Disembark times

[mjr]

Help. I cashed in frequent flier miles for my flight to and from a cruise sailing out of Miami. The booking agency gave me flight leaving Miami @ 11:45 a.m.. Carnival says they cannot guarantee clearing customs in time to make this flight. To change the flight reservation will cost $260 for 2 people. Question-What is the normal time for clearing customs for a ship docking @ 8 a.m. @ Miami and is it worth the chance to keep my flight reservation? I know I can request an early departure. What should I do?

[mjr]

Help. I cashed in frequent flier miles for my flight to and from a cruise sailing out of Miami. The booking agency gave me flight leaving Miami @ 11:45 a.m.. Carnival says they cannot guarantee clearing customs in time to make this flight. To change the flight reservation will cost $260 for 2 people. Question-What is the normal time for clearing customs for a ship docking @ 8 a.m. @ Miami and is it worth the chance to keep my flight reservation? I know I can request an early departure. What should I do?

[peachcrek]

You can carry your luggage off in stead of checking when you disembark,will save some time also when you check in the ticket packet has a form that asks about your flight information so you can make arrangements to be one of the first to get off, did you contact cruise line or TA to ask about getting off they empty the ship by decks, there should be some one at the cruiseline that can give you more information, on how to be able to get off to make your flight I would call again and ask for a supervisor and explain the situation and they should be able to help you or wait till you get on board and talk to the purser at the desk and see what they can do for you good luck, the last time we went we were off the ship by 9:45 time before that we were off by 9:00 it just depends again on customs

[Crewzing]

You SHOULD be ok. The cruiseline DOES advise that they cannot gaurantee that you will be of in time for a flight that early. But, I have cruised with CCL several times and I work for a TA and I have never been that long getting off unless I wanted to be. Let them know, also, when they call the first group, just GO!! They seldom check who is leaving. And like they said, don't leave your luggage out, just carry it off with you.

[mjr]

Thanks for the info.