| Flights and Ground Transfers |
If you plan to fly to your port of embarkation, you must decide whether to arrange airline tickets on your own or use the
AIR/SEA program offered by the cruise line. Here are factors to consider before making your decision:
Purchasing Your Own Airline Tickets
The main advantages of securing your own airline tickets are that you will be able to select the airline you fly and you will have
some control over the timing and routing of your flights. You may wish to fly a particular airline to use frequent flier rewards, or
to earn frequent flier miles, or because that carrier has nonstop service to your port city. If you arrange your own airline tickets
you will have more control over these variables than if you utilize the cruise line's AIR/SEA program. Generally it is less
expensive to purchase your own airline tickets even though you will have the additional expense of ground transportation to
and from the port of embarkation/disembarkation. We recommend the following site for flight information and pricing:
www.farecompare.com
Using the cruise lines AIR/SEA Program
The main reasons to let us book your air at the same time you reserve your cruise - through the cruise line's AIR/SEA
department - are convenience, better access to flights that make easy connections to your ship, and added protection in the
event of a flight or sailing delay or cancellation.
Cruise lines meet their AIR/SEA passengers at the airport and transport them to the pier. These transfers are frequently free
of charge, but even if a charge is levied it is typically less than what you would pay if you arranged your own transfers.
Cruise lines monitor the status of flights carrying their AIR/SEA passengers, and will sometimes hold a ship past its
scheduled departure time to wait for guests arriving on a delayed flight, but only if that flight was booked through the cruise
line.
Cruise lines reserve large blocks of seats on flights that make easy connections to their departing and returning cruise
ships. These flights traditionally experience high load factors and you could have difficulty getting a low fare - or a seat at any
price - as an individual. On busy days like Saturday and Sunday, you might have to fly into your port of embarkation a day early
if you book your own tickets, adding a day's meals and lodging to your cost.
And finally, unforeseen things occur (weather, etc) that affect travel plans. Flight delays or cancellations, changes in cruise
ship arrival or departure times, and cancellation of sailings altogether, are some of the things that can force you to rebook at
a later time or date or seek a refund for your airline tickets. If any of these things should happen before or during your cruise,
you will not be eligible for assistance from the cruise line if you arranged your own airline tickets. However, if we secure your
tickets through the cruise line's AIR/SEA program, the cruise line's help desk will assist you in working with the airline to
make alternate flight plans, help you catch up with your ship at the next port, or apply a refund.
Unless you are an experienced traveler who can plan to arrive in the port of embarkation a day early, you're probably better off
booking your airline tickets through the cruise line AIR/SEA program. Also, the cruise line AIR/SEA program is generally more
expensive, but offers peace of mind for the reasons stated above.
Ground Transfers
When you purchase the cruise lines AIR/SEA program the ground transfers from the airport to the ship and return to the
airport from the ship are generally included. However, if you purchase your own air you must arrange for transportation from
the airport to the ship and from the ship to the airport. To purchase transfers from the cruise line you must contact the cruise
counselor and provide the following information that is required by the cruise lines:
1. Airline and flight number (arrival & departure)
2. Arrival and departure times
3. Arrival and departure airports
The cost of the transfers from the cruise line are competitive with other transportation vendors that service the airports and
the cruise ports. Also, they should be purchased at least two weeks in advance of sailing to ensure availability.
Arrival and Departure Times (Airport to Port/Port to Airport)
If you are making your own flight plans it is recommended that you arrive at least 3-4 hours prior to ship embarkation time
and 3-4 hours after scheduled ship disembarkation time.
AIR/SEA program offered by the cruise line. Here are factors to consider before making your decision:
Purchasing Your Own Airline Tickets
The main advantages of securing your own airline tickets are that you will be able to select the airline you fly and you will have
some control over the timing and routing of your flights. You may wish to fly a particular airline to use frequent flier rewards, or
to earn frequent flier miles, or because that carrier has nonstop service to your port city. If you arrange your own airline tickets
you will have more control over these variables than if you utilize the cruise line's AIR/SEA program. Generally it is less
expensive to purchase your own airline tickets even though you will have the additional expense of ground transportation to
and from the port of embarkation/disembarkation. We recommend the following site for flight information and pricing:
www.farecompare.com
Using the cruise lines AIR/SEA Program
The main reasons to let us book your air at the same time you reserve your cruise - through the cruise line's AIR/SEA
department - are convenience, better access to flights that make easy connections to your ship, and added protection in the
event of a flight or sailing delay or cancellation.
Cruise lines meet their AIR/SEA passengers at the airport and transport them to the pier. These transfers are frequently free
of charge, but even if a charge is levied it is typically less than what you would pay if you arranged your own transfers.
Cruise lines monitor the status of flights carrying their AIR/SEA passengers, and will sometimes hold a ship past its
scheduled departure time to wait for guests arriving on a delayed flight, but only if that flight was booked through the cruise
line.
Cruise lines reserve large blocks of seats on flights that make easy connections to their departing and returning cruise
ships. These flights traditionally experience high load factors and you could have difficulty getting a low fare - or a seat at any
price - as an individual. On busy days like Saturday and Sunday, you might have to fly into your port of embarkation a day early
if you book your own tickets, adding a day's meals and lodging to your cost.
And finally, unforeseen things occur (weather, etc) that affect travel plans. Flight delays or cancellations, changes in cruise
ship arrival or departure times, and cancellation of sailings altogether, are some of the things that can force you to rebook at
a later time or date or seek a refund for your airline tickets. If any of these things should happen before or during your cruise,
you will not be eligible for assistance from the cruise line if you arranged your own airline tickets. However, if we secure your
tickets through the cruise line's AIR/SEA program, the cruise line's help desk will assist you in working with the airline to
make alternate flight plans, help you catch up with your ship at the next port, or apply a refund.
Unless you are an experienced traveler who can plan to arrive in the port of embarkation a day early, you're probably better off
booking your airline tickets through the cruise line AIR/SEA program. Also, the cruise line AIR/SEA program is generally more
expensive, but offers peace of mind for the reasons stated above.
Ground Transfers
When you purchase the cruise lines AIR/SEA program the ground transfers from the airport to the ship and return to the
airport from the ship are generally included. However, if you purchase your own air you must arrange for transportation from
the airport to the ship and from the ship to the airport. To purchase transfers from the cruise line you must contact the cruise
counselor and provide the following information that is required by the cruise lines:
1. Airline and flight number (arrival & departure)
2. Arrival and departure times
3. Arrival and departure airports
The cost of the transfers from the cruise line are competitive with other transportation vendors that service the airports and
the cruise ports. Also, they should be purchased at least two weeks in advance of sailing to ensure availability.
Arrival and Departure Times (Airport to Port/Port to Airport)
If you are making your own flight plans it is recommended that you arrive at least 3-4 hours prior to ship embarkation time
and 3-4 hours after scheduled ship disembarkation time.
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