Flying the day of Cruise..

[LambertLion]

I've been on 3 trips since the pandemic started, flying between MCO and two different departing airports in different cities, and haven't found the airport experience to be any more time consuming than before the pandemic. There is not anything extra to do for flights that you didn't have to do before (besides keep your mask on, but that doesn't take any time).

Also, DCL is actively selling transfers between the port and airport for upcoming cruises, so there is no reason to believe they will discontinue those transfers. Magical Express was a 24/7 operation that was complimentary for WDW resort guests, and DCL transfers are time limited to just before and after cruises, and are also on the expensive side, so there is a much different cost/benefit analysis for Disney in terms of those transfers. Disney was likely just waiting for an excuse like the pandemic to get rid of Magical Express, because on paper it looks like a money loser (regardless of how it might motivate people to stay on property).

Lucky you. I’ve been delayed a couple times.

And Disney has not put out an official policy, as i said, it is an unknown for the bus transportation to the cruise terminals. almost NOTHING is know at this point for Disney cruising and that was my entire point. Too many unknowns.

You do what you want pal. The OP asked for my advice and I gave it. They didnt ask for you to attack it. What i said is valid and stands.

 

[brewcrew]

Looks like there are many stories of cancelled flights, luggage issues and close calls making it to the cruise port when flying in the day of the cruise. Question is, do you want to take the chance? If you miss the cruise, your planned vacation is over.

 

[Cheburashka]

You do what you want pal. The OP asked for my advice and I gave it. They didnt ask for you to attack it. What i said is valid and stands.

Please don't attack a fellow poster for simply pointing out facts.

 

[hrhdhd]

Heck, I live in central Florida and usually drive to the ports in south Florida the day before a cruise departs to be about 30-45 minutes away the morning of departure. If flying, I'd never fly the day of.

 

[Toulou]

I am a believer in don't underestimate anything. I say let's start the vacation a day earlier...and stay a day later!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Imho day of cruise departure arrival is risky!
heed the warning, lol

 

[LambertLion]

Please don't attack a fellow poster for simply pointing out facts.

Not the one attacking. Just defending. You were attacking my post. Heed your own advice next time.

 

[HiStitch626]

And Disney has not put out an official policy, as i said, it is an unknown for the bus transportation to the cruise terminals. almost NOTHING is know at this point for Disney cruising and that was my entire point. Too many unknowns.

It is true that Disney has not released information about what will happen when cruises restart. However, I am 100% sure there will be transfers to and from the airport. Every cruise line does transfers. They will continue to do so. The cruise lines that have already started sailing are doing transfers.

 

[CaseyCruiser]

Looking forward to hopefully getting on a Disney Cruise around Christmas Time. Its booked so we will see

Question: I know weather is a factor depending on where you are coming from that time of year.

The earliest flight is landing in Orlando at 9:54. Currently says ship leaves 3:45 ( subject to change )

Is that enough time to get from the airport to the port? If everything went well and landed at 9:54

I am somewhat thinking maybe flying the night before and staying in a cheap disney resort but I don't know if I can get that night off work

Thanks

I have never flown in the day of my cruise but best of luck

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

We are platinum cruisers and I would never fly in the day of the cruise! We fly nonstop from sunny Hawaii and I still would never fly in the day of the cruise. just sayin".......

 

[BlueBayou]

Our recent cruises have been from a port an hour drive away from our home. We now live 3 1/2 hours away. I already have a hotel booked for our December DCL Cruise.

Growing up - beginning in the late 70s - I took 10 cruises on NCL out of Miami and Puerto Rico all in the summer coming from the Philadelphia area. NEVER did we fly out the same day of the cruise. My dad traveled by plane a lot for his job and was gone usually about 10 days out of the month. He had lots and lots frequent flyer miles - so we never booked air through the cruise line.

It was just too risky with flight delays and cancellations, when not booking with the cruise line.

It also became part of our vacation starting when we arrived at the Marriott Biscayne Bay in Miami or the Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan.

