Transfer Question

[katz]

Is the cruise line responsible for getting passengers to their flights on time? We purchased transfers to and from the ship through the cruise line. We have a tight squeeze getting to the airport in Athens. The boat docks at 4 a.m. and our flight is at 9:30 am. I am assuming we will be in the first group to be able to leave the ship. Does anyone have an idea of what time we might be able to disembark if the ship docks at 4 am?

Thanks for your help.

[wwinfl91]

I suspect you may have booked your flight too early. Even though the ship docks at 4 AM it still has to clear customs and then get luggage unloaded. I suspect you will find the earliest you can get off the ship will be sometime between 6 and 8 AM.

The cruise line is not responsible for getting to your flight on time unless you booked the whole package through the cruise line. Then they are responsible and I suspect would not have given you an early morning flight the same day the ship was docking.

Hopefully you will make the flight but if it was me I would be looking into changing the flight to later in the day.

Have a great next cruise.

[Keith1010]

I am afraid to tell you that the cruise line is not responsible for getting you to the airport on time.

You will need to check in for your flight two hours before the flight. The drive to the airport is about 1 hour.

Keith

[cherylandtk]

Originally Posted by wwinfl91

The cruise line is not responsible for getting to your flight on time unless you booked the whole package through the cruise line. Then they are responsible...

Weeeeeellllllll......, even then the cruiselines are generally not legally responsible. If one reads the fine print (and it does vary from line to line) there is usually a legal disclaimer that such air bookings are for convenience only. What many lines will do, particularly in the event of a late arrival of the ship by many hours, is to re-book their air passengers. But it is not a requirement, and they may not do anything for just a few passengers who happened to be booked on a particularly early flight. This thread explains a lot more:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=530322

Oceania's policy is in their contract. Relevant sections highlighted:
(d) Shore Excursions and Other Transportation, Services and Facilities: We shall in no event be liable to You in respect of any occurrence prior to embarkation or after disembarkation from the Ship named herein or substitute, except for transportation by water which is carried out by means of a conveyance provided by Us including the Ship and its tenders or, with respect to any baggage, when the same is in Our custody at any shore side installation. We have made arrangements on Your behalf for the provision of travel facilities other than water transportation with various independent contractors solely as a convenience and not as an agent of those independent contractors, for which a surcharge may be imposed. Carrier does not undertake to supervise or control such independent contractors or their employees, conveyances or facilities, and accepts no liability for any loss, delay, damage, injury, death, misrepresentation or disappointment whatsoever resulting therefrom. Carrier makes no representation, either express or implied, regarding the suitability, safety, insurance or other aspects of any such contractors, transportation, tours, services, products or facilities and Carrier’s liability for nonperformance of any independent contractor providing such facilities or services shall be limited to a refund of the amounts received by Carrier on the Passenger’s behalf, if any. We assume no responsibility in whole or in part for any delays, delayed departures or arrivals, missed connections, loss, death, damage or injury to person or property or accident, mechanical defect, failure or negligence of any nature whatever caused in connection with any accommodations, transportation, services or facilities, substitution of hotels, common carriers or equipment with or without notice or for any additional expenses occasioned thereby. We reserve the right to choose the air carrier, routing and gateway locations, as well as the right to substitute charter flights for scheduled service and vice versa. If the entire Cruise or CruiseTour is canceled by Us for any reason, Guests shall have no claim other than for a full refund of the Cruise Fare or the CruiseTour Fare, whichever is applicable. The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time You are not on board their conveyances. This Ticket/Contract constitutes the sole agreement between Oceania Cruises and You, it being understood that the various independent contractors otherwise participating in the cruise or CruiseTour will enter into their own separate contractual arrangements with You, and that You assume the risk of utilizing the services and facilities of those independent contractors. Any penalties, change fees or cancellation fees that result from changes to or cancellation of air arrangements are the sole responsibility of the Guest.

[Bowie MeMe]

They really are not resposible for getting you to airport in time for morning flight and the cruise line has no control over the time that docking and disembarkation happens. Last year at Cape Liberty we were more than 8 hours late docking because Bush and Pallin were at the UN and the docks were closed for security reasons. (I set the alarm for
5:30 AM to see Statue of Liberty -- got off at 1:10 PM -- missed my
1 PM train but did float pass the Statue of Liberty 16 times)

I would change my flight. It will drive you crazy worrying about making this almost impossible flight. Could you stay one more day? -- then early flight won't matter.

[marco]

If the cruise line booked the air, they most likely booked several others on that flight or flights around that time. If so, you most likely will get to the airport in time for your flight. Also, our experience has been if you are flying on a foreign flag carrier out of a foreign country........missed your flight???......next flight is in 3 hours......we'll put you on that........no additional fee, no hassle, no problem!

[G'ma]

Originally Posted by katz

Is the cruise line responsible for getting passengers to their flights on time? We purchased transfers to and from the ship through the cruise line. We have a tight squeeze getting to the airport in Athens. The boat docks at 4 a.m. and our flight is at 9:30 am. I am assuming we will be in the first group to be able to leave the ship. Does anyone have an idea of what time we might be able to disembark if the ship docks at 4 am?

Thanks for your help.

Providing you have booked your flights within the time period suggested by your cruise line, they will get you there. If you have booked earlier than what they suggest, there is no guarantee.

Frankly, from my experience, your flight is much too early. Considering that your cruise transfer bus/van won't leave the port until it's full...and the airport is a good 60-90 minute ride, depending upon traffic...the chances of you making your flight is slim.

I suppose you could us a private taxi - pre arranged to meet you at the port but it appears to be very expensive.

I wouldn't chance it at all.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I ceriusly doubt if you will be able to get off the ship much before 8 AM.

