Air-sea cruise packages are arranged so that your cruise vacation is booked with airline reservations to get you to the ship’s port and back home again.

The cruise line buys its tickets in bulk from the airlines. They find out where you are coming from for your cruise travel and book your flight from an airport near you to one close to the cruise ship’s home port. Each cruise line has its own policy on how they deal with the sale of airline tickets, so here are some cruise tips in that area…

Q. What is the cost of the tickets if I book them with my cruise?
A. The amount will be quoted when you book and will be shown on your bill.

Q. If I need to cancel, are the refund policies different for the plane tickets than for the cruise?
A. No, as long as you cancel before the penalty phase begins.

Q. Is there a service fee charged to have the Cruise Line issue my Airline reservations?
A. Only if you use their air deviations plan. The fee is around $50.00 each.

Q. Do I have any choice in which Airline is used?
A. Yes, if you use their air deviation plan.

Q. Can I get credit for my frequent flyer mileage if the cruise lines books my airline reservations?
A. No. You can only use your frequent flyers if you book on your own.

Q. Can I fly nonstop or have any control over the route that is taken, or do I just get what ever they find?
A. Here again, use the air deviation plan.

Q. How do I get from the airport to the ship’s pier?
A. If you have booked an air/sea cruise vacation the cruise lines will supply you with a voucher for a shuttle bus. If you booked your own airline reservations it will be up to you to get to the port.

Q. Is there a shuttle service available from the airport where you’ll be arriving? Is there a charge for this service or is it included? Is the service included if you don’t book your flight through the Cruise Line?
A. If you book your flights through the cruise lines, there will be a shuttle and you use your transfer.

Q. How and when do I meet up with Cruise Line personnel?
A. They will be standing in the baggage claim area and will hold a sign with the name of the ship. They will direct you to the shuttle.

Q. How is my luggage handled, do I have to pick it up at the airport or is it automatically sent to the ship?
A. You will have to pick it up at the airport and then the shuttle will take it to the ship with you.

Q. What accommodations, if any, are made if the airline they use causes me to miss the ship?
A. If you have booked with the cruise lines, they will accommodate you by getting a hotel room for the night and a flight to the next port.

There are many advantages to booking air-sea cruise packages for your cruise travel. The cruise line takes care of the airline reservation. Since cruise lines buy in bulk and usually provide a discount package rate, the ticket price is generally lower than what can be found in the general market. The transfer of luggage is easier, and a free shuttle will take you from the airport to the docks for your cruise vacation.

The cruise line will have your flight information and will be able to track your flight in case of a delay. Others on the cruise might be on the same flight and they might just hold the ship waiting for you to board. The biggest advantage is that if anything goes wrong to delay you, the cruise line will generally become more involved in getting you to the ship.

Of course there are disadvantages as well to booking an air-sea package. You might be able to find a better deal on your own, or you may have to fly an airline you don’t like. You will not get credit for frequent flyer miles by going through the cruise line, and you might not be able to fly non-stop. Finally, you might end up flying a longer route than you’d pick for yourself.

You could book your own airline tickets, but only do so if you can get a better deal. The strongest consideration should be how confident you are in being able to make it to the ship on your own. If you are already flying in a few days early, you know you’ll be there on time and you can save over the air-sea cruise package on plane tickets and shuttle costs, then you might just consider going it alone. But, remember you are going it alone. In many cruise reviews it is recommended that you book your airline reservation with the cruise line.

The cruise lines will be more likely to make accommodations and work with the airline if their booking didn’t get you to the ship on time. They will be better able to track your late flight and might even delay the ship if they know you’ll only be slightly late. There have been many cruise vacations that have delayed the departure from port especially if there is a large group of cruise travelers on a late plane.

Depending on the circumstances, they might even rebate some of your cruise or give you a discount toward your next cruise vacation with them. However, the airlines are independent contractors. Most cruise conditions of carriage state that since the airlines are independent contractors the cruise line makes no warranty and assumes no responsibility for any failure or delay in their contractor’s services. This is another reason to purchase a strong trip insurance package.

When you book your own airline tickets for your cruise vacation, if the route you picked to make it to the ship fails, you are on your own. Don’t risk missing your trip over a few frequent flyer miles. No matter how you start your cruise vacation, try to avoid this situation by booking a flight that leaves you plenty of time to get you to and from the pier and the airport. It is recommended that you go on the internet and read the many cruise reviews on this subject.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-cruise-vacation-that-can-include-airline-reservations-60401.html

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

Discount Cruise Travel Through Early Booking

Cruise Travel Discounts Through Last Minute Booking

Cruise Travel Budgeting Advice

Weigh The Advantages Of All-Inclusive Cruise Travel

Cheap Cruise Travel Deals – 5 Easy Ways To Save Money

Online Cruise Travel Deals From Canadian Sites?

