Flying in the day of your cruise--too risky?

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Seen many people miss their cruise, one on our delayed flight, we were OK, but they missed their earlier cruise, anyone saying it's not doom and gloom and do not worry us giving bad advice, give yourself a buffer zone. Seen many join the cruise at the next port of call at thier expense.

 

[codex57]

I'm not worried about something happening because of the date.

However, as you increasingly see crazy people doing stuff to cause a flight to divert or something, it gets riskier and riskier to fly in the day of.

In the past, if it's September (and weather is normally good at that time of year on the Eastern half of the US?), then I would have risked it. Now, I'm flying the day before direct on the first flight of the day out of my airport. And I'm on the West Coast. Cruises are inherently riskier because they WILL leave without you and it can be really hard and expensive to catch up.

 

[dcassetta]

Have flown in on the morning of the cruise to both Orlando and Miami 5 times without issue, will probably continue to do so. However, if you can find a good flight for the night before, that may make you feel less nervous. If anything flying on 9/11 may be safer as people may be even more alert.

 

[morgan98]

While it is more conservative and arguably less stressful to fly in the day before, I do not think flying in the day of is necessarily as risky as everyone makes it sound. I think taking the very first flight of the day definitely decreases risk of difficulties as they planes are very frequently the ones that are on time. Also with the timing of the flight mentioned in the original post, there could be a several hour delay and the OP could probably still make the flight.

Unfortunately, you never know when travel delays will occur. A couple of years ago, I was flying from Atlanta to Edinburgh Scotland to meet my mother for an extended weekend group tour. Anyway, we wanted to meet there a day early. Due to bad weather in NJ and changes to my flight routing. I actually got there later than had I taken the original flight I wanted to take to get there the day the tour started. In that case, I should have flown in the day of.

 

[lds0191]

We live in Florida now so drive to either Port Canaveral or Miami. But, previously we had to fly in and always flew in a least one day prior to the cruise. I had friends who had a flight from Louisville to Miami and had a plane change in Atlanta. There were maintenance issues and their connecting flight to Miami was canceled out of Atlanta and no other option until the next day. Missed their cruise entirely and did not have travel insurance. Delta gave them a refund for their flight but they lost 100% of their $$ for the cruise. Instead of a 4 nt cruise they spent the night in Atlanta and then flew back home.

 

[codex57]

The couldn't catch up? I'd at least have tried to salvage part of the cruise, although a 4 night one can be harder I guess depending on how many stops it had.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The couldn't catch up? I'd at least have tried to salvage part of the cruise, although a 4 night one can be harder I guess depending on how many stops it had.

It's possible the people didn't have passports. You can't fly to a foreign port to "catch up" if you don't have a passport.

Also, many cruiselines do not allow catching up anymore. They used to.

 

[codex57]

It's possible the people didn't have passports. You can't fly to a foreign port to "catch up" if you don't have a passport.

Also, many cruiselines do not allow catching up anymore. They used to.

Wow, that sucks! Do you know which airlines? I'm too scared to miss the initial departure so I stopped trying to fly the day of. I used to though. Planes are too full (so standby is much harder), the weather seems crazier, and there are more crazy people on board nowadays that it's past my risk threshold.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Do you know which airlines?

Sorry I don't know what you're asking about here.

 

[Heidiatmn]

From someone who has missed a cruise-yes. Even if you make it there you'll be too exhausted to enjoy your first day. If you do decide to make sure you get insurance AND have a passport for all traveling.

 

[codex57]

Sorry I don't know what you're asking about here.

Sorry, I meant do you know which cruiselines aren't allowing you to catch up anymore?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry, I meant do you know which cruiselines aren't allowing you to catch up anymore?

No, I think HAL was one. It has to do with the issue of clearance to return to the US. Currently, on closed loop cruises out of a US port, a specific procedure is done. If one person misses the ship and has to join it (catch up) in the next port, and it's a foreign port, the cruise is no longer deemed a "closed loop" cruise but a "foreign itinerary" cruise (for everyone) and a different, more lengthy procedure is required for clearance upon returning to the US.

From what I've read on other cruise boards, several cruiselines no longer want to play that game and don't allow those who miss the ship to catch up at the next port.

 

[Allison]

True that this is probably the least likely scenario to have delays, but it can still happen. I recently booked a 7 am flight and while the plane was there and ready to go, there was a "crew delay" due to sleep requirements (I assume the pilots had gotten in later than scheduled the night before & are required to have a certain number of hours of sleep) that delayed us 3 hours.

