Back to Back cruises... from different ports..?

[DHSbutcher]

Hello all! It's currently 5:30am and I'm up late doing some travel planning. Me and my mom are booked on the Magic doing an EBTA leaving May 15(leaving from Port Canaveral), and then spending a week and a half in Europe. Last weekend while with other family they invited me on a cruise they are going on That is May 7th-May15th, and of course I agreed to it, and now I am booked. Of course this (Carnival) cruise comes back the day we are scheduled to leave on our large trip!!!!

I had no worries at first- but after talking things over with my mom she put all kinds of fear into my head!
Has anyone every attempted switching ports like this the day of? Am I insane? I believe this is do-able but yikes!!

We live in Orlando by Disney- so driving distance to both Ports- 1 hour from Port Canaveral, and Roughly 3.5 hours from Port of Miami. Also- my mom isn't going on the Carnival cruise as that will be with some cousins and aunts.

I'll be driving down to Miami and then driving back I believe-the fact that our Disney cruise is a TA means we definitely can't leave our car at the port- let alone 2 different cars! Which means instead of driving the straight easy drive from Miami to Port Canaveral- a detour by home to switch luggage, grab my mom,and grab a ride to the port is necessary. Another detour or 3 Despite the detours- I believe this is all possible?
The carnival ship gets in at 8am- which with all prior experience is usually a little earlier but I'll go with 8 just for kicks. In the car by 8:30-this is a Sunday early morning so i'm not expecting much traffic headed north at this time- home by noon, grab luggage and arrive to the port by 1-1:30pm.
We're thinking of using Uber to take us to the port from the Disney area- I've heard they've been making trips out there now for decent fares. I'm hesitant to book a transport service since incase of traffic there may be a sudden change of plans?

Ugh! I'm up all night and can't sleep as I have visions of missing my TA cruise!!

 

[Prose]

Wow, that would make me nervous. A Carnival ship this past weekend was delayed 12 hours getting into port because of a medical emergency that caused them to return to Grand Turk, and another was delayed due to propulsion issues. Make sure you have really good trip insurance and a backup plan for transportation, just in case.

Is there a longer term parking lot some where in Port Canaveral or Cocoa Beach where you could store your cars during the TA? That way you could put your TA luggage in mom's car before the Carnival cruise and she could just meet you there, then cab or Uber to the port.

 

[RedSox68]

Wow, that would make me nervous. A Carnival ship this past weekend was delayed 12 hours getting into port because of a medical emergency that caused them to return to Grand Turk, and another was delayed due to propulsion issues. Make sure you have really good trip insurance and a backup plan for transportation, just in case.

Is there a longer term parking lot some where in Port Canaveral or Cocoa Beach where you could store your cars during the TA? That way you could put your TA luggage in mom's car before the Carnival cruise and she could just meet you there, then cab or Uber to the port.

Good ideas.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

First of all, let me say I am very jealous!

If Carníval has a big delay returning to port, that would spell disaster. However, while not unheard of, it is fairly rare. Still, I would look into a way to avoid having to go back to Orlando before heading to PC. That would shave 1-2 hours off your time. What if there is an accident on the turnpike blocking traffic on that stretch between Miami and Orlando where there is nothing... No side roads to take to go around. At least coming up the coast you have multiple options to bypass a traffic jam.

You could do a one way rental Orlando-Miami (avoiding paying to park at the port during your first cruise), then one way Miami-PC. Or compare the cost of a R/t car rental from PC, but then you would need a ride over to PC the day you head down to Mismi.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

A few things.

1. Get insurance - just in case something unthinkable happens. Yes, you'd be out a cruise but at least you'd have your money back.

2. From your Carnival cruise, do the self assist debarkation and go the moment they start calling it. That way you'll be one of the first off the ship, first through customs, and can get to your car quickly.

3. Have a second possible driving route "just in case".

4. What about having your mother stay in a local hotel in Port Canaveral the night before and have her bring your other luggage with her? She can leave her car there and yes, you can leave your car at port. It'll be a pain when you return (car rental from the airport to the hotel - pick up your mother's car and then yours at port) but it would be the quickest way to get to the port with everyone and everything you need.

 

[Bree]

I like the one way car rentals idea PP posted. You can do your laundry from the Carnival cruise onboard the Magic or just have separate luggage that your mom can bring to the port for you. How did you plan on getting from Orlando to PC to begin with? If it was a car service, just keep that for your mom and meet her at the port.

 

[DHSbutcher]

Wow, that would make me nervous. A Carnival ship this past weekend was delayed 12 hours getting into port because of a medical emergency that caused them to return to Grand Turk, and another was delayed due to propulsion issues. Make sure you have really good trip insurance and a backup plan for transportation, just in case.

Is there a longer term parking lot some where in Port Canaveral or Cocoa Beach where you could store your cars during the TA? That way you could put your TA luggage in mom's car before the Carnival cruise and she could just meet you there, then cab or Uber to the port.