Technorati Tags: air/sea, airline reservations, cruise line, cruise packages, cruise travel, cruise travelers, cruise vacation

The cruise vacationcruise travel. You have filled out all of the cruise documentation – do this at home, don’t wait to get to your cruise ship – and now you are ready for this highly anticipated cruise vacation. There are a few tips about departure day that you should know before you head for your cruise…

Keep all of your documents with you; that includes tickets for your cruise travel, any vouchers, passport and any immigration forms that the cruise line has sent you. That includes bus vouchers from the cruise line that will deliver you to the ship from the airport. It is wise to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your baggage gets delayed.

If you have purchased the vouchers from the cruise line, a cruise line representative will meet you at baggage claim and take you to the bus or van that will transport you to your cruise ship.

If you decided to handle the transfer on your own, check ahead of time to find out how much a taxi will cost from the airport to the pier. It is good to know how long it will take to make the transfer so you have timed your flights accordingly.

Make sure you have attached your cruise line tags with ship name, cruising date, and stateroom number to your luggage. When you arrive at the pier a porter will relieve you of your bags. He will expect to be tipped. The going fare is one dollar per bag.

Cruise tips are always helpful, so pay attention to this one…let the cruise line make your airline reservations. The reason for this is that if your flight is delayed the cruise line will handle it. If there are several other passengers on the same flight the cruise line will delay the departure of the ship. If it’s just you and your traveling companion they will probably put you up in a hotel in the town of your embarkation and get you on the ship at the next port of call. If you opted to do it on your own, you will have to make all those arrangements. So, for safety and peace of mind let the cruise lines do it.

If you have decided to go to the town of departure a few days before the cruise, that will not be a problem, so make your own reservations. Some travel insurance companies will pick up these expenses but make sure you read the fine print on the policy BEFORE your cruise vacation.

When you get to your cruise ship, embarkation could be a little chaotic. There will be lines, especially early in the check in process. There will be a lot of stressed out people so just relax and take it in stride. After you have gone through the check in process you will be aboard and your cruise vacation begins! Here is where it pays to have all of your documentation completely filled out.

Many of the cruise lines have loyalty programs. If you are a repeat cruiser, many times they have preferred check in areas. Many of the cruise lines will have preferred check in for cruisers who have booked suites or mini suites. Check this out with your cruise travel agent.

While you are checking in for your cruise vacation, you will have to give the cruise line a credit card for any on board charges. Most times your room card is also your credit card and identification for getting on and off at ports while on the cruise ship. If you can get on the ship early in the process you get two benefits. One, you get to have lunch and two, you get the first shot at spa and beauty appointments. It will also give you time to peruse your cruise ship and then head for the pool!

Just before you get to the gangway you will be stopped by the ship’s photographer and a picture will be taken to commemorate your cruise travel. It will be on display in the ship’s photo gallery but you are under no obligation to purchase it.

Check in procedures will be different from ship to ship, even within the same cruise lines. It depends on the experience of the staff and the cooperation of the passengers. Remember that these folks that are checking you in have been working since seven o’clock in the morning off loading the people from last week’s cruise vacation. Then they turn around and start putting on a whole new set of passengers for the next cruise.

The most important advice is to try to keep a cool head. You are headed for the best thing you can imagine, a cruise vacation. So relax and get started on the right foot.

Happy Cruising!

Mary Hanna

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/your-cruise-vacation-cruise-ship-embarkation-procedures-53800.html

Technorati Tags: cruise line, cruise ship, cruise travel, cruise vacation, departure, embarkation

Carnival Cruise Ships Video

This is a good, thorough overview of Carnival cruise lines, their destinations and the services currently offered by this cruise travel giant.

Recommended Viewing

• Carnival Cruise Lines-Look around the ship- – CARNIVAL VALOR®. Total Staterooms – 1487— Decks – 13— Passenger capacity – 2974— Total crew – 1180— Tonnage – 110000— Registry – Panama— Ship size – Large (Music:Weezer-Island in the sun.) Duration : 0:3:24 …

Technorati Tags: carnival, cruise line, cruise travel, destinations, lines, services, ships

Choose Holland America For Your Alaska Cruise

“Experience the beauty of the Inside Passage and the wonders of Southeast and Southcentral Alaska aboard one of our spectacular 7-day Alaska cruise vacations. We offer a greater selection of Alaska cruise itineraries than any other cruise ship lines and are the only cruise line to offer Glacier Bay National Park on all three major cruise itineraries.

Our sailings also include Hubbard Glacier in Wrangell-St Elias National Park or the twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm guaranteeing you the ultimate Alaska glacier experience.”

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

The Top 10 Reasons To Cruise Alaska

Disney Cruise Travel To Alaska

Cruise Travel Through The Inside Passage

Alaska Cruise Travel With Seniors And Teens?

Technorati Tags: Alaska, alaska cruises, cruise line, cruise ship lines, cruise vacations, glacier, glacier bay, holland america line, Hubbard Glacier, inside passage, itineraries, Tracy Arm