Speeding through the crystal waters of the Caribbean at 45mph, I realized I was on the journey of a lifetime. I was 30 nautical miles from Nassau in the middle of the ocean on a Powerboat Adventure excursion—somewhere I'd never think to go if I didn't book through JetBlue Vacations.
This incredible moment and how I even got there was all planned for me through the airline's vacation package program.
In a time when everyone is trying to save a buck but also fit in more fun experiences, there are so many travel packages to choose from these days—from Priceline and Expedia to Costco and Groupon. They all promise the best for less, but I wanted to try booking all my experiences from one of the biggest airlines to see how I'd fare.
Below, you can find out what JetBlue Vacations entails, how to book one, its perks and policies and my review of the flight, the check-in and more.
What is JetBlue Vacations?
The airline flies to 93 destinations across the world, including to locales in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, so it seems like a natural extension of its mission. You might've heard of Paisly by JetBlue, which offers hotels, car rentals, activities and travel bags—a la carte. JetBlue Vacations, which relaunched in early 2020, is the airline's travel subsidiary that specializes in travel experiences for its customers. It's not just where you can find deals on hotels, car rentals and activities after you've booked your flight. It includes your flight. JetBlue Vacations wraps it all up together, including flights and cruises.
"JetBlue Vacations isn't just about booking a trip; it's about redefining how you experience travel," says Amy Castignetti, Head of Commercial, JetBlue Travel Products. "Our bundled vacations go beyond mere convenience; they're all about putting the customer first, something we feel like is lost in today’s travel offering.
"We seamlessly bring together flights, hotels, cruises, and more to enable one-point-of-contact service," she adds. "Think of it as bringing the JetBlue magic to every aspect of your journey, blending human touches, unique perks, and savings to make your vacation one-of-a-kind. It's not just about going on vacation; it's about getting more vacay than you pay for."
So, what is included in a JetBlue Vacations package?
Here are the immediate perks and benefits:
- Best price guarantee
- Free in-flight drinks
- Earlier boarding
- Airport transfers
- 24/7 support from travel experts
- First change free
- Reserve with a deposit and use your points
- Access to VIP (Very Important Perks) hotels:
- in-destination concierge
- free room upgrades
- resort credits
Best Price Guarantee
Flights and hotel packages originating from the U.S. will be the lowest price. If you find the same package on a U.S. competitor's website at a lower rate within 48 hours, JetBlue Vacations will give you an immediate credit to reduce the package price.
My roundtrip flight from NYC's JFK Airport to Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport and a three-night stay at Atlantis Paradise Island (which includes access to its waterpark) cost $2,181.45, according to JetBlue, which covered the trip for me.
Earlier boarding
You can board with Group B regardless of your seat assignment. That means you can get your bags in the overhead bins quicker and take a seat while the rest of the plane boards.
If you're like me, you're used to being in the last zone and watching the entirety of the flight go before you. This was a nice perk!
Free in-flight drinks
Your first drink onboard your JetBlue flight is free. That means any liquor, craft beer or wine is on the house! You don't need to show anything—inflight crewmembers have a list of customers who booked a JetBlue Vacation package.
Airport transfers
One of the best perks, in my opinion, is being picked up from and taken to the airport with ease. Figuring out transportation is a major headache, but not here. Airport transfers are available in JetBlue Vacations packages to Aruba, Cancún, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, Nassau, Los Cabos and St. Lucia with more destinations that'll be rolled out soon. Note: Some hotels are not eligible for airport transfers and eligible bookings must arrive and depart from the same hotel.
The transfer was arranged through Majestic Tours, a local Nassau tour and transport agency, and they were on time, courteous and safe.
24/7 support from travel experts
Another one of the biggest perks is being teamed up with what JetBlue Vacations calls Insiders. These are local, on-the-ground travel agencies that provide advice and help book tickets, tours, activities and dining—and they'll only recommend activities that have been fully vetted and are considered safe, secure and insured.
Majestic Tours also booked me on the Powerboat Adventures excursion, which is how I found myself in the middle of the Caribbean Ocean. They used WhatsApp to contact me about a scheduling change and filled me in on what the activity would entail and how to dress. It was extremely valuable information to have for the long day out.
The tour took me and about 50 others to a private island where we swam and fed pigs and pet stingrays, ate fresh conch on the beach and watched a shark feeding. It remains the most memorable experience of my trip.
If we weren't able to find a table at Nobu or Fish by Jose Andres, I could've used this perk to help me book a spot. Luckily, I didn't need to.
Access to VIP (Very Important Perks) hotels:
JetBlue Vacations set me up at the Atlantis Paradise Island, which was a swanky stay, and I got to check in at the VIP concierge desk. When booking online, you can look for the "Very Important Perks!" flags on hotels after you do a search to indicate which hotels have this exclusive offer. The perks at these hotels include anything from resort credits and upgrades to welcome gifts and freebies, and high-value resort perks worth at least $125.
At Atlantis, I stayed in a gorgeous king water view room in the Royal—literally a dream come true. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to stay at this resort after seeing their memorable commercials. The water park was everything I expected and more (I really did get to see sharks swim around me as I floated through a tunnel!).
And because I was in town for the Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival, they helped me get tickets to enjoy and try out all the local vendors!
How do you book a JetBlue Vacation?
You can book online at jetblue.com/vacations or jetblue.com and choose "Vacations" in the booking tool at the top of the page. You can also book by calling 1-844-JB-VACAY (528-2229).
Online, put in your departing location and desired destination, how many adults and children you'd be, and dates you'd like to travel. The site will bring up a series of hotels you can pick from. Then you can select your room and then finally, your flight.
If you want to book a cruise, you put in the same information and it populates a number of cruises you can choose from with prices, stops along the way and ship images. It'll ask you when you want to fly in and how many are traveling with you. You'll then choose your flight and review your package before you book it.
JetBlue Vacations has a "Plane to Port Commitment," which provides you with recovery options if you miss your cruise departure due to a JetBlue flight delay or cancelation.
What is the cancelation policy for JetBlue Vacations?
You will need to call JetBlue Vacations to make any changes. The first change to your flight and hotel package is at no fee, but after that, it'll cost you $100 per person. Hotel changes need to be made a day in advance of your departure date — if any changes involve an increase in price, you've got to pay it then and there. Changes made to a JetBlue Vacations flight and cruise package won't incur any JetBlue change fees. Of course, packages are subject to hotel, cruise or other travel company penalties and changes in price.
If you cancel your package totally, you may need to pay the full package price. Packages are non-refundable. You may get a credit to your account that you can use for another JetBlue Vacations package for one year from the date of cancelation. You can see all the terms here.