Canadian Cruisers: Advice needed on return flight time

[starseed]

We'll be cruising DCL for the first time this upcoming January and we're in the process of figuring out what time we should schedule our flight back for.

I know that DCL recommends not booking flights before 12:30pm. BUT these are the two choices we are weighing:
a) Connection flight out of MCO to YYZ leaving at 11:55am for $307CDN.
b) Direct flight out of MCO to YYZ leaving at 2:10pm for $456CDN.

We're already spending a lot of money on this trip, so we're hoping to save where we can. Any advice for us?

 

[minniemomof3]

I would go with the direct flight, this will give you plenty of time. Although, if you wanted to save the extra money I think you can easily catch the 11:55 a.m flight home.

When we took our cruise 4 years ago, our return flight home was't schedueld untill 7:00 pm, we took our time with breakfast and getting off the ship, but we still managed to get to the airport at 11:00a.m.

 

[SeanK]

Take the direct one! You can be delayed by traffic, Customs or Disney. The extra 150 dollars buys you peace of mind!

 

[Scratch42]

Put it this way..............

How much will it cost you if you miss that 11:55 a.m. flight?

You may or may not make it. Do you really want to take that chance?

j

 

[twinz]

I work in a Cruise Wholesaler in Toronto. The flight parameters are there for a reason. When looking for flights we can NOT book flights that do not meet these parameters (and when booking most CL transfers if the flights do not meet the parameters they will not let you book the transfers as well). Just because you are docking at 7am does not mean that you will be able to get off the ship at that time. You also have to think about traffic, customs, and line ups at the airport. That being said I would take the later flight, in my opinion it is better to be safe then sorry.

 

[Belle1997]

It may be close depending on how well organized they are at the port. We were one of the first off the ship and did not get out of the port until 8:30 am. Depending on how fast they load the Bus back but it is do able.

We just used Southwest flying out of Buffalo for the first time. And loved it.

We got a flight down and back for my Dh and I for 311.00US total. Yes total taxes and everything.

We drove down the day before and stayed at the Millenium hotel which had free park and fly. They took us to the airport and picked us up. Much less hassle going through security and we already did customs at the border crossing. Only had to be at the airport an hour before flight but we gave ourselves an hour and a half. We got a 7:20 flight out and a 9:20 flight back gone are the days of 3:30am arrive at the airport days.

We found the service to be great and I took my scooter right to the airplance gate with no problems. So if you can I would flly south west as the price difference is very great.

 

[starseed]

Thank you all for your advice!

I will keep an eye on the WestJet direct price to see if it will move in the next little while. It's true - it is better to be safe than sorry, and I would hate to have our last day of our vacation and coming off of the Wonder stressing out. Since it is our first cruise, I thought I would ask - and now, I know.

We will be taking a town car from Port, so I am hoping that will ease our stress on getting back to the airport as well.

We unfortunately don't drive, so for this trip, we will be flying out of YYZ. But in future trips, we hope to fly out of Buffalo.

Thanks again!

 

[starseed]

Advice Needed: Part 2

Now that our flight will be at 2:10pm, how late can we stay onboard?

Also, what time on the last day do non-US residents have to report to handle disembarkment details? And what happens at that time?

Thanks!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Non-residents have to report at 6am (or that was the time last time we cruised). You go through customs and get your passport returned at that time. It's really not that bad. Everyone has to be off the ship by 9am. We had early dining and the last day breakfast is at 6:45am so it really wasn't that awful to get up that early.

Fiona