Can I book a flight home 4 hrs after ship docks in port

[ekrx]

Hi

 

I need help.

We are arriving on Regal Princess back to Fort Lauderdale on 2/9 at 7am 

I would like to book a flight home from  Fort lauderdale airoport at 11am

I think its enough time if we are going to ask for first disembarkation.

Just need an opinion of an expert that there is enough time for me to make my flight

 

Thanks in advance

 

[klfrodo]

Expert? Don't you know that we're all experts? lol

 

I can only share my experience. I was sitting in the gate area by 8:30AM for a 10:35 flight.

However, I had a lot going for me. Suite guests with escorts off the ship. No lines for Customs/Immigrations. Taxi waiting outside. First Class seating, so no line to check luggage, TSA pre-check so no line at airport for security.

 

Will YOU make it?  I have no idea

Edited December 16, 2019 by klfrodo

[navybankerteacher]

Of course you can BOOK the flight.  The question should be: can you make it?  Most probably yes - although the line probably advises not to book anything before noon. 

 

There always can be problems: delayed return, many ships in port that morning, immigration delays, etc.

 

If I had a choice, I would prefer to book something at noon or 1:00, but if the next available flight was not until several hours later, I would go with the 11:00 - and make sure I requested early debarkation.

[capriccio]

OP - I agree with everyone else that barring totally unforeseen circumstances an 11 am flight shouldn't be a problem.  In fact I am looking at flights on EZAir (Princess' air program) and the earliest flight time offered on disembarkation day is 11 am. 

[franktown]

I booked with Princess EzAir last February and they booked me on a flight that left at 11:05.  I was at the airport at 8:30 and waiting at the gate at 9:15

[trish1c]

I have the same answer every time somebody asks this Q.  Don't look at the wheels up time for your flight.  Look at what time you have to be at the AP.  Do you think you can make it by 9:30?  What if there is a delay coming back to port?  What if there's a problem with customs?  What if there is an accident on the road to the AP?  What if you are not the 1st off the ship?   How many ships will be in port that day in Fort Lauderdale & Miami?  

 

There is a reason the cruise lines recommend a flight after 1 p.m.   It's your choice but after a lovely vacation why add more stress?  

[sanger727]

Just me speaking for myself, I would book that flight. I find sitting around the ship/airport with nothing to do for hours almost as bad as the stress of making an earlier flight. You will be fine with 11 unless there is a crazy delay.  It really depends on what your next option for a flight home would be.  I would plan to walk off the ship with my luggage early.

[FlyerTalker]

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

I find sitting around the ship/airport with nothing to do for hours almost as bad as the stress of making an earlier flight.

 

I find it very interesting that so many of the same folks who enjoy sitting back and reading a book onboard ship somehow now find that sitting at the airport (where they could read that book) is so dreadful.

[sanger727]

2 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

I find it very interesting that so many of the same folks who enjoy sitting back and reading a book onboard ship somehow now find that sitting at the airport (where they could read that book) is so dreadful.

 

Well, a lounge chair in the sun is quite a bit more comfortable than a airport terminal chair inside with the noise

[Elaine5715]

There is a reason airlines price flights before recommended cruise line times cheaper.  Those same day change fees make they a fortune.

[JohninDC]

On 12/15/2019 at 8:38 PM, ekrx said:

Hi

 

I need help.

We are arriving on Regal Princess back to Fort Lauderdale on 2/9 at 7am 

I would like to book a flight home from  Fort lauderdale airoport at 11am

I think its enough time if we are going to ask for first disembarkation.

Just need an opinion of an expert that there is enough time for me to make my flight

 

Thanks in advance

 

As mentioned above, for an 11:00 flight you need to be at FLL by about 9:30 - and closer to 9:00 is better given the usual TSA chaos.  But the cab/Uber/Lyft ride from PE to FLL only takes about 10+ minutes, so as long as you are off the ship, with bags, and clear of customs/immigration by about 8:45 you should easily make the flight.  You can speed up the process by securing a low number or carrying your bags off the ship.

 

Have a great cruise! 😎

[DaveOKC]

On 12/15/2019 at 7:38 PM, ekrx said:

Hi

 

I need help.

We are arriving on Regal Princess back to Fort Lauderdale on 2/9 at 7am 

I would like to book a flight home from  Fort lauderdale airoport at 11am

I think its enough time if we are going to ask for first disembarkation.

Just need an opinion of an expert that there is enough time for me to make my flight

 

Thanks in advance

 

What time does Princess start the disembarkation process?  It may or may not be 7 am.  If its 7 am, you should be fine with an 11 am flight.  If its more like 8 am, you will be fine UNLESS something delays it (we had an hour delay last Saturday).  From the time we get off the ship (in Port Everglades) until we get our luggage, clear Customs, taxi to FLL, airline checkin, security process and walk to the gate, it normally takes us aout 60-90 minutes (this assumes it is early before the cruiseline crowds hit the airport en mass).

[GCHAN]

On 20th of November our ship docked at 7am and we were at the airport by around 8am. We were in the first 30 people off the boat and breezed through customs and caught a taxi. We then had quite a wait for our 10am Southwest Airlines flight.

 

We had booked a later flight but the flight times changed so we decided to risk the 10am flight. As it turned out it was no trouble at all. Obviously everything went perfectly for us and we made sure we lined up early to get off the ship.

 

The only thing I was a bit annoyed about was the Taxi fare. The driver didn't turn his meter on and just had a fixed price of $32 for 4 people.  If there is time I would consider using Lyft or Uber as I think that would be better value.