What if the flight is delayed?

[bonbon663]

I hope I'm speaking hypothetically, but, what happens if my flight is delayed? How long will "transfer guy" wait for us? Is there any contigency plan for passengers who are late for the ship for reasons beyond their control?

 

 

[ladysail2]

There are a few scenarios in your question.

 

If you booked your flight yourself....and your flight is delayed long enough to miss the ship...then you either go home or you go to the next port of call. If you have insurance..you may receive a cruise fare refund depending on insurance details and your choice of options.

 

If you booked your flight through the cruiseline...the cruiseline will typically try their best to get you to the ship. If not, they are responsible for getting you to the next port of call...and/or hotel for the night, etc.

 

I don't have any experience with missing a transfer....so I'm not sure what happens. If you booked your flight and transfer with the ship...then I would think that the transfer would be aware of a delayed flight and arrange someone to meet you...but don't quote me on that.

 

Hope that helps.

[bonbon663]

We have booked the flight/transfer/cruise all with the same person. This is my first cruise, and I have visions of standing on the pier watching the ship sail away. I'm such a worry wart!!!:eek:

 

 

[C 2 C]

We have booked the flight/transfer/cruise all with the same person. This is my first cruise, and I have visions of standing on the pier watching the ship sail away. I'm such a worry wart!!!:eek:

 

The same person might have booked all the arrangements but that does not mean they have all been purchased through Celebrity.

If the plane is delayed and you have no insurance purchased from Celebrity, you are responsible for getting to the next port. Contrary to what people think, even flights purchased through the cruise company might result in delays for which Celebrity will not be held responsible. If that is a concern, you should fly the day before.

What happens if my flights are canceled or delayed?

Subject: Air Arrangements

CruiseCare Travel Insurance includes Trip Delay coverage up to $500. If you miss the departure of your trip due to carrier-caused delays or other covered reasons, the plan reimburses you for additional accommodations, meals and "catch-up" transportation expenses. Click here for additional details.

 

To ensure compliance with U.S. federal laws , guests are required to contact our Guest Flight Operations at (800) 256-6649 or (305)539-4107 to receive instructions regarding the next port of call in which they can legally board the ship, if applicable.

[soooo excited!]

There is another thread reporting trouble on Infinity - pods again !.

For our cruise next summer we are flying into Vancouver 3 days ahead - no problem there, but, for the return we will be catching a flight same day. I'm thinking if we book the air through X, and the ship is late, and our flight was booked through X - then they have to get us a new flight - because if it's the ship that's the problem then they're responsible ? I'd better do some research !

[98Charlie]

Sadly, most cruise lines have in their contracts that airlines are considered "Independant Contractors". The cruise lines assume no responsibility for their actions, inactions, errors and omissions. Other independant contractors include the shops on board, art auction, shore excursions, spa, etc.

 

If you book air through the cruise line, they may try to help some. More so than if you booked on your own. However, the bottom line is that you are really on your own.

 

2 words of advice - "Trip Insurance". Don't leave home without it.

 

Charlie

[Susan-M]

I hope I'm speaking hypothetically, but, what happens if my flight is delayed?

 

Are you flying Air Canada? They have hourly flights to Vancouver, so hopefully if you've booked an early morning flight and if there happens to be a problem with it, they can get you on another flight.

 

I'm sure you'll be fine with your flights, but it gives you a lot of 'peace of mind' to arrive a day (or more) ahead - plus a chance to extend your vacation :)

[RB Bonzo]

Is it too late to change your flight arrangements? I, too, worry about this - and that is why we always plan to arrive at the port city the day before.

[Host Anne]

bonbon ~ about ten years ago, we almost missed a Princess cruise for a flight delayed by a mechanical problem. We had booked the air with Princess and they were great and held the ship for us (for about an hour after original departure time). However, that decision is up to the Captain of the ship and ships won't always wait for a delayed flight (altho they are most inclined to wait or be helpful if you booked your flight with through the cruise line).

 

Since that time, we never arrive in a departure city the day of. Too many things can go wrong today. That said, we too always purchase cancellation/trip interruption insurance. Be sure to read the policy (even if you purchase the insurance through the cruise line, they are not the folks underwriting the insurance policy). You want to be sure that the insurance covers the cost of getting you to the ship if you miss the ship. Unfortunately, you can't assume that the cruiseline will be able to provide the assistance you need should you miss a flight.

 

When we almost missed our cruise, I called our travel agent. She called the cruise line and they told her they were NOT holding the ship for us...so we were already thinking about how we were going to catch up with the ship (whose first two days were at sea - we were not happy campers). Imagine our surprise and delight upon landing in Ft. Lauderdale to find the ship and Princess reps waiting for us to escort us to the ship. We were lucky (and grateful). While it isn't good to worry that something can go wrong, it's best to be prepared in case it does.

 

Chances are, things will go just fine! ENJOY!

[C 2 C]

On April 6th we got off Voyager of the Seas in Miami and had to fly to Houston for a cruise out of Galveston. RCL refused to book our flight because they could not guarantee connections to the port for flights arriving after 1pm. Our flight was booked by our TA and was scheduled to arrive at 1:04pm. We purchased RCL transfers anyways and would hope for the best.

When we received our flight tickets we noticed the flight had a new arrival time of 1:20pm.. (adding up to an hour for luggage) that shuttle to Galveston wasn't waiting for us.

Talking about worrywarts (ME). I had a rental booked for emergency backup to drive from the airport to Galveston, and another rental car booked if the plane was too late for Galaxy's departure at 5:00 pm. I was prepared to drive all the way back to Key West, Galaxy's first port stop two days later.

