UK based brand new Celebrity cruiser

[ohnonotmeagain]

Hi

I've booked a cruise [flights / hotel included] from UK to Japan in Nov 2023 and obviously the flights are not available yet but what airline are Celebrity "likely" to use for that route and what airport in Japan? I want to stay on a few days after for an independant trip - hence the questions for logistics/planning. 

Many thanks.

[TeeRick]

40 minutes ago, ohnonotmeagain said:

Hi

I've booked a cruise [flights / hotel included] from UK to Japan in Nov 2023 and obviously the flights are not available yet but what airline are Celebrity "likely" to use for that route and what airport in Japan? I want to stay on a few days after for an independant trip - hence the questions for logistics/planning. 

Many thanks.

What city in Japan?  Are you planning on using Flights By Celebrity?  Maybe just give them a call. That is your best bet.   But they will probably not have definitive answers for Nov 2023 at this point.  But maybe they can look at what is the current information.  They are not owned by Celebrity but are a contracted travel agent for airline flights.

 

From the FAQ -  Our air specialists can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 800-533-7803.

[JBare]

1 hour ago, ohnonotmeagain said:

Hi

I've booked a cruise [flights / hotel included] from UK to Japan in Nov 2023 and obviously the flights are not available yet but what airline are Celebrity "likely" to use for that route and what airport in Japan? I want to stay on a few days after for an independant trip - hence the questions for logistics/planning. 

Many thanks.

What route ? Which UK airport ? If you booked with a Celebrity agent in the UK they'll book (at least give you a price for) whatever airline you choose within reason from and to the destinations you choose. for example I always choose Emirates as they fly from Birmingham.

[ohnonotmeagain]

Ha ha , I didn't realize you had a choice of airlines, I thought that they just gave you a flight,like a package holiday!!

Going from LHR to Tokyo.

As you can guess, this is all very new to me and I don't know what I don't know,if that makes sense!

Travel agent wasn't overly helpful as kept saying flights over a year away....

So could anyone explain to a complete idiot how air by cruise lines work.Thanks.

[hawkesbaynz]

We are off to Japan for a X cruise in April 2024. I will hopefully book Avios seats with BA 355 days prior to the holiday. To whichever airport in Tokyo.
 

Most airlines will not have availability before December 2022 for November 2023. January is a good time for sales. 
 

I have never used Celebrity Air. We book the cruise only and arrange our own flights and hotels. 
 

Maybe worth joining Jacksflightclub in January as it send you emails for all the cheap air deals. Also Google flights.com too. You can track prices. 

 

I would say have a look at next seasons Japan Roll Calls (are there?).

[bye-seaya]

Even though flights aren’t open yet for your itinerary-it would be good to search which carriers are flying from LHR to your destination and their schedules.

Although schedules change quite a bit (especially now), it will give you an idea of which airlines you’d like to fly on, how many flights are going out in case one gets cancelled or delayed, what the layover time is if there is a connection, etc. 

I did that for our upcoming Caribbean cruise and next year’s Mediterranean cruise. So when it came to book with Celebrity Air for the Caribbean cruise, I had an idea of the airline, the flight times and even the seats I preferred. Same held true for booking the flights for the Med cruise, and was able to book with points for the those flights.

It’s fun to plan and doing the research! 

[Alakegirl]

12 hours ago, TeeRick said:

What city in Japan?  Are you planning on using Flights By Celebrity?  Maybe just give them a call. That is your best bet.   But they will probably not have definitive answers for Nov 2023 at this point.  But maybe they can look at what is the current information.  They are not owned by Celebrity but are a contracted travel agent for airline flights.

 

From the FAQ -  Our air specialists can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 800-533-7803.

I don’t think that telephone number works from the UK, it’s a toll-free number for Americans but not for others

[chemmo]

5 hours ago, ohnonotmeagain said:

Ha ha , I didn't realize you had a choice of airlines, I thought that they just gave you a flight,like a package holiday!!

Going from LHR to Tokyo.

As you can guess, this is all very new to me and I don't know what I don't know,if that makes sense!

