Charliesmom Posted August 29, 2006 #1 Share Posted August 29, 2006 We are sailing on the December 9, 2006 Veendam which arrives back in Tampa at 7 am on December 16, 2006. How long does it usually take for the ship to be cleared and disembarkation to begin? How long does it usually take on a Saturday to get from the pier to the airport? Is a 10:40 AM flight cutting it too close? Has anybody been through the Tampa airport lately. How long a wait did you have in the security line? Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted August 29, 2006 #2 Share Posted August 29, 2006 IMO, You are cutting it too close. There is the real possibility that you might make it but I think it too risky. It's about 20 minutes to the airport from the port depending upon day of the week/traffic. No way to predict how fast the ship will be cleared.....or how long until everyone pays their shipboard account. No one leaves until everyone pays. Earliest flight I would book out of Tampa is about 12:30 P.M. Yes....most probably you will be there way early for those flights but I don't think it great to end a relaxing cruise by stressing about getting off the ship to catch a flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GayleArc Posted August 29, 2006 #3 Share Posted August 29, 2006 WE flew out of Tampa last Oct. cannot remember what day of the week. We were booked on a 1.00pm flight and arrived at the airport about 9:30 and were able to change to a 11am flight. I would keep your 12:30 ( with all the new security) and if you get there early enough ask if you can be changed. They were very obliging to us. Gayle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammybee Posted August 29, 2006 #4 Share Posted August 29, 2006 WE flew out of Tampa last Oct. cannot remember what day of the week. We were booked on a 1.00pm flight and arrived at the airport about 9:30 and were able to change to a 11am flight. I would keep your 12:30 ( with all the new security) and if you get there early enough ask if you can be changed. They were very obliging to us. Gayle I am known for booking relatively early morning flights on disembarkation day. I roll my own luggage off the ship to avoid delays. I have yet to miss one. Having said this, pushing it in Tampa is probably a 50-50 shot. I think it best to choose a later flight and going stand-by on an earlier one is reasonable, all things considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the2ofus Posted August 29, 2006 #5 Share Posted August 29, 2006 There have also been occasions when early morning fog has prevented the ships from entering the Tampa harbor until later in the morning. I agree with other posters. You might make it, but you're safer booking a later flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted August 29, 2006 #6 Share Posted August 29, 2006 10:40 AM flight!! You are cutting it close!! We did a similar cruise a few years ago out of Tampa and because of fog didn't get into the port until nearly 9 AM!!! Remember that it is now taking longer to get through security then it did a few years ago. Even in December things could still be tight!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick47 Posted August 29, 2006 #7 Share Posted August 29, 2006 We live just north of Tampa (Tarpon Springs)...please reconsider the early flight. Weather, lateness os passengers in closing accounts, have to be at airport 1 1/2 hrs earlier and why stress yourself...you're still on vacation. As a previous poster said, you can always try to get an earlier flight if things go exactly as planned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Gal Posted August 29, 2006 #8 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Roberta, We were originally booked on a 1.30pm flight out of Tampa at the end of October. Unfortunately A.A. cancelled this flight and we had a choice of either a 11am flight or a 4.45pm flight. At first I chose the 11am flight but after a sleepness night changed it to the afternoon flight as I have heard so much about the fog and we will also be in the Cyclone season which could hold up the ship as well. It means that we will be arriving into San Francisco late at night, but I am glad I made this decision as I would hate to be stressing the last night on board about whether we would be docking on time in the morning. I am grateful to the advice given on this Board from more experienced travellers. Jennie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjbean4 Posted August 30, 2006 #9 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Rule of thumb has always been that its never a good idea to book a flight before 12 noon. As others have said we have to allow more time for security. Its better to be able to get to the airport and try for a earlier flight than miss the one that you had booked. Also as others have said, the ships here can have problems with the fog during the winter months. People don't realize it takes a while to get out into the Gulf from where the ships dock here at Channelside and also go under the Skyway Bridge. The shipping channel is very narrow and unless there is a certain amount of visibilty, the channel gets closed to all ship traffic till it clears. It can take a ship 2 1/2 - 3 hours to get out to the Skyway Bridge and its another hour or more to disembark the Pilot. The time it takes depends on other traffic that is out bound or in bound. We have had to drop anchor TWICE when retuning home from a cruise. Most recently was our return on Jan.3rd, 2006 while on the Veendam. We dropped anchor at 3:30am because of the fog and the channel was closed. We didn't move till just after 8am. Came under the bridge about 9:30 and didn't dock at Terminal 2 till 12:15pm. The other time was returning on Nieuw Amsterdam in early January, 1990 and had the same problem. But that time we were even later as we didn't start in till around noon and we didn't dock till 4:30pm. There were 1,200 passengers waiting for us to get in & get off so they could get on & go out. And when they did the fog was rolling back in. Both times this happened to us we didn't have a problem getting home becasue we drove our car over to the pier. But a lot of people had thier flights home messed up. 47 cruises on HAL at the age of 41 504 days at sea on 11 different DAM SHIPS 500 day gold medallion holder 9/06 trans canal - Westerdam 12/06 Christmas & New Years - Westerdam if Holland America doesn't go there WE DON'T GO!