Delays can happen at anytime for any reason, so I suggest only flying in the morning of the cruise if you are fully aware of the risks of a delay and ready and willing to deal with the consequences (I.e. Have a plan B in mind).

My story was a co-pilot getting food poisioning after they landed the night before. We weren't going anywhere for hours and hours until they could get a new pilot.

 

[ilovebassets]

Most people aren't going to be very excited about he prospect, but we've done it three times. Once to Galveston, once to Tampa, and once to San Juan. I think the keys to doing this are:

1. Nonstop flights
2. Bring a decent amount of stuff in your carry on so you could survive if they DID lose your luggage
3. Book the ships's from airport to ship. They'll be ever so slightly more forgiving if you get stuck in traffic on the way to the ship.
4. Have good insurance.
5. Only do it if you really don't have another choice.
6. Do it only in good weather months. Obviously this depends on where you live.
7. Ideally do it with a major carrier from where you live so if you miss the flighty, there are theoretically others you can get on. For example I live in Atlanta and will only fly Delta.

 

[lds0191]

The couldn't catch up? I'd at least have tried to salvage part of the cruise, although a 4 night one can be harder I guess depending on how many stops it had.

First day of the cruise was a sea day and they would not have been able to catch up until day 3. Plus, two of the group did not have passports.

 

[lds0191]

Most people aren't going to be very excited about he prospect, but we've done it three times. Once to Galveston, once to Tampa, and once to San Juan. I think the keys to doing this are:

1. Nonstop flights
2. Bring a decent amount of stuff in your carry on so you could survive if they DID lose your luggage
3. Book the ships's from airport to ship. They'll be ever so slightly more forgiving if you get stuck in traffic on the way to the ship.
4. Have good insurance.
5. Only do it if you really don't have another choice.
6. Do it only in good weather months. Obviously this depends on where you live.
7. Ideally do it with a major carrier from where you live so if you miss the flighty, there are theoretically others you can get on. For example I live in Atlanta and will only fly Delta.

I totally agree with all of the above. This is the only way to do it.

 

[Madame]

We had a 4 hr mechanical delay in Detroit this Aug. We were headed to WDW so other than missed FPs no big deal. The couple in front of us, however, were supposed to be on a cruise out of Port Canaveral.

They had about 90 mins to get off the plane, get their luggage & make it to port for all-aboard. No idea if they ever made it. Crystal clear day both at DTW & MCO, direct flight. I wouldn't personally fly in day-of ever.

 

[canyoncam]

I am contemplating day of flight for my cruise in May out of Miami. I will be in same time zone at time coming off a separate trip. Arrival time of 8:45am in Miami with a 4pm all aboard. Airport to Cruiseport is approximately 20 minutes but I will take cruiseline transportation. I figure that gives me a good 5 even 6 hour wiggle time so am not too nervous. Have travel insurance. I would not likely do this if coming from my home state of Colorado where it is hard to get a red eye flight or still likely to have blizzards in May. Nor would I do it to Port Canaveral where land travel takes longer from airport to Cruiseport. I have friends who cruise yearly that would never dream of flying in day before or taking out insurance and have never had an issue, though personally I feel it is only a matter of time before they get bit hard.

 

[egesicki]

Our first cruise we were blissfully unaware and flew same day. We made it, but we were really tired from two flights and the hour long bus ride to pc before we boarded. Our second cruise we planned to fly the day before and stay overnight in mia. Well mother nature blessed O'Hare with an ice storm the day before our flights, resulting in such a backlog united had to put us on American to fll instead of our planned flight to mia that was cancelled. We made it, but it was very stressful. All future trips we will for sure plan to fly the day before so we have a cushion.

 

[Donna M]

Just a side story here about pilot delays. It's true that you can always run into mechanical, weather, pilots needed their required sleep, but they can be delayed for other reasons too. On our last trip to MCO the bus we were to take to our airport, Boston, was full, they were sending a second for the extra people and believe it or not, it broke down before getting to us. We would need to wait for the next bus which would be an hour later, too late at this point to make the flight. We had a JetBlue pilot standing next to us and he said he would take his truck and had three seats. We got in! The funny part... have you been in the plane when an attendant makes the announcement that the pilot is delayed? Well, we were right there in the truck when he called in to tell them to board the plane he's on his way!