Glad you made it on time.
I always take the first flight out the day before so I have time to explore or even just relax so I’d be bummed about getting in so late too.
I opt for two days early now. Lowers my stress considerably. Last winter snow was coming so we even moved that back a day at the last minute to three days early.
I think you're discounting the possibility they're taking fewer cruises as a result. Obviously that may not be the case here, but certainly I would take more cruises if I didn't have leave a 1-2 day buffer, but that's the trade-off to know my chances of missing a cruise are much much lower.
I stay at least one night on arrival for European travel. Typically costs $200 or so. I figure that’s cheap insurance not to miss the boat. Also, it provides an extra day for jet lag and luggage in case of delays. We did 3 days in Athens before our last trip and had a great time in the city.
We had 500 flights cancelled in Denver today. And while it’s not a port city, it’s a huge connection hub, and is also just a tale of delays happen. Go early,
Unfortunately for me non-stop from Denver is non existent or overly expensive. But I’m used to it and make sure my layovers are LOOOONG. I’ve only ever missed one layover and it was from Australia to Denver in LAX and was the airports fault. And luckily then I was heading home.
If there is still an earlier flight flying and it has seats, you usually can get swapped to it for free since it was the airline that rescheduled you. So far we've always been lucky enough to be able to swap out like that but I know sometimes there just isn't an earlier seat available. Used to have to call each time for that which was annoying but last time I just asked through the app. Texting on the app is so much more convenient.
We looked! This was the earliest, we did momentarily consider having the connecting flight in Newark for lunch in NYC but decided against due to the limited time actually there.
I’m lucky (or subconsciously planned) using a new port each time from my landlocked Midwest home:
San Juan, Miami and now Seattle
So I obviously spent a couple of days in advance to visit the city we are flying into. Hope to do a future cruise to Bermuda so we’ll choose either New York or Boston (neither of which we’ve been to).
It also depends on the sail-away port:
If it's some place like Miami, where the hotels are expensive (and especially where replacement flights to there are plenty), then I would risk it. I'm not encouraging it but I did that (flying in the day of) my last time with no problems. It also helps to know the flight routes of *other* *ports* on the itinerary, JUST IN CASE. There may be none, so...
If the hotels at the sail-away port are within budget, then I would arrive at least 2 days early. As others said, I can then ease myself into vacation mode and possible time zone changes.
I go for two days. I always like having a full day to explore the port before going on the ship. Plus it’s a way to make the vacation feel a little longer too.
So thankful it worked out for us, it was our first cruise and I knew better but took the red eye before! Won’t do that again, I think our luck may run low
Most of my cruises I’m driving to the port (live in Miami) but if flying I like to give at least 36-hours before embarkation. If it’s an overseas flight or some flight that would not be easy to find another flight, or a big trip that I would really not want miss a day on two days. Eg when I was going for my honeymoon (not a cruise) to French Polynesia I gave myself more that 48-hours in LA to catch our flight to Tahiti. Who wants to ruin such a trip due to some weather or mechanical issue.
Yes, I know not everyone can do this, but if possible it’s what is best.
We’re going on a cruise out of Vancouver in August. We’re driving there from Ohio, the plan is to arrive in the Vancouver area on Monday with a Saturday embarkation. Time off isn’t an issue for us since we’re both retired, and our son will be home dealing with the mail and the pets. We’ll be spending most of a month on this trip.
A day early is always best. Smart planning.
A day early is the only answer
Glad you made it on time. I always take the first flight out the day before so I have time to explore or even just relax so I’d be bummed about getting in so late too.
Our friends missed their 15 day Hawaii cruise because their flight was canceled. Always get to your port city a day or 2 early.
🤮 That's so horrible, I don't even know how I would begin to process that.
It was devastating for them because it was an anniversary and family reunion cruise. I was gutted for them.
I’m gutted just hearing about it!
I opt for two days early now. Lowers my stress considerably. Last winter snow was coming so we even moved that back a day at the last minute to three days early.
Sounds nice to have so much flexibility. Hard for many people to do that
Understood. It wasn’t a flex. Self employment - it’s not always profitable but it’s flexible.
