On the very first cruise I took, my husband and I were on a tight budget. And we were actually crazy enough to take a standby flight via Los Angeles to Acapulco the morning our ship was sailing. Proving that sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, we made the ship. With only a few tense moments, capped by the taxi driver first heading to the wrong pier.
But these days, I have even flown in from San Francisco the night before for a cruise departing from San Diego, and I recommend, if possible, the same thing for all my clients. Here’s why:
First, and most obvious, you don’t want to miss the boat. There’s certainly less chance of this happening with a short distance and multiple planes, but almost every airport in the country has had one of those days where almost everything gets canceled.
Starting early in the morning decreases these chances, but even so, a plane can be delayed and then canceled, or a runway can be closed, or any one of a number of things can happen. And with a canceled flight you may or may not be able to get on another plane.
If you book air through the cruise line, this increases your chances they will try to help you, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. If your arrival is too delayed, the ship will not wait, and even if the cruise line gives you free transportation to the first port, it still means missing part of the cruise.
Second, you may make the ship, but your luggage may not. We took a 12-day cruise from Venice some years ago, and Lufthansa’s partner, Air Dolomiti, managed to leave literally half a plane’s worth of luggage in Munich. They did get it to the ship the following day, about an hour before sailing.
On the same cruise was a small group from the Midwest. Due to thunderstorms, they had been delayed, but arrived just in time to board. Their luggage, however, did not catch up with the ship for a week. Since for many travelers, especially women, dress up is part of the fun, this made for some very unhappy people. Especially one 16-year-old girl who had two suitcases full of fancy outfits and shoes.
Third, you can forget things at home. And while cruise ships, and ports, do have shops, they are limited. Contact lens solution, moisturizer, your favorite sunscreen — all are easier and cheaper to pick up on land. Not to mention larger items like prescription drugs and clothing. (I once had a client who told me her husband had simply forgotten to pack his boxer shorts, which they were able to purchase easily at a mall in Fort Lauderdale.)
Finally, being near the ship the night before is just more relaxing, and can add a day to your vacation. Most ships leave from relatively nice places. In addition, many travelers — and I plead guilty on this one — need a day or two to break the email and cellphone 24/7 addiction. Staying connected for a little longer is a lot cheaper on land at a hotel than on the ship.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
