fly same day ( embarkation ) really ?

[mmouse37]

We have flown in day of a few times and it was a pretty stressful day.

MJ

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Not in a million years! I am wayyy too much of a worry wart to fly in the day of, but that is just me.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

But the PP said that that is not what happened when they booked through DCL and things went wrong.

DCL told it wad our responsiblity to get to MCO because they couldnt control the weather. Suggested we rent a car and drive.

So apparently there are limits to what DCL will help with.

 

[JillShari]

We did it.... but I don't know if I'd do it the same way again.

We left our house at 5:30am which is insanely early for all of us. And we got to MCO around 10:30. We boarded around 12-12:15ish and that was fine.
But we were all exhausted that day and went to bed early. I had a hard time staying awake for the show that evening...much less beyond it! And I stayed tired for most of the cruise (3 day)

Now...on the return we got off and were at the airport by 10am and our flight didn't take off until 2pm... so the hardest part was occupying the kids in the airport...but alas there are other worse things!

 

[Jey12]

I agree with others on it depends on your comfort level with stress. For me, flying day of, means a very very long day. A number of things that don't normally go wrong can. Issues with the plane, missed connecting flights (if you have them), rental car or transport car issues, lost luggage, weather, a yeti invasion and you name it. In my normal non vacationing life things always go wonky when they really shouldn't. No way I'd tempt fate trying to make a cruise.

A few years ago on a return trip we flew Delta (my first mistake, I knew better) and we left MCO on time and were scheduled to land at our connecting airport 15 minutes early. We had a 2 hour between flights at the connecting airport, so what was another 15 mins. What happened is we were 45 mins late arriving, 45 mins more delayed being allowed off the plane and all of a sudden we had 30 mins to get across the airport to our connecting flight. Let's just say Delta was not very professional with the fact they had at least 12 people rushing across the connecting airport to make the flight home. The flight home departed its gate 10 mins early! Not one person from our plane made their flight, yet our luggage did. Our options were limited at that point, and of course Delta wasn't helpful. We were told we could rent a car and drive home, or wait for the next flight with an open spot to get us home. Long story short we were supposed to arrive home on the original flight by 11am. What really happened is we arrived at 1130pm after having to take 2 more planes through 2 additional airports to finally make it home. If this had been going to a cruise we would have been out of luck. Needless to say I won't be flying Delta again either.

 

[Castillo Mom]

I agree with what most have posted, it's too stressful to fly out the day of.

Last June our plane was delayed from landing due to high winds in Orlando. We came very close to being diverted to Tampa where we would've had to rent a car to drive back to Port Canaveral. Had that happened it wouldn't have been a big problem for us because we flew down the day prior to our cruise and had made reservations at Hyatt MCO.

I wouldn't do it any other way now.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Not in a million years! I am wayyy too much of a worry wart to fly in the day of, but that is just me.

This is me too. Not a fun time for the family when I'm stressing. Too early to drink, so, no. We've always gone in the day before. It would be just my luck.....something would go wrong. I also count that first day and I don't want to be tired and in a bad mood. I want to wake up excited to get to the port on time and enjoy the entire first day.

On our first DCL cruise we on DCL bus. There was a terrible accident. We were late getting to the port and they were waiting for us. That was stressful enough for me

 

[kshark1958]

One time I flew to Fort Lauderdale out of Philly on SW for vacation, not a cruise and SW left a bunch of luggage back in Philly. Don't know why but they did. When we were at the counter for lost luggage in FL I remember besides our luggage their were people going on a cruise that was leaving that afternoon and the people stressing out because SW wasn't sure if they were going to be able to get their luggage to FL in time for their departure. Also SW told us we had to come back to the airport to get our luggage when it arrived. Not sure what they told the cruisers.Flying down day before is a must for us.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Since we live in the Mountain time zone, catching the 7:00 am nonstop to Orlando doesn't get us in until 12:30 or so. That leaves too little room for error considering by the time you get luggage and transfer to the port, the earliest you could arrive is 2:00 pm. No way we would chance that and it'd be even worse for those on Pacific time.

There was a recent thread on here of a family who was scheduled to fly in the day before and their flight was canceled and they barely made it to the port in time the next day as they had to drive several hours to another airport and take an early flight with connections that too was delayed.

If you fly in the day of the cruise, make sure you purchase good travel insurance.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

We did it for our first cruise as we didn't know better. We had no issues and arrived with plenty of time and still had to wait at the port to board.

