fly same day ( embarkation ) really ?

[4 mickey]

would you do it ?? arriving MCO 1015 am ???
you know delays .. or lollolol
thanks

 

[PrincessShmoo]

would you do it ?? arriving MCO 1015 am ???
you know delays .. or lollolol
thanks

Well, 2 of our cruises we flew in the day of. Depending on the time of year and how early the flight is, it's really quite do-able.


If you're arriving at 10:15, it sounds like you're on the first flight of the day? That would be the safest, if you need to fly in on embarkation day.

Flying during the time of year that flights have a high probability of being delayed/canceled due to weather could be tricky.

Also, those cruises that we've had to fly in the day of, we've booked our air travel through the cruiselines. So, if things don't work out, they'll get us to the cruise.

 

[thdarragh]

would you do it ?? arriving MCO 1015 am ???
you know delays .. or lollolol
thanks

I would but my DW is dead-set against it. So we don't

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Personally, no I wouldn't fly in the day of my cruise. Too stressful. I would rather fly in the night before and have time for delays, mechanical issues, lost luggage, etc.

JMHO.

 

[Trekker]

That really depends on what time of the year and where you are coming from?

I get most nervous about bad weather.

Also if for some reason you missed, or that flight is cancelled is there another flight that day that would get you there before you missed the ship?

 

[Vent417]

would you do it ?? arriving MCO 1015 am ???
you know delays .. or lollolol
thanks

We've done it with at least 4 other cruises( not Disney), and are planning on doing it again in October.

 

[space ranger 1]

Thats one of things that should be okay, but depends on your personal tolerance for risk. For me it adds a lot of stress to fly in on the same day, too many things that could go wrong. They usually don't, but when I am spending that much money I want to have some wiggle room just in case.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We never fly in the day of the cruise. For us it's just too stressful. We have experienced flight delays during other vacations that would have caused us to miss the boat if it had been for the cruise.

What's your comfort level?

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I learned from my days as an airline ticket-agent (way back in the day, when a CUSTOMER SERVICE representative checked-in passengers for flights, and not self-serve kiosks) to NEVER fly the 'day of.' The airline for whom I worked had a mechanical delay, and the next one out wasn't until the afternoon. Long story short, the passengers who 'HAVE TO GET TO MIAMI, OUR CRUISE LEAVES THIS AFTERNOON!!!!" had to pay for a first class ticket on American, as that was all that was available. (Nowadays, even first class isn't available on any airline, as they're full with frequent flyer passengers.)

I told my husband that night, "if we EVER take a cruise, let's NEVER fly in the day it departs."

We haven't.

 

[CatDenver]

I learned from my days as an airline ticket-agent (way back in the day, when a CUSTOMER SERVICE representative checked-in passengers for flights, and not self-serve kiosks) to NEVER fly the 'day of.' The airline for whom I worked had a mechanical delay, and the next one out wasn't until the afternoon. Long story short, the passengers who 'HAVE TO GET TO MIAMI, OUR CRUISE LEAVES THIS AFTERNOON!!!!" had to pay for a first class ticket on American, as that was all that was available. (Nowadays, even first class isn't available on any airline, as they're full with frequent flyer passengers.)

I told my husband that night, "if we EVER take a cruise, let's NEVER fly in the day it departs."

We haven't.

Slightly off topic but whenever I see someone mention a mechanical delay it reminds me of the time I was flying to San Francisco on business. I walked up to my gate and out the window I could see the cowling off the engine with a bucket underneath catching whatever fluid was dripping off the engine. About a minute later the gate agent gets on the speaker to announce we'd start boarding in 15 minutes. Really? Needless to say I was pretty doubtful on that one and thankfully they announced they were getting another plane for our flight and directed us to another gate. Whew!

Oh, and add me to the 'fly in the day before' group. I have had too many issues with late departures to risk my vacation.

 

[chris31997]

I would but my DW is dead-set against it. So we don't

Us, too. You said it best

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

On our 1st 2 cruises (pre-DCL) we flew in same day. Both time had luggage delays. Also by the time it's dinner time, we were all tired & snipping at each other over minor issues. It's just not a nice way to start a relaxing cruise.

FWIW, my mother had luggage delays again when staying overnight pre-cruise and went to sleep hoping it would all work out in the am which it did.

We don't do well arriving at the airport at 4am.
For less than $100 on Hotwire you can get a nice room, Marriott or whatever, and everyone wakes up well rested & ready to cruise.

