Cruise Lines Are Now Offering More Flexibility : Trips: Passengers who want to spend more time at their destinations either before or after sailing can do it through various ‘deviation’ programs.

In response to increased public demand, many cruise lines are now offering travelers the chance to spend more time at ports of embarkation and disembarkation while still taking advantage of tour packages and special air fares.

On most air-sea packages offered out of Los Angeles, travelers fly to the port of embarkation, then fly home from the port of disembarkation. Or travelers sail out of Los Angeles, then fly home from the last port on the cruise. The cruise lines usually negotiate special rates with the airlines.

However, some cruise lines offer an extra service, contained in what is known as a “deviation clause,” that allows travelers to change their scheduled arrival or return flights and set up individual itineraries. Generally, this opportunity is only available to the ports of embarkation or disembarkation, though some cruise lines will write tickets for a neighboring destination. Charges for this service typically range from $25 to $50.

“Traditionally, cruise lines didn’t offer this service, but they’re starting to now in response to the demand,” said Rod Seeley, head of Cruise Pro, a cruise-only travel agency based in Westlake Village. “Some lines charge extra for the service, some don’t.”

Consumers should be aware, however, that the option to fly early or later--and to cities other than the ports of embarkation/disembarkation--may only be available to passengers who are flying in business or first-class instead of the standard coach seats that usually come with cruise packages.

Even if flight deviation options are not spelled out in cruise literature, interested consumers should still ask about them. Some cruise lines may allow flight deviations as part of their air-sea programs, but not promote this option in brochures because of the extra work involved in arranging individual itineraries.

Los Angeles-based Princess Cruises, which offers sailings in Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean and the Orient, among other destinations, has a deviation program that is used by about one-fourth of the passengers who sign up for the company’s air-sea packages, estimated Dennis Fuerst, vice president of reservations for Princess Cruises. Under this program, requests for flight deviations must be made in writing no later than 60 days prior to departure. There is no charge for the service, and reservations are made on a space-available basis.

Some cruise lines do offer opportunities for travelers to fly to cities other than the ports of embarkation and disembarkation. Princess, for example, permits travelers flying to Acapulco for a cruise to stop in Mexico City en route. However, travelers must arrange for their own transportation between Mexico City and Acapulco.

Crystal Cruises allows travelers to deviate from their scheduled flights for a $25 surcharge, if space is available on the airline that Crystal has contracted. The request should be made at least 60 days before departure.

Royal Cruise Line has a deviation program, but only from the embarkation or disembarkation cities. You can’t go to other cities through tickets that Royal issues, and the line requires 60 days’ advance notice. Passengers can arrive up to one week in advance of their scheduled cruise departure, and return from their disembarkation point up to two weeks after leaving the ship. Royal charges a flat fee of $50 for deviations. The amount is the same no matter how many changes are made.

Seabourn Cruises allows passengers flying in first or business class on an air-sea package to depart earlier than the scheduled flight. Economy-class passengers are required to depart as scheduled. On the return portion, however, any class of passenger can fly home later than scheduled. The line wants to be notified no later than 45 days in advance, though it has on occasion set up a deviation flight for passengers already on a cruise. There is no charge for the service.

Last June, Royal Viking Line began allowing economy-class passengers to change the dates of their flights to ports of embarkation/disembarkation, free of charge. Previously, only first- and business-class passengers on Royal Viking Line had this option.

“First- and business-class passengers can also plan stopover visits to intermediate cities on their way to and from the cruise and we’ll handle the ticketing,” said Maria Planos, vice president of the line’s air-sea department.

Royal Caribbean Cruises, which includes Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Admiral Cruises, opened a Cruiseflex Department in September that includes a “deviation desk” designed to handle requests for booking earlier or later flights to or from points of embarkation/disembarkation. For example, if a cruise begins or ends in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., travelers may be able to have their tickets written to fly into or out of Orlando or Tampa. The charge is $25 for such a change. Written requests have to be received at least 45 days prior to departure for a three-day sailing, and 60 days before a cruise of six days or longer.

Consumers should make sure that they have carefully considered the cost of any extra travel arrangements--including accommodations and meals--before committing themselves to changes in their cruise itinerary. For example, some cruise packages may include a hotel room the night before a sailing due to the conjunction of flight schedules and cruise departures. But travelers would lose this room if they arrived separately. Similarly, airport-cruise terminal transfers would no longer be provided.