Montreal Late Departure From Ship

[rallydave]

We are booked 39 nites ending in Montreal next year and are planning on a 5:15 PM flight home the day of disembarkation.  Not really interested in a tour before heading for the airport and not sure if we will be able to get into the Club Lounge 7 hours before our departure time.   Anybody know if there is a way to delay disembarkation until early afternoon and stay on board??   Or a place withing walking distance of the port where we can wait and then take a taxi.

 

Or possibly a place to leave our luggage while we walk the streets of old Montreal??

 

Thanks in advance

Edited August 25, 2019 by rallydave

[rols]

Definitely will not be able to delay your disembarkation until afternoon, last disembarkation is port-dependent but usually is around 0900 or 0930. You will have to be off the ship by then. 

Unless you're flying with an airline which operates a continually staffed counter because they run flights all day long from the airport, you'll usually not be able to check in until about 3 hours beforehand. Even if you are flying such an airline, you still may not be able to check in *that* early. 

You could consider booking a day room at the airport hotel, you can either rest up there until check-in or leave your luggage there and go exploring, near the airport. Or do it the other way around and see if you can find a hotel near the cruise port, check in there and leave luggage, explore, take a shower and head to the airport for checkin. 

We often have late afternoon flights after cruises, we tend to just go to the airport and wait it out, check in then wait it out some more. For a 1715 flight we'd either do that, or if we really wanted a bit of comfort, book the day room at the airport hotel. 

[markham]

Rols is right. 

 

Spare a thought for the logic behind the 9:30 am departure policy: There are Immigration rules to be respected with records passed across, maintenance to be done in short order before the new passengers embark at noon, maybe some staff get a break following the work done overnight and what’s gotta be done by them with the new passengers’ luggage etc etc etc.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[SKP946]

rallydave, have you considered taken the Seabourn Airport coach with city tour, that are usually put on in home ports for people whose flights leave after a certain time in the afternoon.

Usually not that expensive and your luggage is safely locked underneath.

[saminina]

Montreal is a tough call for your situation.  For sure, you and baggage are off the ship much earlier than desired.    I've walked the area where the ship docks and have stayed in hotels near YUL and in the city.   You have plenty of time to look at Google maps and find something that might fit for you.   Based on personal experience, I would not make a suggestion.    

[Sunprince]

Luggage storage is available at the cruise terminal:

BAGGAGE CHECK SERVICE Inside Terminal 1 Open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cruise passengers $5 CDN / luggage

 http://www.port-montreal.com/en/access-to-berths.html (click the "map and information" link)

[ON cruiser]

A reminder for timing: In Montreal (and Toronto and Vancouver), for those flying to the USA, you clear US INS right at the airport. After you check-in with your airline, you get a form and go to a sterile zone to be pre-cleared by US customs/INS agents. If you have Nexus, etc., then the process is of course expedited. Otherwise, the lines can be long, depending on time of day.

 

So do allow yourself enough time to line up for check-in and/or baggage-drop with your airline, then to line up again to proceed through and be cleared by US authorities. Then, after security (yet one more line-up), you can go "duty free" shopping if desired, or head to your airline's lounge, or to your gate.  The recommendation is to allow three hours from arrival at the airport to getting through all the various queues.  From downtown Montreal to the airport can take about 45 minutes, much more at rush-hour.

 

The benefit is that, having cleared customs in Montreal, you need not do it again upon arriving home.

[rallydave]

Thanks for the replies and thoughts. Extremely familiar with going thru US customs/immigration in Canada and both have Global Entry so no worries there.  Not a long flight, get home a little after 8 PM so no need for day room.  Only asked about staying on board after reading on a different cruise line that they allow it in a few ports.  No problem with checking in as flying AIr Canada which is open all day and will have access to their club or PRiority Pass Club.

 

Glad to hear about the luggage hold location at the terminal.  Appears we will wait and see what Seabourn offers with drop off at the airport and either take the tour or drop our luggage and walk around the area as from the research we have done old Montreal is only a few blocks away and also museums etc. walkable for a few hours then taxi to the airport.

 

Thanks all for excellent ideas and looking forward to be back on Quest again.

[toseaornottosea]

3 hours ago, rallydave said:

drop our luggage and walk around the area as from the research we have done old Montreal is only a few blocks away and also museums etc. walkable for a few hours then taxi to the airport.

 

Having been to Montreal on Seabourn and on our own that's what I would do.  Lots to see, museums, shops and some great little restaurants.  You might want to consider Uber to the airport.  Be sure to give yourself plenty of time.  Took us over an hour in late May from downtown Montreal to the airport.  Traffic and construction on the highway.

[Sunprince]

23 hours ago, toseaornottosea said:

 

Having been to Montreal on Seabourn and on our own that's what I would do.  Lots to see, museums, shops and some great little restaurants.  You might want to consider Uber to the airport.  Be sure to give yourself plenty of time.  Took us over an hour in late May from downtown Montreal to the airport.  Traffic and construction on the highway.

Regarding Montreal traffic....I don't live there but travel occasionally for business. Construction has been a total disaster for the last 12 months or more, and it will probably go on for another year.They have done a mass demolition of the major highway (including bridges/overpasses) between the airport and downtown Montreal. If you are travelling at peak times then leave extra time for travel. If off peak (mid day/early afternoon) then you are fine. I would not recommend Uber as the construction and detours have confused them (or their route technology), the local taxi drivers are experienced and operate on a flat fee to the airport (usually $40 CAD).

[rallydave]

Thanks for the replies and thoughts. Extremely familiar with going thru US customs/immigration in Canada and both have Global Entry so no worries there.  Not a long flight, get home a little after 8 PM so no need for day room.  Only asked about staying on board after reading on a different cruise line that they allow it in a few ports.  No problem with checking in as flying AIr Canada which is open all day and will have access to their club or PRiority Pass Club.

 

Glad to hear about the luggage hold location at the terminal.  Appears we will wait and see what Seabourn offers with drop off at the airport and either take the tour or drop our luggage and walk around the area as from the research we have done old Montreal is only a few blocks away and also museums etc. walkable for a few hours then taxi to the airport.  

 

Great info and planning on heading to the airport via taxi around 1 PM for a 5:15 flight so plenty of time and not peak. Or will take the ships tour making sure it arrives at the airport by 3 PM.  Global Entry and flying Business will help with getting thru all the hoops.

 

Thanks all for excellent ideas and looking forward to be back on Quest again.