 

[Weedy]

It also depends what time you will have to get up to get to the airport. If you are having to get up at 4 AM to catch a flight it makes for a very long day. You can find inexpensive hotels in the Orlando area. Well worth the less stress and more relaxing start to a trip.

 

[Dug720]

A note with luggage... Don't think that just because your flight is "nonstop" they can't lose your luggage. It happened to me once (the flight was continuing on, and they put my luggage in the wrong area, so all my warm stuff went to sunny California while my shorts and t-shirt clad self went to Estes Park, CO...in late May when it was not uncommon to wake up to fresh snow!

And Southwest once lost my sister's luggage on a nonstop from MCO to BNA because their machines ripped the checked tag off of her bag and they didn't know where it was supposed to go.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

It also depends what time you will have to get up to get to the airport. If you are having to get up at 4 AM to catch a flight it makes for a very long day. You can find inexpensive hotels in the Orlando area. Well worth the less stress and more relaxing start to a trip.

This is true. Twinkie n I got plenty of rest n got to sleep in after our 4 pk blitz til 1am the night before. Because we got plenty of rest, we were easily out past 12:30 every night of the cruise. Getting rest made that first night big time...especially cuz we only had three nights to cruise!

 

[moosecrouse]

Well, 2 of our cruises we flew in the day of. Depending on the time of year and how early the flight is, it's really quite do-able.

If you're arriving at 10:15, it sounds like you're on the first flight of the day? That would be the safest, if you need to fly in on embarkation day.

Flying during the time of year that flights have a high probability of being delayed/canceled due to weather could be tricky.

Also, those cruises that we've had to fly in the day of, we've booked our air travel through the cruiselines. So, if things don't work out, they'll get us to the cruise.

DCL booking our flight only cost us an extra $1500 on a non direct flight out of a more inconvenient airport. Then when we stuck in Atl Hartsfield for 8 hours they DCL told it wad our responsiblity to get to MCO because they couldnt control the weather. Suggested we rent a car and drive. Luckily we were able to my grandmother, mother and sister with 3 little boys under the age of 9 on the last flight out at 1030. They checked into the MCO hyatt @ 12. Me & BIL made the drive and made to PC little afternoon. Sis & BIL are DVC members and we do at least on WDW trip or cruise per year so nor trying to bash DCL. Just pointing out when push came to shove DCL wasnt much help & usually cost alot more money.

 

[SeaSpray]

I agree that it's a matter of personal stress-comfort level. I have no tolerance for stress these days, so we're flying in at least 3 days before our cruise in September 2014, and go to the parks.

Usually the day before is fine with me but after being on a couple of "hurricane" cruises during the months of August/September/October, I prefer to give myself more leeway at that time of year.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

DCL booking our flight only cost us an extra $1500 on a non direct flight out of a more inconvenient airport. Then when we stuck in Atl Hartsfield for 8 hours they DCL told it wad our responsiblity to get to MCO because they couldnt control the weather. Suggested we rent a car and drive. Luckily we were able to my grandmother, mother and sister with 3 little boys under the age of 9 on the last flight out at 1030. They checked into the MCO hyatt @ 12. Me & BIL made the drive and made to PC little afternoon. Sis & BIL are DVC members and we do at least on WDW trip or cruise per year so nor trying to bash DCL. Just pointing out when push came to shove DCL wasnt much help & usually cost alot more money.

Our Med/WBTA cruise, we booked DCL airfare. As I had been checking out flight info before we booked, we found out that using DCL the airfare was only about $100 more to book through them. And the flights were perfect - early morning out of LA to Atlanta, 1 1/2 hour layover (late lunch) and then a night flight to Barcelona, arriving about 8:30 am (dinner and breakfast on plane).

So, it's not always a problem doing cruise air travel.

 

[moosecrouse]

[

So, it's not always a problem doing cruise air travel.[/QUOTE]

Not saying it was a problem just pointing out the fact that just because you book thru DCL doesnt guarantee getting you to ship on time. It was our first cruise & specifically booked thru DCL because CM made it seem they would do anything to get us on the ship. When it started going bad we were told we were on our own.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not saying it was a problem just pointing out the fact that just because you book thru DCL doesnt guarantee getting you to ship on time. It was our first cruise & specifically booked thru DCL because CM made it seem they would do anything to get us on the ship. When it started going bad we were told we were on our own.

I didn't mean to sound like I said DCL would get me to the cruise on time if I book with them. What I mean is, if there is a problem getting to the cruise with DCL transfers, they will see that you make it to the ship, at the next port if necessary.