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Booking Your Own Air
Cruise Travel, July, 2000 by Sally J. Maisel
Tips To Smooth The Waters When Making Your Own Air Arrangements
CRUISE GUIDE
Used to be one telephone call did it all. Decide on your cruise vacation, phone your travel agent, and the entire package, from airline tickets to luggage tags, was all taken care of.
While many travelers still prefer the total air/sea bundle, more passengers are choosing the cruise-only option, giving themselves added flexibility. The call to the travel agent still secures the desired cruise tickets, but the passenger often takes responsibility for booking the air arrangements and getting to and from the ship.
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Not so long ago, almost 70 percent of cruise passengers took the air/sea package while only 30 percent went the independent route, said Jennifer de la Cruz, a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines, "And now it's just the opposite."
Reasons for this reversal, according to cruise-line representatives and travel agents, can be found in today's economy and technology. Some experts cited the proliferation of frequent-flyer programs, especially those where people accumulate additional air miles through their credit cards. Some consumers simply want the flexibility of planning their own pre- or post-cruise vacation, so they handle their own arrangements.
Many travel-industry professionals also noted the rise in Internet use, which allows computer-savvy web surfers to take advantage of consolidators' deals and price-cutting competitiveness. Michele Smith, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean International, said that the "e-commerce industry gives consumers more control over the way they spend their money, and there's a lot more competition for that value."
If you're one of the growing majority who decides to go it alone, some cruise-line representatives and travel agents have offered some hints to smooth out the turbulence you might encounter making air arrangements.
* If you travel on the day of embarkation, take the earliest flight possible.
Allow plenty of time for airline delays, traffic in the city of embarkation, difficulty getting transportation, and unexpected problems (such as lost luggage and the time it takes to file a claim). A Princess spokesperson said the recommended guidelines for each cruise are "based on the individual ports, and thus will vary by port," but a cruise-line representative will be able to provide this information based on a passenger's specific schedule. Make sure your travel agent checks with the cruise line before you book your flight.
* Better yet, travel the day before embarkation and spend a leisurely evening.
Those people who must fly a long way and lose hours through multiple time changes should consider flying the day before and checking into a hotel the night before the cruise. Similarly, those people coming from a northern climate who might be affected by winter weather are advised not to take a chance flying on the day of embarkation. "If I paid $10,000 for a cruise and I'm going to Europe or Ft. Lauderdale, I would certainly fly the day before. A $70 hotel room is a pretty cheap insurance policy," said Brian Clement, director for Holland America Line's air/sea and documentation department.
* Make sure you have the cruise line's phone number with you and inform the line of any delay.
Most cruise lines include a toll-free number in your documents. If you missed your flight or are experiencing problems, call the cruise line to inform its personnel. While the line is under no obligation to help a cruise-only passenger, "We may be able to intervene on your behalf and get your ticket transferred, or find an alternative flight. If we can resolve your problem, we will," said Carnival's de la Cruz. She noted that Carnival is averaging 800 calls a week on its travel hotline, including those "experiencing flight delays, guests who are stranded somewhere, and people who are lost driving to the pier." While the cruise line won't hold the ship just because you're having problems, it might hold the ship if you're pan of a large group that's on its way, said Royal Caribbean's Smith.
* If your flight is delayed because of weather, deal directly with the airport personnel to get on another plane.
The most important thing is to get on another flight and get on it as soon as possible so you don't miss the ship. The best way to do that is with the airport staff, who have the power to put you on another flight or even get you a seat on another airline. Always work with the airline personnel first. "You're right there, you're in their face," Holland America's Clement said.
* If you miss your ship because of the airline's mechanical problem, it might take responsibility.
The airline might get you to your first port-of-call at no cost to you if the delay was caused by a mechanical problem, according to Captain Lew of Cruisevip.com, a California-based cruise agency. On a flight to pick up an Alaskan cruise, he got to the airport only to discover the "whole engine was on the runway." He said he "went to the airline staff and complained to them and they had money for this purpose and they did reimburse me."
