For many years when we have gone on vacation we have normally booked a “package”. This normally includes that cost of the air fare, the cost of the accommodation and probably the transfers between the airport and hotel both going there and coming home.
Of course some other people did book the flight and the hotel room separately but it was normally cheaper to do it all together.
This never used to happen when the vacation was a cruise. It was generally listed as the departure port being Barcelona, in the case of a lot of Western Mediterranean cruises and it was up to you to arrange separately to get there.
In order that you know whether the package deal you find is good or bad, you will need to do some investigating.
- Firstly look at the cruise line deals and note down the cost of the whole thing as a package.
- Secondly surf the internet or look through the cruise brochures to find the same accommodation on the same ship for the same week. The prices do vary from month to month and week to week.
- Thirdly go to an airline comparison web site and find out what the cheapest flights you can get are. Remember that they have to be one that allows you the time to get from the airport to the cruise departure terminal to catch the liner and the same on the return journey.
Simply add the prices from steps two and three together and see whether it is cheaper than step one.
You may think though that, if there is very little difference in the price, you might go with the package as it only requires the completion of one application form, one credit card entry etc. It will be less easy for you to make a mistake and will also save you some time.
It is up to you whether you take advantage of a fly cruise package.