Fly into Miama day of cruise or day before

[cruisegirl1976]

We have always flown down the day before, I would feel to nervous to fly down the day off, plus I get an extra day of vacation. 

[lauren0309]

I would never, ever fly in the same day. Years ago we were scheduled on a flight to arrive at the ship sometime in the a.m.  We had boarded our flight and then had to get off because there was problems with the airplane door and they had to repair it. They gave us food vouchers to use in the airport and we couldnt  re board again for 2 hours. By the time we got to the ship, we were the last to board, the buffet area for lunch was closed already and we almost did miss the boat!  Very stressful flying in day of.

[gdwest]

Thanks all for your responses!  We chose flying the day before (August cruise). 

 

 

You guys are just the best!!!

 

 

[MiniChunks]

We always fly in the day before for peace of mind. A few years back we were flying out of Boston headed to Ft Lauderdale and there was a large group on our flight trying to get to Miami for their cruise that day. We had a delay from a staffing shortage that pushed us back a few hours, and all but assured this entire group would miss their cruise(the first day or two anyway). The panic and stress we watched these people suffer was not something I ever care to experience first hand. If I can't make my schedule work to fly in the day before, I likely won't book the cruise. 

Edited June 9, 2021 by MiniChunks

[dominicr]

Flying in the day before is always the best choice.  The hardest part is figuring out where to stay.   

[jean87510]

- Europe always a few days before to enjoy.

- San Juan always a few days before to enjoy.

-Florida always day of.  And always direct and always American.  And always a 5 to 7am flight.  

 

We cut it close only 1x.  Our November 2019 TA out of Barcelona.  My husband made his flight from STL to arrive at 8am the day we flew out of EWR at 10pm which is 1.5 hours from our house.  He missed his flight and finally arrived at 230pm and still had not packed for a 15 day TA.  We did make our flight.

Edited June 9, 2021 by jean87510

[soremekun]

My biggest risk was **driving** in the day before the cruise leaving from Boston going to Tampa.  It was about a 23 or so hour drive.... with only 2 drivers..... virtually nonstop (bathroom and snack breaks only).

 

Example, if the cruise departed on Saturday, I left Boston at 9am on a Friday to arrive in Tampa at about 8am that Saturday morning.  Anything could have happened that would have caused us to miss the cruise such as a car accident, flat, etc.  Never again.

[Goodtime Cruizin]

Fly in the day before. Relax. Unwind. Have dinner at Yardbirds. Enjoy your cruise. 

[leisuretraveler223]

For me, it depends on the circumstances. Doing a cruise this winter with nine of us, we are flying in the day before. When it's just the wife and I, I'll fly in day of.

 

Now, if I fly in day of, it's always a very early morning flight.  And assuming it's out of Florida, there are always a LOT of ways to get from Boston to the Florida ports if things go sideways.  Again, I won't do that with nine of us, but with two of us, I will.

 

The bigger concern for me isn't a mechanical delay or anything, it's weather.  And at least the weather that screws up flights (snow and ice), is predictable. So, if we are flying in day of, and they are talking about weather possible in the days leading up, then I'll call an audible and leave early.  I did this a few years ago. We were supposed to fly to Ft. Lauderdale on a Saturday morning for an evening sail away.  By Thursday, they were talking bad weather, so I called JetBlue and said "I don't care where you send me as long as you get me out of Boston before Saturday, and get me to Ft. Lauderdale by Saturday.  They ended up sending us down Friday afternoon. But honestly, I wouldn't have cared if they sent us to Atlanta or anywhere, as long as it was out of the weather and able to connect to Ft. Lauderdale for Saturday.

 

That's a LOT less stressful with two people, but with the nine of us, it's a hard no!

[QueensChick]

Just to add to the list of things that can go wrong…

 

Back in 2013, my Mother and I were flying on American Airlines to Antigua for a land vacation (thankfully).  When our scheduled boarding time came, the gate staff announced that there would be a delay because one of the pilots spilled coffee on the control panel in the cockpit, which then had to be switched out.

 

Yeah, spilled coffee!!!

 

Our flight was delayed 5 hours.

 

If we’d been heading to a cruise, I would have passed out! 😅

 

Fly in early, get a hotel, do some sightseeing, eat a nice dinner, relax and wake up refreshed and ready to cruise.

[DirtyDawg]

We have done it both ways. Most of the time we flew in the day before departure and relaxed, did some shopping (Florida has much better shopping than Canada) and basically started the vacation a day early. But sometimes we had no choice but to fly in the morning of the cruise so we had a plan B, just in case we missed departure, and treated it just like hitting the casino a few hours early. 🎰

 

 🎲🎲 Luckily we never rolled snake eyes with a morning flight. 😉

[The Scurvy Pirate]

Unrelated to cruising, but on point for airlines, especially flying with Covid protocols.  Last month we were flying from the east coast to the west coast with 2 connections.  1st flight was at 5:00 a.m and supposed to land out west at 1:00 p.m.  Got to the airport at 4:00 a.m. and at the gate they announce the flight was now delayed to 9:30 a.m.  We had a captain, but no crew.  Re-did all the flights and got on an 8:00 a.m. flight. Was now arriving out west at 4:00 p.m.  At the first connection, there was a 2 hour delay.  Finally boarded the plane at 11:30 and sat on the plane for an hour because we had a crew, but no captain and had to wait on one to land from a different flight. This caused my last connecting flight to change.  I eventually arrived at my destination at 11:30 at night, 10+ hours late.  If this had occurred the day of the cruise no way I could have made it.  I always arrive a day early, even when driving, which is an 8-10 hour drive to the Florida ports.

