Roundtrip flight to the Port of New Orleans.

We were going to book through the Cruiseline for the same price, not a premium price as one poster "guarantees", so we book directly with the airline to earn loyalty reward points with them.

You can't beat that fare.

I was looking at NCLs free airfare offer - they were only going to charghe me &20,000 to fly from Texas to Florida.

I think I may be able find a cheaper flight than that.

My roundtrip airfare is Free. Thats the rate I booked with NCL. It'll prob be Southwest. Do Y'all know where there hubs located at?

I agree with most of this except for the premium ticket and paying more for it. We booked through RCL and my brother and his wife booked through Carnival last year and the ticket was same exact price as the airline was direct. I think that when you go through the cruise line's program they are booking it directly with the airline the same way you would.

No cruise line uses a single airline. They will make loose partnerships with several airlines in exchange for "business considerations", in other words the 2 companies benefit but things are not necessarily to the favor of the passengers. One thing that I will guarantee is you will be paying for a premium ticket, though you probably could of booked the same flight path at much less. You may find out once the tickets are finalized, that instead of a nice non-stop flight that you have the one with up to3 layovers or connections. But there is a very big benefit to letting the cruise line book your flight...

Just like the with shore excursions and tours purchased through the cruise line you do get "not left behind" guarantees. The big advantage here is in general when the cruise line books your same day travel arrangements, if there are airline delays or cancellations the cruise line upon you contacting their same day travel hotline, will make alternative arrangements including but not limited to making fast ticket changes. In addition whenever a certain percentage of the ship's passengers are delayed by the air arrangements they made the cruise line, they will attempt to hold the ship's departure. This of course is not wholly up to the cruise line so if the harbor master insists that the ship set sail and the new flight arrangements still will not have you in the airport in time the cruise line will fly you out to the first port of call (provided you have a passport if the island is not a US territory).

So if forced to travel to a cruise on the same day as the ship's departure booking through the cruise line is perhaps the best option. BUT if you have the ability to before that day, even taking the "red-eye" flight from your home airport to the departure port city the night before your cruise is preferable to most experienced cruisers. Usually flights a day or 2 before the cruise departure are less expensive (in some cases enough so that the savings pays for the hotel stay) and gives ample room to make new arrangements directly with the airline if there is a problem.

wonderful but can be very busy. When we were there the wait was half hour for a table

Cafe Du Monde. :)

I highly recommend to fly out at least 1 day before the cruise. Flight delays, cancellations or other issues can arise. You may be able to reschedule your flight through the airline. If you can, book a hotel for the night to unwind a bit before you embark. Check Expedia, they have good deals on flights and hotels. And a night in New Orleans would be a blast, and get you prepped for your trip. Happy cruising, and have a great vacation.

I am not sure if NCL uses any particular air line. I know RCL offers air to sea but all they really do is match the price of what the air lines are offering. The advantage is that if there is a delay they will work to get you to the port.

Wise option if it's available, if not boogie to the port ASAP, N.O. traffic is very unpredictable. Welcome to the cruise information location