Duration of flight from Gatwick to Acapulco

[leading hand palmer]

We have booked to cruise the Panama canal on P&O Oceana from Acapulco to Barbados in February 2011 but we do not have any flight details so we are hoping a member will have done this cruise this year and could furnish us with some information regarding the flight eg time of departure from Gatwick and arrival in Acapulco the duration of flight and airlines used. As it states early morning disembarkation and an overnight flight home do we go straight to the airport and hang around there all day? We have been fortunate on other caribbean cruises to have left the ship and had our flights within 3-5 hours. I appreciate flight times may change but as we will not get any flight details until 10 weeks prior to the cruise I would welcome any information

[KenAndJulie]

Depending on the airport the flights to Acapulco seem to leave anything from late the 'night before' to early morning-midday that day (not sure about Gatwick). There is usually something like an 8 hour leg, 1-2 hour refuelling stop and a 6 hour leg (give or take an hour or so on each leg). Refuelling is often done in Ameirca so make sure you have completed an ESTA. Last time we did it our flight was delayed and we did not arrive on the ship until midnight, but I believe others arrived about midday.

 

P&O usually use Thomas Cook and Thomson Fly (sometimes use First CHoice planes). The flight is long but soon forgot about when you arrive. At Acapulco you will have to got through immigraiton checks but you do not have to collect your hold baggage (it will be automatically transferred to the ship). As you travlel to the ship sit on the left hand ide of the bus for the best views (it is about a 45 minute transfer)

 

On the way home it again depends on the time of your flight. They usually go out early afternoon to early evening. Your hold luggage will be taken off you the night before and you will not see it again until you arrive in Gatwick. If you have time avialable then you can leave hand luggage safely in the the theatre and go ashore, into town, to the beach etc. You will board the buses to Barbados airport about 3-4 hours before the flight - the transfer to the airport is about 45 minutes and you are fastpathed through security.

[OldJerseycruiser]

Have you been on your cruise personaliser on the P & O site (you will have to register if you haven't already)? We are doing this cruise in Jan 2011 and our provisional flight times are shown as 09.00hrs from Gatwick arriving at Acapulco at 19.40hrs their time and returning 18.10, arriving 06.50. This is on the travel summary.

[annieuk]

We did this trip in January from Gatwick. We were on a Thomson First Choice plane We departed Gatwick at 07.25. We arrived at Sanford, Orlando for refuelling after about 9hrs. 30 mins. We were on the ground for just under an hour - no-one allowed off but we were able to move around the plane and chat. We then had a flight from Sanford to Acapulco of about 3hrs. 45 mins. So the total flight was about 14hrs. 40 mins.

 

Some flights refuelled in other places - eg. Barbados and their journey took much longer. If you can get the early flight from Gatwick that refuels at Sanford it's worth it. Try contacting your agent and asking him to see what he can do. We are flying out to Azura in Barbados next March and have already had details of which company is being used - Thomas Cook - I would have preferred a First Choice plane but apparently both flights from Gatwick will be Thomas Cook.

 

Hope this helps. We didn't take long to get through immigration at Acapulco - the luggage goes straight to the ship - then it's straight onto buses and to the ship. We arrived during Friday rush hour so it did take us nearly an hour to get through the traffic. One tip when you get on the bus sit on the left side - facing the front - you'll then be on the good side to see the bay and the ship.

 

:)

[leading hand palmer]

I would like to thank everyone for their replies to my question regarding flight to Acapulco your answers have been extremely helpful and informative and very much appreciated. Thank you all