Confused about transportation

[Praise2Him]

I really need advice. I'm going on a 4 night cruise in January. I'm so confused about whether to arrive a day early and if so whether to stay at PC for a night or stay at Cocoa Beach. The earliest flight I could take would get there at 8:10 am on the day of the cruise. Wouldn't that be plenty of time? BUT, the only flight the day we debark is at 11:25 am. Is that enough time to make it back to MCO? Or should I stay an extra night? (I guess I could force myself to! LOL) We won't be going to the parks, because we'll have just gotten back from our family trip to WDW on December 23.
I'm leaning toward staying at PC the night before and the night after. But, if I do that, what would be the best way to get to the hotel, then to the port, back to the hotel, then to the airport? I'd like to take the DCL bus from hotel to port and back to hotel, but from what I can tell they only pick you up at the airport if you don't do the land/sea. Is that right? I guess I could rent a car, but I'd rather not, unless it's just too expensive to do anything else - yes, money is an object, so no limos or taxis! LOL
Thanks for any suggestions! Sorry this is so long, but I'm so confused!!!
Lisa

 

[traycie2201]

Hi i'd definately book the night before and after, if you're flight is delayed on the day of cruising you could miss your cruise and they won't hold the boat for you.
You can start your holiday without rushing or worrying too. You could do a car rental for a day either side i.e avis have a drop off point near the port and then run you to the dock. you can definately get hotel to port on dcl buses and i'm sure the other way would be fine too, check with dcl

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Praise2Him
I'm so confused about whether to arrive a day early and if so whether to stay at PC for a night or stay at Cocoa Beach. The earliest flight I could take would get there at 8:10 am on the day of the cruise. Wouldn't that be plenty of time?

There are two reasons to fly in the day before:

1. So you won't be exhausted and miserable on the first day on the ship. If your flight arrives at 8:10 a.m., when would you have to get up to get to the airport 90-120 minutes before you departure? 4:00 a.m.? 3:00 a.m.? How much sleep would you get? Is it worth it to be dead tired and stressed that day?

2. To account for flight delays and cancellations, whether weather-related or mechanical. Flights are cancelled and delayed often. Let's say you're going to WDW, your flight is cancelled, and the airline puts you on a flight six hours later. That's not a big deal; you'll just get to the hotel later than you had planned. But if you're going on a cruise, the ship can and will leave without you.

 

[DrCavin]

I would NEVER fly in the day of the cruise, even if I used Disney to book the flight. DEFINITLY fly in the day before!!!

As far as trans. between MCO & PC, we rented a SUV from Budget both sides of our trip. DCL transfers are $25 PP each way I beleive, so for us it would have been $200. Renting a vehicle was only about $100-$120 total.

I have read people getting to MCO as early as 10:30 or 11:00, I would not try it, but some people do. I think you disembark the ship around 9:00, but that is not guaranteed.

Have a great cruise!!