entropy12 wrote: “If you do a European cruise, get the air flights through the cruise also. Don’t wanna miss the cruise due to flight delays.”
You need to read, very carefully, the Terms and Conditions for those flights. The cruise lines do not promise that you will make the ship. They promise to make ‘every effort’ to get you there. They do promise to get you to the next available port which may or may not be the next port or even the one after that. They will be responsible for billeting and food while waiting to join the ship.
Still, flights through the cruise line can be a good deal. We saved a bunch on our last Alaska trip booking through Holland. But, I understand some lines do not let you pick and choose your flights. I’ve heard some horror stories about earliest departures, round about routings, long layovers, etc.
It’s very much buyer beware.
I still doubt we’ll be doing any European cruises. Wife was born raised in Germany and has little interest in Europe. I think we will be limited to ships leaving and returning to the USA. We’re also dog limited. She doesn’t want to kennel them for too long.
On any European cruise I will always book the entire enchilada with the cruise line booking. The flights, airport transfers, and tours in port. That is what our family of 4 did and it worked out great. Stress free! That is what you want on a cruise vacation...less stress!
The only port where we skipped the cruise ship tour was for Rome. Rome is not a port. The ship anchors at Civitavecchia. The cruise ship tour price was very expensive for 4 people. Some people on ship told us to just take the train from Civitavecchia to Rome, about a 45 minute ride. The train station is not far from the cruise dock. We saved a ton of money by doing that. We got off the train at San Pietro station which is walking distance from the Basilica and just explored the city from there. Caution: trains in Italy on Sunday’s are not frequent. Do not miss the really good Gelato near the railway station.