Luggage direct question

[travelgenie]

We will be on the Ryndam later this month, San Diego to Tampa going through the Panama Canal. I have read somewhere on these boards that luggage direct is available for the Tampa airport. When do you sign up for that and what happens to extra charges for overweight or extra bags? Also, we have an 11:05 am flight, will that matter as well? Would be interested in anyone's experiences.

[RuthC]

During your cruise you will get a Disembarkation Questionaire, in which you will let the Front Office know your plans at the end of the cruise. Included with this will be an option for Luggage Direct, and a separate form to apply. There will be a list of participating airlines, and allowable flight times.

If you are on a participating airline, and your flight is late enough (I have to wonder if an 11:05 flight would qualify), you complete the Luggage Direct form, submit it, and cross your fingers that you are accepted.

I don't know how it works if there's an extra charge for your bags. The paperwork did say that extra baggage charges would go on your cruise account, as does the charge for Luggage Direct itself.

[slotl]

We will be on the Ryndam later this month, San Diego to Tampa going through the Panama Canal. I have read somewhere on these boards that luggage direct is available for the Tampa airport. When do you sign up for that and what happens to extra charges for overweight or extra bags? Also, we have an 11:05 am flight, will that matter as well? Would be interested in anyone's experiences.

 

With the airlines charging high baggage fees per bag, weight limitations and overage charges, you might want to look into other luggage shipping services:

 

http://www.firstluggage.com

http://www.luggagefree.com

http://www.luggageforward.com

http://www.fedex.com

http://www.ups.com

 

These folks charge by size of bag (not weight). It is an option to be considered.

[AZWTRLVR]

Most of the luggage direct questions have pertained to Southwest Airlines. Does anyone know if Alaska Airlines participates in the program in Seattle?

[mauimaitai]

, and cross your fingers that you are accepted. [/font]

You mean not all requests are accepted? We have a late afternoon flight and would love to get rid of our luggage for the day! Thanks!

[pms4104]

You mean not all requests are accepted? We have a late afternoon flight and would love to get rid of our luggage for the day! Thanks!

Yes, there is an opportunity that any passenger may be denied participation for reasons unknown to and beyond the control of HAL ... final word/decision lies with DHS.

 

We participated one year and got denied the next ... no way to know why that happened.

[AZWTRLVR]

Just talked with an Alaskan Airline rep and she said that AlaAir does participate in Luggage Direct in Seattle. Hurray.......the thought of spending a good part of the day schlepping luggage around is pretty dismaying. Now perhaps we can spend time with friends in the area w/o having to worry about all the luggage. As it is, we will have a walker with us.

[slotl]

Royal Caribbean International (RCI ) and Celebrity Cruises have introduced luggage collection service in the UK. “The service will allow travellers to have their holiday luggage collected from their home, delivered directly to their stateroom on-board their chosen ship and delivered back to their home after their cruise avoiding any hassles with heavy luggage,” the two companies said in a joint statement.

 

A collection time is arranged directly with the guest and once picked-up; the safe and secure luggage service is track-able allowing guests to monitor the location of their luggage. Luggage is collected between 24 and 96 hours prior to the cruise departure depending on the address location in mainland UK.

 

The article continues:

 

The service extends the holiday from the moment guests leave their front door, right up until their return by providing an easy and convenient luggage transportation which takes the burden of dealing with baggage away from our guests”. The new service costs £35 per luggage item each way, and is available for cruises on-board the UK-based Royal Caribbean International ships Independence of the Seas for cruises from Southampton, Jewel of the Seas for cruises from Harwich, and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse cruises from Southampton .