| Cruise (General) | Booking a Cruise | Airline Info |
| Cabin Selection | Dining Onboard | Shipboard Services |
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Blue OdysSea Travel
| Cruise (General) | Booking a Cruise | Airline Info |
| Cabin Selection | Dining Onboard | Shipboard Services |
| Shore Tours | Group Travel | Books & Guides |
| Questions About Airfare |
| 1. Is
it to my benefit to purchase airfare through the cruise line?
2. How do I get to and from the ship? 3. When do I need to arrive? 4. What if my flight is delayed? 5. When can I board? 6. What if I have never been to the airport for the embarkation port? |
| Answers About Airfare |
| 1.
That depends. Cruise lines are able to negotiate "cruise bulk
rates." These are sometimes below rates offered to the general
public. Sometimes you may be able to get rates better than the
cruise line can get. Many of our customers prefer the convenience
of letting the cruise line handle all their travel arrangements.
This is especially true for passengers sailing from San Juan, Alaska,
Hawaii, or Europe. Cruise lines are able to obtain airfare to
San Jaun from most US gateways at discounts that are often better than
Internet prices. We have seen them under 50% of Internet airfares!
Another advantage is that cancelation or changes of the air portion
within certain dates prior to the final payment of the cruise, is not
penalized. Most Internet booking for airfare are highly restricted
and subject to expensive cancellation and change fees.
Back to top 2. If you purchased airfare from the cruise line, the cruise line will have staff at the airport to meet you at baggage claim and then direct you to the transportation that will take you to the ship. Most cruise lines will require you to pick up your baggage at the airport baggage claim and take it with you to the transport that will take you to the airport. It is very rare that cruise lines will handle your baggage from the time you drop it off at your departure airport until to the time it is delivered to your cabin. This is due to increased security measures. If you purchased a pre-cruise land package, the transfers may also be be from the airport to your hotel and from the hotel to the pier. If you didn't purchase your airfare from the cruise line, some cruise lines will still offer "transfers" for your convenience. For a modest fee, you may use the same transportation as the cruise line's air/sea passengers. Of course, you are free to arrange your own transportation to the pier from the airport and vice versa. Of course, most transfers are round trip in that they cover transportation to the ship from the airport and to the airport from the ship. If you need only a one way transfer, that can be arranged as well. For our cruise
only customers who will be driving to the pier, if you need directions,
please ask and I will obtain from the cruise line an accurate set
of directions to the pier. 3. Please allow plenty of time to board the ship prior to its scheduled departure. Call or email me to find out when the cruise line allows boarding for your particular cruise and where the port is located. Back to top 4. If a flight that you purchased through the cruise line is delayed for a short time, the ship may wait, for a reasonable amount of time, until you get there. If a flight that you purchased is late or one purchased through the cruise line is very late and you are not able to make it to the pier in time for departure, you will have a very expensive trip to the next port. We highly recommend trip/cancellation insurance to cover such a contingency. Back to top 5. Boarding normally begins at 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM depending upon departure time, ship, and terminal. Ask me to be sure. Individual ticketed reservations will be held as late as 60 minutes before the ship's scheduled departure without risk of automatic cancellation. Failure to check in 60 minutes in advance will constitute a no-show. Your booking will be canceled and cancellation charges may be assessed. Back to top 6. Your arrival airport has an Internet site with up to date information about the location of the terminals, gates, and facilities at the airport. If you need assistance obtaining information about your destination airport, please contact me. Back to top |
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