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#1
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
I've been looking at Alaska cruises and noticed
the cruise line fares are much higher than if you book the flights yourself. What am I missing ? Thanks, Joe |
#2
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:40:50 -0500, "Joe C" wrote:
I've been looking at Alaska cruises and noticed the cruise line fares are much higher than if you book the flights yourself. What am I missing ? Thanks, Joe If you use the cruise line's airfare, you save yourself the three or four minutes it takes to make an internet booking. Surely your time is worth at least $100 per minute. Also, if you book cruise line air they will generally rebook you at no cost if something causes the ship to leave or arrive late or early. So you get some price protection. And the cruise line airfare might be lower than the last minute walkup air fare. |
#3
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
Cruise line airfare is always higher than the same flights booked any other
way. Also, if you are booking a cruise sailing out of Vancouver, you will probably get air to Vancouver. Fares into and out of Vancouver from/to any US airport are always $100+ more than fares in / out of Seattle. We live in British Columbia and usually book our flights to/from Florida or California from Seattle (SEA) for this reason. It doesn't hurt that our DD and SIL live about an hour from SeaTac airport and we can bum a night there before and after, and a ride to/from the airport and save on parking. Tobieon an Island in the Pacific "Jack Hamilton" wrote in message ... On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:40:50 -0500, "Joe C" wrote: I've been looking at Alaska cruises and noticed the cruise line fares are much higher than if you book the flights yourself. What am I missing ? Thanks, Joe If you use the cruise line's airfare, you save yourself the three or four minutes it takes to make an internet booking. Surely your time is worth at least $100 per minute. Also, if you book cruise line air they will generally rebook you at no cost if something causes the ship to leave or arrive late or early. So you get some price protection. And the cruise line airfare might be lower than the last minute walkup air fare. |
#4
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
Joe C wrote: I've been looking at Alaska cruises and noticed the cruise line fares are much higher than if you book the flights yourself. What am I missing ? Thanks, Joe Sometimes cruise air is better if you have an open jaw flight or a flight to Europe. Most of the rest of the time you are better off booking your flight on your own. Now only will you get much lower fares, but you can pick the flights that you want. Cruise air will have you up at the crack of dawn and making crazy connections. For years now we book our flights ourselves and fly down a day ahead to be safe. sue |
#5
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
Jack Hamilton wrote: Also, if you book cruise line air they will generally rebook you at no cost if something causes the ship to leave or arrive late or early. So you get some price protection. On the flip side of this, if you buy cruise insurance and make sure it covers your flights and travel time. The insurance would cover any additional charges if you ship returns late or if there is a storm etc. sue |
#6
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
"Island Grampa" wrote in message ... Cruise line airfare is always higher than the same flights booked any other way. A few exceptions (on occasion... mostly international)... Like when Cunard had cheaper one way air from NYC to London than Continental, BA, VA, etc. I suspect they bought round trip tix and split them up. Sometimes you might pay a bit more for cruise air, but get free transfers from a place like Heathrow Airport to Dover, England, which puts cruise air cheaper if you buy your own air and have to pay for transfers.. When you cruise from Europe, it's always a good idea to at lease look at cruise air (with transfers) options. --Tom |
#7
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
"Tom K" wrote in message ... "Island Grampa" wrote in message ... Cruise line airfare is always higher than the same flights booked any other way. A few exceptions (on occasion... mostly international)... Like when Cunard had cheaper one way air from NYC to London than Continental, BA, VA, etc. I suspect they bought round trip tix and split them up. Sometimes you might pay a bit more for cruise air, but get free transfers from a place like Heathrow Airport to Dover, England, which puts cruise air cheaper if you buy your own air and have to pay for transfers.. When you cruise from Europe, it's always a good idea to at lease look at cruise air (with transfers) options. --Tom You're right Tom, I should have used the word "generally" instead of "always". My bad!! -- Tobieon an Island in the Pacific |
#8
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
You are missing nothing Joe, book the airfares yourself.
"Joe C" wrote in message ... I've been looking at Alaska cruises and noticed the cruise line fares are much higher than if you book the flights yourself. What am I missing ? Thanks, Joe |
#9
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:40:50 -0500, "Joe C"
wrote: I've been looking at Alaska cruises and noticed the cruise line fares are much higher than if you book the flights yourself. What am I missing ? Thanks, Joe Related to this is the phenomenon that one can generally take the credit for "free air" and buy their own coming out ahead with connections that you have chosen. This is something that I (and most agents) always check. Joseph Coulter Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations www.josephcoulter.com |
#10
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Cruise Line airfares, why so high?
On Dec 31 2009, 6:11*pm, "Tom K" wrote:
Sometimes you might pay a bit more for cruise air, but get free transfers from a place like Heathrow Airport to Dover, England, which puts cruise air cheaper if you buy your own air and have to pay for transfers.. On what planet? Even for European cruises the cruise air is usually much more expensive than most flights booked independently (sometimes double). That buys plenty of independent transportation plus one or two nights in a hotel, which I prefer since it allows you to be on your own schedule without being herded on to a bus. For our upcoming cruise on Azamara Journey (in to Rome, home from Barcelona), cruise air is $1500 p/p. We booked a roundtrip with non- stop flights for $800 p/p. The $1400 savings will pay for transfers, 1 night pre and post hotel and probably cover an excursion or three. If I had waited I'd probably be able to shave a even more off of the air by catching a sale but it's still a good deal. Warren |
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