Travel agent wasn't overly helpful as kept saying flights over a year away....

So could anyone explain to a complete idiot how air by cruise lines work.Thanks.

Great advice above from bye-seaya re flights. 
 

 

[emmas gran]

There are 2 main airports serving Tokyo -- Narita and Haneda , so be careful with that choice Narita was 45/60 minute coach ride from our hotel and Haneda a quick taxi ride 10 minutes. This was April 2019.

Yokohama port is 30 minutes minimum from Tokyo.

 

When we did our trip we had a package from a travel agent which included cruise flights hotel and 3 days in Tokyo with a Bullitt train ride and trip to Mt Fuji, I think Viator may do similar 2/3 days in Tokyo.

Edited June 29, 2022 by emmas gran
add

[DYKWIA]

I think the main choice is whether you go non stop with someone like BA, JAL or ANA  (all probably at a premium price) over a direct flight via the Middle East or mainland Europe.  Generally, of those 3, ANA is best regarded.  Lufthansa / Swiss have been offering some very good prices recently to Australia .  With the direct flights (as opposed to non stop flights)  that does open up the option of other local UK airports if that works better for you.

 

I found, for Business class to Australia, Celebrity were about £500 per person more expensive compared with the same flights bought via a UK travel agent and the flights didn't open up as quickly as they did through a UK agent.  I suppose the advantage is that with Celebrity it is a package deal so if the flight or cruise is cancelled you can cancel the whole thing.  With our slightly cheaper tickets it is not a package.  If the cruise is cancelled we still have to fly.  If the flights are cancelled Celebrity will still expect us to get to the cruise port.

 

I was monitoring flights and prices for ages beforehand and literally bought the flights the day they were released as I knew the price being offered was a great price, trust your own research - I've had TA's tell me in the past that £2000 for a return Premium Economy ticket from LHR to JFK was a "great price" - when I knew that it was anything but.

 

5 months after booking, and 7 months out,  minimum prices for our flights to Australia have gone up by about £1100 per person, our specific flights have gone up by almost £2000 per person.  It usually pays to book early, but my advice would be to do your research and work out what is a good price and grab it when you get good flights, with a decent airline and times that work for you (flight times can vary form 11.5 hours non stop, to over 40 hours in some extreme cases).  Google Flights  is pretty good for this.

 

For November 2022,  £500 - £600 for a one stop flight is about average in Economy - £2200 in business but this might rise to about £800 - £1000 for a non stop flight,  to £3000-£4000 in business

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by DYKWIA

[TeeRick]

10 hours ago, Alakegirl said:

I don’t think that telephone number works from the UK, it’s a toll-free number for Americans but not for others

Sorry.  Here is the UK Telephone number for flights.  

 

Call to book flights on: 0344 493 2043

[ohnonotmeagain]

Thanks everyone for your advice, much appreciated 👍 

[DYKWIA]

The option to book flights doesn't appear on the Celebrity site (UK) until about 330 days - From memory I think my online TA had flights showing from 365 days.  Some high street TAs offer to get prices in excess of a year out. 

 

Anyway at about 330 days from your cruise this will appear on the Celebrity UK site under "Manage Your Trip" tab and the "manage reservation" subtab this will appear

Edited June 29, 2022 by DYKWIA

[sunlover33]

On 6/28/2022 at 3:23 PM, ohnonotmeagain said:

Hi

I've booked a cruise [flights / hotel included] from UK to Japan in Nov 2023 and obviously the flights are not available yet but what airline are Celebrity "likely" to use for that route and what airport in Japan? I want to stay on a few days after for an independant trip - hence the questions for logistics/planning. 

Many thanks.

We went to Japan just pre covid. We booked independent flights with emirates which were wonderful but 17 + hours with layover in Dubai. It was only when we were discussing with other Brits who had flown with BA direct LHR to Tokyo 11 hours direct. Depends if you have a preferred airline,  but if you want to get there asap choose BA. Have a great time we loved Japan and had a three day stop in Tokyo. Getting around on the railway was so easy once we figured it out and the people were amazing and very helpful. Unfortunately we booked with Princess, never again!