Do we really need to arrive a day early for the cruise?

YES, if you want to make sure you are ON the ship when it sails, then fly in the day before and spend at least one day pre-cruise in a hotel.

In this climate of delayed and cancelled flights, there is just no guarantee that the flight arrangements you make will get you there on time.

I have had flights cancelled for everything from mechanical problems to fog. For this next cruise alone, my flights have been changed four times since I booked the tickets 3 months ago.

So don’t miss the ship. Go at least one day early and make sure you are standing on the ship when it sails.