Am I crazy to try to do this? Back to back but not the same ship or the same port.

[cuterlmt]

We've had a cruise scheduled for 1/9 out of San Juan since cancellations began. Hubby got an offer (his first one!) for a cruise in January, February or March next year and I found two possibilities, 1/3 from Miami or Orlando, returning 1/8. Since they are still testing at the port, and I shouldn't have any travel declaration or extra paperwork to do from the first cruise, will it be doable? Return to Miami/Orlando and fly to San Juan? I looked at flights and it looks like I can find a flight late enough to do it, although I'd have to change my flights to San Juan and add a middle flight.

Any thoughts on my craziness? I would schedule it later but work will be slow during this time, beginning of the new year and will be picking up when we return from San Juan.

Anyone tried to do this? 

[a1betpr]

That seems entirely rational to me.  Brilliant, even.  I say do it.  

[Sthrngary]

That is a horrible idea.  Why, I can't join you.  Go for it.  Enjoy it and it is so nice you have the option.  What a way to cruise again. Bravo.

[dbrown84]

This sounds fun.  You can't find a second cruise in San Juan?  I'm asking because I just got two comp cruises from a couple of casinos, and I'm looking to use them on 1/23 and 1/30 out of San Juan.  It's great because it's the same ship, but two different itineraries 

[cuterlmt]

the comp cruise my husband got is very limited - no San Juan, otherwise that would be

easy. It's from Miami, Orlando, LA, and somewhere else I can't remember. The only ones that will work are 5 dayers from Miami or Orlando, and not a long flight from there to San Juan.... Love that you all are such avid cruisers  like me.....

[bchillin]

Go for it! We once disembarked from RCL in Ft.  Lauderdale in the AM, then embarked NCL in Miami same day.  That was pre-pandemic.  

[bchillin]

Just remembered I also took a five day out of Miami , flew to San Juan, took a cruise the following day from there …so no you are not crazy, ☺️

[vswan]

The one comment I would have is to check the flight schedules from Miami and Orlando and choose the 5 day that departs from the port/airport that has them most flights into San Juan.

 

Right now we have a cruise booked out of Port Canaveral and am trying to figure out if we should add on another after but would be departing from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, or even Tampa. Would be great if we could board the next day, but looks like most depart the day we debark. Would be possible if we had a rental car booked and carried luggage off the ship, but there is always the traffic situation. Haven't yet made a final decision.

[BermudaBound2014]

It appears I'm the only one who doesn't like this idea. Traveling now requires lots of flexibility, not just with cruises but also with flights. We don't know how things will pan out with the airlines after the deadline to have all airline employees vaccinated (or exempt). The airlines are working with a paper thin staff as it is and it doesn't take much to have catastrophic domino effect delays (think SWA and American last month). It appears approximately 40% of TSA agents are still not vaccinated.  Most travel sites are warning of significantly increased delays and cancellations for the holiday season and you are traveling immediately after. Not to mention the possibilities of changes to covid testing for cruising. Is it possible for you to change your San Juan cruise to do a B2B out of the same port in Florida?

 

I may have done this pre-covid, but not now. Way too many moving parts for me.

 

 

[AKR2011]

@mitsugirly did this back in 2014 with a day in between. Her double review is one of my favorites.

 

Here is Part I- Sun:

Part II - Sky: 

 

 

[victory2020]

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

It appears I'm the only one who doesn't like this idea. Traveling now requires lots of flexibility, not just with cruises but also with flights. We don't know how things will pan out with the airlines after the deadline to have all airline employees vaccinated (or exempt). The airlines are working with a paper thin staff as it is and it doesn't take much to have catastrophic domino effect delays (think SWA and American last month). It appears approximately 40% of TSA agents are still not vaccinated.  Most travel sites are warning of significantly increased delays and cancellations for the holiday season and you are traveling immediately after. Not to mention the possibilities of changes to covid testing for cruising. Is it possible for you to change your San Juan cruise to do a B2B out of the same port in Florida?

 

I may have done this pre-covid, but not now. Way too many moving parts for me.

 

 

I was thinking the same thing, too many things can go wrong in this covid era. 

[The Traveling Man]

5 hours ago, vswan said:

The one comment I would have is to check the flight schedules from Miami and Orlando and choose the 5 day that departs from the port/airport that has them most flights into San Juan.

 

Great advice.  We have flown several times this year and have been lucky that none of our flights were severely delayed, but we always allowed extra time and had a plan B, just in case.  As long as your departure airport has several more departures for San Juan scheduled for later in the day, or for early the next day, you should be OK.  Enjoy your vacation (but be sure to buy travel insurance for the second cruise!)

Edited November 21, 2021 by The Traveling Man

[tinkr2]

I have done this twice. I hopped off a ship in Miami, dashed to the airport and caught a flight to Grenada for the next cruise .Not going to lie, it was al little stressful but I don't regret it. Just be first off ship walking your luggage.

I also just did that in Europe. Left Jade in Greece and flew to Rome and caught Epic.

[tinkr2]

On 11/21/2021 at 7:58 AM, vswan said:

The one comment I would have is to check the flight schedules from Miami and Orlando and choose the 5 day that departs from the port/airport that has them most flights into San Juan.

 

Right now we have a cruise booked out of Port Canaveral and am trying to figure out if we should add on another after but would be departing from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, or even Tampa. Would be great if we could board the next day, but looks like most depart the day we debark. Would be possible if we had a rental car booked and carried luggage off the ship, but there is always the traffic situation. Haven't yet made a final decision.

You would be perfectly fine. There is almost zero way you would not make it if you left the ship by 8am. Most Florida residents drive the day of to ports. Just make sure the car rental agency is open.

[BermudaBound2014]

1 minute ago, tinkr2 said:

 

I also just did that in Europe. Left Jade in Greece and flew to Rome and caught Epic.

 

Same day departure on Epic or did you overnight in Rome? 

[tinkr2]

Just now, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Same day departure on Epic or did you overnight in Rome? 

yes I needed to add that. I had a choice of trying to make Barcelona or have time in Rome. I chose to have no pressure and flew to Rome. so slightly different. But my first example was the same but precovid.

 

[BermudaBound2014]

Just now, tinkr2 said:

yes I needed to add that. I had a choice of trying to make Barcelona or have time in Rome. I chose to have no pressure and flew to Rome. so slightly different. But my first example was the same but precovid.

 

 

Thanks for replying.... I was about to give you the "most adventurous" award lol. 

 

It's the airlines that give me pause, especially trying to get to SJU for a same day departure in the winter no less. The airlines offered lots of buy outs during covid and can't replace staff at the rate needed and they are loosing additional staff due to the vaccine mandate. They are flying super thin. It just takes one minor disruption (think American Airlines a few weeks ago) to cause a massive domino effect. I had a friend on an AA flight that didn't make it home for 2 days. 

[cuterlmt]

Thanks for all your comments - I don't think we're going to be able to make it work - mostly because of airline schedules. I had already booked our air from home to PR. But we'll have a blast (as usual) and enjoy our 7 days on the NCL Epic!