waterbug123

In a number of citites, including Amsterdam for an upcoming cruise, I've booked ahead of time with Welcome Pick-ups. They have always been very reliable. Alternatively, we often just ask the hotel desk at check-in if they can arrange a cab ahead of time for us if it's a very early morning flight, and that request has always been accommodated.

Excited to hear from both of you! We are going with friends next May. A few questions off the top of my head.... 1. I realize you both went a little later into the summer than we are going, but what was the weather like? Air temp? Water temps? Was it cool on deck in the evenings or still quite warm? What about Quito- did you spend time there before or after and what were the day/evening temps like? We expect cooler since it's at elevation. 2. I believe the boat provides wet suits for snorkeling, is that correct? 3. How was the space in the cabin? Room under bed for luggage like on regular cruise ships? We have one of the junior suites. 4. Did you get to see Galapagos penguins? Flamingos? I know one of you said you did northern loop, which is what we have booked. We are excited about the wildlife there, and birds in particular as I'm an avid birder and actually have a birding day tour booked for one of the days we're in Quito as well. 5. Did you book air/hotel through Celebrity or on your own? We've booked all on our own- air from US, then hotel and then Avianca flight into Baltra. My understanding is that despite arriving in Baltra on our own, we will meet a Celebrity rep at the airport for transfer to the boat, but I'm not 100% positive. Do you have any info on that? What about at the end? Does Celebrity get you back to the airport or do you have to arrange something on your own? 6. Clothing and shoe-wise, what were you most happy you packed and is there anything you wish you'd left at home? We are planning pretty much all active wear in quick dry fabrics, Teva or similar sandals, tilly hats and such. Should we pack our hiking boots or are sneakers fine? Open to any advice/suggestions. 7. Anything else you care to share that you think would be helpful would be most appreciated. This is a very unique type of cruise, due to the location/itinerary as well as the small boat, so we are eager to hear as much as possible! Thank you!!

If you want to fly nonstop from Rome to anywhere in the US, you will be limited to US-based airlines, including Delta, American and United, or ITA, which is based in Italy. No one other airline can offer nonstop service between Rome and the US; they'd have to connect in their own hub city, i.e. Paris for Air France, Munich for Lufthansa, Lisbon for TAP etc.

The first rule in trying to understand anything Delta does is don't try to understand anything Delta does. Seriously though, sometimes their IT seems to be completely screwed up and strange things like this are often asked about in Delta frequent flyer forums. Could very well be just a computer glitch that will theoretically get fixed at some point.

Some of the budget airlines are famous for only flying certain routes 2 or 3 times a week, meaning that if something happens and your flight has to be canceled, you may not be able to be rebooked until 2-3 days later. Whereas a legacy airline like AA will likely have multiple flights a day from your home airport to their various hub cities, and thus far more options to rebook you and get you there with minimal time lost.

Got stuck in Atlanta overnight last year, on the way to a cruise departing from Trieste, Italy. Mechanical issues that wore on for hours and then the cockpit crew timed out. By that time it was nearly midnight and most other TATL flights had already departed so no way to rebook anyone to get them there the following morning. Delta rescheduled the flight for the next day. We had allowed an extra day, so were fine to wait a day, and Delta covered the hotel expense. BUT there was a group of people on our flight that were supposed to be boarding a different ship the very next day. We spoke to some ladies seated across from us on the plane....I believe Viking had helped them arrange private transport to the first port of call to catch up to their ship but it cost them something like 500 euro

A very quick search of the airport in Guadeloupe brings up this page, showing airlines that service PTP. Aside from some lesser known companies that appear to be either intra-Caribbean or budget/charter companies, the main ones are Air France, KLM, Delta and American. I'd start with those and see what happens. Regardless, you'll be connecting somewhere, either Paris or Amsterdam if you choose AF or KL, and likely Atlanta or JFK for Delta or Miami for American. https://www.guadeloupe-airport.com/ptp-point-a-pitre-airlines

What cruise are you on that's ending in Guadeloupe?

It's been a few years but we booked a car service through "Totally Driven" and had a great experience. https://www.totallydriven.co.uk/

Haven't taken the train there but I'd be surprised if the kiosks don't have an English language option. And actually within Schiphol, all signage is in English. Not Dutch AND English, just English.

