Flying Same Day as Departure?

[ktmac]

Hello there-

We are flying from Newark NJ to FLL the morning of our cruise, March 30th. We are set to arrive by 9:30am, and we don't board till about 1pm... (I think we can board till 3 or 4pm).

 

My question - does anybody still fly morning of? Its not exactly winter anymore by then, so we thought we'd be fine. But now I'm getting nervous and considering changing the flight.

 

Please let me know if I'm being over cautious. It is NOT princess guaranteed airfare.

 

Thank you!

[mochuck]

I don't think you are being over cautious. Just remember Murphy's Law. Your flight could be delayed or cancelled. Your luggage might not make it. You have to allow time for contingencies (I think).

[FLACRUISER99]

Go the day before and save yourself the worrying.

[Toto2Kansas]

I am not quite sure what "Princess guaranteed airfare" is, but even booking through the cruise line there is no guarantee your flights will arrive before the ship sails, or that they will hold the ship until you arrive.

 

Occasionally, we fly to FLL the day of sailing, usually if we can arrive by 10:00-11:00 AM and book a straight through flight with no plane changes. That doesn't assure of us no problems with the airline enroute, but we have done it several times in the last few years.

[Pam in CA]

If you can without a big penalty, I'd fly in the day before, even if it's the night before. Heck, some of the biggest snowstorms I've seen in the Northeast have been in April so there's no predicting the weather. While it might not be snowing or bad weather in NY, the plane schedules are so inter-connected that snow in Chicago could delay or cancel your flight.

 

You should be fine but if you can easily change your flight, your peace of mind will be worth it. Plus, you'll have done your travel the day before and can start enjoying your vacation as soon as you board.

[TwinCruiserMom]

Would you even be able to change this flight at this point? That week is horrible for flights as I was looking for one for a quick getaway.

 

As a rule, I would always recommend flying in the day before as that is one less thing to worry about.

 

With you getting in at 9:30am, you should be fine but, if you can get a flight the day before, then go for it.

[kywildcatfanone]

Hello there-

We are flying from Newark NJ to FLL the morning of our cruise, March 30th. We are set to arrive by 9:30am, and we don't board till about 1pm... (I think we can board till 3 or 4pm).

 

My question - does anybody still fly morning of? Its not exactly winter anymore by then, so we thought we'd be fine. But now I'm getting nervous and considering changing the flight.

 

Please let me know if I'm being over cautious. It is NOT princess guaranteed airfare.

 

Thank you!

 

I have only been on two cruises, but we have flown out the same day both times. And on our next cruise (next month) we are doing the same thing, arriving in FLL at noon. I do get a bit nervous, as lots of things can happen to delay, but I would expect you should be fine even with delays, since you arriving so early in the morning.

We were scheduled to arrive in Houston last year on our cruise out of Glaveston at 8:37am, but because of weather problems in the Houston area, we were delayed an hour and a half taking off, and had to route way around Houston before landing. Then as we landed, a young girl of about 15 got sick, and they stopped our plane on the tarmac about 100 yards from the gate, and brought an ambulance out to meet us. For whatever reason, they didn't take her off the plane, but let her sit with the side door open, getting air, and we sat there for over an hour. Then, they closed the door, the ambulance left, and we taxied onto the gate, where they took her and her family off first. Then we had delays with the shuttle, and didn't arrive in Galveston till about 3:30pm. I wasn't worried about missing the ship since it was a Princess transfer, but never thought when I got up that day that all of those things could happen.

However, if you would feel better, you might consider changing, if for nothing else, the peace of mind that you will not miss your cruise. Now that I think about it, I might change mine to the day before as well. I think I've scared myself.

 

Mike

[Donna - dsw]

Too funny - we always fly at least one day before - - but this time I am sailing with my girlfriend and we can not fly in until the day of our cruise. We will be flying from Cleveland, OH to FLL on 03/02/08. So, keep your fingers crossed we have good weather.

