Arriving Late for Cruise

[ElaineMc]

My sister is flying in on the day of the cruise. The rest of us are coming in 2 days before. Her plane arrives at 11:00 am and we are planning on meeting her and then all going to the port together. If her plane is late, I have her boarding documents so we can't really go to port without her and check in and have her meet us there. I checked Southwest's schedule and there is another plane that arrives at 3:30, but I think that is pushing it. Of course I'm assuming the worst here. I'm thinking about expressing her documents to her and making arrangements for transportation to the port in case something does happen. Do you think this is over kill? I'd really like for us to all stay together and arrive at the port at the same time but would also like to have an alternate plan just in case. What does everyone think? How late can one arrive and still making the 5:00 pm sailing?

 

[hydster]

It was my understanding that ALL guests had to be on board the ship no later than 3:45 because they are required that ALL attend the mandatory life boat drill that starts at 4pm. If it were me I would send her the docs and then if she is late she can meet the ship at the next port (if she does happen to arrive later than expected) Also the ride from the airport to the port is a little more than an hour so even if she did arrive on that flight at 3:30 and got her bags and they would consider letting her on (which I doubt) by 5 she would still be pushing the envelope. Is there a way to get her on a flight that is a redeye or something that gets her in a little earlier? If not then I would certainly not want to keep my party off the ship if she is late to arrive. I would say send her her docs, arrange for alternate transportation if needed and plan on if she isnt on that plane she is booked on that you will go to the port without her.

Just my opinion but in the land of airplane travel and deadlines one cant be too safe anymore! We have arrived home (thankfully) hours later than expected due to security delays or something else. If you could possibly swing getting her there the night before I would try....airlines are now harder to count on getting you there on time.

Heidi

 

[outahere]

I've seen traffic really backed up at the toll booths trying to get to the Cape Canaveral area, and I've also seen it fly through them. You just never know......

I, personally, wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the airport any later than 3:00. I think the last DCL bus leaves around then, but they have the toll transponders on them and go right through the tolls, so they don't need to worry too much about backups.

You don't say where she's flying from, or the time of year. Both of which could have an impact on arrival time. I've only flown on Southwest a couple of times (from Manchester, N.H.) and they were right on time.

If you do get separated, perhaps you can leave her cruise docs at the check-in desk, and go ahead onto the ship. I'd bet it's not the first time something like that has happened.

Granted, everyone is supposed to attend the life boat drill, but I have to believe they would let you on as long as the ship is still tied up and the doors are open. I have heard of them holding the ship until past 5:00, so obviously it's possible to board late.

 

[tecdavidt]

We have been on two DCL cruises where people arrived late. We were waiting to cruise and we saw a DCL bus pull up. About 15 min. later a small group were running to the gang way and we watched them board. Both times it appeared to be one family but it could of been two families. In each case the people missed the mandatory safety drill. I don't know if they get instructions later on that evening or not. It wasn't long after they boarded the ship left. One time we were having a storm roll through so perhaps that delayed them but last year the weather was fine and a group arrrived late.
I would get the docs to your sister and if her plane is late go on to the port without her. It is better for one to be late than your entire group and who knows if they will hold the ship. Kathy

 

[ElaineMc]

Okay, here's the scoop. She's going to be in Tennesee on October 7th and 8th and is flying back to Mississippi on the evening of the 8th. Only she has to fly in to New Orleans as that is the closest airport. So she has to drive back to MS that night and then drive back to the airport the next morning. Her flight leaves at 8:30 a.m. I think it may be a 2 hour drive from her home to New Orleans. She somehow got the dates mixed up and thought we were leaving on the 10th of October instead of the 9th and that's why she's not joining us early. Bless her heart, she's always so wrapped up in her work she can't keep her personal life straight. She's also the sister who joined us in Hawaii for only 4 days and 2 of those days were for travel. I don't want her to think we're ditching her but I also would like to get on the ship as soon as possible. I think I will call her and suggest that I mail her documents to her, etc. and see what she thinks. She may even think that's the best thing to do so she doesn't have to worry about us waiting for her. Thanks!

 

[hydster]

Is there any way that she can change her destination and fly from Tennesse to Orlando instead of to New Orleans just to turn around and go back to the airport the next morning??? It might be easier and less stressful to just have her fly into orlando instead of going all the way home to turn around and go all the way back. Just a thought! We've had to do that with my dh for several cruises out of California where he's had to go out of town for business and we just changed his destination flight to Calif instead of Utah. It cost us about 100 dollars to do it but it was worth it to not have the stress of it all.