I don't think it's that roundtrip is necessarily cheaper than two oneways, but rather than flights departing the UK have extraordinarily high taxes/fees.

Generally, if the airline cancels a flight mid-travel, they are obligated to get you to your destination without charging you anything additional. And if you're traveling in Europe, EU261 may come into play and get you additional compensation to boot.

Late to the convo but three things... 1. seat assignments for intra-European flights (I believe this was the original reason you called the airline) are usually not assigned until check-iin 2. The airline alliance you referenced is One World, not One Way. Not that it matters, since United is in Star Alliance as was already pointed out. 3. The 13 digit ticket # IS readily available right on your purchase receipt. Whether Expedia shares it with you, I don't know. But if you purchase directly through an airline, it's right there.

Even if someone else has been able to do this, it doesn't mean you will be able to. Lots of different reasons for that.

All of Thanksgiving week will be a madhouse in the airports, but if I had to guess, Thanksgiving Day is probably the least crazy since most will try to travel before or after. As for best fares, your guess is as good as anyone else's. Airlines use complicated algorithms to determine when to offer seats in various fare classes and trying to second guess them is a fool's game. But when you see a price you can live with.

I don't think your Delta Amex will help you with even paid access to AF lounges. The Amex partnership with Delta does not extend to all of Delta's alliance partner airlines. However, if you go the AF website and search lounge access, they mention something called the Lounge Option for people whose ticket class does not include lounge access. You can purchases access at the lounge welcome desk or an Air France counter, or online ahead of time. I think it said 75 euro pp day of, or discounted if purchased ahead of time. I've never done this, as we've always been in business class in and out of CDG so had access that way, so I can't vouch for the reliability of what the website says. Knowing Air France, it may work or it may not, LOL.

The Delta Amex platinum card doesn't even give access to the Delta Sky Club unless you pay, so I doubt it's going to get you into the Air France lounge. Are you booked in business or premium economy or do you have gold or higher medallion status with Delta? Those will get you AF lounge access.

yes, as I said, they might arrive in the evening 2 days prior so wouldn't necessarily get two full days on the ground, but the question at hand was about needing a hotel for 1 night or 2. If they arrive in the evening 2 days prior they still need a hotel that night (2 nights total)

Most flights from the states to Europe are redeyes....leave one day and arrive the next. If you didn't pay for the deviation, the cruise line would book you like that...leave the 7th and arrive on the 8th. If you've requested a deviation of 2 days, it makes sense that they would plan for you to arrive 2 days prior to the 8th, or the 6th. Most likely that will mean departing on a red eye on the 5th, but possibly could mean a daytime flight departing on the 6th but also arriving on the 6th, late. Either way, you'd need 2 hotel rooms. You book a refundable room on the safe side, but I'd feel pretty comfortable booking both nights if it was me, based on the logic above.

Thanks everyone, I looked at the busybus link since several people mentioned it and it looks very intriguing. I've put it out to our friends to see who might want to join us. Appreciate the input!

I didn't say we plan to split our time between the two, it's just that I'm more interested in a brief visit to Wales than Liverpool. We might consider a full day tour, or since that stop is mid-way through a 12 day cruise, we might just be ready to go back to the ship to relax a bit. Exploring all options. Thank you for your input.

Thank you, I'll take a look at that!

That is easily booked on a separate ticket on Aegean. Or possibly ITA

this is a topic on which there will never be full agreement by pax. Group 1- believes that since you don't usually need it on shore, best to leave it in the safe and trust the ship's crew to leave it with the port agent if you miss the ship. they fear losing it if they carry it Group 2- feels better keeping it on their person and trusts themselves not to lose it. they prefer not to have to rely on ship personnel retrieving it if they miss the ship. they worry more ab out something happening and ending up in a hospital, for example, without it Neither group has ever succeeded in convincing the other group to change their minds

i was originally responding to someone else, yes. So correct- you were not specifically warning about risks of delay when booking two separate tickets. Although you jumped in and said the OP was talking about ATH-FCO at the beginning of the trip after that idea had been discarded. So I thought you were agreeing with em-sk.