Canadians on Carnival?

[copper6606]

Hi Jacqui,

I live in Kentville and I will stop by. I love talkin' cruisin'!! :D

Linda

 

Can't wait! :D [ not in most Mondays or Wednesdays]

[JXR]

Wow, look at all the Monctonians... whe knew ?

 

Airfare would have been the same as the cruise for us, we are driving to Portland (staying with family for a night) and flying out from there ( for $340 per person ). There are often times nice seat sales to Fort Lauderdale but timing them with a cruise might be hit and miss.

 

Another Monctonian here ....

 

I've been pretty fortunate the last few years that I've found some decent prices on airfares out of Moncton. It is so convenient not having to drive to either Bangor or Halifax.

 

For 2009, I used my Avion Pts, and booked with Continental out of Moncton to Ft. Lauderdale. As long as Continental does not pull out of Moncton, I should be fine. I am doing a B2B on the Freedom the week of April 19.

 

Joanne

[123traveller123]

What does "asking for deviation means"?

I have heard some terrible stories about booking airline through the cruise lines but so far we have had all direct flights.

[mikil321]

Windsor Ontario here bud! Cruising August 25th on Imagination. Second carnival Cruise

[fredman]

123traveller123 if you paid cruise air and had direct flights your pretty lucky. Often Cruise Air can be a red eye flight and may not necessarily be a direct flight and can a have a number of stops with layovers.

 

Deviation means that for a fee your TA can book a direct flight for you as specified by the Cruise line. The cruise line may only have a few deviations for the time period you may fly. So requesting a deviation may not be granted.

 

At least that is how it has been explained to me...I am a first time Cruiser in Jan 2009. :D

[123traveller123]

123traveller123 if you paid cruise air and had direct flights your pretty lucky. Often Cruise Air can be a red eye flight and may not necessarily be a direct flight and can a have a number of stops with layovers.

 

Deviation means that for a fee your TA can book a direct flight for you as specified by the Cruise line. The cruise line may only have a few deviations for the time period you may fly. So requesting a deviation may not be granted.

 

At least that is how it has been explained to me...I am a first time Cruiser in Jan 2009. :D

 

 

Thanks for the answer. We have booked cruise packages through a travel agent or Air Canada Vacations so I guess that is why the flights are direct. :)

[Sabi48]

When we fly out of Toronto to Miami or Ft Lauderdale it usually costs us $99-$199 PP one way :cool:

 

We are flying to Rome in November and it is a little more expensive...the best price so far was $750 pp one way...but I am sure we can get it for around $500 pp ;)

 

:) Not sure if you are on the same cruise but if so here is a bit of info.

 

We just returned from the Carnival Freedom 12 day West Med. Cruise. Amazing!!!! We lucked in with Air miles and used Al Italia. Just wanted to let you know that if you are in one of the cabins on the 8th floor make sure it is not below the pool area. We had 8308, people we knew had the one at the opposite side of the ship and the same complaint as well, and the noise was terrible!! The floor is wooden so when people are moving chairs at the tables it reverberates through the floor. So when it is breakfast time...6:00 o"clock on, you are awake.

 

If you are doing your laundry take your own detergent...much easier and lots cheaper. You will need american quarters to use the dryers, washers, dispensors for detergent and fabric softener, which you get in the casino at the money changing machines...which are only open when you are not in port.

 

Also go on the roll calls and talk with people going on the same cruise to book your own excursions. We saved tons of money and had a lot more fun!!

 

Have a great cruise!

sabi

[sodsmom]

Hey there

Read another thread this morning that someone's flight was delayed this morning from TO and they will miss their cruise! And there isn't any snow!

That is why I want to fly in the day before!

Our cruise is over Christmas, so if worst comes to worst, we will drive!

 

BTW, SWA is now booking into December!

[Donna n Francis]

I am from the Annapolis Valley too...LOL. Took my 1st cruise on Carnival in 1987...got addicted right away. Carnival has come a long way since then. I tried a few other lines but now I am back with Carnival again. There is a group of us sailing on the Carnival Liberty next April....right now the airfare is extremely high:eek:. When we went the last time we got our airfare at $550.00 including tax. If I have to pay $600.00 this time I will have to live with that:rolleyes:.

