Making flight plans with NCL

[zogrand]

We're traveling with NCL for the first time this coming December.  Is there an on-line flight reservation site or do reservations have to be made by phone?  Can we make reservations for a few days earlier than the cruise starts so we can do some sightseeing and adjust to the time change?  We'll be flying from Boston to Sydney.  If we've booked with a TA does she have to make our flight plans or will NCL deal directly with us?  It would be easier for us to make our own plans with the cruise line so we can decide which option works best for us and if the "price is right".  We've cruised many times before but NCL is new to us.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Carol

[don't-use-real-name]

I don't believe that NCL has any free or discounted travel arrangements with airlines for your Sydney Australian cruise.

You would plan and book your own flights from Boston to Sydney:

Airlines:

American and Qantas

Delta and Virgin Australia

United

are possible sources to review for booking

 

You can book the air travel and the NCL cruise together or separately with your TA

You can leave the TA out of the picture and book these separately that way

You can make you own package deal combining the two -

If you have an affinity relationship with an airline (above) see what they can offer -

 

Are you looking at some of the recent promo perk NCL sailings with 6 offers ?

 

You can book everything online or by phone or thru your TA -

If you are not all that comfortable in doing this the TA route would be advisable

If you make a mistake or need to adjust a booking or flight you have a limited amount

of time to make the change adjustment without penalty i.e. nominally 24 hours

Since this involves crossing the date line be very careful of booking the correct data !!!!!

 

Flying from Boston to Sydney you would traveling more than a third of the globe -

roughly a 6 hour flight to the West Coast and then a 14 hour flight to down-under

you will need a break somewhere and time to rest recovery on arrival in Sydney

9 time zones and an international date line crossing.

 

A good idea to arrive two-three or more days in advance for creature acclimation

comfort and see some of Sydney before boarding the NCL ship.

Generally west bound flights race the sun during daylight hours the east bound

flights are redeyes and you get back that day you lost going to Australia.

 

That is all for now - just to wet your interests and prime your planning !

 

 

[Nola26]

10 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said:

I don't believe that NCL has any free or discounted travel arrangements with airlines for your Sydney Australian cruise.

You would plan and book your own flights from Boston to Sydney:

Airlines:

American and Qantas

Delta and Virgin Australia

United

are possible sources to review for booking

 

You can book the air travel and the NCL cruise together or separately with your TA

You can leave the TA out of the picture and book these separately that way

You can make you own package deal combining the two -

If you have an affinity relationship with an airline (above) see what they can offer -

 

Are you looking at some of the recent promo perk NCL sailings with 6 offers ?

 

You can book everything online or by phone or thru your TA -

If you are not all that comfortable in doing this the TA route would be advisable

If you make a mistake or need to adjust a booking or flight you have a limited amount

of time to make the change adjustment without penalty i.e. nominally 24 hours

Since this involves crossing the date line be very careful of booking the correct data !!!!!

 

Flying from Boston to Sydney you would traveling more than a third of the globe -

roughly a 6 hour flight to the West Coast and then a 14 hour flight to down-under

you will need a break somewhere and time to rest recovery on arrival in Sydney

9 time zones and an international date line crossing.

 

A good idea to arrive two-three or more days in advance for creature acclimation

comfort and see some of Sydney before boarding the NCL ship.

Generally west bound flights race the sun during daylight hours the east bound

flights are redeyes and you get back that day you lost going to Australia.

 

That is all for now - just to wet your interests and prime your planning !

 

 

If you are booking with a TA you should direct your questions there. It sounds like you're trying to use NCL's Free Air perk. That's part of your reservation which is with your TA.

 

We are using the perk for a European cruise, but book directly with NCL so our experience will be different than yours. Our NCL arranged flights will arrive and return on the same days as the cruise. We expect flight details about 60 days prior to departure.  We don't get to select flights, just departure airport and seats once we are booked. Local transfers are booked with NCL, mandatory. 

[zogrand]

Thanks so much for your thoughts and hints.  I’m comfortable making my own bookings but we usually cruise with Princess and they have a very good on-line site for flights at very good prices.  I was hoping to find the same with NCL and just didn’t know where to find it.  We were thinking about heading out several days early to deal with the day/time change so we’re glad to see you had the same thought.  We have family in So. Korea so have dealt with big time changes in the past, but have never set off on a cruise from there.

Thanks again!

[don't-use-real-name]

Korea is one hour earlier than Sydney -or- the same time zone of central (outback) Ayers Rock Australia.

Australia has three time zones.***

Actually it is 5 with some areas observing Day Light Savings Time  Sydney is on DST.

 

The 14 hour flight plan from Los Angeles nips Hawaii and brings up an interesting option of a break point stopover

there resulting in the last leg to SYD being about 10 hours - you could do that going or returning.

 

One of my bucket list destinations is Australia and New Zealand with or without cruise. 

Edited February 12, 2019 by don't-use-real-name
DST note