The day before. That is the tweet.
Same-day air is how people miss ships. Connections and winter weather make it worse.
The day before is about margin
If the only flight that 'works' lands a couple of hours before all-aboard, it does not work as a responsible plan. Weather, maintenance, crew delays, missed connections, baggage, traffic, and airport transfers all exist between home and the gangway.
When I want even more margin
Winter travel
Snow and deicing can disrupt both your airport and the aircraft coming to get you.
Connections
Every connection adds another schedule and another chance for the trip to separate from the luggage.
International embarkation
Long flights, immigration, jet lag, and an unfamiliar city make extra arrival time useful even when everything goes right.
Once-a-day flight options
If missing one flight means there is no reasonable replacement until tomorrow, the original schedule needs more protection.
A calmer pre-cruise arrival
Arrive
Get to the port city with enough time that a normal delay does not threaten the cruise.
Sleep
A pre-cruise hotel turns travel day into travel day instead of embarkation day plus travel day.
Transfer
Know how you are getting from hotel to terminal and how long that realistically takes.
Board
Follow the cruise line’s assigned process without needing transportation miracles.
Keep going
Related pages that actually help
Ready when you are
Tell Ashley what you’re picturing.
Share who is coming, what you care about, and what still feels messy. Ashley will help you turn that into a plan.
“Tell me what you're dreaming about, I'll help you shape the rest.”