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10 TIPS
Veteran cruisers fly in the day before their cruise departs. What do they know that you don’t?
Cruise check-in times are early. You often have to be onboard no later than 2pm. It’s not like a hotel where you can arrive at any time of the day. Passengers have to be checked in, cleared through US Coast Guard and Customs manifests, and go through required safety drills before it can leave while the port is still operational.
The cruise schedule is inflexible. Ships maintain a tight schedule that manages not just passenger embarkation, but also port and infrastructure availability and the delivery of 150 to 400 tons of food, beverages, and general provisions. They can’t put all of that on hold for little old you.
23% of flights are delayed. 4% more than 2 hours.
The math is painful. Yes, the chance a flight problem causes you to miss embarkation is small. But the cost is HUGE. Your only recourse is to fly to the first port, pay for hotels, transportation, and meals, and meet the ship when it arrives, which can cost thousands of dollars
It’s not just the cost. Consider the emotional toll. Your frustration and anger at missing embarkation, spending hours planning alternative travel, rushing around to take taxis, fly, and eat. Miss a day or two of your cruise and you’ve ruined a good part of your vacation.
You don’t win either way. If you do make the cruise, do you really want to wake up at 3 am to take that 6am flight so you can land, wait for baggage claim, and take Uber from the airport to the port in time for embarkation? You had little sleep. You’re dead tired. You don’t enjoy your first day. You’ve still essentially lost a day of the cruise.
Long flight? Multiple time zone changes are vacation day killers. You need at least a day to adjust to the new time. Get a full night of sleep at the departure port so you’ll feel refreshed before you step onto the ship.
Recover from other emergencies. You need a buffer too. If you’ve traveled enough, you know that there WILL be a problem. Maybe you’ll make your embarkation. But you forgot a swimsuit, medication, baby pacifier, sunscreen, toiletries, or specific snacks. The airline loses your bag and needs a day to deliver it. You need to buy the two bottles of wine or soda near the airport that the cruise ship allows. Arriving the day before gives you the time you need so you’re fully ready.
Start your vacation relaxed. You’re on a vacation. The solution is simple. Fly in a day early. Stroll into embarkation fresh, stress-free, and ready for lunch onboard and a great day.
Get the hotel “free”! Check out Vacation Steal Double Steal hotel/cruise deals like this cruise from San Francisco and from Galveston. Your savings from our WHOLESALE rates more than pay for your room. You’re welcome!