Air travel is different than cruising, and demands an entirely different set of decisions.
Flying to your cruise adds another factor to your plans, requiring careful consideration. What airport will you fly into? Should you get a nonrefundable ticket?
Adding a second mode of transportation complicates your travel details, and opens up the possibility for even more to go wrong.
A delayed flight could delay your arrival at the cruise port, or a more expensive ticket could cut into your budget for the vacation.
Before you book your flight, there are a few important aspects to consider—and they're not just doubling-checking the booking dates.
If you're thinking about booking a flight to your cruise port, here are some details you should consider first.
Read more: Flight attendant shares 20 tips to minimize air travel fiascos
1. Refundable airfare if your plans aren't certain
A variety of factors could disrupt your travel plans—influencing anything from your cruise date to the passengers flying with you.
Your cruise fare may not be refundable, but you can purchase refundable airfare if your plans are uncertain.
If you're unsure where you're flying, if you'll be able to sail on the cruise, or who's coming with you, refundable airfare is the way to go.
Not all plane tickets are refundable, so you'll have to intentionally plan to make sure you get one.
Tickets that are refundable directly (not in flight credit) often cost more. You'll want to weigh your priorities and your level of certainty about travel plans to decide if this is the best option for you.
Not every airline has refundable fares.
Southwest, Jetblue, Delta, United, and American Airlines offer refundable tickets for most of their flights.
If you don't want to pay the full price of a refundable plane ticket, some airlines also offer flight credit or points in exchange for a refund.
2. Never book a flight on the same day as the cruise
The most expensive cruise mistake you can make is to book a plane flight on the same day your sailing begins.
The air travel industry experiences frequent delays, and an on-time flight is never promised.
Should your flight arrive late, the cruise ship isn't obligated to wait for you.
If you miss your cruise, that's considered a no-show and the cruise fare won't be refunded, leaving you with an expensive loss and no cruise vacation to enjoy.
Instead, book your flight at least one day before the cruise departs, and plan to stay near the cruise port.
Booking the first flight in the morning also makes it unlikely for you to be delayed, and gives the airline lots of time to re-book you should anything happen.
3. Consider booking international flights through Royal Caribbean
Booking international flights can be a complex, expensive process.
For an international cruise, you might find yourself needing 2-3 distinct flights to take you to your destination.
Royal Caribbean's flight booking system, Air2Sea, can help with that.
Through Air2Sea, cruisers can purchase air travel that links directly with the cruise booking.
Using Air2Sea is a convenient way to put all your travel information in one place. Additionally, it comes with extra perks like special deals and promotions, as well as 24/7 customer support.
If any unexpected delays or emergencies arise, Royal Caribbean will work to help you.
Air2Sea offers "assured arrival," meaning that the cruise line will ensure you get on the ship at the next legal port of call should you miss the departure day.
4. Try a better seat for longer flights
As someone who's been on too many international flights to count, they are not easy.
Sitting inside a plane for over 8 hours is a marathon of patience and a test of your ability to plan ahead.
The most memorable flights are the disagreeable ones—where you've been squished between two passengers or seated in the same row as a screaming baby.
A good seat could mean the difference between hours of torture versus hours of relaxation and entertainment.
For longer flights, especially international ones, consider booking a better seat, whether that’s a window seat, or upgrading to business or first class.
If you choose a comfortable seat and more legroom, your body will thank you.
Instead of arriving at your destination sore, cranky, and tired, you'll land feeling refreshed and ready for your cruise.
For those long flights, prioritizing your comfort is key.
5. Fly to an alternate airport to save money
Certain cities are cheaper to fly to than others.
For cruises out of major cities, consider looking for a smaller, nearby city to fly into instead.
Read more: Cheap places in the US to fly to for a cruise
Because smaller airports come with lower fees, airlines price those plane tickets at a lower cost as well.
To save money, consider flying into smaller airports, and then getting transportation to your cruise port.
For example, if your cruise leaves from Miami, a flight to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is cheaper than one to Miami (MIA).
If the cruise begins in Vancouver, Canada, a domestic flight into Seattle may cost less.
Additionally, if your flight requires a long layover, choose your layover airport carefully. Ensure that it won't be overcrowded and that there is easy access between gates.
6. Get travel insurance
Flying to your cruise means you're adding even more money, time, and effort into your travel plans.
This huge investment—with the potential for more complications—is the perfect opportunity to purchase travel insurance.
Smart cruisers know that travel insurance covers many scenarios beyond your control, and allow you to get compensated should anything go wrong.
When it comes to flights, travel insurance can cover airline cancellations, lost baggage, and more.
Additionally, your health insurance can be out-of-network when you leave the country, so travel insurance can cover any mishaps like accidents, health problems, or even flight incidents.
Travel insurance gives you that extra peace of mind that you'll need when taking multiple modes of transportation on your cruise.
