NCL- Booking airfare...

[tgmtgm]

New to NCL and wondering if there is a portal to check airfares (for Europe) similar to Celebrity's, or do you have to call an 1-800 number and speak to a rep? Looking to book a oneway flight to Barcelona for the Epic next year. Planning on using miles for the return flight.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Tony

[naagnel55]

I believe you have to call them directly to arrange for flights through them. I just used Kayak to keep up on current pricing and then ended up arranging flights and the cruise together through Costco.

[don't-use-real-name]

To see if a bargain is at hand one has to do some research behind the NCL portal.

Comparing apples oranges melons and cumquats - breaking down the airfare

from "A" to port "B" and the return.

Realizing that in some cases non-stop flights are available and yet with others

a one or more connection cities is involved.

Make sure if doing this research that you relate with how far the airport is from

the port and the various methods of travel between the two and the costs.

Factor in a hotel pre or post cruise if required.

With all that independent of NCL and their programs then see how good an offer

NCL is presenting with air-hotel?-and transfers to the port combined with cruise fare.

You may have to keep multiple windows open on your computer to assemble all

the odds and ends for the results.

The airfare maybe on a flag carrier i.e. American/Delta/United or some XYZ

code sharing foreign national - planning on using miles for that return - see

if those miles can be used on a code share flight and at a regular rate and not

at a premium.

Watch the baggage charges and oversize-overweight stats if traveling in less

than a premium (First-Business) cabin.

Some cruise lines with high end service bundle Business class travel with a

Suite accommodations.

Inside cabins on major cruise lines may simply be using economy (sardine)

seating in the back of airplane bus - think about possible upgrades to better

traveling arrangements.

A three hour flight maybe hackable but a 12 hour flight overseas may require

a couple days in the ships spa unwinding and relaxing.

When booking airfare on your own pay particular attention to the arrival time

of your flight and the sailing time of the ship if doing a NOT-RECOMMENDED

scheduling of the flight and port call just a few hours apart.

If doing the same day trip in conjunction with a NCL package you should be

covered to get to the ship on time with NCL assistance.

Take into account the time of the year and any possible weather factors that

might derail the travel plans getting to the ship.

 

Make the call to NCL to find out just what the package/price breaks down to !

Have AAA membership use their travel agency - previous poster mentioned

Costco - member there talk shop. I don't know if Sam's Club has the same or

similar travel services. You may not need membership to get the information

but travel agents may charge a fee or get a commission on the bookings.

Then go online and see what you can put together beating NCL's program.