Question for past Med cruisers....

[ruadisneyfan2]

For those of you who have cruised DCL in the Med before, what is the earliest they let guests debark (not carrying our own luggage)? We have an early flight home (10:45am) & I'd like to request a 7 or 7:30 am shuttle pick up but what if we can't be off the ship that early? I don't want them to think we're a no show.
Thanks!!

 

[carpenta]

For those of you who have cruised DCL in the Med before, what is the earliest they let guests debark (not carrying our own luggage)? We have an early flight home (10:45am) & I'd like to request a 7 or 7:30 am shuttle pick up but what if we can't be off the ship that early? I don't want them to think we're a no show.
Thanks!!

I would suggest a private taxi to get you to the airport. Also walk your bags off the ship IMO.They wait until the bus is full before leaving. And when they arrive at the airport you have to wait until they unpack all the luggage.The Magic is schedule to dock at 7:00 a.m. That means the ship has to go through immigration paperwork and there is a delay until the Spanish authorities allow anyone off the ship. Disney is will not guarantee anyone who misses a flight boked before 12:00 noon.

 

[wishiwasindisneyjen]

I also have a 10:45 flight out. I have DCL transfers booked and am hopeful they will have a early bus as previous cruisers told me they did. If not, we will grab a taxi.

 

[fitnessmouse]

Most airlines require you to be at the airport at least 3 hours before transatlantic flights to the USA.

Flights in europe 1 to 2 hours before, i think.

We docked in Barcelona way early but that was in 2010. Not sure what thd scheduled time is for this year, or next.

 

[Yvet]

If all is going fast then the earliest you can disembark is 8am it will take at least 30min to go get your luggage and go thru costums.
Drive to the airport is 30 min no traffic at all so realistic it's at leat 45 min.
Thiese times are when everything goes smooth and there mist nothing go slightly wrong.
And this is with private transfers.

DCL transfers wait till the bus is filled so that can take up easy a 30-45 min.
Cabs line is about 60-75 min.

So the earliest when all goes well at the airport is 9.15am.
Realistic it should be 10am.

Transatlantic flight is 3 hours before the flight at the airport, or if you are adventures 2 hours....
But again that's pushing it.
Domestic (European) flight is 2 hours or if you are adventures 2 hours....
But again that's pushing it.....

In my opinion as a former med cruiser and European citizen, 10:45 isn't do-able.


Hope this helps.

 

[lark]

More important than the recommended three hours is your airline's rules with respect to when they close baggage checkin at your particular airport for int flights. That's really the only limit. 75 minutes is common. If you are in line when the cut off is approaching, present yourself at the front desk or tell an agent that you are there but in line. They often has flexibility, but if your flight is oversold, they will be looking to use any rule they can to deny you boarding without having to pay involuntary bump compensation. Missing the luggage check in is an easy, objective way they can do it.

Always always always check in online if you can. Especially if you will be cutting it close.

 

[wishiwasindisneyjen]

Ok, now you all have me worried. I researched this to death months ago and found lots of people who were able to make super early flights last year. They said Disney has you meet in a special place to get off right away once the ship is cleared (you keep your luggage). Now I am freaking out.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

Ok, now you all have me worried. I researched this to death months ago and found lots of people who were able to make super early flights last year. They said Disney has you meet in a special place to get off right away once the ship is cleared (you keep your luggage). Now I am freaking out.

When is your cruise? We are going June 8th and I can let you know how soon we were off and the time we get to the airport. We have a driver hired and aren't taking DCL transportation.

 

[lark]

Ok, now you all have me worried. I researched this to death months ago and found lots of people who were able to make super early flights last year. They said Disney has you meet in a special place to get off right away once the ship is cleared (you keep your luggage). Now I am freaking out.

Most of what I've read indicates that 10:30 was traditionally fine. But, understand that you're dealing with a very small sample. How many BCN cruises have there been on disney? Not a large enough number to say for certain. Just because 8 cruises went off without any immigration glitch doesn't mean so much.

We're taking a cruise on Epic via BCN this summer and I've read the same thing on NCL discussion boards. But I think most people catching early flights take cabs.

 

[tufbuf]

The last time we cruised the Med, Delta had representatives in the port for Disney to use to have their luggage checked in. We used their services and cruised through the terminal with plenty of time to sit at the gate and settle down. Our flight was about the same as yours that time, I'm quite sure. This year we are flying out at 11 am.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Just to add I wouldn't rely on picking a taxi up at port, from past reports queues were as much as an hour long, of course if you're off early this would reduce the wait. Just something to be mindful of, I hope it all works out

 

[carpenta]

If all is going fast then the earliest you can disembark is 8am it will take at least 30min to go get your luggage and go thru costums.
Drive to the airport is 30 min no traffic at all so realistic it's at leat 45 min.
Thiese times are when everything goes smooth and there mist nothing go slightly wrong.
And this is with private transfers.

DCL transfers wait till the bus is filled so that can take up easy a 30-45 min.
Cabs line is about 60-75 min.

So the earliest when all goes well at the airport is 9.15am.
Realistic it should be 10am.

Transatlantic flight is 3 hours before the flight at the airport, or if you are adventures 2 hours....
But again that's pushing it.
Domestic (European) flight is 2 hours or if you are adventures 2 hours....
But again that's pushing it.....

In my opinion as a former med cruiser and European citizen, 10:45 isn't do-able.


Hope this helps.

