Need help with airtickets for Princess cruise from Seattle
 

Our family of 5 is searching the internet for cheapest airtickets from east coast to Seattle for an Alaskan cruise on Golden Princess, departing 6 July. Should we wait for Southwest Airlines to begin selling their summer tickets (not yet available) or should we take what we can get now (Alaskan Airlines seems cheapest). Also if ship returns at 0700 to Seattle, can we book a 12Noon flight home and not be stressed about making the flight? Thanks. Cmac3

This is what I would do, and I am not saying it's the best way, just how I would do it.

I would check Southwest prices for the last day they're selling now to see the cheapest price, and also if the schedule is convenient.

If any airline sells something close to it, price- and schedule-wise, I would make a reservation now. If not, I would check Southwest every day and also sign up for their Ding to catch the cheapest price on the day it opens.

As for time of the flight... in a week I'll go on my first cruise, so can't advise here.

Flying from the East Coast, I highly suggest you get in the day prior, you are taking a big chance if you fly in the day of the cruise. Depending on where you are flying from?? Delta has $239 flights from NYS. At this point, fares are at their lowest for summer. I tried to get Southwest tickets for my sister to Florida the day they opened and all of the cheap tickets were already gone. Southwest has very few real cheap seats, that for me are tough to get.

If you're seeing Alaska Airlines then you must be in the Boston, NYC, Washington DC or Florida areas.

Buy whatever's cheap now, and I'll second BQ's suggestion at arriving the day before. Delays in summer flights are not uncommon, especially if they involve changing planes in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis etc. Don't risk it.

Yes, I think a 12:00 flight out ought to be doable - the airport is around 20 min from the dock. Note noon is about as late as you can usually leave in order to get back to the east coast at a decent hour, due to time change.

I agree with BQ about getting in a day early. IIRC when we cruised from Sae. to Alaska on the Sapphire Princess the earliest flight (from Chicago ORD) got us into Sea. about 5 hrs. B4 embarkation. That was too close for me. We stayed one night at the Best Western Loyal Inn which was economical, had a free or included breakfast and free shuttles to the pier. There are many good inns/hotels to choose from for one night.
Yes, an 0700 return gives you tons of time to get to the airport.
Enjoy Alaska. Be sure to bring a good pair of binoculars. :-)

I would check on Jet Blue. They are very competitive with SWA and a lot nicer plane to fly on. It might even be a non-stop.

I would 34th the suggestion to come in at least the day before if not two. When we did the Alaska cruise out of Vancouver, BC we went in two days early and since one of the people in the group didn't get her bags until the next day, she would have been without any clean or formal ware for at least the first two days of the cruise.

There is plenty to see in Seattle so find a reasonable hotel and spend a day or two. If you make reservations in advance try to have dinner at the top of the Space Needle.

No offense to Jamesr but if we had to do it over we would not have dinner at the Space Needle. Sure the views are neat and it IS the Space Needle however the food was just OK and for the prices we felt it should have been better. JM22C.

As for a good restaurant in Seattle with an amazing view, try Canlis. We ate there the night before our trip to Italy and it really is amazing. Request a window view. both of us were sitting looking out the window with one of the most amazing views!

I was just looking at flights from the north east to Seattle in June to cruise on the Golden Princess too. I strongly suggest you search at www.kayak.com, you can compare the best prices from flights from different airlines.