We are booked on RCCL at Xmas and just tried to do the air deviation ( $50 xtra per person) to pick our own airfare. American Airlines has no non=stops at this time out of Chicago or any decent flight out of Memphis. Last year at this time we had no trouble at all. Do they not want people traveling on cruises or airlines? Cruise airline was $619 vs $1253 that American was offering.
Anyone give me insight to this? I have contacted the cruise line who told me to check back.

As much as we all love the good ol' times, last year is history. Not only you need to pay $50 deviation fee but a possible fare differential. You may be better off just booking your own air, especially if you arrive a day early.

Hi Spur-
Completely understand. Yes we have paid air deviation before but to pay the difference in air why bother? With the rates going up on the cruise lines and then the airfare might make people second guess if they want to go at all. We have had some hellish flights from Chicago getting to San Juan. This isn't our first cruise out of San Juan. It just makes me wonder who would pay almost $1300 a person to fly to San Juan? It seems like the travel industry might slow down on vacation travelers who can't pay those prices. I would rather fly to Europe than pay the prices of a flight within the U.S.

Sunshine, given that you are traveling one of the busiest weeks of the year for the Caribbean, I don't think $1200 is too out of line for airfare that time of year.

Did you try United? They are based out of Chicago and code share with US Airways who specializes in the Caribbean (I think they have more flights to the Caribbean than any other airline).

What are your exact dates?

Thanks for the information. I don't know about you but for a family of 6 that would be $7000 in airfare. A bit too steep if you ask me. The airlines are just cracking down in my opinion. We booked through the cruise last year for the same price and could name our flight down but had to take the last flight back. I have already contacted the cruise line and they said the same thing. They are not sure why the airlines are being so tuff. I am not a newbie at this. This is my 5th cruise at xmas time and the most we paid for airfare to san juan is $600. Double that seems unreasonable to me!

Apparently these prices seem reasonable to airlines as they are sure they can find enough people paying it during Xmas. If you can't afford it, just cancel it and find a cruise within a driving distance. That's exactly what I did last year. And it was RCCL cruise too, BTW. Any talks of how cheap it was years before won't help.

Hi Sunshine: I fly out of Chicago a lot and you've probably already thought of this, but did you try booking out of Midway instead of O'Hare?

We've had better luck and less likelyhood of delays, etc. this way. Just a thought. Hope you can make it work.

Please no further comments on this issue. I was making a statement stating the airlines are being alot higher.
Must be all of you won the lottery because few people can afford a $15,000 cruise for 6. Seems steep to me.

I will keep my comments to myself in the future based on comments I have received here.

www.usa3000.com is a low cost airline that flies from Chicago to:

Cabo San Lucas
Montego Bay
Puerto Vallarta
Punta Cana, Domincan Republic
Orlando
St. Petersburg/Tampa

Perhaps you can consider a cruise out of Orlando or Tampa?

I'm having sticker shock too, flights are hundreds of dollars more than they were this time last year, ick! Rising fuel costs

Oh yes, just wanted to add that my parents paid approx $650pp from PIT to San Juan during spring break Easter week, $1250 pp seems a little high, I think you can do better.

As I said no more comments on this issue.
The travel agent is trying to talk with the cruiseline/airlines. It isn't the cruiselines fault. The TA said its all cruiselines that are having these issues. Princess is having a hard time on deviations.

I just made the comment since my parents (dad will be 80 next month) can't take flying to San Juan with stopovers. He is a brittle diabetic and its just too hard on his body. I know some of you will be go with another cruise out of another port. The reason why we like San Juan is it is usually warmer at xmas time and the seas are not as rough leaving out of Miami. My sister also can get sea sick so this is the other reason why we leave from there. Yes, she uses the wristbands, yes she takes dramamine and she does great.

So thank you all for your comments and I wish I could close up this question that I originally posted.