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Read the fine print or ask a cruise consultant about these options before making a purchase, as the details and services provided can vary depending on the cruise line. Some cruise lines that offer airfare as part of their cruise fares will give travelers who decline the "free air" option a credit applied to their final bill. So if you do prefer to book independently, you don't have to worry about technically paying twice for flights. Again, it is wise to read the fine print so that you know what you are paying for. River cruise packages, some hotel land packages and luxury cruises might have transfers included with the air, but mainstream air packages rarely do.
BOOKING ASSISTANCE
In some cases, you call a toll-free number and provide your cruise reservation number. The agent will then give you appropriate flight options to choose from. Other cruise lines handle air reservations directly on their websites, allowing you to input your cruise information and answer a few preference questions on a simple form to get flight choices.
Help! I Missed a Cruise and the Cruise Line's Own Travel Insurance Won't Pay. - The New York Times
Help! I Missed a Cruise and the Cruise Line's Own Travel Insurance Won't Pay..
Posted: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Seabourn Private Air
Choose a cruise deal with airfare included, or book an air-cruise package, and your cruise purchase can really be one-stop shopping. You always get transportation, food and lodging all in one price with a cruise, but book your airfare through your cruise line, and you'll take care of the majority of your travel plans in one transaction. Flight Ease offers complimentary transfers between the airport and ship, creating a seamless, comfortable experience at the beginning and end of your cruise. In addition, if flight schedules force an overnight, you will receive a complimentary hotel night plus all necessary transfers. You also benefit by not having to plan transfers — Flight Ease arranges them for you, making for a carefree vacation experience. However, if you buy a ticket through a cruise line's air department, help is often available in unexpected situations.
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But when unforeseen problems arise, you might feel less in control than you thought. Or if, during hurricane season, your ship is stranded at sea and you miss your flight home? It's on you to try to rebook your travel plans, sometimes with the frustration and expense of doing so from the ship or an airport in an unfamiliar city. If you regularly use a travel agent, in most cases, your agent can find you a comparable airfare without stripping you of your independence, your seat selections and your upgrades. Even if the air is a tad higher, you may maintain upgrade options and flexibility you would forfeit with the cruise line's air package. In addition, if the ship itself has delays or scheduling changes, passengers who book air through the cruise line are more likely to get a helping hand, or at least be first in line for assistance.
Oceania Cruises offers economy airfare with the most inclusive (and expensive) of its three OLife Choice promotion tiers, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises lures travelers with free business-class flights to Europe. It's hard to find a better deal than free, even if you might not have as much control over your booking as you'd like. Cruise lines frequently work with airlines to reserve a certain number of seats on their aircraft in advance.
Cruise Packages with Flights
You could include some preferences, such as if you want to arrive a day early or leave a day later. In many cases change penalties are steep for the same reason you lose out on upgrades -- the tickets might be the lowest fare class the airline sells. This is yet another thing to watch out for in the fine print before you book an air package. Cruise lines can add their own fees and surcharges on top of the typical airline charges.
Rest easy that you'll make your cruise if flights are delayed or canceled on the day of travel and get home if you miss flights because of your cruise or transfer. This is because a heavier aircraft should fly faster to generate the required lift at the most efficient lift coefficient. ECON speed will also be higher at higher altitudes because the density of the air is lower. Airline Service Requests and Baggage ChargesPlease contact each airline directly to request meals, oxygen, wheelchair, or other assistance, using your air confirmation code to access your flight reservation. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
This setup often drives the price per ticket down and makes the cost competitive with other flights on the market. Some cruise lines will even offer to give you credit onboard if you book a flight through them and then find a cheaper ticket option. If you're looking for airfare on your own, it can be tempting to jump at the lowest price.
Delays were also on the rise, giving travelers every reason to assume that modern flying comes with plenty of unexpected hurdles. When you're heading toward a cruise departure point and are faced with delays or flight cancellations, it can be an expensive and inevitably disappointing experience. While doing so can offer various benefits, you will want to consider whether the pros outweigh any cons.
Before booking, however, you'll want to carefully read the fine print. The cheapest basic economy fares might charge you extra to pick your seats and bring carry-on luggage, earn you fewer miles and prevent you from making changes to your flights once booked. Those who book air through the cruise line are usually handled seamlessly, while independent travelers must scramble online or on the phone to make alternate arrangements. Good travel insurance covers the cost of those problems but might not provide immediate assistance in the form of tackling the actual re-booking of flights for you. You will need to be wary of time zone changes, layover times and must often book on multiple airlines to get the same low fares offered by the cruise line.
And while booking cruise airfare isn't usually a time-consuming task, missing a few details during the process can lead to headaches, delays or higher costs later. Some cruise line air bookings come with restrictions around when you can fly. Should you wish to arrive several days early or spend a week in the area after your cruise, perhaps even flying home from a nearby city, you might need to pay the cruise line a deviation fee of a few hundred dollars. You might also want to watch out if you hope to pay for coach airfare through your cruise line and then upgrade with miles. As cruise lines often negotiate special low rates with the airlines, these fare classes are often ineligible for mileage or elite upgrades.
Many cruise lines now offer choice and flexibility with airline arrangements, letting you pick your airline, travel time and routing. For example, with Viking, you'd need to upgrade from their base Inclusive Air option to the pricier Viking Air Plus fares in order to choose your specific flights. These non-refundable, but generally lower rates, require full payment for air reservations at time of air booking. Changes to Restricted air reservations will result in cancellation of the entire air booking and cancellation fees up to the full cost of the ticket. Many major cruise lines try to make combining flights and sailing experiences as smooth as possible through specialized reservation programs. Carnival operates Fly2Fun while Princess offers EZair booking options to passengers.
The cruise line's air department will rebook cruise passengers who booked their flights through the cruise line, but independent travelers will be left to fend for themselves. Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of cruise and flight packages to determine whether it's a smart move to book your flights via your cruise line. If the convenience of one-stop shopping with comparable air prices, plus the security of knowing the cruise line has your back when things don't run smoothly sounds good, then packaged air is probably the right choice. But if you have the time to search for deals and want total control over the process, skip the package and keep your independence. Many cruise lines offer the practical combination offer, but you will often find it at Oceania Cruises,Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Getting flight quotes or booking flights is easy, but if you need help contact us or your Travel Advisor. Customize your pre- and post-cruise itinerary to match your travel needs. Guests may purchase Flight Ease online, contact their travel advisors or call Seabourn Reservations.
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