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We purchased our own air fare for the first time for this, our third cruise. If you purchase your own, do go a day early to be safe. We used Princess air arrangements the first time. It was pre 9-11 so Princess took care of your luggage from start to finish, which was wonderful. However we were not seated together and even families were split up coming home. It was chaos. Our last cruise we did Princess air arrangements also. When you do their air, you have no choice of times and connections. However ours (for six of us) was not too bad and we were seated together. We are booking our own this time so we can choose times and prices. We figure as long as you have to handle your own luggage why not go at our convenience and get a say in the price. We are going the day before though!