Mistake not booking air through DCL?

[QueenTrident]

I booked my cruise through a travel agent, but did the air and transfers on my own. Was this a mistake? Through the TA, air was going to be $1250, but I got it for $650 on my own. I'm just worried that if a snow storm or something hits (I'm going in January from NJ), I'll miss the boat. I bought insurance through DCL, but my TA now tells me that it won't cover me missing my flight due to weather, since the flight wasn't through DCL.

I'm stressing about this now and thinking I should try to arrive the night before, just in case. Right now, my flight is scheduled to land in Orlando at 10:26 am.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[lsmac]

Your TA is correct that insurance does not cover flights not booked through DCL. In January in Jersey, I would consider flying in day prior and either staying at the port or at the airport Hyatt. Even with this, you will still save considerable over DCL air and then you will have no worries about making the cruise!

Good Luck!

Lisa

 

[Grumbo]

I would fly in the night/day before, and IF you have the time make it two days early. We find this way the stress level is MUCH lower as the weather is so iffy at that time of the year. For the first time in many years we're driving down this March. I want to get to Florida Friday morning before the Saturday departure.
IF the weather looks like its going to be crap we may even leave a day earlier. I'm used to driving in cruddy weather so it doesn't bother me except if they close highways.
Friends of ours last year were booked on a Carnival cruise out of New Orleans. They were flying out of Toronto and that was when there was the bad ice and Toronto ran out of plane de-icer and their flight was cancelled. They figured they'd go to Buffalo and grab a plane there. No joy and 6 of them, all their luggage piled into a van they rented and drove NON stop to New Orleans.
Now THAT is stress
They made it to the ship with 45 minutes to spare and pretty near collapsed on the deck.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[QueenTrident]

The earliest I could leave is Friday evening. To change our flights, it'll cost an extra $165, plus $85 for the night at the Radisson (that is the hotel right next to the Port, right).

So, is $250 (plus hotel tax) worth it? And, how do I convince DH of it, because we'd have to leave right from his work to the airport. He didn't even want to buy the insurance at first...

Thanks!

 

[louv2001]

Well, we had no choice. DCL did not have any air from Toronto (I guess cause we booked late). So we are flying into Orlando at 9am from Toronto, on the 6th. I'm hoping to catch the cruiseline bus at 10:30. I know this is cutting it close! I never even considered missing the boat.

I don't think I'll sleep soundly for the next 2 weeks now!!

 

[Doctor P]

Why don't you just take the money and buy another insurance policy that WILL cover your flights and the cruise? It will be a lot cheaper and then you won't have to worry. There are lots of reputable companies out there (AccessAmerica and Travel Guard being two of them). I know you will have wasted the money you spent on the DCL insurance, but you will get peace of mind for much less money than changing the flights.

 

[outahere]

If you haven't made the final payment to DCL, then you could drop the insurance through them and go with one of the other insurance companies to cover everything.

 

[tecdavidt]

One more warning, our neighbor was in charge of booking a company trip. 400 people were going on a cruise. They decided booking the air through the cruise line was too much money and chartering was too much money. They flew each group seperately the day of the cruise.

Well they did purchase insurance and this insurance would cover weather delays. The problem they ended up having was one group of 50 had a plane with mechanical problems and the flight was cancelled! The insurance didn't cover that problem. Only 7 out of the 50 on that plane made it to Florida. Then they were hit with the Jones Act and had to get the OK from the Feds if they could board in Key West.

Our neighbor,who booked the trip, was one of the unlucky 7. She made it. Not a happy trip. What a mess. The moral, read what insurance covers and does not cover. Fly in the day ahead for double insurance.

This cruise was just two weeks ago.
Good Luck. Kathy

 

[bobbiwoz]

Since you really want to be on the cruise I would make the change and go out the night before. When we book our own flights we always go out the night before, but as someone mentioned there could be a 2 day snowstorm and ruin our plans, but that hasn't happened yet.

Good luck, pixie dust for good weather!

Bobbi

 

[jgalecpa]

Cancel the insurance through DCL.

Book directly thorugh AccessAmerica.com (they are the people dcl uses)

Call and ask for the family plan and kids are free.

It can now cover your air also, AND I saved over 50% over the DCL rate

Jim

 

[QueenTrident]

I already made my final payment on the 14th. TA says the DCL insurance is non-refundable.

I'll have to see if AccessAmerica can cover just the flight portion (and how much it will cost). They quoted me a very good price for the entire trip, but now I don't need that. Hmm...

I'm still working on DH to go down the night before. It'll be a late night, but what's worse..a slightly late night (we'd arrive at MCO at 10:30 p.m. of so) or a very, very early morning?

Thanks for your help.

Jenn

 

[Towncrier]

We've cruised DCL 4 times (but only once in the winter), and each time we've flown in the morning of the cruise. By the time we get to the ship, I'm a total wreck. Besides worrying about missing the cruise, we always have to get up so early that the first couple of days of the cruise are spent trying to recover. Next time, we'll fly in the day before and get a good night's rest before going to the port.

