Airfare booked with cruiseline?

[DiamondGal]

What are the perks of booking the airfare with the cruiseline?

 

Additionally, if booking airfare on your own, does anyone know of any websites with lower airfares? The airfare to Fort Lauderdale is $1,000 per person with continental! Crazy!!!

[cruisinfanatic]

What are the perks of booking the airfare with the cruiseline?

 

Additionally, if booking airfare on your own, does anyone know of any websites with lower airfares? The airfare to Fort Lauderdale is $1,000 per person with continental! Crazy!!!

simple. You get to pay more and slow shuttle included

[cruisinfanatic]

What are the perks of booking the airfare with the cruiseline?

 

Additionally, if booking airfare on your own, does anyone know of any websites with lower airfares? The airfare to Fort Lauderdale is $1,000 per person with continental! Crazy!!!

update your profile so we know what state at least

[Bmac614]

What are the perks of booking the airfare with the cruiseline?

 

Additionally, if booking airfare on your own, does anyone know of any websites with lower airfares? The airfare to Fort Lauderdale is $1,000 per person with continental! Crazy!!!

 

Dang!!! Where u from? I thought paying almost $400 pp was high....... Wow

[Sue L]

try http://www.sidestep.com

 

 

for when? holiday time? school vacation?

[DiamondGal]

It is in February of next year. I have no idea why the airfare is so high. Usually it is around $250 or so.

[Caliterp07]

What are the perks of booking the airfare with the cruiseline?

 

Additionally, if booking airfare on your own, does anyone know of any websites with lower airfares? The airfare to Fort Lauderdale is $1,000 per person with continental! Crazy!!!

 

http://www.kayak.com will compare all different airlines, and will let you see if going a day earlier will save you significant $$$. You can also see fare charts of the lowest fares found for your dates, to know if what you're seeing is reasonable or not.

 

The time of year you're looking for, as well as how far ahead you're planning, will make a difference. Even the day of the week you search can have a big impact.

[Sue L]

It is in February of next year. I have no idea why the airfare is so high. Usually it is around $250 or so.

 

 

 

Feb??? President's week? As in one of the biggest travel weeks of the year for families???

[COMBOY]

What are the perks of booking the airfare with the cruiseline?

 

Additionally, if booking airfare on your own, does anyone know of any websites with lower airfares? The airfare to Fort Lauderdale is $1,000 per person with continental! Crazy!!!

 

The airline negotiate airfares with the airlines and established contract airfares. However, the cruise line has the complete right over the carrier/routing, stops, aircraft type or even layovers getting you to/from the ship. You might know the flights until 60 days before departure and sometime these air fares are more expensive than independent air and/or the flight schedule could be not so good. The only benefit of booking air with the cruise line is if your flight is canceled or delay the cruise line will assist you in rebooking your flights or flying you on down to the next port at an additional cost less the per diem cruise rate of any missed cruise days. Usually transfers are included from the airport and ship. If you do independent air you are completely on your own getting to the ship. If you miss the ship due to flight delays your out of lucky. Most of the time the cruise lines contract air fares are better if it a unusual embarkation port (Manaus or Tahiti) or line voyage (New York to Europe) or during peak holiday time where space is tight. Now the cruise line will let you select your own flights/routing for a small fee plus any additional fare; however, you might be able to find the same routing on your own cheaper. Best advise is to do a side by comparison between doing your own air vs the cruise lines air and always fly in the day prior to cruise departure and travel insurance should be bought. I always price compare on sidestep.com.

[Happy ks]

I have no idea why people will spend more to have the cruiseline book their airfare. I don't really think there are any perks at all. Sure, they will assist getting you to the next port if the flight is delayed and you miss your ship, but if you purchase independent travel insurance. that insurance company will do the same for you.

 

I think some people just think it's easier to allow the cruise line to do things for them. But in reality with day and age of computer bookings for everything it is so simple to do it all for yourself and save a bunch. We've saved more than what a hotel, meals, ground transportation by booking our own arrangements, several times with lots of cash left over.

 

However, always check to make sure, there are a few times, like one way flights from Europe, that may cost less.

[janetz]

Feb??? President's week? As in one of the biggest travel weeks of the year for families???

 

 

You got it! Feb and March are two of the highest months as far as airfare to Florida. :)

[Sue L]

You got it! Feb and March are two of the highest months as far as airfare to Florida. :)

 

Well Feb break and the week before and after Easter are!

[Aunty Pat]

Cruise line’s air fare can be a savings in a few special instances:

• When you are booking very close (less than 30 days) to the departure date and they still have “bulk” (lower than published) seats available.
  
• When you are doing one-way or open jaw flights on 2 different airlines (direct flight SFO to Auckland on Air New Zealand and home Sydney to SFO on Qantas) that would otherwise be purchased as 2 very expensive one-way economy class fares.
  
• If the flight requires a forced overnight and the cruise line includes the hotel room.
  
• Luxury Cruise lines that are including “Free Business Class” or upgrade to Business Class for a less than $1,000 on international flights.
  
• If you are booking a year out and don’t want to purchase the plane tickets until final payment is due.
  

Aunty Pat

 

 

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCCL - Song of America ‘89

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, Westerdam ‘09 & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Crystal – Serenity ‘09

Future Cruises:

Oasis of the Seas - December 11, 2010

Paul Gauguin – February 9, 2011

[earn]

We always book flights on our own until this year. Last year we had a double hit. We were flying to wsington with BA and had booked return Jetblue flights from there to Orlando. We had left enough time to deal with any issues and our cruise was leaving Miami two weeks after we would land in Wahington. Also left a couople of days after the cruise to make sure no issues there. Unfortunately BA cabin crew went on strike and our flights were concelled. Travel insurance does not cover for industrial action and whilst BA would refuind the flights there was no way of being able to recover the internal flights, cruise, disney tickets, car hire hotels etc. We were luckty an secured four Continental flights for around £500 each. by the next day there was nothing less than £900 as everyone was trying to rebook. As if that was not bad enough we were also hit with return flights due to the Ash Cloud. No insurance was apying out for that either, but if you booked a package you would be fine. So next Easter we are agian heading for the US to spend some time in Florida and take a TA back to Barcelona. I could have saved about £600 total by booking everything myself, but decided to book RCI cruise and flights through a Travel Agent for piece of mind. The ash cloud could hit anytime, so if you are travelling to Europe be aware that most travel insurance will not cover you for this.