we are going on our first cruise in sept. how far in advance do i purchase our airline tickets and hotel room?

Lou,<BR>It all depends on how confident you are in your cruise plans and whether or not you think the best rates are available. I always get the cruise company to quote airfare and if it's close to what I can buy myself I always take their air fare.

Try to book your own fare if your travel plans bring you down a day early. We almost always do this and save up to $100.00 on each ticket. We are paying for 3 seats, so after hotel expenses (usually &lt;$100.00 in FL) we have $200.00 for spending. The cruise lines have their fares listed in the back of the brochures. Use it as a base and search around.

If you do purchase airfare and hotel on your own (not as part of your cruise package), make sure you take out travel insurance on it.<BR><BR>When Renaissance Cruise lines filed for bankruptcy and canceled our cruise, we got our money for the cruise back from the credit card company. We had booked air separately and didn't have it covered by insurance. As a result, I have two unrefundable tickets that will cost me $100 each to transfer to somewhere else.<BR><BR>I'm not saying that your cruise line will go bankrupt -- but you should make sure you don't get stuck with tickets if something else goes wrong.

There are many variables for purchasing either cruise line air vs. your own.<BR><BR>Although cruise line air is generally more expensive (unless you attempt to book at the last minute and air prices are through the roof) cruise lines do help in circumstances that are beyond your control. Cruise lines WILL get you to the next port-of-call if you miss your ship at no charge. They will charter their own planes if there is a strike or walkout. The do have clout with the airlines. Of course they do not guarantee a solution to air problems. This is where the arguments pro and con appear.<BR><BR>Most passengers say the extra cost is like buying insurance. <BR><BR>Also cruise line air has the complimenary round-trip transfers (exception - Princess). They also issue paper tickets rather than electronic.<BR><BR>Most passengers that purchase their own air will fly the day before the cruise to assure themselves that they will make the cruise. But then they incur hotel and taxi charges.<BR><BR>I have been stuck in many airports during bad weather and I am one of the first to board the next flight. I am holding cruise line air tickets. Is this just good luck .... who knows.<BR><BR>Paul<BR>

I always book my own air and here are my reasons.<BR><BR>Cruise air from my area to FLL is around $550. I can normally get air to FLL for between $200 - $250. That is a savings of over $500 for 2.<BR><BR>The one time we booked our air through the cruiseline - we had awful connections and arrived at the ship at 5 pm. We were exhausted after flying all day (to San Juan) and just wanted to sleep once we got to the ship. We also felt like we lost the first day of the cruise.<BR><BR>So we are ones who fly down the day before but I would do this if I was using cruise air. I like to sleep in the day of the cruise, have a nice breakfast and head over to the pier between 11 am and 12 pm - be one of the first to board the ship. This way I am rested and have a whole extra day to enjoy the ship then those who fly in late.<BR><BR>I also live in a bad weather area. I have missed planes for other destinations because of blizzards so by chancing it by flying out the day of the cruise would be a disaster for me. I don't care if the cruise line will fly you to the next destination free - It may be 3 days later! By leaving early the day before - if I miss my flight - I have other choices in flights.<BR><BR>As far as hotel rooms - you may want to look at www.biddingfortravel<BR><BR>I have never used Priceline until I found this site. It tells you the hotels that Priceline uses and what they are going for bid wise. I got Embassy Suites for $70 in FLL. The going rate for the hotel is $199 when I looked it up.<BR><BR>If you are not willing to use Priceline - book hotel as soon as possible. Then watch for the rates to go down. IF they go down, then you can call and rebook.<BR><BR>Good luck!

We sailed Buenos Aires to Santiago. Went down 2 days early and 1 day after the cruise. Arranged our own flights for half what the cruise lines charged. This was in Feb 2002<BR>