We now know what could happen and after watching the reality show for airlines and airports, I would never do it again.

 

[tvguy]

3 of my 10 cruises I have flown in the day of. Back in the 1980's when we first started cruising, it wasn't an option. The cruise lines required you to arrive the day before. But they also included a hotel room for that night at no extra cost. It was that way for both our cruises on the Norway, our cruise on the Nordic Prince, and the Soverign of the Seas.

 

[Dug720]

We as a family have only been on one cruise - on the Emerald Seas - back in the early 80s when I was in 6th grade! We flew into Miami the morning of, and I still have nightmares about our taxi ride which was INSANE though we had plenty of time to get there. I can only shudder to think what it would have been like if we were rushed. (And I'm in NYC now and have yet to have a taxi ride that terrifying - including the bike taxi I took once.)

 

[Magic3forme]

we did once, NEVER AGAIN

we had a 6am flight cancelled a few years ago the morning of the cruise...(it was June -- weather was no issue) we had to drive to another airport 2 hrs away to catch a flight. there were 6 adult and 8 kids... it was hectic, crazy etc. it turned out fine, but it wasnt worth the stress to do again.

we always go the day before.

 

[dpuck1998]

Why risk it, to me its the risk/reward scenario, what is the upside? I've spend several thousand on a cruise, why not spend a hundred on a hotel room the night before and be relaxed knowing if there are problems you can make it on time. We often drive down and always arrive the day before, when we fly its at least a day before sometimes two so we can spend some park time or pool time (so we don't have to deal with the ships pools )

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Gee, thanks everyone! (And I thought MY story was bad.)

Let's see, lost luggage, bag tags accidentally getting torn off, not being able to land due to winds, parties divided because some could fly, others had to drive, running a race through the airport for a connection, getting up at 4am (my husband isn't HUMAN at 4am,) considering all of this...maybe it's better to arrive a WEEK before the cruise! I'm exhausted just READING all the horror stories.

I'm going to bookmark this thread and have DH and I read it if it ever runs across our minds (which, it honestly has) to fly in the same day.

 

[MDTerp]

Seven cruises - four of them with flights "day of". Fortunately, no issues (and also no connections). It really does depend on your comfort level and your level of how much stress you handle well.

I agree with previous posters, time of year/weather implications can also be a consideration.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've done it, I'm doing it in Barcelona this year (arriving about 8 hours prior to sailaway time) but if you can do it the day before, that's probably better.

I also have to consider that it may take extra time to go through customs/immigration...as the OP is from Canada they may also have to consider that.

 

[Four Swampers]

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

I will not fly in the day of the cruise. Flying in the day of the cruise will work just fine 99% of the time. The problem is the time that it does not work. The plane had an issue, or thunderstorms, or ice, or a blizzard, or whatever. That one time, you are out of luck. Your whole cruise is gone.

If you are flying to WDW and your plane arrives a day late, you miss one day of vacation. The remaining days are every bit as fun as they otherwise would have been. You move some stuff, skip a half day at a park, whatever.

If you fly to DCL and arrive 1/2 hour after the ship has left, what now? Will you fly to the Nassau to catch the ship? Grand Cayman? How much will that cost? What if the cruise out of Miami goes to Castaway Cay first, then Key West? Would you fly to Key West to board the ship for the overnight back to Miami? Can you even do that (maybe; I don't know)?

To me, flying out the day before, after work, seems a logical choice. A $75 hotel room is a small price to pay to guarantee I reach the ship. Not to mention the chance to maybe have a little fun in Orlando or Port Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center or Vancouver or Miami or Barcelona the night before / morning of the cruise.

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree with previous posters, time of year/weather implications can also be a consideration.

Weather happens. Flying from Seattle to Anaheim last July nearly all west-coast departures were messed with because of storms on the east coast. I walked in to the airport to find chaos and lines longer than I've ever seen them. We were flying on miles and had 3 flights, and it got all mixed up. DS and I got to sit separate from each other (which we knew was a possibility with one flight for which we hadn't gotten seating assignments yet, but once we were put onto a different flight we knew it was going to happen), etc etc.

And that was July. And the weather wasn't even happening on our coast.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We always fly in at least the day before. We generally like to give ourselves enough time for other options in case something happens to our flight. Not only can weather be an issue, but mechanical issues can also lead to lengthy delays.