megr1125

Welcome to Cruise Critic. First, it's nice to make posts have paragraphs and some white space to make them easier to read. Second, you probably should have booked with a good, human TA as they'll tell you that NCL's "free" or reduced price air program is garbage. Checking emails is important. Maybe you've never flown before and don't understand that flights can change or get cancelled, itineraries can change and so on. Don't expect hand holding from a huge company. Not happening. Again, you probably need a good, human TA to help you. Travel agents work for YOU. The Great NCL rep at the cruise line works for...wait for it...THE CRUISE LINE. They don't care about the minutiae of your trip. They care about the paycheck every other Friday. YOU should have had all the full names, birthdates and so on correct when you booked. If it was the same people as last year, surely you have a digital cruise file on your computer with this info?

Sounds like you've booked NCL's free air promo? 😬 You might know the flight 40 days out, maybe a little less. Who knows what you'll get, but it might be terrible with several connections. I would follow Globaliser's advice and book a couple cancellable combinations now and then adjust when you can. With NCL's promo free air, you CANNOT choose anything. (Well maybe seats....)

Problems? As in delays and cancellations. Fly in early. Be prepared and proactive and have good travel insurance. Last year my flight from EWR-CPH-FCO (cruise air, yes I know what I was buying, yes I know the risks) was cancelled 8 hours before departure The carrier was VERY helpful, while Flights by Celebrity was not. The carrier rebooked me on a partner, nonstop to FCO and the only "problem" was that I left 15 minutes later and got to FCO like 4 hours earlier. The carrier, SK, was super efficient and I giggled at a delay of 15 minutes resulting in a 4 hour earlier, non stop arrival, was a problem. If crap hits the fan again this year, I know that A), SK will likely fix it fast, B), there are at LEAST 30 other options to get me from EWR-AMS in time for my event (3 days later) and C) I do have trip insurance. All that sounds like normal potential travel issues. And I'm prepared to know that there might be bumps. Last year's Europe trip was interesting but both carriers (SK and later, BA but that bird strike is another story) ultimately made it right. Be early. Be patient. Be FLEXIBLE. Be prepared. Be knowledgeable and BE NICE.

I'm thinking of trying the monthly plan as I'll be gone over 10 days and it makes sense $ wise. I only have 2 sea days, plus probably 12 or so on land (at least part of the day) so on the ship, obviously WIFI but it would be nice to come home to a smaller phone bill.

Therein lies the problem. "budget Red Carpet Inn...." Next time, consider booking a Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott or IHG brand. Pretty sure it'll be a much better room in a hotel that actually has a 24 hour front desk. Sorry that happened but, caveat emptor.

Not being able to check in? With the exception of some very small hotels, and I have only heard of hotels in Europe for example, not having a front desk person around the clock, the desk is staffed 24/7 so if it was a major hotel brand, they're full of it. ESPECIALLY in a city where there are tons of hotels close to the airport and almost ALL of the big ones house flight crews. Even if they're in the middle of night audit, they can certainly check you in. Been there, done that, on BOTH sides of the front desk as both an associate and a guest.

Try the Fla Departures board. No, this question has never been asked before..... 😄 😄 😄

https://www.specialneedsatsea.com/

I did this one last year and it was fabulous! https://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Small-Group-Pasta-Making-Class-with-a-Local-Chef-in-Rome/d511-15693P23

I agree. Did the HOHO last year in Rome and didn't even finish one loop. Aside from the fact that it was PACKED, as in SRO and people literally had to duck under tree branches and so on (on the open, top deck) you don't see much. I like HOHO buses in general just to see some stuff and they're good for my short attention span. This one was terrible.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and a couple very nice gifts from the clients. Case of wine included. 😄 Luckily they listened to me.

Travel agent. And/or copious amounts of wine.

You could call them to find out? Pretty sure that a hotel like Mandarin Oriental will ONLY have valet parking. First off, space is limited, second, for the rates that they charge, I would be surprised if people wanted self park. Per Trip Advisor Q&A valet is the only option.

Ditto

They don't handle bags, you do. There are racks at the end(s) of cars. Or sometimes people just put them on the floor in the wheelchair space. There are no red caps at the EWR airport station if you happen to go there. You're on your own to get the bags off but the stop is long enough generally. If you board at a station with red caps, they'll store them on the rack if space. Also, at the other end of the car, there's a little closet for lack of a better term (no door though) and people will put bags there. If you get off at Newark Penn, ask the conductor to get you a red cap (it may or may not be successful. IME they are there 50% of the time but eventually show up. Business seats sometimes have more space between them, also footrests. You also get free soft drinks/coffee by showing your ticket/QR code in the cafe car.

If you booked through Air2Sea you need to ask them. If you haven't paid final and the price is the same, MAYBE. BUT they might not have that flight to offer you. Cruise lines buy these seats months ahead and the airlines give them what they give them. Just because a carrier has a 4PM flight doesn't mean the cruise line does. The airline will not change it for you, they can't as Air2Sea is your "travel agent" I am not sure what the bus times have to do with getting a later flight, unless I missed something or maybe you left out a sentence??

