Arriving a day or more before your sailing is a great idea and has many benefits for travelers regardless if you are flying or driving to the port.
Avoid Travel Delays - Nothing could be worse than watching the clock as time inches closer and closer to your cruise while you are nowhere near the port. Even if you joined the cruise at the last minute, the rough travel wouldn't make for a great start to your vacation.
Explore the Port City - Your cruise is planned to take you to exotic locations, don’t ignore the port city that has amazing attractions to visit. Don’t miss out on enjoying the local beaches, culture and nightlife. In the morning of your cruise, enjoy that most cruise lines offer excursions to book and jump start the fun of your vacation before you even leave the port.
Decompress and Relax - Make it a stress-free experience - By getting to the port early, you can enjoy the pre-cruise calm instead of rushing to make it in time. Get here feeling recharged and ready to transition into a luxurious lifestyle for the next seven days.
Shopping Opportunities - You board the ship and realize you've forgotten your sunscreen or, worse yet, your sunglasses. The local stores would have a greater variety of items you can buy than what you would find onboard the ship.