Jump to content

Royal Air / Sea Booking Option for Barbados


Recommended Posts

Hello Guys,

We are looking at options to get us to Bridgetown from Miami for a Grandeur of the Seas cruise in early January. Coming from Australia we really have no idea about flights and accomodation. We are considering Royal's Air/Sea service to book flights and a hotel as we heard on one of Matts' podcast that Royal had reserved flights. 

Has anyone used this option, do you pay in full or only a deposit like a cruise? Do you need to know which hotel you want ahead of time, or does Royal give you the options? How far ahead should I book flights and hotel as I heard flights are limited. We are thinking of a couple days pre and post cruise to check out the city.  

We would appreciate any insight into this destination and if booked on one of these cruises, how you are planing to get there. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just did this yesterday !

We are not staying in a hotel (flying in on cruise day) so I can’t help you with hotel info....but we did book air through A2S.  It was very easy for us as we are just flying from Miami.  Obviously your air would be much more complicated but I feel confident that A2S is the way to go for you.

The airfare booked through A2S is completely refundable up until you make final payment at which time it becomes non refundable. You do not pay your airfare until you make final payment. 

Airfare comes 2 ways - either booking a regularly scheduled flight with the airline or a charter flight.  Prices will vary so you just have to call and see which works out best for you.  We went with a charter flight for the moment b/c the regular airline itineraries are not yet out for our sailing (we are more than 330 days from sailing) but once we are within the 330 window I will call back and see if the regular airline scheduled flights work out better.  If they do, I will change.  If they don’t I will keep what I have.

I have a phone number for A2S but I don’t think it will help you, in Oz.

Good luck.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I just did this yesterday !

We are not staying in a hotel (flying in on cruise day) so I can’t help you with hotel info....but we did book air through A2S.  It was very easy for us as we are just flying from Miami.  Obviously your air would be much more complicated but I feel confident that A2S is the way to go for you.

The airfare booked through A2S is completely refundable up until you make final payment at which time it becomes non refundable. You do not pay your airfare until you make final payment. 

Airfare comes 2 ways - either booking a regularly scheduled flight with the airline or a charter flight.  Prices will vary so you just have to call and see which works out best for you.  We went with a charter flight for the moment b/c the regular airline itineraries are not yet out for our sailing (we are more than 330 days from sailing) but once we are within the 330 window I will call back and see if the regular airline scheduled flights work out better.  If they do, I will change.  If they don’t I will keep what I have.

I have a phone number for A2S but I don’t think it will help you, in Oz.

Good luck.  

I would add that the only issue with Air2Sea is that you cannot reserve  your seat till payment is made. You don't have the option either to see if the seat you want is available. But I do agree in reserving the charter flight. You have nothing to lose especially if the pricing drops.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, princevaliantus said:

I would add that the only issue with Air2Sea is that you cannot reserve  your seat till payment is made. You don't have the option either to see if the seat you want is available. But I do agree in reserving the charter flight. You have nothing to lose especially if the pricing drops.

I chose seats for my A2S flights, or I should say the A2S agent did.  They asked my preferences and knowing the aircraft well I was able to choose my favorite seat on that particular plane. 

Logged into AA directly and confirmed those are my seats.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, CruisingOz said:

We are thinking of a couple days pre and post cruise to check out the city.  

 

Bridgetown itself isn't much, nor is it all that enjoyable. It's a good way to see the real Barbados away from the resorts, but as far as a vacation goes, I would recommend only spending part of a day in Bridgetown itself, and getting a hotel/resort instead as a way to get in to the vacation mode. Definitely don't view it as a city...more of a town that happens to be the largest in the country. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

General info on Air2Sea

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/plan-a-cruise/transportation

There is a link to search for flights on that page.  

If booked direct with Royal you should be able to call Royal in your region to see if you can use the program being from Australia.  A2S is a program for US and Canada.  Given different consumer protection laws and practices you may not be eligible to use it down under.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, twangster said:

I chose seats for my A2S flights, or I should say the A2S agent did.  They asked my preferences and knowing the aircraft well I was able to choose my favorite seat on that particular plane. 

Logged into AA directly and confirmed those are my seats.  

You chose your seat with payment made or without payment made?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Throwing my 2 pennies in the mix;

 

I added a refundable flight thru A2S about a month ago. Cruise is for December '21 and agent did ask for my seat request for "United" even though no payment has been made. Airline's own site reflects my flight and seat choice. Maybe it depends on the airline?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, twangster said:

General info on Air2Sea

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/plan-a-cruise/transportation

There is a link to search for flights on that page.  

If booked direct with Royal you should be able to call Royal in your region to see if you can use the program being from Australia.  A2S is a program for US and Canada.  Given different consumer protection laws and practices you may not be eligible to use it down under.

 

Thank you.

I have reached out to Royal locally and they do have access to Air2Sea and in AUD. They don't seem to offer it on the website but the call centre can quote. I need to make the payment in full. Looking at the US site for pricing, it seems slightly more locally as Royal International must take a slice of the exchange rate. They do offer refundable fares and also can book hotels for any pre or post stays. Also they are happy to bool only the Miami to Bridgetown sector (via AA) as I will use my Qantas points to fly to the USA. Also as an FYI, if you book International the US Air2Sea doesnt recognise the booking reference, but this is the same as follow ups with Casino Royale.

This is probably for a different discussion but one of my issues with Royal is when I book through Royal US or a TA in the US, the booking can't be seen locally by International (Australia/0 and vice versa. Not really a big deal but when we book via the casino Royale and my adult kids book locally in Australia, we can't link reservations for dinners, activities and alike, which becomes a little frustring. One day we ho[e Royal's systems will align to be more seamless?       

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...