I also did this cruise in 2007 and 2010 and the big difference was that we docked at 6:00 a.m.. On our trip it was really 5:30 a.m.when we docked. Again it is really close this year the time for flights out and we had this sailing booked and had to cancel just for the fact that we felt we would not be able to make a direct flight and all other flights it would take us over 24 hours to get home. I, for one, can't figure out why Disney could not dock early in the final day so most can make the airport? So Yvet I agreed 100%.

 

[Yvet]

I also did this cruise in 2007 and 2010 and the big difference was that we docked at 6:00 a.m.. On our trip it was really 5:30 a.m.when we docked. Again it is really close this year the time for flights out and we had this sailing booked and had to cancel just for the fact that we felt we would not be able to make a direct flight and all other flights it would take us over 24 hours to get home. I, for one, can't figure out why Disney could not dock early in the final day so most can make the airport? So Yvet I agreed 100%.

Thanks!!

The major difference this time is that in 2010 and i believe in 2007 and also in 2011.(but i'm not sure about those) is that the itenerary changed, back then you docked earlier because DCL was already in Barcelona.
So disembarkation could start so early.

This time the ship comes from Gibraltar and they nee the full time to get into port.
Yes DCL could leave a couple of hours earlier in Gibraltar but they choose not to....
With this itenerary your are obligated to stay an extra day because most of the flights back to the US leaves before noon...

 

[wishiwasindisneyjen]

My cruise has a day at sea before we return to Barcelona (7 night) so there really is no reason they can't make it back early. I also saw on navigators from 2010 and 2011 that they planned for people who needed to leave early and you could go to Guest Services to to arrange early departure.

Its difficult because 50% of people I talk to say its fine, they've done it, and 50% say no way, you can't make it.

 

[pcannizzaro76]

We used Barcelona Airport Transfers to get to and from the port in 2011. They were awesome. We had a private driver pick us up at the airport and the cruise terminal. The price was very reasonable and they were prompt. That being said, we chose to stay the night in Barcelona before and after the cruise so we wouldn't feel rushed.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Ok, now you all have me worried. I researched this to death months ago and found lots of people who were able to make super early flights last year. They said Disney has you meet in a special place to get off right away once the ship is cleared (you keep your luggage). Now I am freaking out.

Exactly! Where were all of these people when I asked if I should book a 10:45 am flight? omg.

People posted that DCL had a little continental breakfast area the last morning for guests with "early flights". They defined early flights as being before 9 or 10. Others chimed in that they had an 11:00 flight and had plenty of time to sit around.

I love DCL transfers & originally planned to book them but didn't because I later heard DCL won't provide transfers for anyone with a flight before 11. So I'm looking into private transfers; I also heard the queue for taxis is crazy long. Also I don't like how taxi drivers drive. I like the idea of walking off the ship and seeing someone with a sign with our name on it.

I've heard that DCL arrives in Barcelona in the wee hours of the night so the ship is cleared early. We won't be coming from Gibraltar as one pp mentioned. We are on the 7-nt Med so the last full day onboard is a sea day(Friday). Our last port (Thurs) is Naples. I need to be at work Monday & I really liked the idea of spending Sat night in my own bed & having a day to unpack & adjust back to ET before returning to work.

I have read good things about Barcelona Airport Transfers and also Barcelona Day Tours. I was wondering what time I should say we'll be picked up.
I emailed a request to BDT with a 7:30 pick up time and they confirmed with an 8:30 pick up. This is way too late imo. That is already cutting into our 3 hrs arrival time.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

I have read good things about Barcelona Airport Transfers and also Barcelona Day Tours. I was wondering what time I should say we'll be picked up.
I emailed a request to BDT with a 7:30 pick up time and they confirmed with an 8:30 pick up. This is way too late imo. That is already cutting into our 3 hrs arrival time.

We called DCL prior to booking our flights and they said we should not have a problem, but did recommend that we arrange private transportation vs using DCL transportation. We found autosvilar.com to have great reviews and have them coming at 8:0 AM. I am not going to stress about it. The itinerary states 7:00 AM so even if it is an hour later, I think we will be fine. If not, we will deal with it at the time.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We called DCL prior to booking our flights and they said we should not have a problem, but did recommend that we arrange private transportation vs using DCL transportation. We found autosvilar.com to have great reviews and have them coming at 8:0 AM. I am not going to stress about it. The itinerary states 7:00 AM so even if it is an hour later, I think we will be fine. If not, we will deal with it at the time.

I wish I could be so calm. We can run through the airport but my parents can't.

We will definitely carry off our own luggage & check in online the day before. If I can print our BPs onboard, I will. Dh & our boys can help carry my parents bags. It will give me more incentive to pack light & only bring enough toiletries for the week so I can toss it all instead of bringing it home.

Does the Magic still have an internet cafe in the Promenade area?

 

[DisneyOHFan]

I wish I could be so calm. We can run through the airport but my parents can't.

We will definitely carry off our own luggage & check in online the day before. If I can print our BPs onboard, I will. Dh & our boys can help carry my parents bags. It will give me more incentive to pack light & only bring enough toiletries for the week so I can toss it all instead of bringing it home.

Does the Magic still have an internet cafe in the Promenade area?

I believe they do, but we plan on checking in on-line with our Ipad and then printing the boarding passes at the airport if we can't do it onboard.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When is your cruise? We are going June 8th and I can let you know how soon we were off and the time we get to the airport. We have a driver hired and aren't taking DCL transportation.

I'd love to hear all about your experience. Mainly what time early debarkation begins. Even if you can't find this thread, please post a new one. We don't sail until Aug 17.
Is your cruise a 7 nt or 12 nt?

I'd like to be in the lobby with our bags when they call for early debark. omg, we aren't morning people but we'll have to be this time.