What is an "air deviation" fee?

Question

I know it's something associated with the cruising/travel industry

Answer 1

When you book a cruise that requires you to fly to the destination that the ship departs from, you have the option of adding the cruise line's round trip air to that booking.  Although these are all major airlines, you do not have the option of "selecting" your airline, flights, times, or non-stop vs. connecting flights.  The air that the cruise line will use, will, in almost all cases, fly you to your cruise departure city on the day that the cruise departs, and fly you back to your home city on the day the cruise returns.

An "air deviation" fee is the fee that the cruise line will charge you if you would like to arrive a day or two (or more) before your cruise, or fly home a day or two (or more) after your cruise arrives - or - if you want to specify an airline or particular flights. You would be "deviating" from their normal practice, and they will charge you for this service, as they have contracts with the airlines for certain days & flights.

Having said that, here are two exceptions to that rule:

1) with most cruise lines, if you are a member of their frequent cruise club (for example, Captain's Club with Celebrity or Crown & Anchor Society with Royal Caribbean), they will waive the "deviation fee".

2) if you purchase a pre or post-cruise hotel or tour package from the cruise, the "deviation fee" is also waived.

Most cruise lines have a $35 - $60 per person "deviation fee.  Please note however, that this does not include and flight costs "over and above" the cost of the air that they have under contract.  As a very quick example, if the cruise line's air is $350 for travel on the day of the cruise, and you want to fly two days earlier, and the cost of those flights is $400, (and you do not buy a hotel or tour package), the cruise line will charge you the $50 difference in the airfare PLUS their $35 (?) "deviation fee, per person.

I hope that this wasn't too wordy, and that I have answered you question.

Answer 2

Short and simple answer...

An Air deviation fee is charged to a passenger who purchases air through the cruise lines and plans to manipulate the air schedule.  This could be any of the following reasons.

1. flying in and out on a day that is not the starting or ending of your cruise.

2. Requesting certain airlines, air flights, or class of services

3. Requesting one-way flights and not the full roundtrip

4. Changing flights after they have been scheduled