looking for advice.

Perhaps some of you more experienced cruisers will point me in the right
direction. We are in the early planning stages of a transatlantic
cruise, our first.
The price for airfare from the cruise line is more money than the cruise
fare. We are hoping to go in April and will be flying home from London.
The port of embarkation is about 5 hrs by car, so we could do a one-way
flight if that would save money. But with gas prices and parking it
might not make a difference. Where should we start our search for
affordable fares? Thanks for any help you can offer. We are so
excited.

~~Dory~~

    

On May 7, 11:21 am, dorysamu...@ (Dory Samuels) wrote:
> Perhaps some of you more experienced cruisers will point me in the right
> direction. We are in the early planning stages of a transatlantic
> cruise, our first.
> The price for airfare from the cruise line is more money than the cruise
> fare. We are hoping to go in April and will be flying home from London.
> The port of embarkation is about 5 hrs by car, so we could do a one-way
> flight if that would save money. But with gas prices and parking it
> might not make a difference. Where should we start our search for
> affordable fares? Thanks for any help you can offer. We are so
> excited.
>
> ~~Dory~~

Hi Dory,

I'm a little unclear. We're talking about two (really three) flights,
right? One way from London back to your port of embarkation and round-
trip from home to/from the port of embarkation? Or, are you thinking
one flight from home to port and then one flight from London to home?

Any chance of doing a rental car drive from home to the embarkation
port (there may be a drop-off fee, but not always, and you wouldn't
have to pay for parking) and then flying home from London?

Lee

We can drive from Tampa to Miami and fly back to Miami and then drive
home. Bit of an ordeal and tiring. Or much easier, we can fly to
Miami from Tampa and then fly home to Tampa. It's all about costs. We
are two seniors on limited income but trying to get the most out of
life. :-)

~~Dory~~

    

On May 7, 12:49 pm, dorysamu...@ (Dory Samuels) wrote:
> We can drive from Tampa to Miami and fly back to Miami and then drive
> home. Bit of an ordeal and tiring. Or much easier, we can fly to
> Miami from Tampa and then fly home to Tampa. It's all about costs. We
> are two seniors on limited income but trying to get the most out of
> life. :-)
>
> ~~Dory~~

I just did a quick search (went to Budget rental car site). You can
rent a car for about $65 for the one day and there doesn't appear to
be a drop-off fee. Not sure which Tampa locale you'd want to pick the
car up at, but I used MIA as the drop-off point.

If you can fly home to Tampa, I think this might be a good way to go
for you. It'll save you parking fees and gas for your return car trip
from Miami to Tampa. And, you won't have to do a second 5 hour drive!
Drive a rental car from Tampa to Miami, fly home to Tampa from London.
The rental car, I'm sure, is less expensive than the two of you having
to fly from Tampa to Miami round-trip.

Lee

"Dory Samuels" <dorysamuels@> wrote in message
news:15125-463F58A8-873@storefull-3336.bay....
We can drive from Tampa to Miami and fly back to Miami and then drive
home. Bit of an ordeal and tiring. Or much easier, we can fly to
Miami from Tampa and then fly home to Tampa. It's all about costs. We
are two seniors on limited income but trying to get the most out of
life. :-)

~~Dory~~



Dory,
Just been there, done that about a week ago. If I were you, I would take a
cheapie flight from Tampa to Miami and not worry about where you are going
to have to leave your car...the cost of the parking for the 10-12 days while
you are gone (you did not say how many days nor which cruise line) would
probably make up most of the difference that your flights to Miami would
cost. Returning, your being able to return to Tampa would be much more
convenient and you would not have that drive back to Tampa from Miami while
you are feeling jet lagged from the flight from London.

We flew to Ft. Lauderdale, took our 12 day transatlantic on Celebrity
Constellation and stayed in London for four days...We used our frequent
flyer miles with American to fly back home to San Antonio from Gatwick.

If your flights from Tampa to Miami are costly, you might consider renting a
car and dropping it off in Miami as another choice.

--Jean

Thanks everyone. I have just learned about "transfers" and their
possible costs. May just bite the bullet and go with the cruise line.
It might be on Carnival's Freedom.....heard nice things and I know
Carnival has improved greatly.

~~Dory~~

    

Hope you like to disco line dance daily and until 4 am!
"Dory Samuels" <dorysamuels@> wrote in message
news:17076-463FAF82-31@storefull-3338.bay....
Thanks everyone. I have just learned about "transfers" and their
possible costs. May just bite the bullet and go with the cruise line.
It might be on Carnival's Freedom.....heard nice things and I know
Carnival has improved greatly.

~~Dory~~

For a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic, look into what Oceania
Cruise Line has to offer. They include airfare in the price and the
ships are beautiful with wonderful food and service. They are resort
casual with no formal nights and anytime dining. They hold only 700
passengers and I don't tink you can find a better bargain on a cruise
that is so well organized. They generally have excellent lecturers on
board to give good info on ports you will visit.

~~DORIS~~
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She sails again on April 14th for Europe