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charliesmom Posted August 30, 2006 Author #10 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Thank you all for your advice. I think I am going to do some more research about who flies to Providence from Tampa (other than Southwest) to see if I can get a non-stop flight at a better time. Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted August 30, 2006 #11 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Agree with everyone else. You might make it but if Mr. Murphy sticks his big nose into things and makes an appearance, you'll miss that 10:40 flight. Get something around noon and you'll be fine! Doesn't look like anybody else but Southwest flies the route non-stop. United/Ted makes a stop in DC, US Airways in Charlotte, DC, Philly or Pittsburgh, Continental in Newark, Delta in Atlanta, JFK or Cincinnati Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea King Posted August 30, 2006 #12 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Sails is right (again) you're cutting this very very close depending on how "friendly" Customs is when the ship docks, disembarkation might not begin until somewhere in the range of 8:15 to 8:45 .. of course, if your fellow Pax haven't settled their accounts, you might have another issue the next consideration is where do you fit into the disembarkation number puzzle .. if you're booked with HAL, maybe you get an early "off number" .. if not, who knows on the best of days, the airport is about 25-30 minutes from the pier the biggest problem though is check-in at the airpolrt .. if the line going through security is long (not that unusual in Tampa), you're going to get ulcers play it safe: book a later flight if possible .. Tampa is very passenger friendly too .. bars are conveniently located near most gates:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted August 30, 2006 #13 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I hate planes, flying, airports and have to say that Tampa's Airport is more pleasant than many others we've had to deal with. It wouldn't be as awful to spend a bit of extra time there vs. stressing about getting off the ship fast enough to catch your flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted August 30, 2006 #14 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Many times we have arrived at the airport by 9:30 or so, but I would never trust booking at flight before 11am at the very earliest and noon is even safer. NMNita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserfromohio Posted August 30, 2006 #15 Share Posted August 30, 2006 A 10:40 AM flight is cutting it kinda close! If everything happens on schedule, it should not be a problem. But one hold-up and things will rapidly "go to hell in a hand basket." Big problem with Tampa is fog and the bridge. A little fog and you're stuck! Four years ago, we arrived at the pier at 1:00 PM and waited for a good two and a half hours to board, because the ship has held up by fog -- passangers were still getting off the ship at 1:00 PM! I'd play it safe and get a later flight -- even though you may spend a lot of boring time at the airport.:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandsix Posted August 30, 2006 #16 Share Posted August 30, 2006 The odds are not in your favor to catch a 10:40 flight. Almost everyone who is flying gets a little anxouis waiting to get off the ship. It just is not worth the aggravation after having a wonderful time. There are also factors beyond the cruise line control such as clearing customs. Besides, it would be wise to follow the cruise line recommendtions regarding a reasonable time to catch your flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirarthur Posted August 31, 2006 #17 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I hate planes, flying, airports and have to say that Tampa's Airport is more pleasant than many others we've had to deal with. It wouldn't be as awful to spend a bit of extra time there vs. stressing about getting off the ship fast enough to catch your flight. I agree. We live across the bay in St. Pete and I am taking the same 12/9 cruise. Tampa airport is one of the best in the country and perhaps the world. However, they are very serious about security and it will take much longer than in the past...two hours before the flight is about right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WindyCity Posted August 31, 2006 #18 Share Posted August 31, 2006 We had the same problem with the flight schedule going home on Dec 16. We opted to spend an extra day in Tampa and fly home on Sunday - no stress about getting to the airport on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kryos Posted August 31, 2006 #19 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I am known for booking relatively early morning flights on disembarkation day. I roll my own luggage off the ship to avoid delays. I have yet to miss one. Having said this, pushing it in Tampa is probably a 50-50 shot. I think it best to choose a later flight and going stand-by on an earlier one is reasonable, all things considered. Lots of times if you are at the airport early, and there is a flight to your destination leaving earlier than the one you are booked on, they will invite you to switch if there are a lot of empty seats on that flight ... and won't even charge you a dime for the change. You're actually helping the airline by opening up a seat on what could be a more popular, later flight. Now, if we were talking Fort Lauderdale, I would say 10:40 a.m. is not too early and I would probably go ahead and book that flight. True, I wouldn't have time for my traditional disembarkation day Big Mac before my flight :) , but I can't imagine not getting to the airport in time barring a very, very unusual problem. I have yet to get off the ship late in Fort Lauderdale. But Tampa I know nothing about, so hesitate to give the OP advice at that port. Blue skies ... --rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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