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Travel logistics are typically taken care of onboard, but getting to the ship can be another story. Many travelers who book a cruise are tempted to book airline tickets to the ship's point of departure after the cruise reservation is already in place. However, you might be setting yourself up for unnecessary stress and expenses when you choose this approach to planning. In general, when flying to a port city, you'll want to avoid cutting it too close. The ship will leave at the scheduled time, regardless of who is onboard.
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You might find some programs offer a greater number of selections but cost more. You could also discover that the best price and your preferred travel times are available when booking through a cruise line. Unless you live close to an embarkation port, you'll likely need to fly to meet up with the cruise ship you're taking on your next vacation.
Consider the benefits of travel agent services
Princess EZair helps your journey take flight by allowing you to forgo the stress of transportation planning. Similar to putting together ideal cruise and flight packages, EZair makes it easy to coordinate flights, save on fares and ensure you land your ultimate vacation. All that’s left for you to do is sit back, relax and set sail on a dream vacation. Many cruise travel agents have taken time to experience various cruise routes for themselves. This gives them first-hand experience with how flight times and cruise departures match up. That makes them a wonderful resource when you're looking for a stress-free booking experience that's well planned out too.
Lowest cost is always best.
Liability and Relation with AirlinesAs the air rates we use are based on capacity-controlled, promotional and group fares, we may limit or close sales without prior notice at any time. If, due to any cause beyond our control, the air travel is unavailable or otherwise fails to materialize, to the extent permitted by applicable law, our sole liability will be limited to refunding the air price paid to us. The liabilities and obligations of an airline to you, and your rights against an airline, are subject to any and all terms and conditions of the airline’s ticket and tariffs and all applicable governmental laws and regulations. Passengers who are booked by Seabourn on a Seabourn charter flight are guaranteed a reservation on the cruise ship. With airline change fees, you might not want to pay for airfare months in advance, in case your plans change. The cruise line's agents take all the work out of shopping for flights, much as any travel agent would do for you.
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The cruise lines increase the base cruise fare to cover the extra perks. Decline the airfare, and they will reimburse you with an air credit or charge you a cruise-only rate. If you can find fares cheaper than the credit, you'll save money by not booking your flights through your cruise line. If you ultimately remain completely committed to the idea of booking your cruise and flights on your own, there are still options for making the process more streamlined. In many cases, the reservation ID for the cruise you've booked can be used to search for corresponding flights online. This will likely lead you back to the cruise line's flight program and is a good route to making sure you reach your departure destination on time.
Of course, this also depends on the distance of your desired destination, since not every cruise route is suitable for a combination offer with flight. As the aircraft consumes fuel, its weight decreases and the optimum altitude for fuel economy increases. For traffic control reasons it is usually necessary for an aircraft to stay at a cleared flight level. On long-haul flights, the pilot may ask air traffic control to climb from one flight level to a higher one, in a manoeuvre known as a step climb.
Purchasing tickets on your own might seem like an option to have more say in travel times and preferences. You can choose your preferred airline for earning frequent flyer miles, use your status privileges to get a good price or perks or even pay for the flight with miles. You can choose your routing and flight times for the best possible travel experience. Check how many stops are involved because a trip with several connections increases your risk of travel delays, missed connections and even missing your ship.
When a flight you've booked separately from your cruise reservation is canceled or delayed, there's a good chance you'll be responsible for booking an entirely new flight to meet your cruise at its first port of call. This is expensive and means missing a significant portion of your first sailing days. Your cruise is cut short and money that could have gone toward fun is now directed to additional flight costs.
One thunderstorm could delay a flight, or heavy traffic might turn a 30-minute trip from the airport to the port into a two-hour ordeal. This will allow extra time in case there are unexpected issues on the trip. The easiest way to learn how the cruise line schedules flights is to ask for the options available.
Any fees related to seat assignments are collected by the airlines directly. Guests without seat assignments prior to the flight date will have seats assigned by the airline at check-in on the date of travel. The key word here is "might." There are some packages that have airfare with lower prices than you are likely to find on your own. European river cruises and luxury cruises are sometimes packaged with low or free airfares, some even with reduced-price upgrades to business class. For peace of mind, some mainstream ocean cruise lines offer low-fare guarantees that pay you back if you find a lower airfare after booking with them.
If you are interested in greater flexibility when booking an air schedule, our Flexible Fares may be the option you are seeking. If you are sure of your plans and are looking for potentially lower air rates, our Restricted Fares may work best for your travel schedule. Available exclusively to booked Seabourn guests, Flight Ease® allows you to choose the best flight options from a variety of comfort levels for your flight, including Business Class, at extraordinary values. Whether you buy plane tickets on your own or enlist the help of a cruise line's air department, it can be useful to take some time to look at commonly overlooked or misunderstood points. Read along as we decipher frequent misconceptions about flights for cruises and reveal the best ways to plan for smooth travel.
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Some lines, such as Carnival, charge a flat fee for flight changes, in addition to the fees and fines imposed by airlines. If saving money is the most important consideration, you might want to book independently to avoid any extra surcharges. Once you have booked your flight, please check the airline’s website, or contact the airline directly for information regarding baggage fees and other charges. You are responsible for all baggage fees, including any excess baggage charges imposed by airlines.
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