Carnival canceled my cruise/ what now

[repogirl49]

Was set to go on Spirit 1/15/2011, cruise cancelled! New choice is 1/14/2011 but I already had airplane reservations. Question do I take chance and fly in at 11:00 AM on 1/14/2011, ship leaves at 4:00 or do I change flight for the day before and pay $186.00 penalty. Carnival say's they will give me OBC for the $186.00, but I already have $300.00 in OBC. So do I take a chance and keep my original flight or play it safe and come in the day before? Julie G.

[firefly333]

I think Id fly in the day before, especially since Carnival will pay up to $200 for changing your plane fare.

 

If you cant spend the money, people have posted directions on how to take the money out of your players bank in the casino. Wait to book all your excursions until you get on the ship so they come out of OBC and tips.

[Essiesmom]

Take the OBC and fly in the day before, for peace of mind. Be glad they are offering it! EM

[catne]

I wouldn't risk it in January - fly in the day before. I know when we flew to Tampa last January, our plane out of Omaha was more than an hour late taking off due to back-up on de-icing equipment. Luckily we were booked through on the same plane so it didn't mess our plans up too much, but can tell you people at the two stops -Chicago & Nashville-were pretty hot about how late the flight from Omaha was. Some of them missed their connection at the next stop, and at least one group was very upset because they missed their connection in Chicago to fly on to a Disney cruise/land vacation. That kind of miss happens so often in the winter...only one location has to have bad weather to set up domino effect on everywhere else.

[mom2boys97]

If they are willing to pay for it come in the day earlier what do u have to lose? plus u get a longer cruise, seems like a win win for u...

[spencercoop]

They will give you a check for the amount of OBC you have left at the end of your cruise.

[lollylew]

If you want, you can chance it. One advantage is that the SD airport is SERIOUSLY close to the port. While on the Elation last September, we could see the airplanes landing and taking off. What time does your flight come in? You might want to check if it connects anywhere that might be affected by weather. If the flight is a straight shot, I would do it. Also, isn't it true that any OBC you don't use will be refunded to you on the last night? Or has Carnival stopped doing this? :confused:

 

ETA: Guess spencercoop answered that question!!

[willyguy]

If I was you come in a day early.

[spencercoop]

If you want, you can chance it. One advantage is that the SD airport is SERIOUSLY close to the port. While on the Elation last September, we could see the airplanes landing and taking off. What time does your flight come in? You might want to check if it connects anywhere that might be affected by weather. If the flight is a straight shot, I would do it. Also, isn't it true that any OBC you don't use will be refunded to you on the last night? Or has Carnival stopped doing this? :confused:

 

ETA: Guess spencercoop answered that question!!

 

The OP's flight comes in at 11:00 am.

[marvlgirl]

If the flight lands here in SD at 11am you are golden. The port is a five min taxi ride from the airport. Totally doable!! Also we are talking San Diego, we hardly ever have bad weather in January MAYBE a little rain but man that is seriously doubtful

[spencercoop]

Was set to go on Spirit 1/15/2011, cruise cancelled! New choice is 1/14/2011 but I already had airplane reservations. Question do I take chance and fly in at 11:00 AM on 1/14/2011, ship leaves at 4:00 or do I change flight for the day before and pay $186.00 penalty. Carnival say's they will give me OBC for the $186.00, but I already have $300.00 in OBC. So do I take a chance and keep my original flight or play it safe and come in the day before? Julie G.

 

Since Carnival is going to pay for the fee to change your ticket, I would fly into San Diego the day before. You don't want to be stressed out and worried about making your cruise on time. Come in the day early and enjoy a day in San Diego.

[tiger belle]

I agree with firefly and spencercoop

[Oscar_the_Grouch's_Sis]

DEFINITELY come a day early! Anything could happen to delay your plane! ... See, almost everyone is in agreement. I was on a plane that had to sit on a runway before. I was stressed out and I wasn't even on a schedule where I had to be somewhere! :D Being stressed is no way to start a fun time!

 

Take the OBC. If you don't use it you will get a refund (like everyone says)

[Cuizer2]

If the flight lands here in SD at 11am you are golden. The port is a five min taxi ride from the airport. Totally doable!! Also we are talking San Diego, we hardly ever have bad weather in January MAYBE a little rain but man that is seriously doubtful

 

That is the whole point. If the flight lands at 11am the OP is fine. The question is, in January, what are the chances that the flight will be late? And if it is late, how late will it be? The ship leaves at 4:00pm which means the OP has to be on board by 2:30pm. So the flight needs to land by 1:30pm (the OP has to wait for the luggage, get a taxi, ride to the port (which I know is close), pay the taxi, and then get inside the terminal. So we will allow one hour for that. So the OP has only a 2 1/2 hour window. A flight that is 2 1/2 hours late in January is not that unusual.

 

If Carnival is willing to pay the cost for you to change flights, then I would do that. This is also a good example of why it is not a good idea to buy non-refundable tickets so far out. Mid January is not a high travel time (like Thanksgiving and Christmas are), so there is no reason to buy non-refundable tickets so far in advance.

