An air land sea travel option allows your customer to have a one stop cruise experience.An air land sea travel option allows your customer to have a one stop cruise experience. When your customer does it that way it becomes almost like an all-inclusive vacation. If you can comparison shop, look for discounted advance purchase tickets which can save them a bundle of money.
What are the drawbacks to a air land sea package?The fact that cruise lines cannot control the schedules of the airlines may be a hinderance on a air land sea travel package."Cruise lines buy the number of seats required on flights departing from major airline gateway cities, but the airlines themselves assign the flights. Thirty days before sailing, tickets are issued and the fun begins. Unles you don't care about sitting with your cruise companions,keep in mind that cruise lines can't confirm seat assignments. Most cruise travel specialist are savvy enough to circle flight numbers thirty days out and secure seat assignments. Make sure their's does." It is possible to be caught on a plane that's scheduled for a pre-dawn departure with two stops and a plane change,even though their favorite air carrier has direct service from their gateway airport to Miami. Why? It's because people buying tickets independently snapped up all the seats on the more popular non-stop flights.
"Flights assigned to cruise passengers aren't always the most desirable since cruise lines pay low contracted fares. If only your choice of airlines and flight will do, make a request for air deviation. For a fee, plus any associated airline charges, the cruise line Air deviation department will try to lock in their preference."
If you prefer to travel during peak holiday seasons, do it. During these times an air land sea program may just be the ticket to secure any airline reservation, and one more affordable. Look into cruises that don't end where they start. Cruising one-way on an Alaskan adventure, say from Vancouver to Anchorage means paying higher non-round-trip airfare(essentially two one-way tickets) unless you purchase the cruise line's more budget friendly air add-on.
There are other benefits beside price.The comfort of knowing someone is looking out for you and your baggage as well as providing ground transportation to the ship.
Cruise line agents in uniform greet incoming passengers and smooth their way from airport to pier on a air land sea travel program.
BewareDespite having air land sea flight arrangements, long airline delays can result in missing your cruise.A common misconception is that when your airline ticket is purchased through the cruise lines they are responsible for getting you to your ship. According to the Royal Caribbean international customer service representative, "If you purchase the air through Royal Caribbean International under our contract with the air carriers,it is their responsibility to not only get you to the next port of call, but if they have to they have the ability to put you on another flight even if it is on anothe carrier to ensure that you don't miss the ship."
"If you must fly to port the day your ship sails, Lucy Hirleman, President of Birkshire Travel in New Foundland, NJ advises cruise passengers to request the first flight of the day from your departure city. Delays in the later flights can snowball, creating air-scheduling havoc and scarce seats as fliers scramble to get on board."
The plus!To the Air land sea program is that if you are delayed for any reason, the cruise line will try to help you get to your destination on time.Call the number in their travel documents that are mailed to them for help.
*Quotes from CruiseDiva.com
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