Student Travel Tours Trip Transportation Information

General Transportation Information

Transportation costs are not included in the student travel tours package rates offered on this website.
You may elect to coordinate your own round-trip transportation, or advise your Travel Planner about your transportation needs.
As another service to our clients, “Festivals at Sea” has developed a relationship with various transportation providers nationwide to provide our groups with the lowest motor coach, train, and commercial and/or charter airline rates available.
We do not require full payment at the time of booking your student travel tour, and will work the transportation cost into your package payment schedule.

Round-trip Airport Transfers are not included in the cruise price. They may be purchased directly with the cruise lines, and range from $35.00 to $60.00 per person depending on the port.
Based on the size of your group, it may be more economical to have your own transportation arranged to and from the port.
Local Transfers may be purchased through our office, or your Travel Planner can coordinate this for you.

Arriving by AIR: It will be necessary to make arrangements for local transportation during your stay. When making your own arrangements, make certain you provide a detailed itinerary to the bus company to get a specific cost for their services.
Arriving by MOTOR COACH or PRIVATE VEHICLE: These vehicles are responsible for providing all transportation services during your stay. Your group is responsible for making hotel reservations and payment for bus driver rooms. Drivers will not receive complimentary hotel rooms, meals, cruise, or attraction tickets. It is your responsibility to provide a detailed itinerary to your transportation providers once you receive the final itinerary from our office.

Please make certain you provide a detailed itinerary to the bus company to get a specific cost for their services.
Always clarify with the bus company who is responsible for the cost of the bus driver(s) room and meals, and budget accordingly.
Ask for references from groups who have recently traveled with the bus company you are considering and check them out with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Time permitting, have a representative from your group inspect the bus(es) prior to placing a deposit.
Be aware of the Department of Transportation (DOT) driving regulations. A driver can be on duty a maximum of 15 hours (10 hours driving) per day. They must have at least 8 hours of rest before resuming duty. This is important when scheduling your arrival and departure times.

When booking a charter flight, the group is responsible for the payment of every seat on the plane, regardless of it being used or not.
When booking your charter flight, inquire about the maximum additional costs the group may incur due to fuel increases, taxes, or facility charges.
Ask the airline exactly how much luggage and equipment can be carried on the plane. Cargo areas vary in size, and carry-on restrictions also vary.

When submitting your passenger list, the airlines now require a secure flight manifest. Please make sure to submit each person’s legal name as it appears in their ID along with date of birth and gender.
We suggest you call the airline 12–24 hours prior to departure to check for delays and/or gate changes, and arrive at least 2 hours prior to check-in.
Attach name tags to all checked bags. If you have oversized luggage, contact the airline prior to departure to confirm size limitations.
Most airlines now provide electronic tickets even for groups. If you do have paper tickets, it is strongly recommended you collect group tickets upon arrival and hold them until your departure.
Airlines (with few exceptions) also charge checked bag fees. Please check with your airline in advance of travel regarding the appropriate fees. In most cases, the fee is $25.00 for the first checked bag and $35.00 for the second; these fees are per person.
For instrumental groups traveling by air, an equipment truck or charter motor coach to transport luggage and instruments to and from the airport and performance venues may be needed.