after the cruise questions

[muntzfab4]

What time would you experts recommend for a return flight home after the cruise?

What would be the earliest time?

How long does it take to clear customs?

Thanks!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Anytime after 11;30 am would be OK. We had the early breakfast and were off the ship and on the DCL busses , and at MCO by 8:50 am. This was 2 weeks ago for us.

 

[OceanStateKelly]

How long is the ride from the port to the airport?
Thanks

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We had an 11:50am flight last time and even with the ship being delayed to port that morning by an hour, we were at MCO in plenty of time.

The cruise before that our flight wasn't until some time between 3 & 4pm and we spent too long waiting around at the airport. I will try to keep it around noon, but certainly not before 11:30 -- you just never know what the weather will have in store for you.

It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[CAMICKEY]

Our flight leaves at 11:30. If you are with certain airlines, you can also check in your luggage at the port before boarding the DCL bus to the Airport. - Mike

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by CAMICKEY
Our flight leaves at 11:30. If you are with certain airlines, you can also check in your luggage at the port before boarding the DCL bus to the Airport. - Mike

Have you done this yet and still had an early flight light 11:30? We were told last time that we had better take our luggage with us because it might not make it to the airport on time to make our flight. We used a towncar service, not DCL busses but we really wanted to check in at the Port. We took our luggage with us.

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by muntzfab4
What time would you experts recommend for a return flight home after the cruise?

What would be the earliest time?

How long does it take to clear customs?

Thanks!

DCL recommends anytime after 12 Noon.... 11:30 ish is not out of the question. I wouldn't go any earlier than that incase there is a delay in debarking...... It usually only takes 45 minutes to an hour to get back to the airport, depending on traffic, weather, etc.

it actually took us longer to find our luggage than to go through Customs. DCL has a great system, but don't believe Rachael whe she tells you you'll be able to find your luggage in a matter of minutes, because it's NOT always together like she said it would be....we found one piece here, one piece up on top, and the other two way down the other end.. but at least they were in the same area...

Just don't forget to keep your ID's, (Birth certificates, etc) out so they're handy and you're not holding up the lline or not having to move out of line to find them.. DON'T PACK THEM!!!

 

[one_of_many_micheles]

Originally posted by CRSNDSNY
Have you done this yet and still had an early flight light 11:30? We were told last time that we had better take our luggage with us because it might not make it to the airport on time to make our flight. We used a towncar service, not DCL busses but we really wanted to check in at the Port. We took our luggage with us.

We were on the February 19th 3-day Wonder sailing with an 11:30 am flight home. We were told that if we wanted to take advantage of the dockside airline check-in that we would need to be off the ship by 8 am. We were and utilized the service with no problems.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by one_of_many_micheles
We were on the February 19th 3-day Wonder sailing with an 11:30 am flight home. We were told that if we wanted to take advantage of the dockside airline check-in that we would need to be off the ship by 8 am. We were and utilized the service with no problems.

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[mickeyboat]

Our flight was at 11:55. We got off the ship aroung 8:45 last weekend, checked our bags at port and got on the DCL bus by 9:00. Customs was a breeze and finding our bags not a problem because we waited for the crowd to clear before we disembarked. I could not believe how smoothly it went. The drive to the airport was around an hour long. Our bags were the first ones loaded onto a new truck and they made it fine to the airport.

If you can, I highly recommend waiting as long as possible to leave the ship. That morning was one of the most relaxing times we spent that week. We ate breakfast on deck 9 because there was no wind, no crowds. We watched dolphins out our porthole too. What fun!

Denae

 

[CAMICKEY]

WHen we booked out flight 8 months ago, American Airlines said that we would need to have our luggage checked with them before 9:00 to make our 11:30 flight (if I remember correctly). But you know how this figure will change each time you call or talk to a different representative. We are going to eat early and be prepared to get off at out earliest possible convenience. Last cruise we did not leave until 3:00 (and did not know about Hyatt day rooms) and DS6 almost drove us nutty (poor little guy) trying to keep him occupied at the airport. - Mike