Earliest return flights; flying Song???

[beattyfamily]

I'm flying to/from Boston, either via Song (or possibly Jetblue when it opens up but their times are even worse).

Anyway, the only Song flights home are 11:25a or 4:25p. They both stink for cruisers!!

Has anyone been able to do the 11:25a flight or am I dreaming?

I know DCL says your flight should be after 12:00p.

Is it possible to get to the airport in time for that 11:25a? I say no but I'd like opinions from other in the same boat!

What do other Bostonian's do?

Thanks!

 

[SeaSpray]

We'll be flying BOS to/from MCO on Song, in August and I've already bought our airfare @ $215. per ticket, round trip.

In order to not have our last morning be a big rush, we decided on the 4:25pm departure. Then right before I actually booked the tickets, my DH suggested that we stay at Disney World for the day/night and leave the next afternoon, on the 4:25pm flight. I realize this might not work for everyone, but it was a great solution for us. I'd never say "no" to a couple of days at Disney World!

A lot of travelers face the same situation that you are, and they decide to either go to the Kennedy Space Center for several hours before heading back to the airport, or going to Downtown Disney to walk around and have lunch, or even go to SeaWorld or some other attraction that they can spend a few hours at. Some people head right to the airport, but then get a "day room" at the Hyatt which is right inside the airport. They have a pool there and restaurants.

I hope these suggestions are helpful!

P.S. I forgot to add that a lot of people DO say that you'd be able to make it back to the airport in plenty of time for the morning flight home, but of course that's barring any unforeseen problems. You'll be off the plane by 9am, and it's about an hour to the airport, so personally, I think you'd have time to take the early flight.

 

[kcashner]

I actually went home on a 9:30 flight once. I was booked on 12:30, but got to the airport and didn't really want to wait, so asked if I could go on the earlier one--no problem, no extra fee, and they said that my luggage was already on the earlier flight!

DCL says 12 because they don't want to be responsible for any delays/problems. Most of the time, you can leave the ship by about 7:30. However, this is not under the control of DCL--they can't let anyone off until the ship has been "cleared" by US customs. On one cruise, no one was allowed off until almost 9 am. It will take you about 10 minutes to get your luggage and get thru customs, then a little less than an hour to the airport. IF you don't have early seating, you will want to have breakfast up at Topsiders, then get off the ship as soon as they will allow you off. You should have plenty of time at the airport.

I've done 9 DCL cruises, and we were always off before 9. Frequently people were off by 7:30. DCL has a goal that ALL guests are ashore before 9, so it is unusual for them to run late.

 

[outahere]

As long as the ship docks and is cleared on schedule, and you're one of the first ones off, you should have plenty of time to make the 11:25 flight.

However......... if there are delays, you would be cutting it close.

When we cruised on the Wonder, we decided to take the later flight just to be safe. We had a nice, unhurried morning on the ship, disembarked about 9:00, checked our luggage at the port and took the DCL bus back to MCO. We got a day room at the Hyatt, lounged by the pool, had lunch, went to the pool again, and then went to check in for the flight. It was a very relaxed day and I would do it again (actually on our next cruise we're staying over until the next morning).

 

[beattyfamily]

So it's sounds like we could actually make the 11:35a flight if we wanted to.

I do remember one year our flight was 12:30 or something like that and we had so much time to kill.

Thanks!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I would say you should be fine with the 11:25 flight. We had a 11:45 flight and had tons of time to kill. We took our time getting off the ship and had a limo waiting for us at 8:30. (I don't know how you are getting back to the airport but you should still be okay.)

Another option if you don't want to feel rushed is going ahead with the 4:25 flight and getting a day room at the Hyatt.

 

[Bella2000]

I don't know how they have been from MCO/BOS but they have changed BOS-MCO departures on us. (like when they discontinued the 7A early flight). I can't imagine them making the flight earlier so you would probably be fine even if they did change flight times or discontinue something. Have you also looked at American's schedule or even SouthWest out of MHT?