Trust us. You never, ever want to play a game of catch the cruise ship. That s when you miss the boa

Trust us. You never, ever want to play a game of catch the cruise us classic car rentals ship. That s when you miss the boat literally and are left to decide if you should bag the vacation altogether and head home, or if you should embark on your own version of The Amazing Race and try to catch up to the ship at the next port of call. Neither option is appealing so you should vow to never put yourself in that particular predicament.
Let s start by examining the reasons why travelers miss the boat in the first place. Most often, cruisers miss embarkation because of a travel delay. Other times, individuals misjudge the time allotted us classic car rentals in port, aren t familiar with the region and local traffic, and don t leave enough time to return to the ship. There are ways to hedge your bets in both cases to make sure you re never left standing on the dock watching your ship weigh anchor and sail out to sea without you.
It s important that you arrive at the cruise terminal us classic car rentals with plenty of time to spare before embarkation. The absolute best way to ensure this is to fly in the day before your cruise and stay over at a nearby hotel or motel. This way, even if you experience a major delay airline issue or trouble on the road you ll be in town long before the ship sets sail.
Of course, not everyone wants to give up an extra day or invest in a hotel room for the evening. If you insist on flying out the day of embarkation, us classic car rentals be sure to book the first flight of the morning. us classic car rentals If you plan to fly in the day of the cruise, consider booking your airfare directly through the cruise line. Then, if there s an issue, they are obligated to get you to the ship. Sometimes that means the ship is held in port for stragglers, and other times that means the cruise line will rebook you on alternative transportation us classic car rentals so you can meet the ship at the second port of call.
Keep all your cruise documents in your carry-on bag, and make sure you ve got the address of the cruise terminal handy. Pre-book ground transportation so someone is waiting for you when you land at the airport. Alternatively, book ground transportation directly through your cruise line.
It s also wise to invest in travel insurance. Make sure the policy covers things like trip delays, lost baggage, and trip interruption. You can compare a variety of insurance policies at InsureMyTrip.com .
When it comes to travel, us classic car rentals be an informed consumer. Sign up for automated alerts from your airline so you ll be the first to know if your flight is delayed. us classic car rentals You can also use free third-party services like TripIt that file all of your flight, hotel, car rental, and cruise details and itineraries right in your phone (iPhone, Android, us classic car rentals Blackberry, or Windows Phone 7) or iPad. The upgraded (aka paid version of) TripIt Pro app instantly alerts you to flight delays, cancellations, and gate changes. It can also help you find alternative flights so if you have to rebook, you can tell the airline representative what would work best for you.
Be your own advocate, and know what alternative flights will get you to your cruise port on time. If your airline has a mechanical issue, for example, ask them to protect you on another flight even if that means putting you on a competing airline. Research all potential flights in advance, and carry that list of options with you. Hopefully you ll never need to refer to the list, but it will be incredibly helpful if your original flight is cancelled.
If you do have to rebook while at the airport, don t wait in the long line with everyone else. Call the airline s toll-free number for faster service. If you have access to the airline s elite lounge, you can head there and have an agent assist you in person.
Sometimes a vacation is just doomed from the get-go. People in the hospitality business call that a trip in vain. It s when, despite your best efforts, everything us classic car rentals goes wrong. There s a crash on the highway so your car service can t get you to the airport on time. You miss your initial flight and are rebooked on a second flight, which then is delayed due to weather issues. You finally get to your destination only to find that your bags were misdirected and are at a different airport altogether, and your cruise ship has already sailed.
If you re ever in that situation, you ll need to determine if you re going to try to catch the ship at the next port or head home. Your decision will hinge on a few things. For example, did you book your airfare directly through the cruise line? If so, the onus is on them to get you to the ship. If you booked transportation on your own, it s up to you. What s the next port of call? Is it an easy to reach destination or a far-off island with no airport? Did you purchase an insurance policy? us classic car rentals Will you get a refund if you return home without ever setting foot on the cruise ship, or will you lose out on the fare you paid?
We missed the boat when my handbag was stolen in Santiago, Chile. We always carry passports in body belts now. You live and learn. After 48 fraught hours we joined the ship at its first port of call. Not fun.
boarding is scheduled to begin. us classic car rentals This allows you to avoid long lines and it enables you to check your cabin dining room arrangements before everyone else. Plus, enjoy a relaxed lunch on board without any crowds.
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