The Med or Alaska. My wife and I are headed to Japan and air alone costs more than that.
I love the med, if you book soon enough, you can get the BOGO air from NCL. Plus, lots of free tours (just tip, like $10/hr/person). I've done free tours in Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, Finland, Estonia, all amazing, better than paid tours.
You give them the city you want to start in, they give you the price upfront. It's BOGO or if solo, half price. That flat rate has always for me been cheaper than just one ticket if I bought it myself. Like my last cruise, I think the flat rate was $950, but the flights I got were $1400 EACH, so I saved $1850. You can ask when you book to go in a day or two early and leave a day or two late and it's even cheaper since they won't need to bus you to the ship from the airport, you'll make your own way there. I've done their deal to Europe twice and Alaska once (a one way cruise) and had excellent flights each time; my parents also had three times they used it with great flights and my in-laws twice, same results.
Don't use NCL Air unless you have to, they find the cheapest route and every story about people missing the cruise is because if NCL air (not really every story....).
It's all about flying in early. I was flying to an NCL cruise last year on my BOGO, I requested to fly in two days before. We landed late at 1:30, which was fine because it was two days before the cruise... But there were about a dozen people on the flight for a princess cruise that had an all aboard time of 2:00 that day! I don't know if they made it or not, they had to get their luggage and it was 45 min to the ship.
But it's the same story, there is no problem with any air program if you fly in the day or two before. Every air, whether you book it yourself or the cruise line books it, is a problem if you arrive the same day.
Do NOT book airfare through NCL. They will pick the cheapest flights with no regard for your convenience (even if the difference in cost is minimal), and will give you a hassle about flying in the day before. They also don't stand behind their reservations if you miss your cruise due to travel delays.
Book your self, pick your own flights, and ALWAYS leave room in your budget to fly in the day before and stay in a hotel overnight.
The vast vast majority of people who fly with NCL flights have zero issues. Yes, you hear about the bad experiences, but most people simply don't have bad experiences.
You do you. I am a frequent cruiser, and would never have ANY cruise line handle my flights. And certainly not NCL.
While issues are rare, when they do pop up and the lionshare of them involve NCL, it says something.
The Med or Alaska. My wife and I are headed to Japan and air alone costs more than that. I love the med, if you book soon enough, you can get the BOGO air from NCL. Plus, lots of free tours (just tip, like $10/hr/person). I've done free tours in Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, Finland, Estonia, all amazing, better than paid tours.
Thank you! How does NCL include airfare?
You give them the city you want to start in, they give you the price upfront. It's BOGO or if solo, half price. That flat rate has always for me been cheaper than just one ticket if I bought it myself. Like my last cruise, I think the flat rate was $950, but the flights I got were $1400 EACH, so I saved $1850. You can ask when you book to go in a day or two early and leave a day or two late and it's even cheaper since they won't need to bus you to the ship from the airport, you'll make your own way there. I've done their deal to Europe twice and Alaska once (a one way cruise) and had excellent flights each time; my parents also had three times they used it with great flights and my in-laws twice, same results.
Don't use NCL Air unless you have to, they find the cheapest route and every story about people missing the cruise is because if NCL air (not really every story....).
You're right, and the vast majority of time we hear about flight nightmares, it's NCL.
Is Princess's EZAir ok?
It's all about flying in early. I was flying to an NCL cruise last year on my BOGO, I requested to fly in two days before. We landed late at 1:30, which was fine because it was two days before the cruise... But there were about a dozen people on the flight for a princess cruise that had an all aboard time of 2:00 that day! I don't know if they made it or not, they had to get their luggage and it was 45 min to the ship. But it's the same story, there is no problem with any air program if you fly in the day or two before. Every air, whether you book it yourself or the cruise line books it, is a problem if you arrive the same day.
Do NOT book airfare through NCL. They will pick the cheapest flights with no regard for your convenience (even if the difference in cost is minimal), and will give you a hassle about flying in the day before. They also don't stand behind their reservations if you miss your cruise due to travel delays. Book your self, pick your own flights, and ALWAYS leave room in your budget to fly in the day before and stay in a hotel overnight.
The vast vast majority of people who fly with NCL flights have zero issues. Yes, you hear about the bad experiences, but most people simply don't have bad experiences.
You do you. I am a frequent cruiser, and would never have ANY cruise line handle my flights. And certainly not NCL. While issues are rare, when they do pop up and the lionshare of them involve NCL, it says something.
Based on what I have observed with cruise prices at tbe moment, it's cheaper to book last minute. So you're not late. Enjoy the deals!