This is probably what i'm most afraid of. I have trip insurance for our EBTA, but I do need to look into getting some for the carnival cruise, or somehow figure out if I can extend that coverage. Not sure how all that works exactly.

First of all, let me say I am very jealous!

If Carníval has a big delay returning to port, that would spell disaster. However, while not unheard of, it is fairly rare. Still, I would look into a way to avoid having to go back to Orlando before heading to PC. That would shave 1-2 hours off your time. What if there is an accident on the turnpike blocking traffic on that stretch between Miami and Orlando where there is nothing... No side roads to take to go around. At least coming up the coast you have multiple options to bypass a traffic jam.

You could do a one way rental Orlando-Miami (avoiding paying to park at the port during your first cruise), then one way Miami-PC. Or compare the cost of a R/t car rental from PC, but then you would need a ride over to PC the day you head down to Mismi.

Yeah traffic can always be such gamble between miami-orlando, and perhaps day-of decisions will need to be made incase of delays. Ideally driving up the coast would be great, and I do enjoy that drive. My only hesitation about going a one way rental is I'm not sure how much time it would truly save in the long run. I could probably manage getting a ride to Miami from Orlando heading down there, but after disembarking the ship- the time of taking transportation to a rental car facility(that may not even be open yet as it will be Sunday morning), getting a car, and then having to return it and somehow ditch my bags from my first cruise. Sadly clothes I will be wearing in Aruba aren't suitable for May in Ireland and England :shrug:

4. What about having your mother stay in a local hotel in Port Canaveral the night before and have her bring your other luggage with her? She can leave her car there and yes, you can leave your car at port. It'll be a pain when you return (car rental from the airport to the hotel - pick up your mother's car and then yours at port) but it would be the quickest way to get to the port with everyone and everything you need.

Thats actually not a terrible idea. Do Hotels in the area have a program where they let you park your care there for free/even a small fee? If so.. I'm thinking perhaps she can Uber to the hotel the night before or get a ride with a friend, and I can meet her at the hotel in the AM and we can uber/cab to the port together, and I can leave my car there...

I like the one way car rentals idea PP posted. You can do your laundry from the Carnival cruise onboard the Magic or just have separate luggage that your mom can bring to the port for you. How did you plan on getting from Orlando to PC to begin with? If it was a car service, just keep that for your mom and meet her at the port.

We were going to just Uber or try to bribe a friend or family member if they weren't working

 

[PrincessShmoo]

or somehow figure out if I can extend that coverage. Not sure how all that works exactly.

When we added a cruise to one we already had booked (making a B2B), I just called the insurance company and told them I wanted to add the additional days. No problem. Of course, there's an extra cost for the additional days. But, like when you purchase insurance, if you need the pre-existing conditions waiver, you need to add the additional coverage within whatever time period that company requires from the day you make the new reservation.

 

[DHSbutcher]

When we added a cruise to one we already had booked (making a B2B), I just called the insurance company and told them I wanted to add the additional days. No problem. Of course, there's an extra cost for the additional days. But, like when you purchase insurance, if you need the pre-existing conditions waiver, you need to add the additional coverage within whatever time period that company requires from the day you make the new reservation.

Awesome thank you. We booked our first insurance through the Disney website but I'll call them and see what they say. I know its through another company anyways.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Thats actually not a terrible idea. Do Hotels in the area have a program where they let you park your care there for free/even a small fee? If so.. I'm thinking perhaps she can Uber to the hotel the night before or get a ride with a friend, and I can meet her at the hotel in the AM and we can uber/cab to the port together, and I can leave my car there...

We were going to just Uber or try to bribe a friend or family member if they weren't working

Many of the hotels in port Canaveral offer a "park and cruise" rate. You may pay more for the room for the night but less than if you paid to park somewhere else separately.

 

[lanejudy]

Awesome thank you. We booked our first insurance through the Disney website but I'll call them and see what they say. I know its through another company anyways.

DCL-offered travel insurance will only cover those components of your trip booked through DCL. No pre- or post-cruise transportation, hotels, etc. I don't think you'll be able to add your early cruise to that coverage. You may be able to get another policy through a 3rd party vendor, but whether they would connect a delay on the first cruise causing issues boarding the 2nd cruise on time... best you can do is ask what they suggest. Good luck!

Enjoy your cruises!

 

[DHSbutcher]

Many of the hotels in port Canaveral offer a "park and cruise" rate. You may pay more for the room for the night but less than if you paid to park somewhere else separately.

Awesome thanks! I will have to look into this option much more now.

DCL-offered travel insurance will only cover those components of your trip booked through DCL. No pre- or post-cruise transportation, hotels, etc. I don't think you'll be able to add your early cruise to that coverage. You may be able to get another policy through a 3rd party vendor, but whether they would connect a delay on the first cruise causing issues boarding the 2nd cruise on time... best you can do is ask what they suggest. Good luck!

Enjoy your cruises!

I was worried about that as well- but will give them a call tomorrow