la_croisiere_s'amuse Posted July 23, 2022 #1 Share Posted July 23, 2022 This is unheard of for me: with my C&A discount and a resident discount, I could get a balcony guarantee on the 9/23 Ovation Alaska cruise for $313. Yes, THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN DOLLARS. For a balcony. For seven days. For freakin' ALASKA. But ... getting to Seattle would cost twice that for even the cheapest flights. 😖 Any MO residents with a bunch of airline miles want to score the deal of the century? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time4u2go Posted July 23, 2022 #2 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Have you checked on Google Flights? I just did a quick mock booking to/from St. Louis (I don't know what airport you would use), departing on 9/22 and returning on 9/30. Alaska Airlines has a $407 round trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted July 23, 2022 #3 Share Posted July 23, 2022 I feel your pain. Navigator has had some really cheap deals but airfare makes it a big nope. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARandomTraveler Posted July 23, 2022 #4 Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) You could look at it this way: the total cost is still probably the same or less than it would be if your cruise fare was higher but the airfare was lower. I think the reason some of these cruises are dropping prices is because they know demand is lower due to airfares. If airfare prices went down, the cruise fare would probably go up. That being said, it doesn't really seem to be stopping people from booking. Cruises are filling up to capacity and every flight I've been on has been full. Edited July 23, 2022 by ARandomTraveler 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigar King Posted July 23, 2022 #5 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Consider a B2B...no additional airfare for the 2nd cruise. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la_croisiere_s'amuse Posted July 23, 2022 Author #6 Share Posted July 23, 2022 7 minutes ago, time4u2go said: Have you checked on Google Flights? I just did a quick mock booking to/from St. Louis (I don't know what airport you would use), departing on 9/22 and returning on 9/30. Alaska Airlines has a $407 round trip. Thank you! I did check, but unfortunately that's not my airport. Alaska Airlines is still the cheapest, but the flights in the $400s leave at 6:00 or 7:00 AM on disembarkation day. 😕 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slyster Posted July 23, 2022 #7 Share Posted July 23, 2022 This is what happened to us. We got a great deal on our alaska cruise, but the airfare was going to cost just as much as the cabin. We just couldn't justify it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted July 23, 2022 #8 Share Posted July 23, 2022 16 minutes ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said: This is unheard of for me: with my C&A discount and a resident discount, I could get a balcony guarantee on the 9/23 Ovation Alaska cruise for $313. Yes, THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN DOLLARS. For a balcony. For seven days. For freakin' ALASKA. But ... getting to Seattle would cost twice that for even the cheapest flights. 😖 Any MO residents with a bunch of airline miles want to score the deal of the century? It's called balance. Look at total cost, not just the cruise price or air price. You can afford to pay more for air if the cruise lines give the cruise away 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted July 23, 2022 #9 Share Posted July 23, 2022 1 minute ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said: Thank you! I did check, but unfortunately that's not my airport. Alaska Airlines is still the cheapest, but the flights in the $400s leave at 6:00 or 7:00 AM on disembarkation day. 😕 Drivevthe 4 hours to Lambert. We'd drive 5 to Miami or Atlanta if the price justifies it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la_croisiere_s'amuse Posted July 23, 2022 Author #10 Share Posted July 23, 2022 5 minutes ago, Cigar King said: Consider a B2B...no additional airfare for the 2nd cruise. After I retire, absolutely! 😄 4 minutes ago, John&LaLa said: It's called balance. Look at total cost, not just the cruise price or air price. You can afford to pay more for air if the cruise lines give the cruise away Very true. Unfortunately when the vacation budget for the year has already been allocated and it would be coming out of my "mad money" fund, it has to be a great deal on ALL fronts, not just the cruise fare. I should just stop looking for bargains for now. 😕 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted July 23, 2022 #11 Share Posted July 23, 2022 3 minutes ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said: After I retire, absolutely! 😄 Very true. Unfortunately when the vacation budget for the year has already been allocated and it would be coming out of my "mad money" fund, it has to be a great deal on ALL fronts, not just the cruise fare. I should just stop looking for bargains for now. 😕 Probably best 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted July 23, 2022 #12 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Been Lucky myself finding cheap Flights on Discount Airlines for regular Travel and even on large Airlines for my Cruises. Yes some Flights earlier in day more expensive but getting off Cruises I usually don't Fly home until after 1pm anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glentally Posted July 23, 2022 #13 Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said: Thank you! I did check, but unfortunately that's not my airport. Alaska Airlines is still the cheapest, but the flights in the $400s leave at 6:00 or 7:00 AM on disembarkation day. 