RCC Group Cruise

FLIGHTS

We are flying into Ft. Lauderdale the day before our cruise. That way we have an extra day to get to the ship in case there are any flight problems due to planes or weather. NOTE: See Ft. Lauderdale for pre-cruise hotel and post-cruise excursion.

The Emerald Princess will sail at 7:00 pm -- it won't wait for you. Therefore, any flight delay on same-day flights could easily cause you to miss the ship!

I have booked our airline tickets on Continental Airlines (continental.com) mainly for the time schedule and connecting flights in Texas (compared to anywhere in the Northeast that may have storms in April.

Here's the information for our Continental Airlines flights:

DATE	FLIGHT	DEPART	ARRIVE	SEAT SELECTION
4/18/09	308	Portland @ 6:00 am	Houston @ 12:00 pm	Boeing 737-800
	1548	Houston @ 1:10 pm	Ft. Lauderdale @ 4:40 pm	Boeing 737-800
4/29/09	149	Ft. Lauderdale @ 3:14 pm	Houston @ 5:03 pm	Boeing 737-700
	553	Houston @ 6:05 pm	Portland @ 8:24 pm	Boeing 737-800

There are other airlines that fly to Ft. Lauderdale. Check for options on any of the online travel websites such as orbitz.com or travelocity. com or expedia. com. You can then either book your flights on that website or go to the airline's website, which is usually less money.

You can also call the airline directly, but that's more expensive than booking yourself on their website.

Our group travel agent, Jean, can also book your airfare through Princess or the American Express website. These options are more expensive than booking directly with the airlines, but are certainly more convenient.

Use seatguru.com to find the best available seats on other than the Continental flights shown above. Select your airline and then your flight's airplane from the lists in the left column on seatguru.com. Then Use your airline website for available seats and compare them to the seatguru.com comments about the various seats on your airplane.

Contact me if you would like help booking your flight.

FT. LAUDERDALE

PRE-CRUISE:

We have reserved a room at the Extended Stay America hotel: extendedstayamerica.com. We did not pre-pay our room so we have the flexibility to switch hotels if we find a better value closer to our cruise. There are several other nearby hotels but they're all currently at much higher room rates..

This hotel is only a short distance from the airport and a couple blocks from the port where our ship will dock. The hotel does not provide shuttle service from the airport or to the pier. Closer to our cruise date, I plan to book a shuttle from the airport. We plan to take a taxi to the pier when it's time to board the ship.

There are several nearby restaurants, including Applebee's, IHOP, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, and Green Tomatoes. It's also a short walk down to the water taxis if you want to do some sightseeing the evening we arrive in Ft. Lauderdale.

The suites are roomy, clean, and reasonably priced. The hotel is certainly conveniently located.

POST-CRUISE:

We plan to book a Princess excursion between when we get off the Emerald PRincess and when our flight leaves the airport at 3:15 pm. We will disembark the ship, claim our luggage, and go to the excursion transportation. Our bags will be loaded and will be with us while we do the excursion. Then we (and our luggage) will be dropped off at the airport.

There are three Princess excursions (excursions) that should be available and will work with our flight:

Fort Lauderdale By Land & Sea (Fll)
Everglades Airboat Ride (Fll)
Everglades Airboat Ride & Flamingo Gardens Wildlife Sanctuary (Fll)

We plan to book the first one. It includes some sightseeing around town and a stern wheeler boat ride on the waterways to see the homes and yachts of the "rich & Famous". They're really spectacular if you haven't seen them before. Here's a link to the probable boat ride: Carrie B.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

I definitely recommend that all cruisers purchase a travel insurance policy.

Although travel insurance can be purchased up until you cruise, policies usually don't include any pre-existing conditions unless purchased within 10-14 days of your first payment toward your cruise. If they do, it's generally at a higher premium.

That's why I always buy my travel protection within a week of my first payment toward the cruise, including the refundable deposit. That way I can be sure I'm covered for pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition does not have to exist when the cruise is booked -- policies consider any illness or accident occurring up to when you buy the policy as "pre-existing". Who knows what may happen between booking the cruise and actually going on the cruise!!!

All of the people traveling together do not have to buy from the same insurance company so each traveler can get a policy from the insurance agency best suited to that traveler's needs.

Each of you must make your own decision on which travel insurance policy to get, depending on your individual needs and concerns. I suggest you do a search on the Cruise Critic Message Board if you want more information from other cruisers who have had to use the insurance or wish they'd had insurance. There are 2 excellent articles on the Cruise Critic Message Board about travel insurance: "Tips on Cruise Insurance" and "Travel Insurance Pros and Cons".

STA TRAVEL: I usually purchase my travel insurance through STA Travel from the website or by telephone at (800) 777-0112. Their policy is based on number of days you'll be away from home, not your age or the amount of your expenses. As a result, it's less expensive than other policies with less coverage! Coverage (for covered reasons stated in the policy) includes:
-- Trip cost Trip Cancellatioon & Interruption
-- $500 Travel Delay
-- $1500 Baggage & Personal Efffects
-- $500 Baggage Delay
-- $100,000 medical expense
-- $250,000 Emergency Medical Transsportation
-- $20,000 Accidental Death & DDismemberment
-- $50,000 Common Carrier Accidentaal Death & Dismemberment

PRINCESS TRAVEL CARE: Jean, our Travel Agent, can buy Princess Travel Care insurance for you. Check the website for cost and coverage.

ACCESS AMERICA: Jean's travel agency has special AccessAmerica travel protection policies she can buy for you. One of these policies includes coverage for business-related reasons. Contact Jean for rates and coverage.

INTERNET WEBSITES: You can buy travel protection policies from numerous travel insurance companies on the internet. These policies are generally based on non-refundable trip costs and travelers' ages. Premiums and coverages will vary among policies so you should carefully review your options before you buy a policy.

There are 2 excellent website that provide side-by-side comparisons of cost & coverage for the various travel insurance policies: InsureMyTrip.com and TripInsuranceStore.com. These websites also have excellent information about the advantages of travel insurance and the various coverages in travel protection policies..

Please contact me if you can't find what you need or for more information about these websites or contents