How early a flight can you book?

[Commieri]

First HAL cruise in April on Westerdam though have cruised many times on X and other lines. I notice we often get back into port in the very early mornings though don't disembark til later ofcourse. How does HAL handle disembarkation? Would booking a 10am flight out of FLL be ridiculous or something to consider. I know that often people get off the ship pretty early and it's conceivable you could make a 10a flight .

 

your expertise would be appreciated.:rolleyes:

[jtl513]

Considering that you should be at the airport an hour before your flight, you would have to have everything go perfectly to make a 10:00a flight. I can think of a dozen things that could foul it up. I would suggest you book something no earlier than 11:30a ... or later if there are several ships there on the same day. (Check cruisett.com)

[hammybee]

Generally speaking, cruise lines recommend domestic flights home be booked for noon or later.

 

Your ship may be delayed in return to its home port.

 

Disembarkation may be delayed for reasons beyond anyone's control.

 

If you are willing and able to roll your own luggage off you will be able to disembark sooner, rather than later.

 

FLL is a busy port. Your ship may not be the only ship disembarking thousands of passengers at the same time and most of them are headed to the same place as you, the airport.

 

The line for a taxi may be backed up.

 

Your taxi could break down.

 

The lines at the airport are unknown.

 

You might be randomly selected for an extra special security shake-down at the airport.

 

If you miss your flight, you will need to go stand-by on a later flight. There may or may not be enough vacant seats to accommodate you. Worst case, you might find yourself having to book a hotel room, at your own expense, for an unexpected stay.

 

Maybe you will make it. Maybe not. Most people probably would opt for a later flight rather than incur the anxiety.

[norcal2]

With cruises I tend to think later flights. I think it saves you much stress if you try to book it a little later and allow some relaxing space for the unknown. A ship arriving at port even one hour late can be a mess if the timeframe is cut too close.

[Commieri]

I don't disagree with any of you. What tempted me to even consider a 10am flight is the fact that the next flights out to Providence as much later in the day and so you have to end up hanging around and around...Thanks everyone.

[mamaofami]

I don't disagree with any of you. What tempted me to even consider a 10am flight is the fact that the next flights out to Providence as much later in the day and so you have to end up hanging around and around...Thanks everyone.

 

 

Which you'll do anyway if you miss that flight and then you might not even get on standby. I would never take a 10am flight out of Ft. Lauderdale. We disembark there on a Monday and there will be 5 ships along with us. Who knows which one will get clearance first?

[mountainmare]

First check and see how may ships are disembarking the same day. One time we were booked on a later flight and were able to get off the ship very early, when we got to the airport we knew there was an earlier flight--and we were able to get on that flight stand-by. There were not too many other ships that day.

We had been thinking about the earlier flight but didn't want to risk missing it.

We were sure to have the flight number for the early flight with us so we could ask right away.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Far, far too many things can happen that could prevent you from making that 10 AM flight.

 

Ship arrives late -- a few passengers have to be called over and over and over to settle up accounts -- nad like one of our cruises -- we had to wait until the police took off our stowaway.

 

Book flightd after Noon and you will be fine.

[Pam in CA]

Far, far too many things can happen that could prevent you from making that 10 AM flight.

 

Ship arrives late -- a few passengers have to be called over and over and over to settle up accounts -- nad like one of our cruises -- we had to wait until the police took off our stowaway.

Not only that, but there could be a lot of ships arriving the same day which can delay clearance to disembarkation, there could be a major event in the Ft. Lauderdale area so that the airport is jam-packed, etc. Depending on the time of year, FLL can be crazy with vacationers, not just cruisers.

 

I've disembarked in FLL several times and more than once, the ship wasn't cleared until after 9AM after arriving at 6AM and other times, it took 30 minutes to check in at curbside check-in (inside was a madhouse) and another 30 minutes to go through Security. One time, they were boarding the plane when we arrived at the gate for an 11:20AM flight.

 

You could possibly (not probably) make a 10AM flight but I wouldn't chance the stress and anxiety if there were delays of any kind. If it were me, I'd relax and take a later flight. Even though you get home later, stressing over making your flight is not the best way to end a great cruise.

[Mary Ellen]

You can book as early of a flight as you wish (even one before the ship docks, the airlines won't care ;) ) - but whether you'll make it is another question. We just don't find worrying about making an early flight a relaxing way to end a vacation. I suggest you follow the excellent advice already given and take a later flight. Most cruise lines offer tours with airport drop off to help pass the time.

[Hlitner]

Under normal circumstances, if you asked for an early exit and took your own luggage off the ship you might be OK. But, you are at the complete mercy of the ICE folks and they can be unpredictable. We have been on cruises that were actually held and nobody was allowed off until after 9 am. On one cruise about 4 years ago immigration held everyone until nearly 10. This is not the norm, but it does happen. Hence, most informed passengers would not consider a flight before 11, and even that can be scary.

