A while back we wrote a piece about figuring out how early you should arrive at the airport before a flight. (hint: the “2-hour rule” doesn’t always apply)
As it turns out, there’s a similar rule when it comes to cruises.
Actually, I’d argue it’s even more important.
If you miss a flight, there’s a decent chance your airline can get you on another one. It may not be fun, and it may not be quick, but you’ll probably still get where you’re going.
Miss your cruise?
The ship leaves without you.
When should you arrive for your cruise?
Our advice is pretty simple: Get to your embarkation city at least the day before your cruise.
Could you arrive the morning of your cruise and still make it onboard?
Absolutely.
People do it all the time.
People also miss their ships all the time.
Here’s why we always recommend getting there early.
If you’re flying
Domestic flights
You know how this goes.
You book the 7 a.m. flight because it lands around noon and your ship’s latest boarding time isn’t until 4 p.m. Plenty of time, right?
Well…unless your flight is delayed.
Or canceled.
Or your first flight is delayed so long that you miss your connection.
Or your luggage decides it wants to take a vacation somewhere other than where you’re headed.
By arriving the day before, you’ve built yourself a cushion for all those “what if?” moments. And if your checked bag goes wandering, you’ve also given the airline a much better chance of reuniting you with it before your cruise departs.
As an added bonus, you can actually relax. Check into your hotel. Grab dinner. Maybe even explore the port city a little. It’s a much nicer way to start a vacation than spending embarkation morning staring nervously at the airport’s arrivals and departures board.
International flights
If you’re flying internationally, I’d be even more conservative.
Longer flights mean more opportunities for delays, missed connections and misplaced luggage. And then there’s jet lag.
Whenever possible, I’d arrive at least two days before the cruise.
Yes, it’ll cost you another night in a hotel.
But it also buys you a lot of peace of mind.
If you’re driving or taking the train
Unless you actually live in the port city (lucky you!), I’d still recommend arriving the day before.
Sure, it’s “only” a two- or three-hour drive.
Until it isn’t.
Traffic happens.
Flat tires happen.
Mechanical problems happen.
Multi-hour backups because of an accident happen.
And if you’re taking the train, well…let’s just say there are some very unfortunate reasons trains occasionally come to a complete stop for hours while authorities do what they need to do.
None of these things happen every day.
But they happen often enough.
Why arriving early matters
Getting to the port city the day before isn’t just about avoiding travel delays.
It also lets you ease into vacation mode.
Instead of rushing from an airport to a rideshare to the cruise terminal while constantly checking your watch, you can wake up on embarkation day knowing the hardest part is already behind you.
That’s a much better way to start a cruise.
At the end of the day, this all comes down to one simple fact:
Cruises don’t work like airlines.
If you miss your flight, there’s a good chance your airline can get you on another one.
If you miss your ship, your options get ugly in a hurry. You can try to meet it at the first port—assuming that’s even practical—or you can watch your vacation sail away without you.
So if you’re the gambling type, enjoy the adrenaline rush and don’t mind rolling the dice, by all means fly in the morning of your cruise.
Me?
I’d much rather pay for one extra hotel night than spend embarkation day wondering if my vacation is about to leave without me.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