 

We have an early flight like you and arrive in FLL at 10:44 am and have to be on board by 4:00 pm or I would have never agreed to this. However, that being said - I had the stress factor I am going through this week watching the weather and in the future - will go back to going at least one day ahead in the winter time! lol

 

Good Luck on your flight and keep us posted.

[Toto2Kansas]

The only thing that really worrys me this time of year is as Pam says, late winter storms happen quite often. For us, the Kansas City International airport was closed the beginning of this week for 6 hours, first time in over 30 years this has happeneed. Lukily, we had no plans to fly out.............but I am sure there were a few thousand passengers that did. But I can only imagine those arriving to find no flights at all for the next 6 hours minimum.

 

So, part of our decision rests on the time of year we fly the day of departure also.

[ORV]

You've got to ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky? ' Well do ya punk?

[cruzkitty]

My past 8 cruises, I have flown in the day OF, arriving in either Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or Port Canavarle(sp). Most of these cruises have been in early September (yikes!!). We have been VERY fortunate, with absolutely no problems (Thank YOU, U.S.AIR!!). We have always arrived at our Cruise Port by Noon. If I had the luxury of more time, I would definitely fly in at least a day before!!

[cruzkitty]

PS-Forgot to add that we are only about 2 1/2 hrs flight-time from the ports! Anything over 4 hrs, and I would definitely fly in the day before.

 

Good Luck & I Hope you have Smooth Sailing!!;)

[mrrobby]

We flew out of Newark NJ to FLL on Jan 26 and arrived at 9:30 in the morning for a same day cruise on the Grand.We gambled and won, but we were a bit nervous about snow happening.We were watching the weather very close the few days before.

[hotmike98]

Just remember that your plane is not just sitting waiting for you to arrive. It comes from somewhere else, which means that you inherent all the potential problems for that plane for the previous 48 hours. It could have been delayed at another airport because it was waiting for passengers on another flight, etc., etc. Also, because you are flying at the end of the month, you could end up without a crew. Both pilots and flight attendants have a maximum number of on duty hours per month, and if their previously delayed flight exceeds the limit, or will exceed the limit while working your flight, they have to be replaced.

 

If it is too late to change your flight without penalties, I would preload my cell phone with the numbers for other airlines, so you can quickly call while at the airport in the event it appears your flight is going to be delayed. Best of luck with trip!

[NancyIL]

You could have delays due to a thunderstorm, fog, mechanical problems - in addition to snow. I personally wouldn't chance flying in the day of.

[HMbrink]

I am struggling with this decision as well. We just booked a cruise for next Feb (so I have lots of time to make a decision) and would prefer to fly down as early as possible the morning our ship sails. We have two young children and flying down the day before would mean one more night that we have to be away from them and leave them with someone else.

 

HOWEVER, as I write this we are experiencing one of the worst ice storms I can remember so it really makes me think twice. Tough call.

[heartofamerica]

I usually try to fly in the day before. however my wife at the time felt it was a "waste" of hotel charges to do that, so I booked a cruise in June to fly into FLL (from Kansas City) that morning. It was a nonstop and was scheduled to leave KC at 9:30. But it was delayed getting to KC when it left Newark. It was an hour late when it arrived. After it arrived, it was further delayed because the weather radar was inoperable, and weather in FLL was such that they needed it. We were delayed 2 more hours. We took off and our plane touched down at 4:00 (the ship left at 5:00). We went to the baggage claim and waited what felt like an eternity for our bags to emerge. We hailed a cab and got the the terminal (we were on HAL). Instead of the nice posh boarding ramps, we were escorted by a sheriff along the pier (pulling our own luggage) and boarded the ship on the lower deck (where you embark at the ports). We got on board, a steward took our bags, they pulled the ramp, and the ship was moving by the time we got up to our room. My ex then looked at me and said "Finally I understand why you want to get here the day before"

[mrcamp]

It's just one of those chances one takes. For a 11pm depature from San Juan on 03/22, we are flying in from Chicago the day off. We are connecting in Orlando and are supposed to arrive at 2:55pm. I know we are cutting it close, but...

