How early can I book my return flight?

[HazelSmrf]

I'm sailing October 16th on the Valor. The ship is scheduled to arrive back in Miami by 8am Oct 23rd. How early can I expect to be off this ship, and is a 12:50p flight too early or cutting it too close? It's the only direct flight in the whole day and all other flights tack on about 4-5 hours in layovers, ugh.

 

It is a flight to Montreal though, so I need to go through customs, I figure I'd not be eligible for the self debarkation.

[Bob and Suzie]

12:50 should be fine...especially if you haul your luggage off yourself with "self-assist". We were off the Valor by 8:10 on April 10th and had to wait until 9:00 until our limo picked us up to go to Ft. Lauderdale:)

 

CandB

[KruznKel]

I am avoiding all that hassel and staying in Miami a few days after my cruise!

[HazelSmrf]

especially if you haul your luggage off yourself with "self-assist"

 

I thought only American citizens could do this though, am I wrong? Staying a few extra days isn't an option, my husband can't afford a single other day off of work, we had to twist his boss's arm to allow him this ONE week this year!

[Bob and Suzie]

I apaolgize for not reading your entire post. You are correct in the fact that you are not elgible for self-assist because you are from out of the U.S. Great idea to stay in Miami a few extra days...really a neat town. Maybe rent a car and head down to KeyWest:D

CandB

[GoinCruisin]

12:50 should be fine...especially if you haul your luggage off yourself with "self-assist". We were off the Valor by 8:10 on April 10th and had to wait until 9:00 until our limo picked us up to go to Ft. Lauderdale:)

 

CandB

 

The OP cannot do self assist, they are from Canada...

 

OP, they recommend not booking flights before 1PM (I'm not sure if it is different for international travelers)... But twice I have not gotten off the ship until 10:30... but even then, you should make it just fine... just make sure you have a backup plan, just in case! Good luck!

[NewOrleansGuy]

1250 is plenty of time........enjoy your trip, and let us know how great it was when you get back!

[tjohn159d]

Be sure to tell the purser you have an early flight, so you can at least get in the first group off. They will need to see your tickets to verify your flight time.

[abbyndrewmom]

In Mobile we (Canadians) could do the self assit disembark.

 

Allison

[ms.sunburn]

We sailed the Imagination on April 16th. For most of the cruise we were told we would not be allowed to self-debark because we were from Canada but they announced on the last day of our cruise that customs had just changed the rules to allow everyone to self-debark, not just U.S. citizens.

[HazelSmrf]

Well I ended up booking tickets through American Airlines instead of Air Canada because they offered a return flight at 2pm instead of 12:50, figure that will give me some extra room in case something happens. Only problem now is that I'm landing in Miami on the saturday at 10am, don't know what I'm going to do with my luggage while waiting for the hotels to allow checkin! Guess I'll bring a good book and plop down in the airport.

[PINEVIEW01]

Well I ended up booking tickets through American Airlines instead of Air Canada because they offered a return flight at 2pm instead of 12:50, figure that will give me some extra room in case something happens. Only problem now is that I'm landing in Miami on the saturday at 10am, don't know what I'm going to do with my luggage while waiting for the hotels to allow checkin! Guess I'll bring a good book and plop down in the airport.

The 12:50 isn't even considered early for getting off. You would have been just fine. The hotels I have delt with in Miami allowed you to leave the baggage there if you arrived early. I dropped mine went to eat and look around and went back when the room was ready. Call them to see if this is an option.