We have arrived at ports at 4 AM for disembarkation and the workers didn't start to show up until 6:30 - 7 AM.

I also doubt that the cruise line will even start to load the buses for the transfers to the airport until at least 7:30 - 8. And then you have to wait until the bus is filled with all the people assigned to it -- could take a while.

You should definitely see if you can change your flights.

[FlyerTalker]

Note that the OP said that they purchased "transfers". They did not say that they purchased the air through the cruiseline.

There is no responsibility for them to get you to your flight. Good luck.

[bojomitch]

I think that you should be able to make a 9:30 am flight if the ship docks at 4:00 am. We did that in Rome - ship docked at 4:00 am and the first to debark left the ship by 6:00 am. If the cruise line booked your flight, they knew what time you would be off the ship and booked accordingly. Just go and enjoy.

[FlyerTalker]

Originally Posted by bojomitch

I think that you should be able to make a 9:30 am flight if the ship docks at 4:00 am. We did that in Rome - ship docked at 4:00 am and the first to debark left the ship by 6:00 am. If the cruise line booked your flight, they knew what time you would be off the ship and booked accordingly. Just go and enjoy

If you will note...the cruiseline did NOT book. And just because your particular case was "successful" in Rome has zero relevance to the OP's situation in Athens.

However, thank you for telling another interesting story with no relevance or information.

[alcpa1]

There is a geographic difference between reaching the airport in Athens and the airport in Rome. For one thing Fiumicino is on the west side and a distance from the city to boot. Civitavecchia is on the west coast. The ride is about an hour on any given day.
Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos airport is east of the city and definitely over an hour from the port of Piraeus. I certainly hope you can make that flight but I sure have my doubts. You will have to leave the ship as early as possible, if for no other reason than missing the morning "rush" hour traffic.
If the change fees are not too bad I would certainly change the flight.
Good luck. You certainly are going to need it.

[Shorex]

Originally Posted by katz

Is the cruise line responsible for getting passengers to their flights on time? We purchased transfers to and from the ship through the cruise line.

What does "responsible" mean? If there are unexpected glitches such as a dock strike or massive traffic jams and you miss your flight do you expect the cruise line to act as your travel agent and re-book your flights for you at no additional charge? If so, the answer is a simple "no."

If by "responsible" you mean the cruise will assume financial liability for the inconvenience of missing your flights the answer is still a simple "no." That is why you buy travel insurance.

The OP's question is NOT whether 9:30 am is a reasonable flight time, but rather whether the cruise line assumes responsibility for missing a flight when transfer are paid for. Again, the answer is "no, they do not."

[Hlitner]

In Europe, it is usually a lot easier to get off a ship early (by 7am) than in the USA where immigration will often hold ships passengers until after 9. You should be fine in Athens, and if they do dock at 4 (or even 5) you should be able to get off as early as 6. It used to be that the major delay was caused by having to wait until they unload and sort all the luggage (this can take several hours). However, these days, most of the lines have "express disembarkation" where you can get off very early if you carry your own luggage. On most lines (in Europe) you will be given a form on-board where you can specify when you need to be off the ship. In addition, it is smart to stop by the Guest Relations Desk during the cruise and tell them you need to be off very early. In Athens you might be better off taking a taxi to the airport rather than waiting for crusie line transfers (you often have to wait until they fill the bus and get everyone's luggage).

Hank

[paul929207]

Originally Posted by katz

Is the cruise line responsible for getting passengers to their flights on time? We purchased transfers to and from the ship through the cruise line. We have a tight squeeze getting to the airport in Athens. The boat docks at 4 a.m. and our flight is at 9:30 am. I am assuming we will be in the first group to be able to leave the ship. Does anyone have an idea of what time we might be able to disembark if the ship docks at 4 am?

Thanks for your help.

NO, the cruise line is not responsible for getting you to the airport in time for your flight. As memioned above, you have a very early flight. You may not be off the ship until 7 or even 8am. It is an hour or so to the airport. I would not be comfortable with a flight that early.

[paul929207]

Originally Posted by katz

Is the cruise line responsible for getting passengers to their flights on time? We purchased transfers to and from the ship through the cruise line. We have a tight squeeze getting to the airport in Athens. The boat docks at 4 a.m. and our flight is at 9:30 am. I am assuming we will be in the first group to be able to leave the ship. Does anyone have an idea of what time we might be able to disembark if the ship docks at 4 am?

Thanks for your help.

NO, the cruise line is not responsible for getting you to the airport in time for your flight. As memioned above, you have a very early flight. You may not be off the ship until 7 or even 8am. It is an hour or so to the airport. I would not be comfortable with a flight that early.

[katz]

Thanks everyone for your comments-----even the snarky ones. I have an email into Oceania asking the same question. I guess there are worse things that missing the flight and spending an extra day in Athens.

Thanks again!!

[katz]

I just had a brian sprinkle while eating my Cherrios this morning. I should have rephrased my question and asked "If I book a transfer through the cruise line and they know the time of my flight at the time that I book the transfer, does that mean that they are taking the responsiblity of getting early-flight passengers to the airport on time?" I hope this explains my question better, if not, blame it on the Cherrios.

Kathy

[katz]

Opps, brain sprinkles not brian sprinkles. No offense, anyone named Brian Sprinkles!!!!

[FlyerTalker]

Originally Posted by katz

I just had a brian sprinkle while eating my Cherrios this morning. I should have rephrased my question and asked "If I book a transfer through the cruise line and they know the time of my flight at the time that I book the transfer, does that mean that they are taking the responsiblity of getting early-flight passengers to the airport on time?" I hope this explains my question better, if not, blame it on the Cherrios.

Again, the same answer.....NO.