Leaving From Tampa on RCCL

[BenjiRodney]

Is it possible to make a 1 pm flight out of Tampa from a RCCL cruise? I usually take a much later flight but can save several hundred with a 1pm flight.

[newbiecruiser09]

Tampa was an easy debarkation for us. We stayed and leisurely left (were staying in Tampa) and I think we were still off by 8:30. I would go for it if there is a later flight you could get on if needed.

[wants2cruise2]

I sure hope you make it because I have a 12:15 flight out of Tampa on my cruise in January and I fully expect to make that one.

[Langley Cruisers]

In another disembarkation city I would normally say yes, go for it, but Tampa is notorious for fog delays. Just a heads up. :o

[MCC retired]

Totaly safe flight time for Tampa baring any fog delay .

Fog delay and virtually no one will make any reasonable flight time .

[nolesrule]

Well, during fog season, you could be 2 days late for your flight. Ask people who were on the Ohio State cruise in February.

 

That said, if there's no fog, that's plenty of time to make a flight.

[BND]

The chance of fog is the reason we are staying overnight one day after we get back just in case. We booked a room at Shades of Green at WDW and taking the Auto Train back to VA the day after. I've read too many reviews with fog delays. We would have to be in Sanford no later than 2 pm so we figured better safe than sorry and will take the train the next day instead.

[nolesrule]

As a former resident of the area, I can tell you the fog doesn't happen nearly as frequently as people seem to believe, but when it does happen, the entire channel is shut down and the line of waiting ships backs up, resulting in a cascade of marine delays. The channel has some very tight turns, not to mention they are very protective of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge for good reason.

[thegima]

If there is fog you probably wouldn't be good on either flight but as long as everything goes as planned (which it normally does) you'll be fine.

 

Most of the times I see fog issues earlier in the year when it's still cool out. Normally that ship has sailed by april when it looks like you're going. :D

Edited August 13, 2015 by thegima

[sr4mjc]

I would be confident with 1pm in April. January is a bit more of a gamble.

 

We sailed in Dec and walked off and I was home and logged back into work by 8am. :(

[Justmekaren918]

I had no issue making my 1pm flight after my Brilliance and I will book more 1pm since I will be sailing on Brilliance next March. Have fun!

 

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[impatientlywaiting]

Is it possible to make a 1 pm flight out of Tampa from a RCCL cruise? I usually take a much later flight but can save several hundred with a 1pm flight.

 

Definitely. We were off the ship, to the airport, picked up our rental car, and had driven 2 hours south down the highway by 11:30.

[lovesthebeach2]

We cruised last November and this past April on Brilliance and both times we walked off at 7am and we were through customs in the car within 15 minutes.

[mets07]

We made an 11:25AM flight out of Tampa with hours to spare.

 

Have fun on your cruise.

[orville99]

As a former resident of the area, I can tell you the fog doesn't happen nearly as frequently as people seem to believe, but when it does happen, the entire channel is shut down and the line of waiting ships backs up, resulting in a cascade of marine delays. The channel has some very tight turns, not to mention they are very protective of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge for good reason.

 

We've done 10 cruises out of Tampa (all in December and March), and we've been delayed by fog 4 times - three on the way in, and one on the way out. 40% is a bit more than rarely if it happens to be on the cruise you're on.

[orville99]

Is it possible to make a 1 pm flight out of Tampa from a RCCL cruise? I usually take a much later flight but can save several hundred with a 1pm flight.

 

As the crow flies, there's only about 8 miles between the port and the airport, so as long as you get in at a reasonable time, you should be fine.

[SamFritz]

Made a 9:20 flight a few years ago.

 

 

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[cruisingsince94]

For me it would depend on what time of year the cruise is. Tampa has been good and bad to us regarding fog. We are doing Brilliance in March so rather than risk it we are taking a later flight than what we normally would.

[Priusprof]

Is it possible to make a 1 pm flight out of Tampa from a RCCL cruise? I usually take a much later flight but can save several hundred with a 1pm flight.

Save the money for sure!

[DarthGrady]

Is it possible to make a 1 pm flight out of Tampa from a RCCL cruise? I usually take a much later flight but can save several hundred with a 1pm flight.

 

I've never had a problem with debarking at Tampa. If you can carry your bags, you could utilize the self-assist debarkation which gets you off the ship before the guests who check their bags. That's what we tend to do, and we're usually off the ship and in the car by 8-8:30.

[MADflyer]

Just FYI for those that sail out of Tampa. The port has just released a multi-year master plan for revitalizing the port district and improving Tampa as a destination for pre and post cruise travel.

 

http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/port-tampa-bay-plan-would-dramatically-revitalize-channel-district.html