[c-to-sea]

This might help you to decide:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=714697

[Colo Cruiser]

Hello there-

We are flying from Newark NJ to FLL the morning of our cruise, March 30th. We are set to arrive by 9:30am, and we don't board till about 1pm... (I think we can board till 3 or 4pm).

 

My question - does anybody still fly morning of? Its not exactly winter anymore by then, so we thought we'd be fine. But now I'm getting nervous and considering changing the flight.

 

Please let me know if I'm being over cautious. It is NOT princess guaranteed airfare.

 

Thank you!

 

 

I like to do the red eye, well I don't like it but it gets in with plenty of time to spare. :D

[nevis92]

Flying from Columbus with a connection in Cinncinnati and arriving West Palm Beach at 11:15 the day of our CB cruise. Renting a car at West Palm Beach, an hour drive down I-95, and dropping off at one of the off-airport agencies near the port. We are NOT checking bags so that should help. Did I mention that we'll have our two children with us?

 

There are so many things that could go wrong, I'm just asking for trouble.

[janetz]

Flying from Columbus with a connection in Cinncinnati and arriving West Palm Beach at 11:15 the day of our CB cruise. Renting a car at West Palm Beach, an hour drive down I-95, and dropping off at one of the off-airport agencies near the port. We are NOT checking bags so that should help. Did I mention that we'll have our two children with us?

 

There are so many things that could go wrong, I'm just asking for trouble.

 

 

 

Yikes!:eek:

[wrp96]

Flying from Columbus with a connection in Cinncinnati and arriving West Palm Beach at 11:15 the day of our CB cruise. Renting a car at West Palm Beach, an hour drive down I-95, and dropping off at one of the off-airport agencies near the port. We are NOT checking bags so that should help. Did I mention that we'll have our two children with us?

 

There are so many things that could go wrong, I'm just asking for trouble.

 

 

Can't wait to see the updates on how this one goes!!:eek:

[A Sixth?]

US Air gave us an extra 9 hour delay for our flight to San Juan this past January because the aircraft malfunctioned and they couldn't replace it easily.

 

Nine hours on a crystal clear pleasant day.

 

Luckily we were flying in a day early for the Crown and for us it was just a long tiring day. For ten US Air victims it meant that they missed their Celebrity ship, which was leaving that evening. Believe me, they all wished they were flying in a day early (At least they only had to go to Tortola to join the cruise)

[scamper]

I will add my voice to the chorus of those individuals who would discourage ANYONE from flying down the morning of sailing. Having worked in the consumer affairs office (read: complaint department) of a major US airline for six years, I can tell you there are any number of things that can go wrong that will have a serious impact on your vacation; delayed or lost bags, delayed and cancelled flights are the most common. By traveling to the port the day before you lessen the impact of any of these factors that might affect you. Bags play "catch-up" and if you are at sea for the first day or two of the cruise, they cannot be delivered in any way while at sea. In most cases anything you could purchase on-board would be limited, and is quite possibly more costly than anything you could buy at your city of embarkation. At least by arriving the day before, you could make a quick shopping trip before heading to the pier. Additionally, airlines are not operating as many flights as before. You will only be accommodated on the next AVAILABLE flight if yours is cancelled, and that could literally be days later...fewer seats available. Moreover, if your flight is cancelled you will most likely be accommodated only on the airline you were originally booked and not on an alternate carrier. There are exceptions to this rule, but again accommodation will only be made on a space available basis. If you are in a financial position to do so, I recommend a tactic I employ by purchasing a full-fare, fully refundable ticket on the next scheduled flight after my originally scheduled flight. I have that to fall back on if there is any problem with the original flight, and if I don't need the second ticket I will take a few minutes at the airport at my destination to have it refunded. It can be also be done over the phone. A small price to pay for peace of mind. And the cost of overnighting at the cruise departure point is as well.

 

PS: Buy travel insurance (and research all the plans offered first).