 

Donna:D

[mr. cruiser]

What does "asking for deviation means"?

Deviation is when you decide you want to do something else with your flight than what they offer. For most people they want to fly in the day before, less stress if you don't want to rely on the airline getting you there on time:)

[misguidedangel]

I haven tried to match the cruise air price they can get and no way! Unless Air Canada is having a seat sale, perhaps, but that seems to happen after the flights are booked and paid. We flew to Houston and it costed each of us $800 and cruise air was around $700 (with taxes).

 

I got my cruise air info from Carnival this week and to say the least I am sorely disappointed with my travel agent--big time!!! I agreed to pay $160 more for a specific flight on United to Miami through Chicago.......Well, I am on the red eye to Miami via Toronto instead, AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! I don't know about any of you, but when you travel alone the last thing you want to do is fall asleep in the airport with your purse/carry on free for aynone to pick through.....Yet again I'll go without sleep.....at least I have the cruise to look forward to! I only hope the bus picks us up at 11am instead of noon to take us to the port. I'd rather be on the ship by lunch asopposed to after 1pm when most of the people were already on...

[wildcrazyatver]

HI .Were also from New Brunswick just outside of Moncton ,We have been on Carnival twice now and a third trip in feb of 2009 and to tell the truth even with high fuel taxes on cruises and air we still got a good rate out of Moncton for a 7 day with hotel,transfers,taxes and also paid gratuities fir the week was only $2745 cabin 4c

i hope this helps out ,good luck to all my neighbors

[fredman]

Deviation is when you decide you want to do something else with your flight than what they offer. For most people they want to fly in the day before, less stress if you don't want to rely on the airline getting you there on time:)

 

Actually I have Cruise Air with out deviation. My invoice states that we depart Edmonton the day prior. The price my DH and I got was for Cruise Air and one night Hotel stay prior to the Cruise.

 

If I take deviation, it means that we can request flights that meet our needs and if Carnival has seats left that are allotted to Deviation we pay the fee and a way you go! In my case the only advantage is to avoid the red eye issue that is mentioned above.

[sodsmom]

Actually I have Cruise Air with out deviation. My invoice states that we depart Edmonton the day prior. The price my DH and I got was for Cruise Air and one night Hotel stay prior to the Cruise.

.

 

we had hotel and transfers booked with carnival as well when we originally booked our airfare and had no deviation charge. When we canceled the hotel (found one we could get with points). The transfer wouldn't take us to the hotel so we canceled that as well (Figured we might as well get a rental). Then they charged us for the deviation and then denied us a deviation.

[mr. cruiser]

Actually I have Cruise Air with out deviation. My invoice states that we depart Edmonton the day prior. The price my DH and I got was for Cruise Air and one night Hotel stay prior to the Cruise.

 

If I take deviation, it means that we can request flights that meet our needs and if Carnival has seats left that are allotted to Deviation we pay the fee and a way you go! In my case the only advantage is to avoid the red eye issue that is mentioned above.

It depends on the port you are going to and the availabilty of flights to get you there, there is alot of Canadians who do not need deviation as Carnival has no choice but to fly you in the day before as there is no way to get you to the port the day of departure on time. For my next cruise we are heading to LA from Edmonton and will probably get our flights arriving the day of departure, we will get a deviation so we can arrive the day before, you don't need a deviation as they are sending you in the day before. Btw how far in advance did you get your flight info, they seem to come out at different time frames.

[fredman]

We booked January 28th. Yes, and coming from Edmonton to Miami could require to fly out the day before...I least I hope so. I do know of some red eye flights from YEG to YYZ (Pearson Intl) so that could be scary with a layover and then another very early flight to Miami, could be done.:(:eek::(:eek:

[Grtcdnwolf]

I live in London, Ontario so I am stuck between Detroit and Toronto as major airports to fly out of. This will be my fourth cruise and everytime I took one of the local airbus services to Detroit airport and save about $200 by flying from there.