Seems like a long trip but I'll have a look, thanks!! ETA: wow....this might be an idea!! While spending a night someplace would be fun, I do love trains and this gives me a way to do something different!!

I don't want to hijack but my question seems like a logical one to ask here. I'm due to fly into AMS in Mid/Late May (23rd). I'll be there for a few days (Springsteen concert and touring) and then flying out to Venice on the 27th. I was reading that some of the issues of last spring/summer are expected again regarding AMS limiting the number of departing pax. I can easily cancel and refund my AMS-VCE plane ticket (since I booked it that way) and hop a train elsewhere- London or Paris, for a day and then fly to Venice. (I'm a little crazy yes, but I've never been to Paris and honestly if I get there for a day to say I've seen it, that is ok with me). My question is, at this point, while I still have some reasonable options, should I seriously consider cancelling the AMS-VCE flight in favor of getting out ahead of any possible cancellations? I'd be flying on the 27th. If I opt to leave via land, I'll go by rail on the 26th to where ever, and fly on the 27th. (My flight is early on the 27th on KLM if that makes a difference)

1) Yes you can - fly in early, fly home later. I think up to 2 weeks on either end - just type in the airport/airport code you want to use. 2) Yes you can. It WILL give you a note that you're flying into a different airport and might miss your cruise. (IE, I'm flying into AMS to go to a concert but my cruise leaves from Ravenna 5 days later. It let me do it but told me I might miss my cruise. Really? LOL. Thanks Royal. 😄 😄 Pretty sure I can get myself from AMS to VCE to Ravenna on my own ) 3) No, you take what they give you. They've already bought the tickets on the flights the airlines gave them. BTW your ability to choose seats, etc. will depend on the carrier. You SHOULD be able to do this on the airline's site BUT YMMV and it may not allow it until it's actually ticketed. I paid my final about 1 month early and asked for early ticketing, which they took care of for me. I've always been able to at least SEE my flights on carriers' sites before paying but haven't always been able to manage them. A confirmation code is not the same as a ticket number. Just don't get too nuts if you don't see it. A call or Tweet to the airline can often help clarify things. 4) Don't know about that And once you book it, if it's flexible air, you CAN change it until final but you CANNOT change it on line, you MUST call. It's a pain in the you know what. Also be sure to understand what you're buying. Yes there is a savings. Yes the cruise lines say they'll help you get to the ship. REALITY is that airline seats are a commodity with a finite quantity so if there are no seats between your city pairs for 4 days, then that's what will happen. These tickets often have very restrictive rules as well for reaccommodating you. Be sure that's in the back of your mind. I did have a flight cancelled on me (Celebrity so same air) 8 hours before I was due to leave. Flights by Celebrity did NOT help and told me it might take a few days. Um WHAT??????????? My operating carrier, SAS did the RIGHT thing (thanks in part to EU 261 I think, plus US DOT rules) and rebooked me onto the nonstop on UA into FCO rather than a connecting flight. They did it almost instantly and the only "problem" was it departed 15 minutes later (problem? Not even!) Wound up getting to Rome 5ish hours before I'd planned. Anyway, for more info, see the cruise air board but caveat emptor. Have backup flights in mind when it's time to fly and be firm if you need to. Is cruise air a good deal? Sure it can be. Is it always perfect? Not even close. Will I do it again? I've done it 3 times, and again in May so while I know there are downsides, for ME, the benefits outweigh the bad and I NEVER will fly into a port of departure less than 2 days ahead. And ALWAYS have good trip insurance. Hope that helps.

Cruise lines can't apply those as payment. See if Delta will extend them or book the air on your own flights. Agents aren't given an option to apply certificates as payments.

I reserved mine as there was (supposedly) an issue getting them in the LA area (same with cabs, at least in Marina del Rey). As for the OP, I agree, there isn't really a reason to reserve one for a normal trip at a normal time.

Sounds like the parking lot is a bit of a hot mess and that there may be a really long wait for the shuttle when you return. Just looking at some reviews on Google. Sorry, I don't have info on that specific hotel. Trinity has great contracts with the properties and they're nice to deal with-I had to change and/or cancel my reservation and there wasn't an issue as I did it a few weeks ahead. Wish I had more info for you.

I reserved an Uber and it was around $15-20 over the fare, I was in LA and I don't remember exactly. You should be ok just calling one. Also download Lyft. Sometimes the prices are vastly different or one may have surge pricing in effect. It's pretty easy to use the apps. They'll tell you if there is a surge price too. If there is, wait a few minutes and try again. (I looked at my receipt and it looks like I paid an extra 10 bucks to reserve my Uber from Marina del Rey to the San Pedro pier, but they call it a Marketplace fee so I am not 100% sure if that's accurate)

I did it in December at the Embassy Suites in Elizabeth. I had no issues and there were no other fees charged (except for the hold for incidentals). I did just a park n fly since I took an Uber to Cape Liberty (I loathe shuttles and TRY to avoid them). You have to be careful though. There are some where I would NOT park my car and others where I would. What hotels are they offering??

Returning to port live on webcams and the clock app. Not sure why as I'm home but probably medical. ETA: Per radio feed on PTZ camera, it's a medevac.