This is the best time to fly before taking a cruise, travel experts reveal

Seasoned cruisers likely know how to make deals, pack lightly, and make the most of their time at ports of call.

If you’re new to booking a cruise vacation, it’s worth noting that it can be risky to fly on the same day as your cruise.

Here’s what travel experts say about when you should fly before a cruise and why.

Canceled or delayed flights may cause you to miss a cruise departure

If you’re taking an early flight to Miami hoping to board a cruise that day, it can go smoothly in many cases, but be aware that things can go wrong without much notice.

Weather, computer errors, aircraft maintenance issues and even crew issues can contribute to delayed and canceled flights.

Experts say it’s best to plan to fly at least one night before a cruise, but one to two days is ideal to avoid potential travel issues.

“We always recommend flying at least a day early for a cruise — two, if flying internationally,” Chris Gray Faust, a spokesman for Cruise Critic, which is based in Yardley, Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital.

“The most obvious reason to fly early is simply to avoid the possibility of not getting to your ship on time due to airline delays or cancellations, which happen all the time.”

In addition, same-day flights can cause baggage headaches.

If your luggage goes missing, you’ll be in trouble if your ship leaves within a few hours.

You are in a vacation state of mind

For same-day travelers, worrying about delayed or canceled flights can affect your vacation mindset, Gray Faust said.

“In addition to protecting the logistics of arriving on your cruise, checking in early gives you more peace of mind while you’re traveling,” she added.

“Airline matters are never fun, but everything gets more frantic when you have a ship launch to make.”

You can explore the port city of your cruise’s embarkation

Cruise travelers may choose not to explore the city where they board a ship.

This can create a missed opportunity.

“One benefit of going to a port city a day or two early is the opportunity to explore or get to know the port city better,” Kelly Connor, a travel advisor with the AAA Club Alliance in Marlton, New York, told Fox News Digital. Jersey.

There are many domestic ports that definitely guarantee at least two nights before a cruise, she said.

For example, New Orleans is a popular bucket list city to visit, and many cruise lines sail from that port city.

“The city offers great food, great clothing, great music and, of course, fabulous parties and people-watching along Bourbon Street. It has a Southern flavor to it,” Connor said.

There are also some interesting West Coast cruise ports in California that definitely offer great pre-cruise experiences, including San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“Cruise lines departing from these ports include Holland America, Disney, Celebrity and Norwegian, among others,” Connor added.

“Los Angeles has Hollywood and Rodeo Drive, as well as great restaurants and the Walk of Fame — and don’t forget all the celebrities who call LA home,” she said.

As for San Diego, the city offers art galleries, a world-famous zoo, beaches and parks.

And, San Francisco has Ghirardelli Square and the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as amazing restaurants.

Miami is also a lively city to spend time before a cruise. It offers South Beach, art deco hotels, nightlife and an eclectic culinary and music scene.

A good bet for a pre-cruise stay in Miami is the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, as its South Beach location offers on-site gourmet dining, a year-round kids’ club, direct beach access, and a pool.

And don’t miss a chance to spend time in New York City if your ship departs from there.

The Big Apple has the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, the Cloisters, Central Park and Times Square, as well as plenty of restaurants to try throughout the city, Connor noted.

“In general, I highly recommend overnights in port cities of departure to give travelers the opportunity to start their vacation early with exploration, whether through day tours we can organize or exploring on their own,” added Connor.

If you’re taking an international cruise, pre-cruise layovers in places like Barcelona, ​​Rome, and London often have great sightseeing opportunities as well.

Early travel can allow you to board a ship with ease

When you wake up on the morning of your cruise in your port city, you’re well rested and ready to enjoy your well-deserved vacation at sea.

“Instead of rushing through the airport, scrambling to secure transportation or getting into the cruise port right off the plane, arriving early allows you to have a more relaxed experience so that the day of boarding is more relaxed and more pleasant,” Gray Faust. said.

You can prevent plane delays

If you’re traveling internationally, arriving at least a day or two before your cruise also helps combat jet lag, Connor said.

“By having a slow day or two before boarding, you’ll be able to get a lot more done on your cruise as your body has more opportunity to adjust to any time changes,” she added.

While taking a recent cruise from Budapest, Hungary, Gray Faust flew in early and booked a day at a local thermal spa in the city, she said.

“Apart from being an incredible experience, it’s also known to be a fantastic cure for jet lag,” she continued.

“It was the perfect fix before my cruise and meant I was able to enjoy my first cruise instead of yawning the whole time.”