Transportation to/from your cruise. When might you consider buying directly from the cruise line ?

This is not a direct answer !  Depends on whether you are flying in ?  Coming in day prior ?  Leaving your car at a hotel ?  If you are traveling abroad, other than to the Caribbean ? 

Here’s some food for thoughts, based on destination ….

Usually if your destination is from the US, a cab is good enough.  However, this would be high in cost, from places like LAX, Houston/Galveston, and even Orlando, and you will want to consider another avenue. 

 

Ever heard of Cruise Connection ?  This is offered from "select cities" in Florida to get to cruises in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.  Select cruise lines, such as Princess and Norwegian, allow you to make this purchase through the cruise line (actually lower than purchasing directly) ... I would buy from the cruise line, so they know where you are, if there's an issue !  Carnival will NOT let you buy from them.

To/from Anchorage is also more than a cab distance away !  Though there are other options available, such as the Alaska Railroad or through a tour operator, it could be hazardous, if there were complications on the highway or rail road that delayed you.

See story from last week.  Road closed from noon till @ 10pm(?).  Though this accident alone might cause me, in the future, only to buy transportation from the cruise line, if they don't offer the Alaska rail road, I'm still going to want to choose this choice !  Besides, the cruise lines know many of their cruisers are on the rail (especially if taking land packages too !
http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/anchorage-man-dies-in-seward-highway-crash/34481792

Maybe you are driving and leaving your car at a hotel ?  Just make sure you’ve set up arrangements in getting you to/from.  Meaning, know that your hotel is not miles away from the port or the savings of your hotel will be eat up by the cost of the cab.

If traveling to Hawaii, they are very tourist friendly, and know where most everything is, such as your pre-night(s) hotel and the cruise ship.  However, there are pre-purchase transportation companies available.

If traveling abroad, such as Europe, Asia, Australia, South America & such, I often do suggest buying your transfers to/from your cruise, directly from the cruise line.  Why ?  You’re in a foreign country.  You don’t know traffic.  You may not have the money exchange and they not take credit card.  Or maybe you’re coming in a day or few days early, and the cruise line won’t allow you to buy their transfers.  If coming in early, though it will be higher, I often suggest buying your hotel (many include transfers) directly with the cruise line.

I always ask my clients to call me for such needed advice.  And … No matter what they decide … Most all my clients travel day prior to port.

Note … If you buy your transportation to the ship … They will most likely wait, if there’s traffic issues.
Note … A port like Anchorage is still 1- 3 hours away from the ship.