[Colorado Babe]

On our very first cruise (Norwegian/Hawaii) we flew in the day of and almost missed our cruise.  We had no idea and never thought there would be a delay.  Needless to say, never again.  We always fly in the day before.  

[boatseller]

The general advice is to fly at least one day before and it's good advice.

 

Within Florida, I drive that morning.

Within North America, I fly in the day before.

International, at least 2 days before.

 

It also depends on flight schedules and things like airline status who booked the flights.  I'd rather not, but I wouldn't be too worried about booking an same-day early AM flight to NYC because if one doesn't go, there's another one in 30 minutes.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

For US living in the UK we always fly out the day before, be it into Europe or across the pond

[KEN31VA]

To me it all depends on where the cruise first stops.  If it is somewhere that could be reached easily if you were to miss the ship, then I might take the risk.  If not, then play it safe.

[SNJCruisers]

58 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

 

-Florida always day of.  And always direct and always American.  And always a 5 to 7am flight.  

 

Jean, I would never fly out of EWR the day of a cruise.  Besides the possibilty of weather conditions during the winter and possible mechanical problems year round, getting up for a 500 am flight is asinine, IMHO.  That means who need to go to bed by 830, hope to fall asleep by 900 to get 5 hours of sleep to get up at 200 for your flight.   No thanks.  You're better than me.  I'll fly in the night before and get rest and be ready to start my vacation instead of being a zombie on day 1 of my cruise.

[Joseph2017China]

I'm a normal person.  Spent years with limited vacation time.  Almost always flew same day.  But I'm older now, have 6 weeks vacation, live in Florida and don't need flight for most of my trips.  But when I go on an international flight, I do give it an extra day.....but mostly a few days and just take a two week vacation.  But it's a luxury, that I can now do.  No matter what you do, you can be delayed.  It's not fun and it is stressful.  If you can, fly early, but don't fret over it.  Even flying a day early, does not guarantee success.  Plus I carry an annual insurance policy, so if something happens, I can still save the trip, with hassles.

[jean87510]

15 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Jean, I would never fly out of EWR the day of a cruise.  Besides the possibilty of weather conditions during the winter and possible mechanical problems year round, getting up for a 500 am flight is asinine, IMHO.  That means who need to go to bed by 830, hope to fall asleep by 900 to get 5 hours of sleep to get up at 200 for your flight.   No thanks.  You're better than me.  I'll fly in the night before and get rest and be ready to start my vacation instead of being a zombie on day 1 of my cruise.

no.  that was my flight to Barcelona pre cruise.  I normally leave from PHL for caribbean trips and EWR for the transatlantic sailings.  It was a unique situation that my husband was in STL as he had been transferred there 1 month before our cruise and 6 months after we got our air to sea tickets.  He was in the dog house the entire car ride up to the airport!

 

Husband makes the flights unfortunately and until we miss one, he will continue to do so the day of.  Its why I always get a drink after TSA.

Edited June 9, 2021 by jean87510

[jules815]

Always fly in the day before, and we still try to get as early a flight as possible so we can enjoy the day at the hotel pool or beach. 

One year we got to the hotel and learned our oldest daughter had forgotten to pack her bathing suits! Really good thing we had the extra time to do some shopping. I'll never forget that.

 

[poocher]

We were flying down for our Feb 2020 cruise on Southwest out of CT.  Mechanical problems delayed our flight SIX HOURS!!!!!  If that had been the day of the cruise, I would have had a heart attack.  I will never take the day of challenge!

[LeeW]

Direct flight from Nashville shouldn't be a big deal, although I would prefer arriving earlier than yours.  Not reasonable from farther west unless you take a red eye.  For some reason our delays have mostly been flying home after the cruise.  Wouldn't chance your flight in middle of winter.

[Sunshine3601]

If you are flying non stop and during the summer months I say the chances of your flight arriving on time are very high. 

We have done same day flights when they are short 2 or 3 hour non-stop flights and 95% of the time arrived on time or a couple hour delay.       

If you are looking to fly in winter months when snow/ice storms can be a huge factor then  wouldn't risk it and say fly in day early and relax.

 

We are booked on grandeur sailing out of Barbados this February and we opted for same day flight thru air2sea as it is a non-stop 4.5 hr flight and the ship doesn't leave port till 10 pm and we are scheduled to arrive at 12 or 1 pm.    Air2sea can coordinate things should our flight be delayed so I'm not worried.

[PTC DAWG]

I have done both out of ATL to FLL and MIA...I much prefer going in the day before IF my schedule allows.  

[taglovestocruise]

14 hours ago, matj2000 said:

I was talking about all the regular people...

We are from CA. and I consider myself regular.  Actually from way Southern CA, and we always fly in the day of sailing to FL.