If not I hope it all works out great for you in the end!!! Good luck and I hope you all have a great cruise!

Heidi

 

[jgalecpa]

Hydster, I measure a person's intelligence by how much I agree with them. You are one smart cookie.

She should turn the problem around.

Go straight from TN to Orlando. Arrive in Fl night before the cruise.

In any event, Ship those Docs to her ASAP.

Don't miss a minute of your great trip because

She somehow got the dates mixed up and thought we were leaving on the 10th of October

Jim

 

[joanb]

my two cents worth...I don't think she can board in another US port so if it is western she would have to get to Cayman Island. I think they only hold the ship with late DCL transfer ,those who have purcjhased the whole nine yards-you need to inquire about that other wise i think one should be on board by 3;45.

 

[vacationqueen]

Okay, I am a little confused as well. As I live in Mississippi and headed on our third Disney Cruise (yipee) I do not understand why she is flying into New Orleans, driving to Mississippi and then heading back to New Orleans. Why doesn't she just fly into Jackson, MS or another area of the state. I know SW, Delta, Northwest, American and I am sure others fly out of Jackson. Wouldn't that have been easier that all the driving back and forth between MS and New Orleans plus maybe getting her there faster. Just trying to help as I am the one that has to be in that line by 11 to board the ship. Wouldn't want to miss a thing

 

[ElaineMc]

I don't know where Jackson is in relation to Buloxi which is where she lives. I called her today and suggested that she fly from TN to Orlando instead of going back home but she said she doesn't want to combine the trips like that. She also doesn't want her documents sent to her as she's afraid she'll lose them. Don't ask. She's a very intelligent person though you wouldn't know it when it comes to her travel plans. I told her that we would meet her at the airport but if something happens we're going on to the ship and her documents will be left with a CM if possible. It's killing me that I can't get on the ship sooner but I have to remember that family comes before shrimp and mango soup.

 

[Jeanny]

what if you Fed Ex'd her docs to her? she'd have to sign for them or UPS Overnight??

Why doesn't she just stay at an airport @ New Orleans instead of driving back & forth to her home the nigh before??

But as suggested above, I'd try to talk her into flying from TN the night before, that would make the most sense

Good Luck

 

[ElaineMc]

Originally posted by Jeanny
what if you Fed Ex'd her docs to her? she'd have to sign for them or UPS Overnight??

Why doesn't she just stay at an airport @ New Orleans instead of driving back & forth to her home the nigh before??

But as suggested above, I'd try to talk her into flying from TN the night before, that would make the most sense

Good Luck

Because she's my sister that's why. That comment makes about as much sense as she does. She has her tickets and she won't change them. Her return flight doesn't leave until 9:00 p.m. and that's not because the other flights were sold out, it's because the 9:00 flight is $60.00 cheaper . She's not poor either so it's not like money's an issue. Staying in New Orleans the night before is a good idea but I bet you $1 Disney dollar she won't do it.

 

[Jeanny]

Oh well, Elaine, at least you're trying to figure out what to do for her...If she gets the flight which arrives at 11am, she should be fine...

I'd still FED EX her doc's to her and let her worry about getting to PC on time, if not, she'll have to meet you at the next port and maybe she'll learn a valuable lesson to pay attention to your vacation plans.

You mentioned she's afraid of losing her documents, why doesn't she put them with her plane tickets?? You can always leave her document package with a Customer Serivce rep at MCO (does Disney have a desk?? I"m not sure, I've never noticed one, but I wasn't looking either). What about leaving them at the PC check in counters?? or are her transfers in the package? If she arrives at 3:30 p.m, does DCL have a bus that late? or will she have to rent a car herself to get to PC?? Maybe you should call DCL and ask them when their last bus leaves???

Good luck with whatever happens, have a great trip.

Edited to add: Elaine, I just read on another thread, last DCL bus leaves MCO at 1;45 pm.. Did you book through DCL?? do you have travel insurance through them?? not sure what your travel insurance covers, but check it out for delayed flights, but I'd still call DCL and ask if there are any options.

 

[katerkat]

Biloxi is only 1.5 hours tops from New Orleans. Is there any reason she can't stay in a hotel in NO and try to catch an earlier flight on stand-by? I think she'll be fine on the 11 am flight, and generally, there aren't too many delays down here. (My husband flies in and out of the airports around there without any trouble.)

On our February cruise, about 20 people had delayed flights due to weather, and we lost our departing slot to hold the ship for them - we left at about 5:30 instead, going last instead of first. I honestly don't know if the people had DCL transfers or had other arrangements to the port.