Saildude16

We stayed 10 days in #616 during Oct., 2014. Never heard the anchor chain. One day we were headed directly into heavy seas with 65 knots over the deck in the Gulf of St. Lawrence(sp. ?). No extraordinary motion, in fact we had a nice nap.

Is Air2Sea/Choiceair only available to Royal Caribbean passengers?

Our trip is complicated by 2 factors which affect the air offered by RSSC. First, since we'll arrive 2 days early there is a $175 deviation fee. Next, since PNS is not a gateway we'd have to go 70 miles to MOB and pay a $249 upcharge.

By the time all is rolled in, and even though RSSC offers a business class upgrade of $1299 each way, it is more cost effective to arrange our own air. Doing own air also results in a credit of $800 towards the all inclusive cruise/air/etc.

Cruisinlawn -

I've done a somewhat similar exercise. In 10/2015 we began monitoring PNS/BCN RT for 5/2016 travel in business class. From Oct. thru early Jan. the fare was ~$2670 each on AA(best connections from/to PNS via CLT). Just after Jan. 8 the fare jumped to over $4000 even though the seat maps indicated plenty of availability. Now fare is over $5000, still with plenty of seat choices.

This was a simulation because we're not really travelling until May 2017. But, it was a one data point learning experience. You can book 330 days out. TA says we'll look at options 270 days in advance. In any case if there is a pattern one should not wait past 4-5 months prior to May cruise departure from BCN to book air on AA.

What fare watch sites do you suggest?

cc-rider, if you have 2 different tickets(to JFK & then on to BCN, and subsequent return)might that require picking up bags @ JFK after first outbound flight & rechecking to BCN for second flight? On the way home wouldn't you have to retrieve/recheck bags @ JFK? Or, will the airline(s) tag the bags as if they were simply one stop flights via JFK?

TA is aware of this experiment in airfare monitoring, but has not offered an explanation for the dramatic jump in rates which occurred ~ 4 months in advance of the "modeled" departure date.

She has said that 270 days(about 2nd week of June 2016) prior to Explorer's 5/11/2017 departure will be the time to check with consolidators about air deals. I'll start looking in earnest 330 days out when schedules/prices are initially posted.

OK, I deleted cookies before going back to AA.com. Result was the same, i.e. $4316 pp.

Then tried Travelocity and Expedia. Results were $4320 on either AA or AF/DL. Thus, it appears the market changed dramatically around mid-Jan.

No, it's the AA fares of $2766 and $4316 that I'm referencing. As indicated $2766 was indicated consistently online for almost 3 months before skyrocketing to $4316. Seat maps show same availability now as before.

I intended not to use Regent for the previously mentioned monetary and convenience reasons.

Can't reconcile this 56% fare increase and thought others may have an explanation. Based on this exercise I'll be tempted to book air 330 days out if a low fare is shown rather than wait. This single data point indicates don't wait until Jan. to book May flights to the W. Med.

Of course, if the W. Med becomes problematic, there may be plenty of air seats and cruise cabins available.

We're travelling on the Explorer in May 2017 BCN/BCN. Our home is Pensacola Beach, FL. Since we booked in Oct. I've been monitoring air options.

Flying with Regent air in business would cost $1299(2) + $249(PNS is not a gateway city, so must drive 70 miles to MOB to depart) + $175(Custom air fee since we want to arrive BCN 2 days prior to departure) for a total of $3022/person.

However, AA has PNS/CLT/BCN service. As an experiment I've been watching the AA fare "pretending" as if we were going to travel independently on the same days and weeks in May 2016(Can't book air more than 330 days in advance anyway). From Oct. thru 1/6/2016 business class was $2766/person. Thus, we'd be ahead $256 each plus the air credit of $800, and not have to drive to/from Mobile as a result of self-booking.

On 1/27 the airfare increased to $4316 each! So, what happened? There still are abundant seats available per the seat maps. Is it because it's now only 4 months until May?

Just thought I'd solicit comments from travelers more seasoned than I.

We've sailed in both suites 520 and 616 in the last 4 years without noticing vibration that far forward. However, vibration was evident at the stern end of Compass Rose, the theater and Galileo's(sp. ?). To us it wasn't a big deal. We'd sail her again, but our next cruise will be on the Explorer in the W Med.