2024.01 Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Grand Cayman (Part 1)
After joining her family for a Caribbean Cruise, Little Miss joked “a cruise on our own would be even better.” So, we booked one. This cruise, the line and itinerary was influenced from our in-laws. Although they didn’t join us, they have visited these locations before. Time to go to the ABCs!
Trip Plan
First up, timing. We booked our flights separate from the cruise, and wanting to make sure we wouldn’t be at risk of missing the ship leaving port we flew the day before. Fortunately for us, weather cooperated and it was a clear and sunny day for our flight from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale.
During check-in I felt special and accepted the upgrade offer to Air Canada’s Premium Economy. Since Air Canada’s roll-out of the product we haven’t tried it. I joked to her “Maybe this could be a cheaper [than business class] option for transatlantic flights.”
We hopped in our taxi and off to the airport!
After checking our luggage we had no wait at security to deposit our items for the x-ray and were on our way to US CBP pre-clearance in an instant. If I didn’t mention from our San Francisco trip, we now have Nexus and I highly recommend it. It was 12 minutes from when we presented our boarding passes to start security screening, to us finding a seat at the lounge. Quick, considering my laptop and my toiletries in my carry-on received secondary review.
From there it was time to relax in the lounge.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Transborder
We were admitted immediately as we arrived during a lull in flights being the early afternoon. Although it was becoming familiar to us, here are a few pictures of the space:
We did have a light lunch before leaving the house, who can resist their delicious chocolate chip cookies? (Slideshow of the buffet below)
We keep to ourselves while in the lounge. People watching and listening to people who have no sense of how long they talk, can at times, be entertaining. This time around, it was a small group of folks who were in race car apparel. This wasn’t just your typical fan, as everything they had was branded. When I finally got up the courage to ask, as the IMSA race series had it’s “Roar before the 24” event at Daytona International Raceway in Florida, I was richly rewarded. They were both part of race teams, and it turned out one fellow wasn’t just any driver, but a 24 hours of Daytona class winner (Spoiler: he won in his class again in 2024 and was in the driver who crossed the finish line this time!).
After Little Miss stopped rolling her eyes for “you went, like a moth to a candle, towards people with race car apparel on!” Soon enough our time in the lounge was over and we made the walk to our gate.
Our flight to Florida was in an Airbus 330, a large plane for a 3 hour flight, but this is an indicator of how popular escaping to warmer places is for Canadians. Premium economy on the Airbus 330 is immediately after door 2, so after we boarded all of economy class passed us to get to their seats.
The appeal for premium economy to me was a slightly larger seat and more legroom. The armrests are more substantial as the table trays are located there. Having a bulkhead (bathroom was immediately in front), I think the legroom was less than the other rows. Not a massive negative but something to note if you’re trying to determine which seat you want in this section. The screens were noticeably larger than those in economy.
As the traffic in the aisle decreased a flight attendant appeared and offered our menus for the flight.
Seat recline is available with the button. I didn’t bother to try out the recline, but did try the foot rest, this was a feature that is useful for those who aren’t 6’4”.
Air Canada AC1026, Toronto to Fort Lauderdale (YYZ-FLL), Airbus A330-300
Scheduled Departure: 16:15
Scheduled Arrival: 19:41
Seats: 13H & K
Being so close, I saw them close the door at 4:06pm, and quickly followed by the Service Director, Joselyn’s welcome message and then the captain’s announcement. I didn’t get the names of those working in the flight deck. In total it was planned for a 2h47m flight. Our departure was slowed as luggage had to be removed due to passenger(s) not making the flight. Once that was resolved all the usual departure activities took place, and our aircraft headed to runway 24R for take-off — finally not spending 15 minutes taxing past all the terminals to runway 23.
Service on board was adequate but tempo and consistency wasn’t there as there because only one flight attendant trying to juggle the premium economy section on her own. She also ended up assisting in economy as well during the flight, so there were some delays between portions of service. The hot towel arrived fifteen minutes after take-off.
And then beverage service commenced with the left side of the section, and then our turn occurred 30 minutes after take-off.
Meal service was on a single tray and it arrived about an hour after take-off. Nothing memorable from the meal.
At 7pm the captain gave the 30 minute warning prior to landing.
As planned we landed a half hour later, and about ten minutes after touching down, we were walking into the terminal. This was our first time in Fort Lauderdale and the terminal used by Air Canada seems tiny, as if it was constructed for two or three regional airplanes. I started to think about how crowded the terminal would be when we return for our flight home as our return is also on a widebody Air Canada plane.
Once our luggage was collected it was a short taxi ride to our hotel for the night, a Hyatt Place.
Explore other parts of this trip:
Part 1 – Air Canada Flight Toronto to Fort Lauderdale (this post!)
Part 2 – Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port & Convention Center
Part 3 – Celebrity Equinox
Part 4 – Food onboard Celebrity Equinox
Part 5 – Port, George Town, Grand Cayman
Part 6 – Port, Oranjestad, Aruba
Part 7 – Port, Willemstad, Curacao
Part 8 – Kralendijk, Bonaire
Part 9 – Air Canada flight Fort Lauderdale to Toronto