FLL Port

[Ellura]

I will be sailing on the Westerdam in Jan and I am in the process of booking an airline ticket. The flight I am looking into arrives at 1:00 into FLL. Is that to late for a 4:00pm cruise departure?

[ajagent]

The airport is not to far from the cruise port so I would think you should be fine. Just keep in mind that any delay could mess you up. We are on the Eurodam in Jan The Count Down is ON!!!

[Boytjie]

I would not book a flight that close to sail time, even if it is a short ride from the airport to the cruise port, especially in winter.

 

We always fly in a day or two earlier for our February cruises. Once we had to actually change our flight (2-3 days early) and leave a day earlier because of a blizzard hitting New York - air traffic was a mess up and down the East Coast as well as in Dallas an Atlanta that also had snow. People drove from the North East to get to Florida and one couple took Amtrak from Chicago to New Orleans and flew from there to Florida.

 

This year our flight left Wednesday night - one of the last flights out of New York that was hit by a heavy snow storm later that night. Many flights were cancelled and it was a scramble to get on different flights. One of our friends opted to drive from New Jersey to Florida as soon as the snow stopped; another friend's Thursday flight was cancelled and the earliest flight they could give him was Monday. Since our cruise sailed Sunday he never made it.

[Alberta Quilter]

Do yourself a favour and come in the day before. It's much too stressful to have an estimated arrival time of 3 hours prior to sailaway. I heard of people arriving an hour before sailing and were refused boarding because it was too late. They had made independent arrangements to get to the ship. They missed their cruise totally because they wouldn't be allowed onboard at the next port because of the PVSA rules (5 day cruise from YVR to SAN, first port was San Francisco).

 

Even if you aren't as likely to be hampered by snowstorms like some of us are, the planes for the chosen flights might be impacted. One night in a hotel plus some meals is a small price to pay for insurance sake, IMO.

[Djptcp]

If the ship sails at 4pm, passengers have to be onboard at least 60-90 minutes ahead of sailing. The manifest goes to Homeland Security for checking out passengers. So, you would need to at least arrive at the FL airport by 1:30 (yours arrives at 1pm, but what about delays at the departure end?), get your luggage, get a taxi to the Port, check in. Yes, the airport is very close by, but when we sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam on Nov. 23rd, there was a huge traffic jam at the Port because of road construction.

 

I agree with the other posters, if you can fly in the day before, do it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have waited anywhere from 30 - 45 minutes for luggage. Then we have stood in the taxi line for 15 minutes.

Lots of construction at the port area.

Due yourself a favor and fly in a day early. That way you won't be stressed as to whether or not you are going to make the ship.

[sapper1]

Please do not take that flight. It would be a real nail biter. Aside from the requirement to be checked in and aboard 90 minutes prior to sailing, we have found that you wait forever for your luggage in Fort Lauderdale. Then you have to get in line for a taxi.

There are so many reasons a flight could be delayed. On one flight from TO to Fort Lauderdale we were delayed in Toronto for an hour while a new plane was prepared because our's was found to have a mechanical problem. Then we flew way out over the Gulf of Mexico to avoid thunderstorms in southern Florida, which delayed us another hour.

 

You have paid a lot of money for your cruise. Protect it by flying in a day early.

[jtl513]

If the ship sails at 4pm, passengers have to be onboard at least 60-90 minutes ahead of sailing.

Aside from the requirement to be checked in and aboard 90 minutes prior to sailing,

 

This is incorrect. As long as you have completed the On-Line Check-In so that it may be submitted to Homeland Security 60 minutes before sailing, the deadline is that you must be on-board in time for the lifeboat drill, which is usually 45 minutes before sailing.

 

From Know Before You Go:

U.S. government security regulations require us to submit

certain guest information to law enforcement authorities

at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this

requirement, we must have the necessary information in our

records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not

have your information by this deadline, you will be unable

to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in

process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at

the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at

the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible

for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.

However, landing 3 hours before sailing would be cutting it far too close for my peace-of-mind. Too many things can cause a delay.

.

Edited December 2, 2014 by jtl513

[sail7seas]

I will be sailing on the Westerdam in Jan and I am in the process of booking an airline ticket. The flight I am looking into arrives at 1:00 into FLL. Is that to late for a 4:00pm cruise departure?

 

There is no way I would book that flight. It is cutting it too close what with all the reasons for flight delays these days. Also, FLL Airport does not always have the best baggage handling. It is not unusual to wait 45 minutes for luggage to hit the carousel.

 

[Typhoon1]

Too close for comfort.

 

If you're flight is delayed for some reason, the ship will not be waiting.

 

If possible, fly into FLL a day or two in advance. The cost of a hotel is cheap insurance.

