Chosen for its interesting itinerary, this cruise from Istanbul went to Haifa, Ashdod, Athens, Kusadasi, back to Istanbul. And it gave good shore time, including overnites & evening departures.
We're Brits, we booked late through a T/A who had an excellent eye for an opportunity. The ship had obviously been under-booked, so with RCI slashing prices but no flight availability, the T/A had lined up flights for a day ahead & an overnight hotel in Istanbul. Add Heathrow hotel/parking, direct flights by BA, and ship's auto-tips taken care of, and we couldn't resist this attractive package.
Early-morning flight no problem with a Heathrow hotel - we even slipped into central London for the evening.
Perfectly acceptable, no issues.