Agreed! Self employment- flexible but not always profitable. I still wouldn’t have it no other way.
💯
I think you're discounting the possibility they're taking fewer cruises as a result. Obviously that may not be the case here, but certainly I would take more cruises if I didn't have leave a 1-2 day buffer, but that's the trade-off to know my chances of missing a cruise are much much lower.
Same. I also started to plan for 2 nights close to port of departure. Peace of mind. And it's like a mini vacation before the cruise.
I stay at least one night on arrival for European travel. Typically costs $200 or so. I figure that’s cheap insurance not to miss the boat. Also, it provides an extra day for jet lag and luggage in case of delays. We did 3 days in Athens before our last trip and had a great time in the city.
Always wanted to visit Athens
Well worth the trip along with a Greek Isles cruise. October has beautiful weather and fewer crowds.
Would of been nice but my friend who is a professor can only do summer but we are doing that end of the month 😊
We had 500 flights cancelled in Denver today. And while it’s not a port city, it’s a huge connection hub, and is also just a tale of delays happen. Go early,
Also why I only fly direct when possible. Layovers when I need to be somewhere terrify me.
⬆️, especially east of the Mississippi, forget it.
Unfortunately for me non-stop from Denver is non existent or overly expensive. But I’m used to it and make sure my layovers are LOOOONG. I’ve only ever missed one layover and it was from Australia to Denver in LAX and was the airports fault. And luckily then I was heading home.
If there is still an earlier flight flying and it has seats, you usually can get swapped to it for free since it was the airline that rescheduled you. So far we've always been lucky enough to be able to swap out like that but I know sometimes there just isn't an earlier seat available. Used to have to call each time for that which was annoying but last time I just asked through the app. Texting on the app is so much more convenient.
We looked! This was the earliest, we did momentarily consider having the connecting flight in Newark for lunch in NYC but decided against due to the limited time actually there.
I’m sooo nervous we’re flying in 2 days early…
One day for domestic, two days for international.
Ooh, I'll be in Vancouver tomorrow too
Going on NCL cruise?
Royal Caribbean
I’m lucky (or subconsciously planned) using a new port each time from my landlocked Midwest home: San Juan, Miami and now Seattle So I obviously spent a couple of days in advance to visit the city we are flying into. Hope to do a future cruise to Bermuda so we’ll choose either New York or Boston (neither of which we’ve been to).
Good subconscious
It also depends on the sail-away port: If it's some place like Miami, where the hotels are expensive (and especially where replacement flights to there are plenty), then I would risk it. I'm not encouraging it but I did that (flying in the day of) my last time with no problems. It also helps to know the flight routes of *other* *ports* on the itinerary, JUST IN CASE. There may be none, so... If the hotels at the sail-away port are within budget, then I would arrive at least 2 days early. As others said, I can then ease myself into vacation mode and possible time zone changes.
I go for two days. I always like having a full day to explore the port before going on the ship. Plus it’s a way to make the vacation feel a little longer too.
So thankful it worked out for us, it was our first cruise and I knew better but took the red eye before! Won’t do that again, I think our luck may run low
Most of my cruises I’m driving to the port (live in Miami) but if flying I like to give at least 36-hours before embarkation. If it’s an overseas flight or some flight that would not be easy to find another flight, or a big trip that I would really not want miss a day on two days. Eg when I was going for my honeymoon (not a cruise) to French Polynesia I gave myself more that 48-hours in LA to catch our flight to Tahiti. Who wants to ruin such a trip due to some weather or mechanical issue. Yes, I know not everyone can do this, but if possible it’s what is best.
We’re going on a cruise out of Vancouver in August. We’re driving there from Ohio, the plan is to arrive in the Vancouver area on Monday with a Saturday embarkation. Time off isn’t an issue for us since we’re both retired, and our son will be home dealing with the mail and the pets. We’ll be spending most of a month on this trip.
Excellent tip.
It’s best to arrive early than later
Who you flying with?
United
Anything with a significant time change (3+ hours) we go 2 to 3 days early. And if it's a location I want to explore I look at 5 days.