I am a travel agent in Gulfport. If you want my opinion, NO you will not make your 12:45pm flight, even if the boat docked in New Orleans, you would be pushing it. The cruise that ended this past Sun (March 30) docked 8 hrs late, due to the high winds, I hope you have insurance, or change your flights.
Ah, but Darrell, you are a TA that has never been on a cruise. <G> 12:45pm is normally fine as the ship is scheduled to dock very early and disembarkation should start by 9 or 10 am. That said you are cutting it somewhat close so make sure that you note that flight time on the forms when you embark so that they will allow you to be one of the first to debark. Now IF the ship is still going out of the alternate port you may well have a problem so if you can, see about changing your flight time so a later flight.
Jim
Yes But Jim, the ship IS at a different port, Gulfport and New Orleans airport are at least 1 1/2 hrs apart, and if that ship docks at the smaller port (Gulfport), and not late at all, that person WILL cut it too close to make a 12:45 return flight out of New Orleans airport. The ship is scheduled to dock at 8am, might be early since it doesn't have to go through the MS river, but the port here in Gulfport is mass confusion, and then to arrange the return drive to NOLA is not that easy. I do suggest that they look into making sure they have insurance, and getting their flights pushed back to at least 2pm out of the NOLA airport.
Another good example is that I let CCL book flight reservations for clients out of St Louis to the NOLA airport to go on the Holiday. I could NOT find them a flight to match up with the CCL port times for the ship, so I let CCL do the work. They in turn, booked these folks to NOLA into arriving at the NOLA at 315pm on the date of departure, and the ship leaves at 4pm. This was the CCL folks who did this, then the client found out first, because CCL did not send out the documents until 5 days before departure, and the clients called me, to see if the ship would wait, well NO the ship won't wait for them, and I had to get several supervisors on the phone to fix the problem, and finally they were booked on earlier flights, in order to make the ship.
I drive to NOLA every weekend, and I go faster than the speed limit, and it still takes more than 1 hr and 15 mins to get there from Gulfport, and the folks on the cruise are on a bus with 40 more ppl all trying to make their connections. I wish them luck. Also I found out the hard way, when the ship left the Port of NOLA, and returned to Gulfport for the first of these cruises, we the folks on the mainland, found out on Mardi Gras day that the ship was coming to Gulfport. Those folks on the ship did not find out until the 2nd to last day, and then it is up to the guest to make sure they re-arrange their flight info for the return home, CCL would not assume any part of helping them IF they booked their flights any other way except through CCL reservations. I was informed that if I had clients on the ship, I should contact the guest on board the ship and work it out that way, but CCL would not help with any cost.
This is our 12th cruise and are aware of how of how to disembark ship as early as possible. According to Carnival when they announced the move to Gulfport it would be for 6 weeks. Our cruise is the 7th week--what do you think the chances are we will disembark from New Orleans?
I just got off the phone with CCL about the dates for Conquest, and from she told me, the last full cruise from Gulfport will be April 25 return those folks to Gpt on May 4th, but then moving the ship to NOLA for loading. I don't think this sounds very feasible, but that is what she said, so if you are on the ship in May, seems like you will be departing from NOLA.
Just got back from the cruise that ended 3/30/03. The cruise was WONDERFUL, but getting on and off the ship was horrible. Our flight was in to New Orleans, then a cab to the pier, then a bus to Gulf Port and then another bus from the casino building to the ship. This didn't bother us nearly as much as getting off the ship. We were happy that our safety was considered when they said they had to delay going into the canal until the winds died down. What we were upset about was the 6 hours it took to get off the ship after we were in the port. Not sure why it took this long. They said it would only take 2 hours for deparkation. They shut everything down except the food and a movie. We have kids and they were not happy that the kids club was closed after noon. We didn't get off the ship until 5-5:30 pm when it should have been no later than 11am. After getting off the ship and finding our luggage, we went into a mass of people trying to get on buses to take them to the parking garage. This lasted about 30 minutes but most were there longer. Then you have the 1 1/2 hour drive back to New Orleans. Needless to say, we didn't get back to New Orleans to our hotel until 8 pm. As I said, we LOVED the cruise, but will NEVER go on one that leaves from Gulf Port or New Orleans! Hope this helps! DEFINITELY change your flight!
I really hope it does not put you off departing from either Gulfport or New Orleans on a ship again. If you were down here since all this started and were behind the scenes (so-to-speak) you might be a little more patient with the CCL folks, the crew and the port of Gulfport and anyone else involved with what happened to you. Gulfport can handle a ship but not one that big, and since it arrived late due to the high winds, EVERYONE on board was put out, and also there might have been a few thousand folks on that dock waiting to board that very same ship 4-5 hours earlier too. There was an agent in this very office, waiting for your ship to come in, and did not know until he checked in that the ship was going to arrive late. He also was not happy, but I am sure he, like you, will end up having a good time on that ship. I go on it on April 13th, and am looking very forward to going, even if it is late. Although I am very interested in how they make up the time, for departing late.
When the Conquest was switched to Gulfport at the last minute, I did ask CCL that very same question. And the reply on the phone from the CCL rep was basically "too bad"! CCL will not help with air if purchased outside of their reservation. I was informed that I should call my clients (although I had none on that sailing), and inform them, or the clients should call from the ship and schedule the air changes themselves. CCL only takes responisbilty for what they sell, and not for air purchased from a different source. Another thing, is that CCL does not have a contract for the airport in Gulfport, they will only sell New Orleans, and for the rest of this month, clients/guests of CCL need to make sure their air times are after lunch, in/out of NOLA.
My co-worker said off-loading in GPT on 4-6-03 was very nice, he called and said the ship docked on time (230am), and most folks just sleep it off till morning time.
Since the ship does not have to go through the MS river, it arrives in port alot earlier than in NOLA docks.
Just returned on 4-27 from Conquest--made a big mistake by changing my 12:45 pm flight to later in the afternoon. Was at the airport by 10 am. Disembarking was for the most was smooth. Looks like they have improved the embarkation and disembarkation. Had a wonderful cruise and enjoyed the ship.
I was on the 3-30 to 4-6 cruise also. Our flight was 1:27pm in New Orleans & we had 2+ hours to kill at the airport. Carnival will provide people with early flights (before 2pm) VIP passes to debark the ship first. No problems to report here. Since the ship was late on 3-30, I was getting ready to change our flight at the last minute but didn't need to.
We are sailing on 6/29/03.. Conquest... was told by TA that latest notice they had from CCL was sailing from Gulfport until 6/01/03..... Was sure hoping to leave from NOLA but does not look too promising at this point... Anyone have any other info... Thanks
Conquest 4-20-03 Embarkation
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