9:00 AM flight out of SJU not crazy

[Todd320]

Just want to share my experience last week getting of the Serenade because it was such a pleasant one. We had a 11:30 flight booked on AA out of SJU but had an option to catch a 9:00 am flight at no extra charge. We did ask the concierge if we could get off early for that flight and she said yes but I need the flight number. We were given white baggage tags and to meet in the tropical theater by 7:25. When we arrived at the tropical theater the third purser verified our name and that our cabin number was on the list. There were about twenty of us and at exactly 7:25 we were marched to the gang way were the third purser handed the list off to a custom agent. We continued to immigration and customs were all lines were open for our small group. I have a passport but the wife and kids have BC's but that didn't slow us down. We grabbed a taxi and were at the AA counter by 7:55 AM and at the gate at 8:15 AM. The airport was not busy at that time of the mourning. The airport doesn't turn into a zoo until 10:00 AM so we did beat the rush.

Customs and immigration have complete control when debarkation starts but my impression was that since they know who is getting off in this early group by name and cabin number, it usually runs like clock work. Since there is no PA made the rest of the ship doesn't know when that early group gets off. The early group is for flights before 11:00 AM. From what I have seen of the airport and debarkation process is that you have a better chance of catching a 10:00-30 flight that a 12:00 flight.

Todd


Norway 7/87
Inspration 01/99
Galaxy 01/00
Ocean Princess 10/00
Ocean Princess 12/00
Enchatment of the Seas 04/01
Dawn Princess 10/01
Dawn Princess 12/01 14 days
Explorer of the Seas 08/02
Spirit 01/03
Adventure of the Seas 02/04
Serenade of the Seas 04/04

[Family of 14]

Interesting! This will only work if the ship is on time docking and customs arrives on time.
Why give a flight number? Do they check to make sure you are booked on the flight you say you are on?

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Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

[Todd320]

The ships arrive at 4:30-5:00 AM so ships arriveing on time should not be a problem unless they have a mechcanical or have to spend hours looking for a person overboard. Customs will be on time it's there job. I think the problem could happen if they want to target the ship for speical handeling because of suspected drugs or some type of immigration problems.

I don't think they verify your flight arraingements on a computer. They said to have your flight imformation available for customs to check and verify but they never did.

Todd


Norway 7/87
Inspration 01/99
Galaxy 01/00
Ocean Princess 10/00
Ocean Princess 12/00
Enchatment of the Seas 04/01
Dawn Princess 10/01
Dawn Princess 12/01 14 days
Explorer of the Seas 08/02
Spirit 01/03
Adventure of the Seas 02/04
Serenade of the Seas 04/04

[Family of 14]

You are correct in that the airport is pretty dead in the early am. We had a flight out at 7:45 a few weeks ago and not a soul was in site except for our charter group of 150.

Our neighbors had to fly thru San Juan this past Sunday from a trip to St Lucia. They said it was a made house around 11:00. One large piece of their luggage didn't make it back. They personally checked it in SJ so this was a little suspicious to them. It had all of their nice evening wear and a dozen pairs of shoes. I teased them that some young couple in Puerto Rico would be stepping out in fine attire all week long. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004