Deciding on Air/Sea Packages Home > Cruise Planning > Deciding on Air/Sea Packages
One of the questions
that most cruise passengers have when they book a cruise is whether or
not to purchase the air/sea package offered by the cruise line. Here are
some of the most common pros and cons of purchasing the air/sea package
versus booking your own air tickets:
If you purchase
the air/sea package, your transfers between the airport and the ship will
be included in the price. The cruise line will claim your luggage for
you and carry it to the ship, all you have to do is board the bus. If
you make your own flight arrangements, you will have to purchase transfers
from the cruise line or find your own transportation to the cruise terminal
from the airport and claim your luggage and carry it with you.
If your flight
is delayed and you purchased the air/sea package, the cruise line will
be aware of your delay and may be able to hold the ship for a few hours.
If not, they will make every effort to get you to the first port to board
the ship. If you make your own airfare arrangements, you should plan to
arrive a day early and purchase optional travel insurance that covers
trip delays, missed cruise connections and lost or delayed baggage.
The air/sea package
is the least complicated way to book your vacation, but you probably will
not know your flight schedule until 30 days prior to departure. At this
point, the cruise lines rarely permit you to make any changes. If you
want to confirm specific flights, or if you wish to travel on dates that
differ from the departure or arrival dates of the cruise, you will have
to pay the cruise line an air deviation fee of at least $35 per person.
There may also be an airfare differential to confirm your preferred flights.
Most cruise lines also require that air deviation requests be made at
least 90 days prior to sailing, so if you wait until the last minute to
book, you may not have this option.
If you decide to
cancel the cruise before the final payment is due, and you have made your
air arrangements, you may be stuck with tickets that are nonrefundable
or have a penalty for changes. If you take the air/sea package through
the cruise line, you do not pay for your airline tickets until you make
your final cruise payment.
It is possible
that you will pay considerably more for your airfare if you take an air/sea
package than if you make your own arrangements. You may also be able to
save money by making your own pre or post-cruise hotel and/or car rental
arrangements, instead of booking a package through the cruise line. Have
your travel agent check the flight cost through the cruise line against
what you can get independently. At that point, you can and make an informed
decision.
If you wish to
use frequent flyer miles tickets, you will have to make your flight arrangements
independently. Neither the cruise lines nor your travel agent can handle
these arrangements for you. You deal directly with the airline.
If you purchase
the air/sea package, your transfers between the airport and the ship will
be included in the price. The cruise line will claim your luggage for
you and carry it to the ship, all you have to do is board the bus. If
you make your own flight arrangements, you will have to purchase transfers
from the cruise line or find your own transportation to the cruise terminal
from the airport and claim your luggage and carry it with you. 
