Air to Sea to Europe

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, ReRe71 said:

 

That's what we did, pay for our flights when we booked (well, really paid for them 2 weeks later). I was not comfortable not being able to choose seats until final payment date. Our flights from IAD to BCN was $3400 RT for premium economy (for 2 people), the price on United's site was around $4K per person.

Wow I sure didnt expect prices that high. I need solo for 1 from FCO, rome to mco, Orlando. When I look on priceline I see all sorts of airlines. Finland, Sweden, names I have no familiarity with. From $650ish up. One way. Idk if it's safe to book some airlines I never heard of like Finnish air or whatever. I'm still 13 months out, cant book yet with royal or see their prices. 

 

Premium economy means you can check luggage and cancel right?

[firefly333]

50 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

I should add that right now Royal A2S has a promo with $200 pp additional discount for economy and $500 for first class fares to Europe and $100/$200 off respectively for Alaska fares. 

This sounds much better. Whew. 

[HicksRA]

44 minutes ago, RobInMN said:

This is possibly a stupid question, but who does the CC charge show up as? I have a Delta AMEX. Delta purchases have higher rewards. If I use A2S and use my Delta AMEX, is it a Delta Charge? Royal Caribbean, or A2S?

 

I just booked a flight and it shows up as Royal Caribbean, not the airline. 

[ReRe71]

31 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Wow I sure didnt expect prices that high. I need solo for 1 from FCO, rome to mco, Orlando. When I look on priceline I see all sorts of airlines. Finland, Sweden, names I have no familiarity with. From $650ish up. One way. Idk if it's safe to book some airlines I never heard of like Finnish air or whatever. I'm still 13 months out, cant book yet with royal or see their prices. 

 

Premium economy means you can check luggage and cancel right?

We booked October 2023 and the cruise is September 2024, so yeah the pricing was very high even at a year out. I was adamant about flying direct to Barcelona and United is the only airline in my area so that's who we went with. 

 

Premium Economy on United has the extra legroom and includes 2 checked bags. Would have loved to go business class but the price was not worth it for us. 

[little britain]

@firefly333 Finnair code shares with British Airways. They will be better than most airlines. 
 

One ways are always expensive. Buy a return and don’t use the 2nd leg

[Tlbecker1]

1 hour ago, RobInMN said:

This is possibly a stupid question, but who does the CC charge show up as? I have a Delta AMEX. Delta purchases have higher rewards. If I use A2S and use my Delta AMEX, is it a Delta Charge? Royal Caribbean, or A2S?

 

It is a Royal charge, due to it gets added to your cruise booking.

[RogerDodger247]

Does A2S book you with Basic Economy (typically no included checked bags for international) or Regular Economy (typical one included checked bag for international)?  Or is it your choice?

 

I have an NCL cruise coming up out of the UK and I've been scared off "NCL Air" with some of the horror stories I hear over there.  A2S with Royal is sounding much better.

 

[sailing sue]

Your information is terrific! Thanks everyone. When I land and I am at the destination airport, will a Royal representative meet me somewhere and escort me to a bus that goes  to the pier? I would have purchased ground transfers . I will be flying in same day if I purchase A2S.

[firefly333]

2 minutes ago, sailing sue said:

Your information is terrific! Thanks everyone. When I land and I am at the destination airport, will a Royal representative meet me somewhere and escort me to a bus that goes  to the pier? I would have purchased ground transfers . I will be flying in same day if I purchase A2S.

Typically they have a meeting place and expect you to get to where the shuttle meets, they dont meet you personally and walk you over. 

[smokeybandit]

6 minutes ago, RogerDodger247 said:

Does A2S book you with Basic Economy (typically no included checked bags for international) or Regular Economy (typical one included checked bag for international)?  Or is it your choice?

 

I have an NCL cruise coming up out of the UK and I've been scared off "NCL Air" with some of the horror stories I hear over there.  A2S with Royal is sounding much better.

 

I haven't seen any basic economy fares. Plus you book what you want to book.

[HicksRA]

14 minutes ago, sailing sue said:

Your information is terrific! Thanks everyone. When I land and I am at the destination airport, will a Royal representative meet me somewhere and escort me to a bus that goes  to the pier? I would have purchased ground transfers . I will be flying in same day if I purchase A2S.

Normally, there’s a person in the baggage claim area with a sign saying Royal Caribbean who will instruct you where and when to meet the shuttle. You’ll get specific info in your cruise documents. 

[kwokpot]

On 4/18/2024 at 5:14 AM, TwinMamainMN said:

From what I understand, A2S allows a deviation of up to 2 days from your sailing date and you have zero say in the flight times, numbers of connections, layover times, etc. We have always booked our own airfare and will when we do a Med cruise next summer too. We plan on spending 4-5 days precruise in Rome and another 4-5 days post cruise in another city. Maybe Florence.

Totally incorrect. You let them know exactly what your qualifications are,and they let you know what they can book for you. The great thing is payment for the flights is tied in with final payment for your cruise. If you want to change anything about the flight you reserved,you can do it as long as you didn't make final payment. If the fare goes down,they will rebook it. Change everything about the flight you reserved, no problem. We used them for a family cruise last summer to Europe and all the agents were great. Zero issues. 

[sailing sue]

If I find another flight that is not offered by A2S, but shows on Expedia, can I request that flight instead? Royal is showing flights that come in1 day ahead of sailing, and I do not want to stay in a hotel the night prior, but just want to fly in, and board the same day.

[smokeybandit]

31 minutes ago, sailing sue said:

If I find another flight that is not offered by A2S, but shows on Expedia, can I request that flight instead? Royal is showing flights that come in1 day ahead of sailing, and I do not want to stay in a hotel the night prior, but just want to fly in, and board the same day.

The only limitations on what's available I've ever seen are time cutoffs. They won't let you book a flight that arrives after a certain time on embarkation day and won't let you book flights that depart before a certain time after the cruise.

[EmmasNana]

On 4/18/2024 at 2:36 PM, firefly333 said:

 

 

Premium economy means you can check luggage and cancel right?

International flights, you will get one free checked luggage, plus free adult beverages even in regular economy. On A2S i did not see any flights that had the basic economy.

 

When I booked our flights from DFW to FCO and back (within a few weeks of availability) the price for two in economy was $1626 ($813 pp RT). We are going two days in advance. 

The flights were originally on Air France with a layover in Paris. AF changed the flight from Paris to Rome (which did not give enough time time to catch the next flight).

A2S, changed our flights and now we are going on Delta (layover in Atlanta). Our return flight is now a nonstop on American.

 

On Delta, I was able to go to the Delta website and choose our seats. On American, A2S was able to choose the seats we requested.

 

Happy so far. We don't leave until late August, so we shall see.

[c-leg5]

On 4/18/2024 at 3:32 PM, little britain said:

 

Buy a return and don’t use the 2nd leg

Not good practice on a regular basis to book flights or legs you will knowingly not take, especially with one airline.

 

Be mindful of the consequences and as with anything be comfortable with the risks. 
 

 

[little britain]

1 hour ago, c-leg5 said:

Not good practice on a regular basis to book flights or legs you will knowingly not take, especially with one airline.

 

Be mindful of the consequences and as with anything be comfortable with the risks. 
 

 

Never said anything about going it regularly… it’s just one way around the ridiculous one way flight fare. I have never gone this but if there isn’t a low cost carrier like Norse operating next April when I need to come over for my TA then I may 🤷‍♀️