8AM. Any body have a problem getting off early in the same situation?

Depends on day of the week. Will you be dealing with rush hour on a weekday? Or not? It matters tremendously. Rush hour is horrendous.

We've done a 6 am flight with no traffic getting to the airport. We've also

done a tour where the guide said "45 minutes to get you back to the hotel, or 10 minutes if you walk." We walked.

We only have carryons, no checked luggage. Flying out of IST. How long to get through customs, etc, once we're at the airport?? How long of a ride on Saturday morning? What time would you leave the port????

No later than 3:30. You need to be at the gate by 6:00 a.m. at the latest. Allow an hour to clear customs, and an hour to get to the airport, plus 30 minutes fudge time.

Depends on day of the week. Will you be dealing with rush hour on a weekday? Or not? It matters tremendously. Rush hour is horrendous.

We've done a 6 am flight with no traffic getting to the airport. We've also

done a tour where the guide said "45 minutes to get you back to the hotel, or 10 minutes if you walk." We walked.

We're leaving on Saturday morning. Does my idea of 7AM sound logical based on all of the shared thoughts by others? Thanks to all for your input! It helps when someone has done the same thing contrary to the cruise line's "advice".