😕 . What did you think it would cost. Edited July 23, 2022 by glentally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare livingonthebeach Posted July 23, 2022 #14 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Air to Sea with Royal has had the least costly flights for me. It's worth checking it out for comparison's sake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted July 23, 2022 #15 Share Posted July 23, 2022 I am ready to book a cruise out of Galveston because of cost of first class air to Florida, haven’t cruised from there in several years, glad harmony is moving there in 2023 , really good rate for grand suite. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingHogFan Posted July 23, 2022 #16 Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, ARandomTraveler said: You could look at it this way: the total cost is still probably the same or less than it would be if your cruise fare was higher but the airfare was lower. I think the reason some of these cruises are dropping prices is because they know demand is lower due to airfares. If airfare prices went down, the cruise fare would probably go up. That being said, it doesn't really seem to be stopping people from booking. Cruises are filling up to capacity and every flight I've been on has been full. Thats how I look at it. Doesn’t really matter if the cruise is $300 and flights are $1,000 or if the cruise is $1,000 and flights are $300. Take advantage of the low cruise rates/high airfare or wait till it’s normal Same vacation either way… Edited July 23, 2022 by CruisingHogFan 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la_croisiere_s'amuse Posted July 23, 2022 Author #17 Share Posted July 23, 2022 1 hour ago, glentally said: . What did you think it would cost. I'm not entirely sure I understand your question, so I'll have to guess a bit in my response ... I typically pay around $300 to get to the east or west coast, unless it's last minute or business travel with specific requirements (in which case I'm not footing the bill anyway!). So that is my usual flight budget for cruises from domestic ports. The flights I mentioned in the $400s are not hugely above that range, but since the departure flights leave before we would be off the ship, they are not an option. Does that answer your question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted July 23, 2022 #18 Share Posted July 23, 2022 For ones I've looked at either cruise fares are insane with reasonable airfare or cheap cruises but insane air. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvtotravelgirl Posted July 23, 2022 #19 Share Posted July 23, 2022 I'm flying from KC in August for about $360. We're flying Alaska there and Delta back. I see similar availability in September. This was the best price so we are driving the 3 hours instead of using our local airport that wanted $900. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipgeeks Posted July 23, 2022 #20 Share Posted July 23, 2022 It has always been my rule that I will never pay more for air than for the cruise. Right now it's the flight disruptions/cancellations/fights/baggage losses that are keeping us from flying for any trip. Fortunately, last year when DH lost his drivers license due to a stroke, we discovered a local travel company that does bus/cruise/bus trips, five time a year. We have done two, and have three more booked. Virtually door to door service, and as reliable and safe as any company could be. It works well for us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KayRaeRae Posted July 23, 2022 #21 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Open a new travel credit card with a sign-up bonus and your flights could be free. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Oceansaway17 Posted July 24, 2022 #22 Share Posted July 24, 2022 8 hours ago, smokeybandit said: For ones I've looked at either cruise fares are insane with reasonable airfare or cheap cruises but insane air. i know it is like flipping a coin. And forget Europe right now. Some cruise lines do a lot of 1-way trips which means expensive 1-way airfares in European cities. just ridiculous that while domestic 1 way are reasonable, not European. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted July 24, 2022 #23 Share Posted July 24, 2022 17 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said: i know it is like flipping a coin. And forget Europe right now. Some cruise lines do a lot of 1-way trips which means expensive 1-way airfares in European cities. just ridiculous that while domestic 1 way are reasonable, not European. Europe is on our near term bucket list, but I'm not touching Europe until we're more clear of covid rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Oceansaway17 Posted July 24, 2022 #24 Share Posted July 24, 2022 2 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: Europe is on our near term bucket list, but I'm not touching Europe until we're more clear of covid rules. me too. so far, I have done 4 Caribbean cruises (3 on Oasis class) and 1 NCL. Finally, will get a change of pace next month going to Alaska and then New England. I suppose I have to check out the silly ArriCan app. But just booked the Symphony 1-week western Med from Barcelona for next June. I will have to deal with these 1-way air fares as I am doing NCL Prima from Iceland-Southampton. oh well. great new ship and itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brillohead Posted July 24, 2022 #25 Share Posted July 24, 2022 12 hours ago, Cigar King said: Consider a B2B...no additional airfare for the 2nd cruise. This is why I only do bundles now. This fall is nine cruises on four ships with only one airfare bill. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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