 

One major note... never fly to Miami Airport if cruising out of there... always check for Fort Lauderdale rates... the savings are quite significant. Fly down the day before and a lot of the major hotels offer free shuttles to the Port of Miami.

 

Sneaky tip for getting a free shuttle ride from Miami Airport to the Port if arriving on the day of cruise.... catch the free shuttle to one of the car rental places... then walk to the other side of the buildings and catch the free port shuttle service they offer. Alamo and most of the other off site car rental places offer the service.

[fredman]

we had hotel and transfers booked with carnival as well when we originally booked our airfare and had no deviation charge. When we canceled the hotel (found one we could get with points). The transfer wouldn't take us to the hotel so we canceled that as well (Figured we might as well get a rental). Then they charged us for the deviation and then denied us a deviation.

 

Yikes:eek: how can they charge a deviation if you chose to cancel your hotel? Did you make your own arrangements or did you have a TA? My gawd that seems unfair!

 

Are you cruising again with Carnival?

[mr. cruiser]

we had hotel and transfers booked with carnival as well when we originally booked our airfare and had no deviation charge. When we canceled the hotel (found one we could get with points). The transfer wouldn't take us to the hotel so we canceled that as well (Figured we might as well get a rental). Then they charged us for the deviation and then denied us a deviation.

 

Yikes:eek: how can they charge a deviation if you chose to cancel your hotel? Did you make your own arrangements or did you have a TA? My gawd that seems unfair!

 

Are you cruising again with Carnival?

I'm like fredman, I would like to hear more of this storey. Who did you book with a PVP or a TA. Booking cruise air comes with hotel and transfers, if required and if you cancel that part it would save Carnival money and they shouldn't be needing to charge you anything.

[copper6606]

I am from the Annapolis Valley too...LOL. Took my 1st cruise on Carnival in 1987...got addicted right away. Carnival has come a long way since then. I tried a few other lines but now I am back with Carnival again. There is a group of us sailing on the Carnival Liberty next April....right now the airfare is extremely high:eek:. When we went the last time we got our airfare at $550.00 including tax. If I have to pay $600.00 this time I will have to live with that:rolleyes:.

 

Donna:D

 

Hi we were looking at paying around $950.00 in Feb/09 for round trip flights out of Halifax !:eek: If you are able to get $600.00 grab it- it's a bargain! We had to pay a$125.00 to buy a few extra miles to give us enough for two round trip flights- but we thought we should grab them , the way prices at going through the roof[ or sky] hehe.

[fredman]

Hi we were looking at paying around $950.00 in Feb/09 for round trip flights out of Halifax !:eek: If you are able to get $600.00 grab it- it's a bargain! We had to pay a$125.00 to buy a few extra miles to give us enough for two round trip flights- but we thought we should grab them , the way prices at going through the roof[ or sky] hehe.

 

 

:eek::eek::eek: So the $569.00 airfare from Edmonton to Miami (which includes one night hotel) is a big big bargain! I booked that this January, before Oil starting going through the roof!

 

I guess I will have to look at cruises out of Vancouver...I can drive that 12 hours! Northern US states will also be affected by the high cost of oil.

[copper6606]

:eek::eek::eek: So the $569.00 airfare from Edmonton to Miami (which includes one night hotel) is a big big bargain! I booked that this January, before Oil starting going through the roof!

 

I guess I will have to look at cruises out of Vancouver...I can drive that 12 hours! Northern US states will also be affected by the high cost of oil.

 

I would grab that price from this end of the country if I weren't on Airmiles -for sure!

[fredman]

I would grab that price from this end of the country if I weren't on Airmiles -for sure!

 

I have airmiles but saving up for the cruise following this one. My plan is to alternate paying for Cruise Air and then the following year using airmiles.

 

I just don't collect enough in one year to pay for air/hotel each year.:(

[copper6606]

I have airmiles but saving up for the cruise following this one. My plan is to alternate paying for Cruise Air and then the following year using airmiles.

 

I just don't collect enough in one year to pay for air/hotel each year.:(

 

Great plan though.

We were just a little short this year - but decided to buy the last few to put us over the top.

[copper6606]

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Canada day!! What a great place to be!:D