 

Hank

[Boytjie]

I would say book the later flight and if the ship clears early, you do self-disembarkation and get to the airport early.... see if you can change to the earlier flight. The would be a fee but it may be worth it.

 

Inn 2007 on our first cruise we didn't get around to pack in time the last nigth to leave our luggage out so we were forced to self-disembark. We had a 1 pm flight from Ft. Lauderdale to New York but were at the airport just after 8 am. We checked with JetBlue and they had a 10 am flight which we changed to - at the time I think they charged us $25 a ticket. Since my partner won some money in the casino the night before he was happy to spend it on an earlier flight.

[mamaofami]

The stress of worrying about whether I would make it to the airport on time for an early flight would ruin my cruise. I'd be worried the whole time.

[sapper1]

Since we have always had our car parked right at the pier I have never had to bother with a taxi to the Fort Lauderdale Airport before. This March we will be flying to take a cruise for the first time. Is there a continuous line-up of taxis to take passengers on a first come, first served basis, or does one have to phone for their own taxi?

This is probably a dumb question but I have always been so busy getting over to the garage to pick up the car that I haven't noticed the taxi situation.

[RuthC]

I'm flying the same route you are soon. I'm on Southwest, and didn't dare book a flight before the one at 2:05 PM.

I haven't figured out yet why we can fly down non-stop, but have to endure a 3-hour layover on the way back :rolleyes:, but that's the way it is. At least I know I will get home that night.

[Boytjie]

Since we have always had our car parked right at the pier I have never had to bother with a taxi to the Fort Lauderdale Airport before. This March we will be flying to take a cruise for the first time. Is there a continuous line-up of taxis to take passengers on a first come, first served basis, or does one have to phone for their own taxi?

This is probably a dumb question but I have always been so busy getting over to the garage to pick up the car that I haven't noticed the taxi situation.

 

IIRC cabs are lined up at the terminal, no need to call ahead.

[sapper1]

IIRC cabs are lined up at the terminal, no need to call ahead.

Thanks---I'll check that off of my list of things to consider.

[mamaofami]

If you're concerned about making a flight at any time, don't take the HAL transfer. You have to wait around until the bus or van is filled and you lose time that way. Just take a cab.

[Commieri]

I'm flying the same route you are soon. I'm on Southwest, and didn't dare book a flight before the one at 2:05 PM.

 

I haven't figured out yet why we can fly down non-stop, but have to endure a 3-hour layover on the way back :rolleyes:, but that's the way it is. At least I know I will get home that night.

 

I know, that's what kills you. So far I only booked our flight down to FLL, hoping maybe other SWA flights will open up that offer a better option back.

 

EVERYONE< thank you . I didn't think I could make the 10am flight and I am convinced by your responses that it's too risky so I won't do it.

[kryos]

First HAL cruise in April on Westerdam though have cruised many times on X and other lines. I notice we often get back into port in the very early mornings though don't disembark til later ofcourse. How does HAL handle disembarkation? Would booking a 10am flight out of FLL be ridiculous or something to consider. I know that often people get off the ship pretty early and it's conceivable you could make a 10a flight .

 

your expertise would be appreciated.:rolleyes:

I'm "extreme," and even I wouldn't chance a 10:00 a.m. flight. That's pushing it. Let one thing go wrong with disembarkation ... someone not report to the front office to settle his bill, a problem with immigration, any sort of a delay whatsoever ... and you're hosed.

 

I had an 11:31 a.m. flight after disembarkation from my last cruise in San Diego. The airport is within sight of the cruise pier ... it's that close. We had a delay with disembarkation due to immigration procedures for non-US residents and I wound up cutting it "dammed" close. Don't forget, even if you do advance check-in for your flight online, you still have to dump the bags at curbside and get them on the flight, as well as go through security. All that takes time. Also, if there are several cruise ships disembarking that day, you're gonna have a lot of people swarming around that airport, all of them needing to get checked in and through security.

 

I wouldn't chance a 10:00 a.m. flight. That's just a bit too early.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

If you're concerned about making a flight at any time, don't take the HAL transfer. You have to wait around until the bus or van is filled and you lose time that way. Just take a cab.

Excellent advice!

 

I wasted the money I paid for the transfer on my last cruise. I wound up just jumping into a cab when we had an hour's delay with disembarkation. There was no way I could afford to wait until the bus filled up to get to the airport. I would have been at serious risk of missing my flight.

 

But then, I hear that getting a cab could be a challenge as well ... especially if there are several cruise ships disembarking that day. So in some cases, the HAL transfer could actually be the fastest way to go ... even if you do have to wait for the bus to fill up. I was lucky. There were only two cruise ships in on the day I disembarked, so cabs were plentiful.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[wrp96]

I know, that's what kills you. So far I only booked our flight down to FLL, hoping maybe other SWA flights will open up that offer a better option back.

 

Do not wait - they aren't going to add another flight. Southwest rarely changes their schedules after they publish them.