Cruises - Cruise Air Packages: Ridiculous Routings and Connections?

I haven't been able to find any FT comments on how good/bad cruise line air packages work out. Specifically, I'm trying to decide whether to spend a little more money or use frequent flyer miles to get more sane routings and connection times for a trip to Dubai and returning from Athens; origination point: Tampa. I may be way off base but IMHO, cruise lines will take whatever the airlines give them in the way of poor schedules and routings for the cheapest price. Therefore, I would think that (never having taken a cruise air package before) I should expect early morning or late evening flight times along with very long connection times as part of what the cruise lines will get from the airlines. Am I wrong? I hope I'm wrong.... Thanks for any input that can be provided.

With many cruise lines, you can pay an "air deviation" fee (between $50-75) to choose your own flights and/or connections (including earlier arrival or departure dates). If they can book your choices at approx. the same price as what they would use normally, you only pay that deviation fee (not charged if you have elite status with that cruise line). If the alternative is considerably more, you will be offered it at the higher rate. You can refuse any of their offers. Additionally, you can continue to search for better prices on your own, and cancel the regular booked cruise air until final payment for the cruise is due. YMMV.

I would suggest posting your inquiry at cruisecritic. Do a search in the forum for your booked cruise line.

Many of my friends and I usually use our own FF miles or $$ to book the flights we want, especially if we are adding days at either end. However, if your travel plans include tight schedule and connections it might be more important to use the cruise line transportation. They are responsible for getting you to the ship and back again. During the Heathrow closings as a result of the Icelandic volcano, many were happy to have the cruise line take care of things.
But I agree, do check things on the cruise line forum on cruisecritic.com.

... to both of you for your prompt replies. I shall cruise over to cruisecritic.com.

When we have used cruise line air, the schedules have always been direct, on major airlines, with at most one connection.

And as already mentioned, if you want to try for a set airline or set routing, you can pay the deviation fee and they can try for that.

People who cruise want to get to the ship. If the cruise lines and the airlines worked out insane connections and backtracking schedules, the people would not want to cruise again. It's in their best interest to get you to the ship with the least amount of hassles.

They (either your agent or the cruise line) should be able to tell you what to expect.

When we have used cruise line air, the schedules have always been direct, on major airlines, with at most one connection.

And as already mentioned, if you want to try for a set airline or set routing, you can pay the deviation fee and they can try for that.

People who cruise want to get to the ship. If the cruise lines and the airlines worked out insane connections and backtracking schedules, the people would not want to cruise again. It's in their best interest to get you to the ship with the least amount of hassles.

They (either your agent or the cruise line) should be able to tell you what to expect.

Thanks for your input. I will keep your comments in mind.

Recently several cruise lines, most notably Princess, Celebrity, RCCL and Azamara, have rolled out flexible passenger-driven air options. Princess calls theirs EZAir, the RCI trio Choice Air. Essentially, it's public are, though sometimes contract, but you know the schedule before you purchase, and often have next port protection, all without a deviation fee. I've found when booking this for clients that it's often at least as good, and sometimes better, than what is easily found through search engines or direct through the airlines.

Also, many times (especially right now) on exotic open jaw itineraries the cruise lines are offering air deals or have negotiated contracts which offer significant savings. For exotic itineraries, it's worth a look.

I don't generally recommend cruise line booked air for simple domestic itineraries, but even that is changing with the above programs. Full disclosure: agents aren't paid for the air listed above, so some are hesitant to recommend for that reason or charge additional service fees.

Which cruise line are you on? I have found the air departments with Regent, Oceania and Seabourn to be particularly good to work with. And even with deviation fees, clients have most the time been better off getting economy air through Oceania (not taking an air credit). That said, clients currently on Sojourn saved about $400 each by booking directly with the airline. It's case by case. Ask your agent to check for "cruise air" contracts that (s)he has access to. 'Sometimes' there's a big savings--depends on gateway, contracts and so forth. Last fall I saved clients over $500 per tkt with non-stop DL ATL-SCL-EZE-ATL biz class by using a cruises contract (not cruise line) - so there are 'sometimes' good alternatives.

Which cruise line are you on? I have found the air departments with Regent, Oceania and Seabourn to be particularly good to work with. And even with deviation fees, clients have most the time been better off getting economy air through Oceania (not taking an air credit). That said, clients currently on Sojourn saved about $400 each by booking directly with the airline. It's case by case. Ask your agent to check for "cruise air" contracts that (s)he has access to. 'Sometimes' there's a big savings--depends on gateway, contracts and so forth. Last fall I saved clients over $500 per tkt with non-stop DL ATL-SCL-EZE-ATL biz class by using a cruises contract (not cruise line) - so there are 'sometimes' good alternatives.

Thanks for the advice. We'll be on RSSC. I'm in the process of seeing what Frequent Flyer mileage programs open up within the next few months before committing to using RSSC's upgraded air package. Thanks again for your input.

Thanks for the advice. We'll be on RSSC. I'm in the process of seeing what Frequent Flyer mileage programs open up within the next few months before committing to using RSSC's upgraded air package. Thanks again for your input.

Did you book direct or through an agent? Many RSSC sailings are Virtuoso Voyager Club (almost all Seabourn & Crystal cruises and many Silversea), which provides $150 per person in shipboard credits, an invitation to a private reception with other Virtuoso guests, and the services of an onboard host. If you booked directly with Regent and have not made final payment, you can turn the reservation over to a Virtuoso TA and receive the benefits. Since gratuities, alcohol and shore excursions are already included in your fare, you can use the shipboard credits in the spa, for Internet charges, in the shops or towards Premium shore excursions.

on a rssc cruise earlier this year, we did the cruise air & drew aa dfw-sfo ns & uged w/miles & money rather than chance stickers....had ua pek-dfw w/conx at ord....did the cruise j ug for money....lucked out, because we use aa & ua....of course, we could have tried for aa 1 way awards, but couldn't have bought y & used mi for ug because of the open jaw...

We initially, really as a place holder until we had time to do our research, booked our flights for a Silversea cruise next March from Barcelona to Istanbul through the cruise line. At the time we booked the cruise we were too far out to see the potential flight schedule or cost air from San Antonio to Barcelona and Istanbul back to San Antonio. The cruise line included "free air" and had an option to upgrade to business class. We opted for the business class upgrade. About three weeks ago the cruise dates came within the airline flight schedules and Silversea sent us a proposed schedule. It actually wasn't bad, fairly direct flights with good times but the flights were on Delta which is not our airline of choice. With the schedules available we did our research and found American and One World flights that met our needs and we were able to cash in miles for two first/business class tickets. Canceled the cruise line air and saved several thousands dollars and are flying on an airline we prefer. Really can't complain about the cruise line's arrangements, we just happened to be able to get first/business class seats by cashing in lots of miles which saved us a bundle. :)