What's the latest time you've arrived for Boarding?

[L.W.]

We are booked on a cruise out of Miami in November (departure time 5pm).. I am wondering if a 1:45 pm flight into Fort Lauderdale is too risky of an arrival time (considering time of year and time to get from FLL to Miami port)? I read somewhere that all passengers have to be onboard 30 min prior to departure. sailing? What's the latest you've arrived for boarding?...Thanks

EOS 1999 / Maasdam 2003 / Voyager of the Seas 2004
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[Nitra]

I arrived for boarding in New Orleans about 1 hr before departure. I was already in New Orleans but we went and hung out at Harrahs before I went and got on the ship. I hate being that rushed. I like to get there early so Im not stressing. If your flight is delayed for any reason and you dont make it.. then guess what..

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Voyager of the Seas!



Voyager 10/04
Rhapsody 10/02 03/02 1/02 11/01
Elation 10/99
Grandeur 09/97

[TomCat32174]

1 Hour myself, but it was because the bus driver that was transporting passengers from different areas in Florida got arrested!!!!!

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Until Mariner of the Seas


Navigator of the Seas 11/03
Explorer of the Seas 11/02
Royal Majesty 12/95
Costa Riviera 8/89 & 12/89
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GET OUT THERE!

[Matisse05]

1:45 FLL is a little too risky for me.[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] Consider risks of delays, security issues, traffic, etc. Do you have other options like flying into Miami or flying into FLL the day before?

Good Luck!

Happy Cruisin',
BichonBabe [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Explorer 10-24-04
Navigator 12-14-02
Sea Princess 10-9-99

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10/24 Explorer of the Seas--Days until we sail!!!!

[PhoenixCruiser]

A bit too risky for us too, see if an earlier flight is available, no need to stress yourself out -- you're on vacation [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

###

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Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

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[justcruzin85374]

For us, the only way is to go a day ahead....I think your time is too risky. Missing the ship would cost you bucco bucks to catch it at the next port! Anyway you can go earlier or day ahead? Good luck.

***

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean
Majesty 95 W. Caribbean
Granduer 97 E. Caribbean
Rhapsody 00 Mexico
Vision 02 Alaska
Radiance 03 Panama Canal
Brilliance 3/29/04



Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003
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My bags are always packed!
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[kc320]

Coming from Canada, that is really cutting it close. I would come in a day early, why start your vacation under stress? Just to many factors such as weather, security, traffic that could delay your arrival and cause you to miss the boat.

Halloween on the Serenade
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[parr0thead]

I arrived a half hour after the ship was supposed to leave once. Due to heavy thunderstorms in Miami our plane had to land in West Palm Beach. When Miami was reopened, the storms were in West Palm and we couldn't take off. There we sat for 4 hours. We had booked our air through RCI and there where 6 passengers on that flight. There was another plane that was also late. They held the ship for all of us. I ALWAYS go a day ahead now!!!!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Kathy M

23 RCI Cruises and counting
2 Carnival Cruises

Mariner of the Seas 2004
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[Married on Enchantment]

If you are only leaving a three hour window to get to Miami, I have a feeling I will be standing on the deck with a strawberry daquari watching you guys running to catch the ship as we are sailing away. HA HA

Two week adventure
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RCC Voyager 11/04 (2 weeks)
HAL Maasdam 11/03 (2 weeks)
HAL Volendam 04/02
SQ Sunbird 01/00
RCC Enchantment 01/99 (my wedding)

[yarlenna]

Several years ago, we had flight delays going to Vancouver for our Ryndam cruise. Because we booked our air through the ship AND we contacted the ship agent during our layover, the ship was still waiting for us when we got there almost an hour late. They don't always hold a ship for the passengers, but this time they did, and I was glad. I could not fly down a day earlier because my job would not give me even an extra half day off. (I maxed out consecutive days vacation on that trip.)
I was told that I was very lucky because the line was under no obligation to wait for me.
The following year, my nephews were joining us for a Caribbean cruise on Imagination and they had a flight delay. They missed the ship. Even though we had purchased our air through Carnival they weren't even obligated to refund the fare for the boys's missed cruise. Eventually, they DID give us a refund for their fare only. They had tried to fly down a day early and the snowstorm that stopped them closed the airport for more than 40 hours.
From all of this I
1. Always purchase cruise insurance
2. Always travel to my debarkation port at least one day early (even if I am driving.)

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!
My gif kitties have gone to cyber heaven so that dial up cruisers don't have a problem getting their posts read.

[Travelgrrl]

I got on the Rhapsody in April with 13 minutes to spare. I wouldn't recommend it - but I was using frequent flier miles and my options were waaaaaay limited - and then we circled Houston for an hour due to a thunderstorm.

I was bawling, but did make the ship!

[gene624]

A few years ago we were delayed for some forgotten reason and got to the Sea Goddess II at the last minute. The captain, the cruise director and others were waiting for us _ There were only 70 or so people on the ship -- and we felt like idiots, but we still got to go. They always knew who we were after that!
Gene in Birmingham/
BTW a great SMALL vessel!