Flight home.....

[psimon]

Is it unreasonable to schedule an 11:55AM flight home after a cruise? Then next one isn't until almost 4PM (and it's a more expensive flight ).

I am taking Southwest so I won't see my luggage again until home, after I get through customs.

All thoughts appreciated...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[lanejudy]

Assuming you are cruising from Port Canaveral, DCL recommends flights after 11:30am -- so, yes, you should be fine to make an 11:55am flight that morning.

However... Southwest does not participate in DCL's Onboard Airline Check-in program, so you will need to collect your luggage in the terminal, go through Customs, put it on the DCL bus (or whatever mode of transportation you use), and then check it at the airport when you arrive. DCL will not automatically do that for you.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[psimon]

Wow, thanks!

I was accustomed to WDW and they do team up with Southwest. Not a biggy to get my own luggage.

Sure am glad I learned this now instead of getting back to Philly wondering where my luggage was!

Again, thanks...

--Paul in Southern NJ

 

[apathetic]

Beware, the line at Southwest counter is almost always long. Longer than any other airline. I haven't flown them so I don't know how smooth it moves. I would recommend getting off as soon as they open the ship. This is especially true if any other cruise lines disembark that same day. MCO can be quite busy starting very early in the morning. Southwest is very popular, probably because of price and free bags.

 

[DCLDVC1]

A flight at 11:55am is perfect! Skip the inside line and utilize SWA's curbside check-in. We've never had to wait more than a few minutes.

 

[Shanti]

Is it unreasonable to schedule an 11:55AM flight home after a cruise? Then next one isn't until almost 4PM (and it's a more expensive flight ).

I am taking Southwest so I won't see my luggage again until home, after I get through customs.

All thoughts appreciated...

---Paul in Southern NJ

We have an 11:50am flight after our Fantasy cruise next month and aren't worried at all. Leave the ship promptly after an early breakfast (eat early in Cabanas rather than in the MDR if you're scheduled for late seating), and you'll likely have no problems.

If you are concerned, then I recommend only carry-on luggage and checking in online rather than at the airport. That will save a fair amount of time. As you can see, I'm not the "always get to the airport four hours in advance" type that many on these boards are. Am still reasonably careful, though, and have never missed a flight in all my travels.

 

[AussieNSW]

We caught a SW flight at 11:25am after our cruise on the dream on Friday 18th nov. Had no problems. We didn't go to breakfast and left as soon as they allowed us to exit. There were buses waiting and it was pretty quick. I was concerned when I saw the que at SW for assisted check in but it was shorter than the line for self check in. It moved surprisingly quick and we got food in the terminal before our flight.

 

[MunFam]

A flight at 11:55am is perfect! Skip the inside line and utilize SWA's curbside check-in. We've never had to wait more than a few minutes.

I will add...ALWAYS tip the Skycap. Some people do not realize that they need to tip this person. I have heard horror stories of people not tipping the skycap and shockingly, their bags did not make it on the flight. On the flip side, I tip $10 per bag and magically, my 55+ lb bags never get an overweight fee. They always have a "priority" tag on them too.

 

[psimon]

If you are concerned, then I recommend only carry-on luggage and checking in online rather than at the airport. That will save a fair amount of time. As you can see, I'm not the "always get to the airport four hours in advance" type that many on these boards are. Am still reasonably careful, though, and have never missed a flight in all my travels.

How do you do a cruise with only carry-on luggage? Between the beach stuff, day stuff, and "dinner" clothes I have no idea how to put all of that in a small carry-on bag!

Also, checking in online... from the ship?
Suggestions?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Dug720]

How do you do a cruise with only carry-on luggage? Between the beach stuff, day stuff, and "dinner" clothes I have no idea how to put all of that in a small carry-on bag!

Also, checking in online... from the ship?
Suggestions?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

Rolling clothes, using large (2 gallon) ziplock bags, not taking 3 outfits per day, lots of mix and match. Easy peasy.

 

[Rabb it]

Same thing happened to us for our Feb cruise, either 11:30 or 3pm

We opted for the 3pm just to be safe..

 

[psimon]

Rolling clothes, using large (2 gallon) ziplock bags, not taking 3 outfits per day, lots of mix and match. Easy peasy.

Still seems very light packing considering the demands of cruising attire. More power to you!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Shanti]

How do you do a cruise with only carry-on luggage? Between the beach stuff, day stuff, and "dinner" clothes I have no idea how to put all of that in a small carry-on bag!

Also, checking in online... from the ship?
Suggestions?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

1. A small suitcase is an acceptable carry-on. Each traveler gets to bring one, so that should allow ample room for several sets of folded clothes. Really, how much space does a bathing suit take up? The ship has a washer & dryer, which allows you to wear things more than once.

2. The online check-in can happen the morning of debarkation, using your cell phone or iPad.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

You are doing SouthWest, so you will want to do check-in at Exactly 24-hours prior to your flight, as you probably know. (We delayed 15 minutes while at the hotel after our cruise, since we flew out the day after, and it cost us a LOT of numbers.)

So, if you want to do the normal check-in process, what you will have to do is use the ship's Wi-Fi. If you sign up for the free 50 MB the first day, and promptly sign out of it and don't use it all week, it should available for you on the last day, or you can pay for some. Trouble is, the ship's Wi-Fi is spotty and not the strongest, so it is hit or miss if you will have a decent signal at exactly the right time to sign in. This was the situation that my Sister and her family was in when they cruised with us, since they were flying SouthWest on the day of their cruise, like you are. Thus, so as not to chance a bad sign-in number, she bit the bullet and paid the extra $15 a person to get the "advanced" check-in or whatever they call it. Thus her family could sit together. She did the regular check-in for the flight at the beginning of the trip.

Depends on how badly you want to sit together.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

Or you could pay the $12 fee and have Southwest early check-in.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Or you could pay the $12 fee and have Southwest early check-in.

Early Bird Check-in I believe is now $15 each way fyi.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I will add...ALWAYS tip the Skycap. Some people do not realize that they need to tip this person. I have heard horror stories of people not tipping the skycap and shockingly, their bags did not make it on the flight. On the flip side, I tip $10 per bag and magically, my 55+ lb bags never get an overweight fee. They always have a "priority" tag on them too.

I certaintly tip at Skycap but not $10 per bag. Heck even wikipedia lists the average as $1 or $2 per bag in the U.S. with some giving more even they want to increase chances of not being charged overweight baggage fees or more priority given. Lesson is tip your skycap but tip whatever amount you want. We've never had any problems whatsoever with our luggage making it onto the plane even with having it be several pounds overweight and we do not tip that much (meaning we do not tip $10 per bag) so YMMV.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Early Bird Check-in I believe is now $15 each way fyi.

Right. Early-bird. That is what I meant above. If you want to avoid relying on a spotting internet connection on the last full day of your cruise, you need to spring for that. Still cheaper than what other airlines charge to check a bag.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Right. Early-bird. That is what I meant above. If you want to avoid relying on a spotting internet connection on the last full day of your cruise, you need to spring for that. Still cheaper than what other airlines charge to check a bag.

Oh I agree I was just commenting that it is $15 vs $12 now.

 

[mlayton14]

I ad 11:55am Southwest flight last year after fantasy cruise, no issues at all, perfect time