When do you plan to arrive at the cruise port???

Question

When you go on a cruise do you typically plan to arrive at the cruise departure port the day of the cruise or a day or two early? and Why?

Answer 1

If we are cruising out of the USA, we always plan to arrive a day early and overnight near the port arranging air and hotel seperately. I have used the cruise air once, flying from UK to Miami. The flight from UK to US was fine, only 2 hour layover in London. The flight back went from Miami to New York to London to Edinburgh with all the layovers. Never again.

If we are cruising from a European port like Venice, Palma or Barcelona, we usually use the cruise line air, which gets us in on the  day of sailing.  

Answer 2

a day early is always best for me.  that gives me some breathing room.

also getting transfers gives some peace of mind.

Answer 3

I personally fly in a day before sailing .  I think  that it helps me to know that we are not going to miss the ship . With the way the airlines are flying these days , you just never know .  The same thing with going out of Europe . You would want to get rid of your jet-lag .  Right ? .

Answer 4

I always fly in a day ahead of time, both to the US and Europe. I just don't want to be rushing as soon as the plane lands.  

For our last cruise, the plane was delayed so long that, had we flown in the day of the cruise, we would have been too late and missed the ship.

Answer 5

I always try to fly in the day before embarkation.  It just makes whole day much more relaxed.  If your flight is canceled or delayed by flying in a day or two before, you lessen any chances of missing the ship.

We've cut it close a couple times, when we flew in the same day, and it's just not worth it.  

Answer 6

First off, thanks for all the advice you have posted on cruising. I went on my first cruise in July. We were leaving out of San Juan so we flew in the day before to take in the city. We then got to the ship as late as possible without being morons. We used that day to tour the city and checked our bags on the street near the dock. All my family members were standing in line for ever while we were checking out the city.  Otherwise you're just standing in line waiting with everyone else. Why are you asking questions, you're the cruise dude!!!  

Answer 7

If I'm driving to the port I arrive there about an hour or so before they usually let us board. I'd rather be there at the port waiting for them to let us board, then sitting in traffic on the highway waiting impatiently to get to the port. I'm going on a cruise out of Manhattan on the 23rd, and I live in Central New Jersey, and the port is about an hour and half from where I live. The ship before mine comes in at 10am and my ship leaves at 4pm. They say that they allow you on the ship around 12:30.  I'm going to leave my house around 9:30, so I'm anticipating to get there around 11. It's really early consdering we wont be able to board for an hour and a half, but it assures me that we're going to have plently of time and wont be rushed.

In March of 2007, I flew to Miami, FL to cruise. We flew in the afternoon before, because we wanted to ensure that there were no delays in the flights so that we didn't miss our cruise. I always say that it's good to be a day early so that you don't miss the cruise and have to catch up with it at the first port of call. If there are any delays are anything it would have been ok, because we were there a day early and didn't need to rush.

I've never flown from the East Coast to the West coast although if I did I would definitely fly in a day and a half to 2 day early with the connecting flights, and luggage, delays etc just like you said. The very last thing that I would want on top of paying for the cruise and the flights would be to pay to catch up with the ship at its first port of call.

Answer 8

From the Midwest in Winter/Spring, always the day before. There are just too many ways you can get delayed. Not only weather, but mechanical problems, flight crew shortages, and being bumped due to an oversell. Also, I am just exhausted after fighting through airports.  

Answer 9

Both cruises we've been on we arrived in Miami the morning of the cruise. But we were so rushed at the last cruise because we left one bag at home so we swore that for our next cruise we would absolutely go in the day before. And we're on the same coast as our cruise. If we were crossing coasts or going to Europe I might even go in a few days early just in case.  

Answer 10

im in ohio so always the day before. the last west coast cruise i took we left two days before to explore cali. we always like to relax the day before  anyways that way we are not rushed .

our next cruise is a 4 hour drive to baltimore, we are just gonna wake up at 5 a that day drive to fams house get lunch with them, and then have them drop us off. first time we are driving to port and first day day before, but we know the area and we are giving plenty of time

Answer 11

usually the day of the cruise cause you dont want to have to wait to depart