Flying out of New York (JFK) question

[bmwjeanne]

We are sailing out of New York this fall on the Canada & New England cruise. Have never been to New York before. Live in California. I am looking into flights and have one airline flying out of New York to Calif. at 11:29 am. Do you think this would be cutting it to close after disembarking the ship? Not sure what the distance is from the dock to the airport. I'm sure we can get an early time off the ship, but don't want to cut it too short. Any ideas--would appreciate the input.:)

[luvtheships]

If you get off the ship by 730 and have a driver waiting you should make it

 

Of course you need to be sure customs is open to pass you thru

 

Also is it a workday? If so. 2 hours should be ok

 

If course the ship can't be delayed and it probably won't be

 

It is hurricaine season and after Sandy who knows what this season will bring

 

Do buy travel insurance though

 

What about a day in NYC post cruise?

Just making a few points but I honestly think you will be fine even with the security at the airport just have a driver waiting get off as early as possible around 730 the latest would be my guess and you should be to the airport by 9

 

 

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Edited July 15, 2014 by luvtheships

[bmwjeanne]

Thanks for the info. Still need to think about it. Don't want to sit in the airport for hours waiting for the next flight to LAX--then a two hour drive to our home. Will be spending four days in NYC before boarding our ship on Saturday. So looking forward to it. Anyone from NYC have any recommendations for a restaurants near Broadway & 49th? Thanks!

[meatball_nyc]

Personally, I wouldn't book a flight before 1pm but that's just me.

I would recommend Carmine's restaurant on 44th St. Crowded and loud, it's a true NYC experience.

Have fun!

 

 

~Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

[mking8288]

OP, I'm assuming that you are sailing on the GEM to Canada/New England this Fall (that's thru beginning/mid September) and I echo what's been said, book your flight after 1 PM to be safe. Don't know what non-stop & airline you are looking at, but almost all of the JFK terminals have seen upgrades & improvement and it ACTUALLY isn't bad to spend a little time relaxing insteading of rushing thru TSA security and mad dash for the boarding gate - plus, if you aren't experienced FT's with status & pre-check, doing the semi-automated bags drop at the check-in kiosk can still be slow with long lines. JFK isn't as bad as LAX but if you have a few international departures in the terminal checking in, you know how "fun" that can be with the clock running out on you. :eek:

 

We haven't done a Canada cruise out/into NYC in a while but it can be delayed sometimes with CBP, as all non-USA travelers usually MUST be cleared on the ship (usually one of the designated lounges, starting around 7 AM - AFTER the ship is docked & CBP boarded) first before ANY passengers can be permitted to be off the ship, starting with the Express Self-Walkoff groups, which typically are numbered in the hundreds, few hundreds (up to the maximum permitted size). Unlike Bermuda & Caribbean sailings, where we are typically off the ship as early as 8:45 AM with more leisurely Priority Disembarkation (luggage inside the terminal for pickup) & Express ones off to the taxi stand/car service pickup before 8 AM - Canada cruises are known to start much later, maybe 8:30 or 9 AM and by the time it's your turn to walk thru that LONG termina building & out to the Avenue to hail (wait in line) a cab or meet up with the car service - it would be 9 or 9:30 AM, possibly later.

 

Weather permitting, the ride to JFK is about 60 minutes to 90 minutes on average, depending on traffic & road conditions, and which route is taken - usually via Queens Midtown Tunnel plus a $7.50 cash toll ($5.33 with EZ-Pass) - assuming that there are no street closure in midtown Manhattan due to popular Street Fairs often held on weekends & possibly the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders & the POTUS coming to town, with its resulting frozen zones, moving roadblocks and traffic diversion due to various police motorcades & escorts.

 

Ideally, you can be off the ship by 8:30 AM, 15 minutes thru CBP and 15 minutes to get into the taxi / car service, and a 60 minutes ride to JFK with very light traffic - and 15 minutes to get thru check-in/bags drop & clear security - leaving you less than 60 minutes to get to your gate. Airlines typically begin boarding the aircraft by zone/group #'s and by status at T-25 minutes or 30 minutes/more for wide-bodied jumbo's as everybody is trying to not check (and pay for) luggage & dragging their rollers & spinners onto the main cabin with limited overhead storage bin space or squeeze those "oversized" personal bags into the smaller space under the seat in front of each pax. If you aren't there at T-15, your seat assignment is gone & you might not be able to board - especially on a full/oversold flight.

 

If your cruise is delayed to 8:50 AM for disembarkation, 20 minutes thru CBP and another 20 minutes to begin the long trip to JFK (9:30 AM by then) and run into traffic/road/weather conditions - taking 75 minutes to reach JFK's terminal curbside. By the time you get thru TSA security screening & assumed that you travel light & go straight to the gate, without checking luggage with OLCI and MBP (Mobile Boarding Pass) on a smartphone - it would be around 11 AM and by the time you make your way thru a busy airport's terminal to the gate, half of the pax. flying would've been seated.

 

You would've missed the time of making a bathroom stop, picking up your meal/snacks for that 6 hours TSCON flight (coming off a nice cruise, you COULD buy a cold lunch box for $10 each - in limited supply, I supposed: onboard - credit card only) and catching your breath.

 

A long winded story tale of what if's - it's your choice & decision to make. Airlines have scaled back their schedule on these coast-to-coast nonstop flights, and it stinks to spend more time inside the airport just to squeeze into those narrow-bodied tin can to fly across the "pond" sharing 2 micro toilet closet with 100+ strangers. Odd's are 50/50 you will make the 11:30 AM flight but what will it COST you if you missed the flight - make sure your travel insurance cover these conditions (cruiseline might NOT, check the fine prints) as the next available flight might be overbooked/sold out & even if the carrier will honor your ticket by invoking the "flat tire rule" - you will be biting nails hanging out at the gate - on a standby basis if there are no-shows.

 

Good luck & happy cruising !

[bmwjeanne]

Thank you Mking8288 for the information. Appreciate it. Now will probably book a later flight. Don't want to get stressed out after being on a relaxing cruise.