Should we book our own aifare?
 

Hi...there are 16 of us cruising for the first time on RCCL for my parents 50th wedding anniversary. We have been given quotes from RCCL inclusive of airfare. However, they can't tell us the route of travel yet. The rate is okay...not great. Should we book our own airfare since we don't know just what we're getting into with RCCL?

Annette--It all depends on how much you can save vs the security you have getting your air thru the Cruise Line. On our last Cruise the Ship was Held in Miami for 2 hours cause a flight was late that the Cruise Line had used For it's passengers. We met other Passengers who had booked their own air who missed the Sailing in Miami and had to Board in Puerto Rico, at their own expense. Also with the Cruise Line's Air if you do miss the Sailing they will get you to the next Port at their expense. Not so if you make your own Arrangements. <BR>Suggestion--When we Book our own Air we always arrive in Port at least 1 day prior to Sailing, to insure we don't miss the boat. I would do this if we've saved enough on the Air to pay for our Hotel room and we have the time to spend doing so. Hope this Helps.

I agree with Carl, especially if you do not have direct access to a major airport. My husband and I have cut it close a few times catching a ship. We live in a small town and have to take a shuttle to a major airport which means that we are often making a minimum of 3 connections. We learned early on to be at the port city the day before sailing, it gives you great piece of mind. Another tip: Book your own pre-departure overnight hotel arrangements- you will save money over the ship's arrangements and many hotels provide free transportation to the dock.

Several years ago, we sailed out of Barbdos on a Windstor cruise. Their airfare, from Detroit, was over $400 more than my travel agent booked for us. Plus, ours was a direct flight, Windstar had 4 stops, 3 plane changes and one of the passenger's luggage was lost! We were unpacked and on deck at 4:00 PM--they arrived at 10:45 PM and had been traveling since 6:00 AM!

From our experience on Holland America, I would book my own flights. We heard many, many people complaining about the routes they were booked on by the cruise line...although it's true that if you do your own, they are not responsible for getting you to the ship. I would just allow more time. On our Panama cruise, we could have flown straight to Acapulco, but the cruiseline routed us through Phoenix and Mexico City, leaving only an hour in Mexico City to connect to Acapulco. Of course by the time we got to the check-in desk they said, "Sorry you have to be here at least an hour before. That flight is full and there's not another going out tonight." Several others were in the same situation. We had to scramble to find a hotel room and book another flight out the next morning. We were the last to get on - others had to wait for an afternoon flight, including one poor fellow who took this trip in particular to see the cliff divers in Acapulco. Sure the cruiseline eventually paid for it, but it made for a lousy beginnning to the trip. The return trip wasn't much better. For instance, some people going to Seattle from Florida were routed through Washington DC. Of course this is not to say that every cruiseline is the same. <BR>

We booked through the cruise line last year to the Caribbean, coming home the same day as the snow storm that shut down all the airports in the Midwest. Since we had seats on a charter flight that was booked by the cruise line, we had a devil of a time getting back to Chicago. At first they said they weren't going to honor the tickets and then they said they could get us home a week later when the next charter flight came down and finally they ended up giving us vouchers. <BR> <BR>We also talked with a couple from New York that had been routed through Chicago to get to San Juan-it made for a long day for them and they almost got stuck in San Juan even though their airport wasn't closed. <BR> <BR>If you follow Carl's advice and arrive in port a day early to accomodate any airport mishaps, you will be able to pick what airline you will fly on and probably save some money to boot.

Book your own air through a travel agent and purchase the transfers. You get the same advantage of checking your luggage to the ship and are met at the port and escorted to the ship. You also have control of your flight schedule. The cruise lines get their schedules late and you may have to connect or travel at a less convenient time. <BR>We went on an Alaska cruise with 16 people. The advantage of having all of us on the same flights at a convenient time was paramount. You can book much further in advance on your own. The cruise co.s don't tell you your flights until you get you cruise documents. <BR>Any travel agent worth his or her salt will get you there conveniently. <BR>Good luck.