[sapper1]

This is incorrect. As long as you have completed the On-Line Check-In so that it may be submitted to Homeland Security 60 minutes before sailing, the deadline is that you must be on-board in time for the lifeboat drill, which is usually 45 minutes before sailing.

 

From Know Before You Go:

U.S. government security regulations require us to submit

certain guest information to law enforcement authorities

at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this

requirement, we must have the necessary information in our

records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not

have your information by this deadline, you will be unable

to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in

process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at

the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at

the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible

for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.

However, landing 3 hours before sailing would be cutting it far too close for my peace-of-mind. Too many things can cause a delay.

.

 

What you say is true but not everyone does online check in. Also, if there is an error in your online check in you cannot correct it at the last minute at the pier.

Best not to leave anything to last minute chance.

[PathfinderEss]

If you could get an earlier flight in that day that certainly would help, better yet come in the day before. To many thing can happen, what if the plane is late, bad weather, any number of things might cause you to miss the ship. But if you want to live on the edge, by all means book the 1 pm flight.

[catl331]

If Murphy doesn't rear his ugly head you will make it. The only way I would even consider making that tight a connection is if the flight was booked through Holland FlightEase so that they are on the hook for the expense of getting you to the ship at the next port, and the next port was close.

[cmaygar]

You're risking missing your cruise if you experience any delay whatsoever. With winter weather as unpredictable as it is, you'd be much better off getting in the day ahead of time. Look at what just happened with folks traveling during Thanksgiving. Thousands of flights were cancelled.

[Dobermangal]

In my opinion that flight choice is a bad idea. We always fly in one day ahead. Too much can go wrong fast.

 

Coming home from FLL this past Saturday we were on final approach

to Vancouver when we ended up being diverted back to Calgary due to a burst pipe at air traffic control that closed the Vancouver airport for a short time. The issue was resolved quickly but by the time we were back on track that little side trip delayed us two hours and caused a whole lot of missed connections.

 

It just reinforced to us to always always allow for some wiggle room even if it means paying for a fairly short sleep in a precruise hotel room...peace of mind is priceless.

 

Carla

[dateacher]

One more vote not to take it. Friends of ours were booked on a cruise out of FLL and the plane was delayed leaving DC because of a mechanical issue (not weather related). They missed the boat by 15 minutes.

[Riverpig]

We always fly in at least one day early and stay at one of the hotels on 17th Street (Renaissance, Hilton, or Hyatt) close to the port entrance. At 4:00 PM the day before the cruise, we go to our hotel's bar, get a beverage to go in a plastic cup, go out the door and stroll to the top of the 17th Street bridge over the Intercoastal. From this fine vantage point, we sip our beverage and watch the cruise ships just below departing on their voyages. We anticipate this ceremony almost as much as the cruise itself. Please go at least a day early.

[NanaBnana]

I agree with Riverpig. Our "ceremony" is going to Southport Raw Bar and eating a dozen oysters on the outdoor patio. We enjoy relaxing before we embark and that takes a lot of travel pressure off of embarkation day.

[Sam.Seattle]

I prefer arriving a day or two early, but that is not always possible.

 

Maybe the OP is traveling from the West Coast? If so, and on a direct flight, there are very limited weather delays into FLL.

[Boytjie]

I prefer arriving a day or two early, but that is not always possible.

 

Maybe the OP is traveling from the West Coast? If so, and on a direct flight, there are very limited weather delays into FLL.

 

Limited perhaps but they can happen. In February 2010 there was a huge storm on the Eastern seaboard and even Dallas and Atlanta airports had ice and snow.

[Riverpig]

I was supposed to fly to Las Vegas 48 hours ago. My flight was cancelled, and I had to cancel the whole trip, due to terrible weather in LAS VEGAS!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Limited perhaps but they can happen. In February 2010 there was a huge storm on the Eastern seaboard and even Dallas and Atlanta airports had ice and snow.

 

 

Absolutely correct. Our house was one of thousands that had severe damage done to it and we had to cancel a cruise.

Also just this past February 2014 another major Nor'Easter hit the east coast and shut down Atlanta and Charlotte for nearly 4 full days. We got caught in that one as well. We had planned to fly to Tampa 3 days early -- cruise was to begin on a Sunday. Delta couldn't get us out of Pittsburgh until at least Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.

Even planning to arrive at the cruise port 3 days early is not always a safe bet.

[sail7seas]

I prefer arriving a day or two early, but that is not always possible.

 

Maybe the OP is traveling from the West Coast? If so, and on a direct flight, there are very limited weather delays into FLL.

 

Flights get cancelled for all sort of reason aside from weather. However, bad weather in any of the major hubs easily sets off big delays across the country. If NYC gets a blizzard, flights from LA can be impacted.

 

[Ellura]

Thank you all so much. Due to work we cannot get off until Friday. We are going to take a half day and come in early!

[luvcruisn']

That's great. Enjoy your cruise.