 

[Dug720]

A couple of Februarys ago, I was cruising on the Magic out of Miami and I went in a couple of days before to tour around the city (and my parents joined me the day before). I was on the second flight of the day - we ended up in an oversold situation with people on standby whose first flight out had been delayed because of equipment and/or crew and it was going to be leaving after my flight. They were able to get most of them guaranteed seats on the third flight, BUT that one wasn't going to get multiple families/groups in in time for their cruise so they were all desperate. (I was holding out for a bigger offer for delaying my flight based on the situation - it didn't come so I guess they got enough volunteers at a ridiculously low compensation rate). This flight was getting in where it would have been uncomfy for *ME* to get to the port, but these groups were ok with it once they got on the plane.

All good, right?

Well...in the American terminal, MIA has this "wing" where it is tight enough that planes have to be towed into some of the gates. And we were at one of those gates. So we landed and taxied to the area to wait for the equipment. Something went wrong getting us hooked up, and we all felt a jolt and heard a thunk. I happened to be next to a deadheadding flight attendant and she whispered to me "That's NOT good." and then went on to explain (what the pilot did a few minutes later) that there likely was no serious damage, but a crew would have to come and inspect the plane's fuselage before we could move.

Yeah...chaos ensued. LOTS of people yelling into their cell phones to the cruise lines saying "We're on the ground but can't get out of our airplane!!" and so forth. Even without the crew asking those of us without connecting flights - or cruises (added on after an earsplitting chorus of yelling after the first announcement) - to remain seated and let the others off, I'd decided I was perfectly fine chilling in my seat until the chaos was off the plane.

Now, to be fair, they *might* have made their cruises...I don't know. But it was not the way I'd want to begin what's supposed to be a relaxing vacation.

 

[sugliac]

I agree with previous posters in the sense that I suggest coming in the night before. I honestly think that there's nothing nicer than starting the trip in a relaxed headspace, which is hard to do if you are worrying about flights. I have traveled a lot during the pandemic (for work and, after my vaccination, pleasure) and I have been floored by how many super long delays I have encountered... not sure if it is COVID related or not, but it seems worse than pre-pandemic. So now I am putting in the buffer night whenever I travel just for peace of mind.

 

[Travel60]

Just this week I've had two family/friends with horror stories. One had a connecting flight ...missed due to first flight being weather delayed. Had to spend night in Seattle, then put on a flight to Eugene. Lost his rental car reservation and couldn't re-reserve because there was an NCAA tournament and no cars available. Luggage and golf clubs did not arrive for 12-18 hours. Had to hire a private car service to get to destination ($$$$), missed at least one round of golf.

Second was family traveling home from WDW. Flight scheduled out at ~1 pm left at ~10 pm, combination of weather and crews timing out. They got home at 4am.

I think the airlines are running SO THIN right now that glitches that might have caused an hour or two delay are turning it into a 6-8 hour delay.

 

[Catgirrl]

Never would I do this. Last week the weather was perfect when I left. Ended up with an 8 hr delay at DFW. If I had been cruising, the ship would have sailed without me.

 

[Cheburashka]

Never would I do this. Last week the weather was perfect when I left. Ended up with an 8 hr delay at DFW. If I had been cruising, the ship would have sailed without me.

Which airline was that?

 

[JWG]

I kind of go back to you're either going to pay more to:
- Book through Disney for the added insurance they may delay departure if you're delayed
- Get higher valued trip insurance that would cover the delay causing you to miss the ship
- Stay the night before in a hotel

I'd prefer spend that "extra" on an extra day's vacation.

 

[pjsmith67]

It is all about your comfort level. If you feel comfortable flying in the day of the cruise, then do it, even though almost everyone (including me) do not recommend it.
Same way with trip insurance. We don't usually get it but I did end up buying some travel health insurance for the 2020 WBPC trip because of the (then) potential covid pandemic. Never did that before but now I don't think I would go without it again.

 

[lorimay]

Just for information: Yesterday Southwest had technical issues causing flight delays and cancellations. They are now backed-up on todays flights.
This is why we feel safer flying in a couple days before.

 

[Hegemon]

You can check the on-time history of the flight on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics website.

There's a Bureau of Transportation Statistics?!?! I bet that job is boring, like, 96.749% of the time. A 0.42% decrease from the year before.