Cruise Talk: Don't let the cruise line book your air

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Topic: Don't let the cruise line book your air

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 03-15-2000 05:28 PM

There was some talk about this maybe a month ago and it didn't set in until I was burned last week.
RCCL booked us Denver to Phoenix to LA. Now how crazy is that? Why can't I have a non-stop flight on an airline that's reputable. America West was a joke. I don't think I'll use the cruise lines air and transfer package again.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

luvtacruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 679

posted 03-15-2000 06:44 PM

Sorry to hear that you had just a bad experience. I have always used the cruise line's air and transfers and have always been pleased!

Posts: 18 | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 03-15-2000 07:44 PM

You could have course done a "deviation" where for a small fee the airline will route you on your one of choice. We normally are doing long-haul 'open-jaws' these days, and it's hard to beat the prices the cruise companies can get.
Investigating the options is all part of cruising.......peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 03-15-2000 08:40 PM

You can, of course, always book your own air or otherwise get to the pier.

However, if you use the cruise line's air arrangements, they are much more likely to wait for you if your flight is delayed. No chance of that if you do it on your own.

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 03-16-2000 08:50 AM

Even the transfer was a joke. They didn't pick us up at the hotel until 2pm to go to the pier. They didn't even check us in at the hotel like they used to. No. I want a non-stop flight the day before and I want more control over when I arrive at the pier. I'll pay the extra money after my experience.
One more thing about transfers. The bus waits for slow people who can't follow directions. Call me impatient, but I'm not waiting anymore. I'm taking a cab.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 03-16-2000 01:16 PM

When we fly without our group, we specify to our travel agent that we want Air Canada which flies non-stop. Most of the times to Miami, but the odd time we can go to Ft. Lauderdale. In the past we always went the day before,took Hotel package from the cruise line and the transfer from the airport to the hotel, but never took the transfer to the pier. We always took a cab, then we went to the pier when we wanted to. The cruise on Saturday, we have our own air, and will take a cab to the hotel and pier. It isn't that expensive from Ft. Lauderdale. Now, if we were going in/out of Miami, then I would buy HAL's transfer, as it may be cheaper, but don't know. As Ascendancy, said, when you take the bus you have to wait around for other people, and sometimes, you can wait up to an hour. I don't want to sit on a bus for this length of time, especially after having sat on the plane for 3 hours. It's a cab for me.
When we went to Alaska a number of years ago, we stayed at a hotel near pier. Day of sailing, we put our luggage on the bus, it went for a 2-3 hour sightseeing tour, with grumbling passengers, we had a nice leisurely lunch and then walked down to the pier. This was the best way to go - no luggage, only a carry-on bad and thankfully the luggage did arrive in our cabin.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 03-16-2000 01:19 PM

A round-about air flight is the least of the problems. The Cruise Lines will not take any action on your behalf if there is a problem with the airline they booked you on. Ascendancy, you at least made the sailing. We missed the first two days of our cruise. When we caught up to the ship, the staffs response was to offer us a bottle of wine. Prorating the time lost, that was a VERY Expensive bottle.

[This message has been edited by JDCasey (edited 03-16-2000).]

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

luv2cruz
First Class Passenger
Member # 1129

posted 03-17-2000 07:23 PM

I agree with not letting the cruise line do anything but the cruise.My husband and I
have our travel agent book our air separate and we just take a cab to the port. It's only a minimal fee and you get away from that "cattle call" mess on the cruise ship buses.
Also, you can go to the port whenever you want. We are going on the Grand Princess on May 7th and this time we are flying to Ft. Lauderdale and Friday and the ship doesn't leave until Sunday, so we have some time to catch up on sleep and get rested before we go cruising!!!

Posts: 12 | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 03-18-2000 09:11 AM

luv2cruise,
I second that. We always book our own air. We are very lucky since we live in Atlanta, there are many flights to Florida. We either get a cab or rent a car, depending when we go.

Ascendancy,
As you stated, American West is a joke. I had to fly them for business from Atlanta to LA. Very small plane for a long flight. I had to change planes in Phoenix and it was a mess. The airline probably used them because they are so cheap.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

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