I hope you can convince your DH that it's worth arriving late the night before so you can be rested and relaxed when you board the ship.

Bon voyage.

 

[ElaineMc]

If at all possible you should fly in the night before as it will be far less stressful. There aren't as many planes flying these days so it's not like if one plane cancels its flight that there will be another one readily available to take you to your destination. We flew in two days before our cruise but had to wait at the airport for my sister's flight to come in the same day as our cruise. Her flight got in on time but by the time we got her luggage and found our way to the port ( we got a little lost), we ended up getting on the ship at about 2:30 p.m. Still plenty of time for everything but it was stressful waiting for her wondering if her flight was going to make it or not. Good luck and hope everything works out for you.

 

[QueenTrident]

Thanks to you all! We're coming in the day before! I showed DH all your responses and reminded him of the agony we went through 7 years ago on our honeymoon cruise, when the flight was delayed, etc. So, we're flying the afternoon before and I'm thrilled!

Thanks again!

Jenn

 

[ofiesty4u]

Originally posted by QueenTrident
I booked my cruise through a travel agent, but did the air and transfers on my own. Was this a mistake? Through the TA, air was going to be $1250, but I got it for $650 on my own. I'm just worried that if a snow storm or something hits (I'm going in January from NJ), I'll miss the boat. I bought insurance through DCL, but my TA now tells me that it won't cover me missing my flight due to weather, since the flight wasn't through DCL.

I'm stressing about this now and thinking I should try to arrive the night before, just in case. Right now, my flight is scheduled to land in Orlando at 10:26 am.

Thanks for any advice!

How often does the Newark airport really close, delays maybe, but hardly closed, right? Since you're flying into florida, not say another area that might be snowed in, the chances of it being canceled are really slim, wouldn't you say? (trying to think positive for you)...

 

[ElaineMc]

Ofiesty4U,

Here's what my dad says about us kids. "All of my kids are married to foreigners. My one daughter is married to a Brazilian, my son is married to Japanese, and my other daughter is married to a Yankee!" Former Southern Belle here too.

 

[ofiesty4u]

Originally posted by ElaineMc
Ofiesty4U,

Here's what my dad says about us kids. "All of my kids are married to foreigners. My one daughter is married to a Brazilian, my son is married to Japanese, and my other daughter is married to a Yankee!" Former Southern Belle here too.

My dad used to introduce my husband as "this is her yankee husband Rob". Now he just loves to tell people "she's living up north because she married a yankee"... luckily my yankee husband has a sense of humor.

 

[Kimnicki]

Originally posted by ofiesty4u
How often does the Newark airport really close, delays maybe, but hardly closed, right? (trying to think positive for you)...

We were to fly out of Philly this past February when we had that huge storm come in. I called and got a flight out a day earlier than planned because I knew it was coming....just 2 hours after we took off from Atlantic City Airport, both AC and Philly closed for almost 24 hours! This is why I didn't book my air through Disney, we're coming in the morning before (we're going on the 3/6 Eastern), I didn't want to take any chances!!

 

[HLFDZN]

Have you considered bidding on priceline for a hotel for the night before? I have bid on priceline and also used hotwire for hotels several times. For my cruise in March, I booked a room through Hotwire in Orlando. We are renting a mini van since it is cheaper than using limo service or shuttle service due to our family size.

My Orlando room which was a 2 1/2 star by Hotwires standards, turned out to be Amerisuites and I got it for $43.00 a night. This includes breakfast too!!! We plan on leaving for the port by 9:30-ish and hope to be one of the first in line.

If you want information on Priceline and how to bid, go to www.biddingfortravel.com They have TONS of useful information there. Have fun and let go of the stress!!!! Melissa

 

[hackwith1965]

Disney has a department called Ground Services. The monitor all flights. If a flight is delayed - then they do the best that they can to get that person to the ship - or the next possible port.
Depending on how many people are to sail - the ship has been delayed several hours - waiting on those passengers to arrive.
(that is when its a large amount of passengers-not just 1 family)
Problem is - they only monitor the flights that the passengers who purchased their air - is on. Question is - who is on your flight that bought DCL air?
While it is true that the insurance does not cover for acts of god (weather).... it is also true that DCL directly will credit 75% of the cruise fare to a future fare. I know its not a great concession- but it is something.
So weigh your odds- either way- you will not lose completely.
Flying in the night before is always a better option. Peace of mind is worth $250.
Just remember this -if their is a delay or cancellatinons - the airlines have the right to bump you off a flight. Having bought a seat does not guarantee you a seat on that flight - when you have cancellations and delays. I have experienced this first hand. And unfortunately - the airlines have the right to do it. Therefore, it is always in your best interest to either fly in the day prior - or take the cruiseline's air during either hurricane season or winter.
DCL air does not bump passengers- the cruises have contracts with them and the airlines want to keep those contracts.