Free or Reduced Air, Atlanta to Canada?

[drcarp4]

Has anybody had the Free or Reduced Air Promo from Atlanta to Canada? If so, where were your layovers and what airline did you fly on? How was the schedule?

[ColinIllinois]

Which city in Canada?

[don't-use-real-name]

14 minutes ago, ColinIllinois said:

Which city in Canada?

Only two cities come to mind as regarding NCL embarking/disembarking ports - - -

 

Vancouver and Quebec City

 

Vancouver would have a host of airlines - all the majors

 

Quebec City not in the same league - lot of code-share puddle jumpers

 

[drcarp4]

1 hour ago, ColinIllinois said:

Which city in Canada?

Quebec City

Edited July 31, 2019 by drcarp4

[JillK]

I think it's safe to assume that you will have one or possibly two stops. 

 

Just checked Air Canada's site and there were several flights listed with a layover in Toronto and a few on offer with layovers in Toronto and Montreal.

 

Hope you get an the best itinerary possible and enjoy your cruise.

[Named-Tawny]

52 minutes ago, drcarp4 said:

Quebec City

The major airports that have direct connections to YQB are Toronto, Chicago, Newark, and Philly.  Per NCL's T&C for the free air programme " Norwegian Cruise Line will book guests' airfare with a maximum of one connection when possible; air schedules permitting.".

So, assuming you can get to one of those four airports from Atlanta (you can) you shouldn't have more than one connection.

[drcarp4]

Thanks for all the input. It's really a crap shoot, no matter how you look at it. I'm not real concerned as long as we get there in time to board the ship.

[Nola26]

Anytime Atlanta is part the destination or starting point look at options on Delta Airlines. 

[jsb1015]

We have reduced air for a cruise out of Quebec in October.  Not Atlanta, but Nashville. NCL has us flying on American: Nashville BNA to Chicago ORD to Montreal YUL with ground transfer from Montreal to Quebec. I was told NCL usually books flights into Montreal for cruises out of Quebec.

[don't-use-real-name]

Flying into Montreal (YUL) and connecting to Canada Rail VIA is not a bad deal .

Consider that the Quebec City Train Depot is a few yards from where the NCL cruise ships dock at Quebec City.

Not every PLAN "A" "B" or other scenario works completely and NCL Fly Free/Reduced is not a perfect babysitting

service getting you to the ship.

It is highly recommend to so some research coordinating of the various options to work with.

Google Map LINK may give some insight as to how and where things are located at Quebec City:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8313723,-71.2167121,5661m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

Map can be panned and zoomed

NCL ships dock at a industrial pier - La Point-A-Carcy --- Charles River

On the map just below that is the Museum of Civilization and to the left of that is a BLUE symbol for

the Gare du Palais Canada Rail VIA Depot.

 

Zooming the map out and panning left is where the Quebec City airport is located some 10 miles away from the pier.

 

There are hotels close and far - but the one that stands out for reference and location is the Chateau de Frontenac.

 

Enjoy your research and hope this helps set things into order for your planning.

[Jim40]

We are flying into Montreal and taking VIA rail to Quebec City .

[drcarp4]

5 hours ago, Jim40 said:

We are flying into Montreal and taking VIA rail to Quebec City .

From Atlanta?

[drcarp4]

I checked the Train schedule for Montreal to Quebec City. It's close to a 4 hour trip. You're allowed 1 large bag (50 lbs.) each and 1 carry on (25 lbs), or 2 carry on's 25 lbs. each. 

 

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE*

VIA RAIL CANADA     Carry-on baggage 1 PERSONAL ITEM  Max. 11.5 kg (25lb.)  Max. 43 x 15 x 33 cm (17 x 6 x 13 in.)  AND 1 LARGE ITEM Max. 23 kg (50lb.)  Max. 158 linear cm (62 li. in.)  OR 2 SMALL ITEMS Max. 11.5 kg (25 lb.) each Max. 54.5 x 39.5 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in.) each  OVERWEIGHT ITEM(S): Items over 23kg (50lb.) are NOT permitted on board. ADDITIONAL CARRY-ON ITEM: 1 item allowed Max 23 kg (50lb.) $40 (tax included) per direction. YOUTHS (12-25): 1 PERSONAL ITEM Max. 11.5 kg (25lb.) / Max. 43 x 15 x 33 cm (17 x 6 x 13 in.) AND 2 LARGE ITEMS Max. 23 kg (50 lb.) each / Max. 158 linear cm (62 li. in.) each.     Checked baggage No checked baggage service is available on this train. Please comply with the carry-on baggage policy. *VIA reserves the right to weigh any and all baggage which may result in applicable allowance fees, as you may be subject to excess charges.

[drcarp4]

Non Stop Atlanta to Montreal is 2 hours 39 minutes. If we get a flight with a layover it looks like a little over 4 hours. Not to bad. Of course it all depends on what Norwegian does.

[mking8288]

Most of the flights into YQB are on smaller regional/commuter jets, a few using the full sized Airbus or B737 - not going to be easy to pack them full of cruisers with luggage during the busy Fall season.  Check the flight segment details and cross-pack smartly in case bags are delayed/mis-routed, that "smaller" than full-size carryon luggage will be gate-checked as overhead bin space are limited & often not sized to fit. 

 

With Via Rail Canada - they are less likely to be strictly enforced luggage weight & limits ... we use our packing cubes as compression bags and taken our 22" carry-on on oversea trips, plus a 2nd. cabin bag (usually a decent sized backpack) & board our flight wearing the heaviest outerwear (for colder months) - manage more with less, mix-n-match. 

