What is the advice for scheduling a flight prior to embarking on a cruise? With flight schedules so irregular we are wondering if it is safe to arrive from US in Copenhagen the same day we are to depart...or should we arrive a day earlier?

I guess it depends from where in the US but for peace of mind, knowing what can happen with flights and such, I would fly in a day early.

It depends --- if you are on a flight booked with the cruise line then it makes no difference. They have to take care of you should your plane miss the ship. However, if traveling independantly, then I would arrive a day early. We always arrive at least two days and generally three days early. Primarily to adjust to jet lag on our own and not on the ship's time. Second, we like to do a little sightseeng in the departure city. When we board the ship, we are rested and ready to take advantage of all the things we have paid for on that cruise.

Better safe then sorry.. Arrive one day earlier.

When we departed from Copenhagen we arrived 2 nights early so we could enjoy beautiful Copenhagen as well as recouperate from any jet lag. I would never consider arriving somewhere so far away on the day of embarkation. Much too risky.

If you haven't visited Copenhagen before, be sure and take the beautiful boat ride up and down the quaint canals.

Arrive a day or two early. There were about 40 people on my cruise that never got their luggage the entire time of the cruise. They all arrived the day of the cruise.

Better to arrive at least 3 days earlier so to enjoy the wonderful city of Copenhagen!

Anyway, we NEVER fly to arrive on the same day of cruise - we spend thousands to go on cruises and we ain't taking any chances at all.

I would never arrive the same day. Besides the issue of lost luggage, which was mentioned, I don't want to miss the cruise and airlines are notoriously unpredictable.

The fact that the cruiseline may "take care of you" if you booked cruiseair and miss the ship, doesn't mean they will hold the ship. They may just arrange for you to fly to meet the first port of call ---- if you are lucky. I'd never bank on that.

With the state of travel and airline customer service today, there is no way I would risk arriving the same day.

I suppose we just got lucky. we id just that but in hindsight arriving early would be better. However if you purchase your air from the cruise line they are obliged to get you there. Still go early by a day or so.

Will be cruising out of San Juan, PR. on the 19th at 8 PM. We are scheduled to arrive the same day at 2 PM coming in from Chicago. Keeping our fingers crossed.