On May 1, 2:31 pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
> When we left on the Voyager a couple of weeks ago, there were
> busses pulling up and people were coming on board during the drill. I
> would have been psychotic LONG before that, which is why I go in a day
> earlier.
A few years ago, I was booked on the Zuiderdam - a nice solo cruise
in March. I booked my own air for an evening flight the night before,
putting me in FLL by 9:00 pm or so. Well, I was departing from Stewart
Airport in Newburgh, NY. Very convenient to my home, but not a lot of
flights going out of there or coming in. But, for a direct flight at a
good price - great airport. Anyway, the equipment was late coming in,
so I spent a lot of time waiting in the airport. When the plane was
due, I looked outside and said to myself, there's no way this plane's
going to land here - totally socked in by fog, to the ground. Sure
enough, flight was diverted to Syracuse. They sent us all to a motel
for the night and said they pick us up in the morning for our flight.
Didn't sleep a wink, so took a cab back to the airport very early -
several hours before they were to pick all of us up. Sweet talked my
way onto their earlier flight which was also delayed and wouldn't be
departing from NY until 12:00 noon the earliest (ship was leaving at
5:00). I figure, flight's usually 2-3 hours...shouldn't be a problem.
(had I waited for the pick-up at the motel and taken the flight they
had reassigned to all of us stranded passengers, I would have
definitely missed the ship) Got on the plane, took off at 12:30 and
the captain announces that the flight would be 4 hours
long?!?!?!?!?!?. Budget airline I guess trying to save on fuel? I was
FLIPPING OUT for the entire flight. Flight attendants got me off the
plane first and my TA at buycruises.com (who were wonderful, btw,
staying in contact with HAL, advising them of my "progress") advised
that I just get to the ship...leave my checked bags. They would get to
me. Didn't want to do that so waited for my bags. Ran outside, jumped
in a cab, handed the driver a $20 and said "step on it". Got to the
check-in area and it was deserted. Someone told me I was too late.
Ship was still there, gangway in place (probably 4:30 at this point?).
Finally, a kind soul checked me in and got me on board. Made it to my
cabin as the lines were cast. Cabin steward screamed, "Lee!!!!! I
thought you weren't going to make it!!! I was so worried!!!!".
Anyway, missed muster and had to take the make-up the following
morning (missed precious beach time at Half Moon Cay!).
And, yes Kurt...I was completely psychotic for a good 18 hours or
so...until I finally set foot in my stateroom, stepped out onto my
verandah, and watched Fort Lauderdale fade into the distance.
Lessons learned:
Small airports are convenient, but are limited in what they can do, in
the event of weather or equipment delays. Had I departed from EWR, I'd
have had a lot more options for flights heading down to FLL.
Flying down the evening before...not enough time. Planning to be there
a full day before is the way to go. I book early a.m. flights now, so
if there's a delay, I have a chance of getting on a later flight.
Discount airlines...some are good, some are discount for a reason.
NEVER want to go through that again.
Lee
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