Dealing With Flight Changes When Cruising

Updated October 2024

Flying to Port Canaveral for a cruise can be exciting, but it’s important to plan for unexpected travel hiccups. Flight delays are a common occurrence, and if you’re flying in on the day of your cruise departure, you risk missing your ship.

By arriving the day before, you can eliminate that risk and enjoy peace of mind. Go Port’s Fly Snooze Cruise packages are the perfect solution, offering hotel accommodations and reliable transportation services to make your pre-cruise experience easier and more enjoyable.

But what causes flight delays, and how should you handle them if they arise? More importantly, what should you do if the worst happens and you miss your cruise?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the common causes of delays, how to manage them, or jump down to learn why booking a Fly Snooze Cruise package is your best strategy for avoiding these stressful and potentially costly situations.

What Causes Flight Delays?

Flight delays are often beyond your control, but understanding the common causes can help you better prepare:

• Weather Conditions: Storms, heavy winds, and poor visibility can disrupt flight schedules, particularly during hurricane season in Florida.
• Maintenance Issues: Planes need to be in top condition to fly, so if something concerning is found during pre-flight checks, your flight may be delayed or grounded for repairs.
• Overbooked Flights: Airlines sometimes sell more seats than are available, resulting in passengers being bumped from flights if no one volunteers to give up their spot. This is one of the most common issues many airline passengers face on a daily basis.

If your flight is overbooked, U.S. airlines are required to ask for volunteers before involuntarily bumping passengers. If you hear this announcement, immediately inform the airline staff that you’re catching a cruise. While it’s not a guaranteed solution to save your seat, it might improve your chances of remaining on the flight.

How to Handle Flight Delays

When faced with a flight delay, take these steps to minimize the impact on your vacation:

• Talk to Your Airline: Head to the airline’s service desk as soon as possible and inform them that you’re traveling for a Port Canaveral cruise. This may help prioritize rebooking you on another flight or finding an alternative course of action that’s beneficial to you.
• Contact Your Cruise Line: While you’re waiting for a response from the airline, use the time to call your cruise line and let them know about the delay. Some cruise lines may offer you credits or help arrange transportation to catch the ship at the next port-of-call if you miss the departure from Port Canaveral.
• Consider Alternate Airports: If your flight to Orlando International (MCO) is delayed, check with the airline about the possibility of rerouting to Sanford Orlando International (SFB) or Melbourne Orlando International (MLB). Both airports are less than an hour from Port Canaveral and could be viable alternatives.

What Happens If Your Flight Is Delayed and You Miss Your Cruise?

Missing your cruise due to flight delays is a worst-case scenario, but it does happen.

If you’re unable to reach the port in time, here are some of the options available to you:

• Inform the Cruise Line: Let the cruise line know your current status ASAP. While cruise lines are not obligated to refund your missed departure, they may be able to offer credits toward a future cruise. Some may also help arrange transportation to meet the ship at a later port.
• Catch the Ship at the Next Port: If your itinerary allows it, you may have the option to fly to one of the next ports-of-call and join the cruise there. This option can be very expensive, especially if you need last-minute international flights.
• Travel Insurance: If you purchased travel insurance that covers trip interruption or delays, you may be reimbursed for additional expenses like rebooking flights or catching up with the ship. However, policies vary, so make sure you understand your specific coverage before you travel.

While these are possible solutions to missed flights, they can be extremely stressful and expensive. The best way to avoid missing your Port Canaveral cruise is by arriving the day before. This gives you extra time to handle any delays and ensures a smoother start to your vacation.

Protect Your Port Canaveral Cruise Vacation with a Fly Snooze Cruise Package

To avoid the headache of flight delays and possibly missing your cruise ship’s departure, booking a Go Port Fly Snooze Cruise hotel and cruise transportation package ensures you arrive in Port Canaveral the day before your cruise departs.

This package includes:

• Airport Transportation: Go Port will shuttle you from Orlando, Sanford, or Melbourne airports directly to your pre-cruise hotel.
• Pre-Cruise Hotel Accommodations: Enjoy a comfortable night’s rest in one of our partner hotels near Port Canaveral.
• Shuttle Service to the Cruise Terminal: On the day of your cruise, we’ll provide reliable transportation to the Port Canaveral cruise terminal, so you can board your ship stress-free.

With everything taken care of, Go Port’s Fly Snooze Cruise packages are the ideal solution for those looking to avoid travel stress and enjoy a worry-free cruise from Port Canaveral.

Enjoy Additional Peace of Mind with Go Port’s Flexible Cancellation Options

At Go Port, we know that plans can change due to issues like flight bumps and delays.

That’s why we offer flexible cancellation options when you book your Fly Snooze Cruise package:

Future Package Credit

Need to cancel your booking? You can opt for a Future Package Credit equal to the amount of your original purchase. This travel credit can be applied to any future Go Port travel arrangements or services.

• Valid for 12 Months: The credit is valid for one year from the date of cancellation.
• No Fees: You won’t incur any fees for choosing this option.
• Notice Period: Cancellations must be made at least four days before your first package travel date.

Full Refund Upgrade

For a more direct approach, you can upgrade to have the ability to request a full refund of the amount paid for your package, including taxes and fees.

• Full Refund within 7-14 Business Days: Refunds are processed within 7-14 business days from your request.
• Notice Period: Cancellations must be made at least four days before your first package travel date.
• Nominal Upgrade Fee: A small, non-refundable fee applies to this option.

Ready to Book Your Fly Snooze Cruise Package?

As you can see, flight delays can potentially ruin your dream vacation.

The best way to avoid flight delays and a missed cruise departure is to arrive early with a Fly Snooze Cruise package. With reliable transportation, pre-cruise accommodations, and flexible cancellation options, you can forget your worries and focus on having the time of your life!

Don’t leave your travel plans to chance—book your Fly Snooze Cruise package today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having all your pre-cruise travel logistics handled.