Going on a trip soon? I hope your journey to the ship is smoother than mine was the last time I flew.

Picture this: I’m stuck in the Atlanta airport overnight. Not because I missed a flight or was running late. Bad weather caused so many flight cancelations and delays that every hotel in the area was fully booked. We didn’t even find out our flight wasn’t departing until after 1 a.m., at which point there was nowhere to go and no one to help. No wonder people often say DELTA stands for Doesn’t Ever Leave The Airport.

Now, if you know me, you know I care a lot about my sleep. So being awake for nearly 40 hours, curled up in a freezing airport chair under a hoodie, was not exactly the best end to my trip.

All that to say, stuff happens. And when it does, it can absolutely mess with your plans – including your river cruise.

Will A Flight Delay Impact My River Cruise?

Well, Newark has been experiencing delays and staffing shortages, and weather disruptions will only make things worse. If that’s your airport, or you’re flying through a major hub like Chicago, Atlanta, or JFK, there’s always a risk of cascading delays. It’s not always about your flight, sometimes it’s the plane coming in that’s late, or a crew that gets stuck somewhere else. Maybe your aircraft is stuck in another city, or the gate agent who’s supposed to scan your boarding pass is covering two terminals. Once one part of the system breaks, everything starts to unravel.

And when you’re on a tight schedule to make it to a river cruise, those ripple effects can turn into real problems fast.

So, What Should You?

1. Go early.

If you can swing it, try to arrive at your embarkation city a day or two early. This isn’t just about playing it safe in case your flight gets delayed (though it definitely helps with that), it also gives your body a chance to adjust to the time zone.

Jet lag hits differently when you’re trying to enjoy a packed sightseeing schedule or make it through a multi-hour walking tour without crashing at 3 p.m. And on river cruises, there’s not much downtime at the beginning. You’re usually off the ship and exploring right away. Showing up early gives you time to reset, sleep in a real bed and start your cruise actually feeling like yourself – not like a jetlagged shell of yourself.

Even if you’re not crossing multiple time zones, travel fatigue is real. A buffer day lets you ease into the trip, get familiar with the local area and maybe even sneak in an extra pastry (or glass of wine) before boarding. Think of it as travel insurance for your energy levels.

2. Get insurance.

Speaking of … travel insurance is a must. Sitting on the cold airport floor at 2 a.m. with vending machine snacks suddenly feels slightly less soul-crushing when you know you’re getting $1,000 back from your trip delay coverage.

Some policies kick in after just 6–12 hours of delay and will reimburse you for things like meals, hotel stays (if you can actually find one) and even essentials like clothing or toiletries. But, and this part’s important, you have to buy it before anything goes wrong. And you need to read the fine print. Not all policies are created equal, and some require you to keep receipts or file within a certain window.

Also, if you miss the cruise entirely because of a flight issue, many travel insurance policies can reimburse you for unused cruise days or even help you catch up with the ship if the itinerary allows. Without insurance? That’s likely money gone forever. And river cruises aren’t cheap.

If your credit card includes some form of travel protection, great! Just make sure it covers delays and interruptions, and not just lost luggage. Otherwise, I always recommend buying a separate comprehensive policy that covers both medical and trip interruption. It’s not the most fun thing to book, but one of the smartest.

3. Travel light, but be smart.

I love the freedom of a carry-on. No waiting at baggage claim, no fear of your suitcase ending up in a different country. I’ve had my bag taken and tagged to my final destination—with no option for a colored tag to pick it up on the jet bridge during a layover. That means it’s treated just like a checked bag, and if you’ve got a tight connection, your stuff might not make it.

So even if you’re traveling light, your bag can still go rogue.

My advice? Make sure anything essential stays with you in your personal item. I typically take a large shoulder bag or backpack with medications, chargers, headphones, travel documents and a change of clothes that is compact. If your personal item is a backpack or tote, pack it like your life depends on it.

Bonus tip: if you’re bringing a carry-on suitcase and have a short layover, try to get in an early boarding group or choose a seat near the front. The faster you get on, the better chance your bag stays with you.

And if you’re checking a bag, whether voluntarily or not, take a photo of the contents and consider using an AirTag or similar tracker. Just in case.

Avoid The Chaos, Enjoy The Cruise

At the end of the day, river cruising is one of the most relaxing, rewarding ways to travel – but getting there can be the hardest part. With flight delays on the rise and connections tighter than ever, a little extra planning can make all the difference between a stressful scramble and a smooth sailing.

So go early. Get the insurance. Pack smart. And whatever you do, don’t rely on airport floor naps to get you through embarkation day.

You’ve waited for this vacation. Let’s not start it curled up under fluorescent lights with your backpack as a pillow.

Also see what our readers are experiencing in this post: How To Avoid The Nation’s Air Travel Chaos When Getting To Your River Cruise