We were ready to get off Voyager at 6:00 am carrying our own luggage to try to catch an earlier flight. At the airport we found out that planes were being delayed to Houston because of severe weather. We boarded our scheduled flight half an hour late. Then there was a fuel leak and environmental spill clean up crew. The flight was at least an hour late leaving...

We arrived in Houston, rushing to find the greet staff... and another 100 people waiting as well. We were the only passengers smiling. It seems that the severe storm caused a fire in the control tower which lead to the rerouting of airplanes to alternate airports and everyone was late. I wish to apologize to all the other passengers who were inconvenienced by my own wishes not to miss the shuttle.:D;)

[Jimsgirl]

Have never had a delay with Celebrity, but did with Cunard. Booked flight with cruise line, meet and greet at Gatwick, transport to London Hotel pre cruise one night.

To keep this short, flight from Ft Myers delayed two and half hours, still in air when London Flight took off from Atlanta. Air line did not care. cruise line 800 number did not care, I was told to buy another ticket for plane next day, finally got on air lines later flight that night, got to Gatwick , no meet and greet, and no luggage it was with about 40 other passengers luggage still on the tarmac at Atlanta.

Got through to Cunard, "not our fault meet and greet is a contractor." Meet and greet said "we never meet passengers on a Sunday and never meet solo passengers anyway only groups" Finally got to Hotel, next day still no rep for transport to Southampton, phone calls here there everywhere re transport and luggage. Finally a van pulled up to take me to port, got there, no one at Cunard knew if my luggage had arrived or not. Not Baggage Master nor Security Officer (both should have known as the luggage was unaccompanied and not labled for cabin). Got to cabin, found not only my luggage but several extra bags belonging to other passengers. Went to reception, told "put them outside they will get picked up eventually"

 

Morale : Expect to have to solve any problems yourself, make sure your credit card has plenty of cash available.

[Bobster]

Save yourself the worry. We always go a day early and usually can find a hotel which will provide transfers to the pier. Some will provide transfers both ways. You can do a search on "fly & cruise" sites to see if there is one in your departure city. We never travel without insurance. Have only had to use it once but were darned glad we had it.

[C 2 C]

Save yourself the worry. We always go a day early and usually can find a hotel which will provide transfers to the pier.

 

In January 2002 Infinity had a breakdown. People in our Cruise critic group had already left for their cruise to spend a couple of days in Las Vegas. The cruise was cancelled while they were in Vegas.

Just read what is happening to Infinity right now as it limps into Vancouver. There might not be a cruise tomorrow. (it should have left today)

[dmk]

In January 2002 Infinity had a breakdown. People in our Cruise critic group had already left for their cruise to spend a couple of days in Las Vegas. The cruise was cancelled while they were in Vegas.

Just read what is happening to Infinity right now as it limps into Vancouver. There might not be a cruise tomorrow. (it should have left today)

 

I would say that this is the exception and not the norm. Thank God, because I need to get out of the snowy winter in Montreal sooner rather than later. I never know if a storm will prevent us from getting to the cruise on the same day.

[cat616]

If you are a worrier and you do not like to worry arrive at least a day early and depart at least a day after disembarkation.

 

This is a very good tip. That is why everyone is giving it.

 

I do not like to worry so I arrange my life to avoid it.

 

If my outgoing flight is delayed I am not worried as I still have more than 24 hours to get to my ship.

 

If my ship gets in late (never been a problem but we are going on Infinity next...:o ) we will have a hotel reservation at a hotel of our choice. I can not help but to think of those passengers disembarking from Infinity right now, the ones who have already missed their flights and with no prospect of a flight until tomorrow. Where are they going to sleep tonight? Yes, Vancouver has alot of hotels but they also have a lot of cruise passengers passing through them every night. Booking a hotel on the night of stay is always VERY expensive. What a stressful end to a wonderful vacation.

 

 

 

Happy Travels

 

Cindy

[bonbon663]

bonbon ~ about ten years ago, we almost missed a Princess cruise for a flight delayed by a mechanical problem. We had booked the air with Princess and they were great and held the ship for us (for about an hour after original departure time). However, that decision is up to the Captain of the ship and ships won't always wait for a delayed flight (altho they are most inclined to wait or be helpful if you booked your flight with through the cruise line).

 

Since that time, we never arrive in a departure city the day of. Too many things can go wrong today. That said, we too always purchase cancellation/trip interruption insurance. Be sure to read the policy (even if you purchase the insurance through the cruise line, they are not the folks underwriting the insurance policy). You want to be sure that the insurance covers the cost of getting you to the ship if you miss the ship. Unfortunately, you can't assume that the cruiseline will be able to provide the assistance you need should you miss a flight.

 

When we almost missed our cruise, I called our travel agent. She called the cruise line and they told her they were NOT holding the ship for us...so we were already thinking about how we were going to catch up with the ship (whose first two days were at sea - we were not happy campers). Imagine our surprise and delight upon landing in Ft. Lauderdale to find the ship and Princess reps waiting for us to escort us to the ship. We were lucky (and grateful). While it isn't good to worry that something can go wrong, it's best to be prepared in case it does.

 

Chances are, things will go just fine! ENJOY!

 

 

 

I did have the foresight to buy insurance to cover all these eventualities. My big worry now is whether we're going or not with the problems with Infinity.

[Host Anne]

Bonbon ~ hang in there.....I'm guessing (hoping, keeping my fingers crossed for you) Infinity will be fine for you.