[firefly333]

If the flight lands here in SD at 11am you are golden. The port is a five min taxi ride from the airport. Totally doable!! Also we are talking San Diego, we hardly ever have bad weather in January MAYBE a little rain but man that is seriously doubtful

 

YOU may hardly have bad weather ... but wherever the OP is flying in from (looks like Texas) may have winter weather or cross bad weather. I know snow is unusual in Texas but we set all kinds of snow records this year, so I still wouldnt take the chance for a winter flight.

[Cuizer2]

YOU may hardly have bad weather ... but wherever the OP is flying in from may have winter weather or cross bad weather.

 

Or the plane might be coming from Chicago, or not coming from Chicago (whatever the case may be).

 

I've flown from Texas to California and been three hours late and I've flown from Atlanta to California and been six hours late. I remember watching a bunch of people board a plane that was three hours late because of a head wind and some other problem. Things happen and planes can be late. If you have a 24 hour window you are much better off then if you only have a two hour window.

[MrCo9]

Unless you're flying out of Dallas where 1# of snow can close the aiport for 2 days and you have a non-stop flight you should be ok. Arriving in SD at 11:00 means you're leaving a Texas airport about 9:30 am and that is quite possibly the fisrt flight of the day. It came in the night before, it has been cleaned, fueled and the mechanics have had a chance to look it over. Coming in the day of the cruise saves you from having to pay for a hotel, which in SD can be pricey in January when the rest of the country is in desperate need of some CA sunshine.

[Fun, Fun 44]

Wouldn't be worth the risk to me........go a day early!!

Enjoy SD!

Kat

[Cuizer2]

Unless you're flying out of Dallas where 1# of snow can close the aiport for 2 days and you have a non-stop flight you should be ok. Arriving in SD at 11:00 means you're leaving a Texas airport about 9:30 am and that is quite possibly the fisrt flight of the day. It came in the night before, it has been cleaned, fueled and the mechanics have had a chance to look it over. Coming in the day of the cruise saves you from having to pay for a hotel, which in SD can be pricey in January when the rest of the country is in desperate need of some CA sunshine.

 

The cruise port is in downtown San Diego. Most downtown hotels are geared for business travelers and are expensive. But go a few miles north of downtown (such as Hotel Circle) and the rates become a lot more reasonable.

[lillian marie]

I would definately come in a day early. I have to fly a lot for work and the weather in the midwest in winter is just not predictable. I have had flights cancelled, delayed etc. You could easily spend your on board credits. Buy a piece of jewerly or a painting as a special future birthday or holiday gift for yourself or a loved one. It will bring life long memories.

[SMSACE6]

I would also fly in the day before, and take the extra on board credit. I know I could find a way to spend it.:D Go and have a great time.:)

[big_duck]

I would also fly in the day before, and take the extra on board credit. I know I could find a way to spend it.:D Go and have a great time.:)

 

It's not extra, it is a wash.

[jks336]

Was set to go on Spirit 1/15/2011, cruise cancelled! New choice is 1/14/2011 but I already had airplane reservations. Question do I take chance and fly in at 11:00 AM on 1/14/2011, ship leaves at 4:00 or do I change flight for the day before and pay $186.00 penalty. Carnival say's they will give me OBC for the $186.00, but I already have $300.00 in OBC. So do I take a chance and keep my original flight or play it safe and come in the day before? Julie G.

 

take the obc use it for excursions, shopping etc. and go in the day before would be a good choice. but as long as everything goes right, and the airlines do what their supposed to do, then that would be fine. but again, can't count onthe airlines to keep their schedule or if the weather decides to act up.

[crewsweeper]

Was set to go on Spirit 1/15/2011, cruise cancelled! New choice is 1/14/2011 but I already had airplane reservations. Question do I take chance and fly in at 11:00 AM on 1/14/2011, ship leaves at 4:00 or do I change flight for the day before and pay $186.00 penalty. Carnival say's they will give me OBC for the $186.00, but I already have $300.00 in OBC. So do I take a chance and keep my original flight or play it safe and come in the day before? Julie G.

While I'm a proponent of always flying in the day before, if your flight is direct, nonstop, originating at your airport and you're coming from somewhere in Texas other than DFW or Love, which can get snow in January, you could take the risk. Any arrival before 2 PM will still get you and your luggage to the ship in plenty of time. A delay til 3PM could even work but would certainly be pushing it if you have to wait for your bags.

[momofzeke]

Go the day before! We flew from Oregon to San Diego this past February for a cruise on the Spirit. Our flight was delayed several hours because of weather in San Diego....it had been very rainy for a few days there and I think it was some type of fog or poor visibility that was preventing planes from landing. I was very glad it was the day BEFORE the cruise or I would have been so stressed out!

 

Yes, the airport is super close to the cruise terminal. But I would still go the day before. Holiday Inn at the Port is a great hotel and is literally right across the street from the cruise terminal. You can walk very easily, unless you have tons of luggage to carry. Get a room on the port side of the hotel and you can almost reach out and touch the ship from your balcony the morning of the cruise.