Time allowed after flight lands?

Question

What is the absolute minimum time needed between a flight landing and getting on a cruise?

Answer 1

You should plan your trip/flight so that you can board the cruise ship about noon.  But you also need to be aware that most cruise lines want you to be at the pier and board an hour to 90 minutes before the scheduled cruise departure time.  For example, here's what Royal Caribbean requires:

" Royal Caribbean International requires guests to be checked in no later than 60 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time*. Guests arriving late will not be permitted to sail. This supports government regulations in some ports that require cruise lines to submit a departure manifest 60 minutes prior to sailing. Guests are requested to complete Online Check-In no later than 3 days prior to the cruise in order to expedite the pier check-in process."

This is what Holland America requires:

" New U.S. government security regulations require us to submit certain guest information to law enforcement authorities at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this requirement, we must have the necessary information in our records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not have your information by this deadline, you will be unable to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port."

This is from Carnival Cruise line:

"Government regulations for U.S. departure ports require that a final departure manifest is submitted 60 minutes prior to departure. Guests must provide us with the required information prior to embarkation. The easiest and most convenient way is to complete our FunPass on line registration process (www.carnival.com/mycruise) at least (3) three days prior to departure. Guests that do not complete the registration process prior to embarkation are required to check-in at least 90 minutes prior to the published sailing time."

This is for Norwegian Cruise Line:

" In order to facilitate the embarkation process, guests are requested to complete the online Advance Guest Registration form at least four (4) days prior to sailing. To comply with new government regulations governing departure manifests, all guests who have completed their online Advance Guest Registration at least four (4) days prior to sailing must complete check-in at the cruise terminal and be onboard the ship no later than one (1) hour prior to the departure time noted on their cruise documents or they will not be permitted to sail. Guests who have not completed their online Advance Guest Registration form at least four (4) days prior to sailing will be required to complete check-in at the cruise terminal at least two (2) hours prior and be onboard the ship no later than one (1) hour prior to the departure time noted on their cruise documents or they will not be permitted to sail. Any late arriving guests may join the ship at an approved port of call in the scheduled cruise itinerary. Such guests will be responsible for all applicable fees and travel expenses to that subsequent port of call."

The amount of time that you need to get from the Airport to the ship will vary by the airport you land at and the cruise port you leave from.  If you are leaving from Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and you fly into the Ft Lauderdale airport you will need about 20 to 30 minutes to get to the port.  Its about the same if you fly into San Diego and then cruise out of there.  But if you fly into Miami airport and cruise out of the port in Miami you need at least 45 minutes but closer to an hour.  The same with flying into LA and cruising out of Long Beach.

I suggest that you look at this web link showing directions to the port:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersu...

and then maybe do a Google or Mapquest search for driving directions and it will also give you driving time (which would also apply to a taxi or bus).

Answer 2

Think about how much time you need.

You have to be on board 60 minutes before sailing time.

You have to go through the boarding process.

You have to get from the airport to the cruise terminal.

You have to find your transport.

You have to (if you are flying in from another country, clear Immigration / Customs) collect your baggage.

I would allow, at the very minimum, three hours and even that would depend on the time of day (traffic, distance from airport to cruise terminal, getting baggage without a problem).

Arriving early is much better, you start your cruise relaxed and you have time to explore the boat and maybe have something to eat and drink before sailing time.

Enjoy your cruise.    

Answer 3

I wouldn't even try this without at least two hours if I had checked baggage and had to take a cab to the boat.

Answer 4

I would say 2 hours is the minimum time. I always book my flights for early morning or if it is a long flight, the day before. Booking it the day before gives you a lot of peace of mind. I once went on a cruise during the winter and there was a terrible snow storm in Colorado. Lots of Colorado people missed the cruise. If they had come a day or two early, everything would have been OK. The sooner you are able to get on the ship, the sooner your vacation starts if you know what I mean.