booking airline tickets

[mickey]

Hi Everybody;

I have a question. Is it wise to book a cruise, which we did, and not purchase the airline tickets via Royal Caribbean? We did purchase the travel insurance and the transfers to and from. Royal's prices for air are so expensive. We are going the first week of October and really don't think weather will be an issue for flight delay. But being we have the insurance I would think we are covered for any flight problems.

Any thoughts/opinions would be helpful.

Thanks

[mickey]

Hi Everybody;

I have a question. Is it wise to book a cruise, which we did, and not purchase the airline tickets via Royal Caribbean? We did purchase the travel insurance and the transfers to and from. Royal's prices for air are so expensive. We are going the first week of October and really don't think weather will be an issue for flight delay. But being we have the insurance I would think we are covered for any flight problems.

Any thoughts/opinions would be helpful.

Thanks

[Karen Knowlton]

It depends whose insurance you purchased. If you bought the cruise line's, it won't cover you if something goes wrong with your flight which causes you to miss the cruise. If you bought from a 3rd party insurance company, then you should be covered, although there are some exclusions - make sure to check out the policy!

[mickey]

We purchased through the cruise line. I thought that we read in the back of the Royal book that as long as you have the insurance it didn't matter where you purchased the insurance. I better get the book back out and check it again. Thanks for the information

While it's safer to purchase the air tickets through RC it's much cheaper to do it seperately (at least a $100 per person). As long as you're insurance covers flight delays and cancellations, don't worry about it!

[mickey]

I read the Royal book last night and it did not say anything under the insurance part that if we did not purchase our airfair through Royal we would not be covered for delays. I'm going to put a call through to our TA.
It is a lot cheaper than going through Royal for your airfair. But, I don't want price to ruin our vacation. If it is safer and wiser to take Royals Airfair than so be it.
We just are not sure of what to do.

Thanks for the info

[mickey]

I just called Royal Caribbean. Karen, you are correct about some cruise lines not covering you if you purchase your own airfair.
But, Royal will cover you if you purchase on your own. I'm glad we checked.
Thank you for information. We know this now if we ever go with another cruise line.

[Avid Cruiser]

School book answer from the RCI Travel Agent book under CruiseCare Vacation Protection Plan

Trip Delay

Should your client miss the departure of their cruise due to a covered reason, such as airline delays, inclement weather, or lost or stolen travel documents, your client will be reimbursed UP TO $500.00 to cover accommodations, meals and "catch-up" transportation.

[colette5479]

Where are you traveling to and from? I have always found it best to fly in the day before, take a taxi to a hotel, then take a hotel shuttle or taxi the next day to the pier. If there are delays in you flight there, at least you have extra time to get to the pier. I cannot imagine the heartbreak it would be to miss your cruise!

[mickey]

We are flying into Orlando on October 3rd. The day of the cruise. Being its not winter time we figured it would be okay to fly in the day of. We purchased the transfer service via the Cruise line.
I did read the protection plan. Plus I called Royal and they did state that as long as you purchase the insurance you are as covered as the person that purchased their airfair via Royal.
The travel agent we booked with, plus others that I have talked to stated that they purchase their own air. Rarely is the cruiseline reasonable.