 

If I remember correctly, some of the NCL Fall sailings docked overnight - serving as floating hotel on the pier - there is more flexibility on when to board and disembark/leave the ship.  It seemed that ground transfer between Montreal & Quebec City, whether it's arranged by NCL or on one's own are easier on making connections.  There are virtually no one-way car rentals available, we're tempted to book the one-way 10 or 11 days to/from NY as prices begin to drop. 

[don't-use-real-name]

39 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

/s/ snip

If I remember correctly, some of the NCL Fall sailings docked overnight - serving as floating hotel on the pier - there is more flexibility on when to board and disembark/leave the ship.  It seemed that ground transfer between Montreal & Quebec City, whether it's arranged by NCL or on one's own are easier on making connections.  There are virtually no one-way car rentals available, we're tempted to book the one-way 10 or 11 days to/from NY as prices begin to drop. 

 

You have hit on a winner - Do the ONE-WAY --- Quebec City and cruise to Boston or NYC

where the transportation arrangements are much better with less awkward conflicts.

Leaving Quebec City having too much luggage can be a real problem on the airlines less so on Canada Rail VIA.

 

And YES the Boston-Quebec-Boston B2B trips the ship (GEM) overnights creating a free hotel night and if

your transportation connections don't gel board the ship the next day before sailing.

 

[Jim40]

19 hours ago, drcarp4 said:

From Atlanta?

Orlando thru NY

[Nic6318]

On 7/31/2019 at 10:49 AM, drcarp4 said:

Has anybody had the Free or Reduced Air Promo from Atlanta to Canada? If so, where were your layovers and what airline did you fly on? How was the schedule?

 

Hi

 

Just like any other trip, have you explored your options. You likely will end up going to Montreal. 

 

That being the case, is there any benefit to not using the NCL promo. You could take a 2 1/2 hr. flight to Montreal any day of the week. It's a beautiful city, stay for a day or two, enjoy yourself. It is so much better than what you typically can do on a cruise stop. Then take the train to Quebec city. It's easy to get to the train station and inexpensive. 

 

For me looking at it, it would just make more of your vacation. 

 

have a great cruise

Edited August 2, 2019 by Nic6318

[don't-use-real-name]

Consider substituting Toronto  (YYZ) for Montreal (YUL) - the "Y" codes are airline city codes.

Canada Rail VIA connects that way also.

Canada Rail VIA is Canada's Amtrak service and much better I might add ! 

[Nic6318]

4 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said:

Consider substituting Toronto  (YYZ) for Montreal (YUL) - the "Y" codes are airline city codes.

Canada Rail VIA connects that way also.

Canada Rail VIA is Canada's Amtrak service and much better I might add ! 

 

Hi

 

No. That would be way too long a train ride just to get to a cruise ship.

 

Connecting flights from Toronto to Quebec city would more convenient. Maybe that's the route NCL will schedule. I still think going to Montreal for a few days would be nicer.

[firecapt25]

We are using NCL promo  flying  Atlanta  to JFK day before our  9/24 New England Canada Cruise . After our cruise ending in Quebec City on 10/6  NCL  is transfering us to Montreal for our flights home Montreal to Washington DC then home to Atlanta. 

This is on our EDOC's but we still don't know who we are flying with. 

[drcarp4]

On 8/2/2019 at 8:32 AM, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi

 

Just like any other trip, have you explored your options. You likely will end up going to Montreal. 

 

That being the case, is there any benefit to not using the NCL promo. You could take a 2 1/2 hr. flight to Montreal any day of the week. It's a beautiful city, stay for a day or two, enjoy yourself. It is so much better than what you typically can do on a cruise stop. Then take the train to Quebec city. It's easy to get to the train station and inexpensive. 

 

For me looking at it, it would just make more of your vacation. 

 

have a great cruise

Unfortunately, due to my Wife's work schedule, we can't do that. I do approve of the method though. When we went on our Alaska cruise, we spent extra time in Seattle and Vancouver. 

[drcarp4]

21 hours ago, firecapt25 said:

We are using NCL promo  flying  Atlanta  to JFK day before our  9/24 New England Canada Cruise . After our cruise ending in Quebec City on 10/6  NCL  is transfering us to Montreal for our flights home Montreal to Washington DC then home to Atlanta. 

This is on our EDOC's but we still don't know who we are flying with. 

We're going the opposite direction from Quebec City to Boston but it sounds like the Montreal route is almost a sure bet. Have to wait and see. I appreciate the input. I like to plan.

[mking8288]

Quick question for those of you transfering between Quebec & Montreal, is NCL offering a ground transfer options (bus - same/next day) and see the costs ?

 

Looking ahead, not 2019 but maybe next year - have airline miles to burn and can easily book our segments to/from Montreal ... "reasonable" transfer costs would make it a rather attractive one-way if we can't do a long B2B.  

[jsb1015]

14 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Quick question for those of you transfering between Quebec & Montreal, is NCL offering a ground transfer options (bus - same/next day) and see the costs ?

 

Looking ahead, not 2019 but maybe next year - have airline miles to burn and can easily book our segments to/from Montreal ... "reasonable" transfer costs would make it a rather attractive one-way if we can't do a long B2B.  

With the promo airfare, we were charged $65 pp for transfers, which includes transfer from Montreal to Quebec cruise port AND transfer from Manhattan cruise port to LaGuardia.

eDocs don’t indicate which type of ground transport, but are same day.

Edited August 3, 2019 by jsb1015
Clarification