Help please - cruise only info required

[Lucie14]

good morning all fellow cruisers. My hubby and I are off on the Majesty at the end of April but I booked everything separate so I was just looking for clarification as to what happens for check in to ship on a cruise only. I am guessing that since we won't have luggage tags (not flying with Thomson) that we just turn up at the port and then proceed as normal but get issued with our boarding passes there??? Any thoughts/help gratefully received. Thanks.

[campolady]

good morning all fellow cruisers. My hubby and I are off on the Majesty at the end of April but I booked everything separate so I was just looking for clarification as to what happens for check in to ship on a cruise only. I am guessing that since we won't have luggage tags (not flying with Thomson) that we just turn up at the port and then proceed as normal but get issued with our boarding passes there??? Any thoughts/help gratefully received. Thanks.

 

We always book Cruise Only. Just turn up at the port - the official check in time for independent cruisers is noon but we have always been able to board by 10.30 a.m. Tell the desk staff that you are Cruise Only and you will be given your envelope/boarding card at the check in desk just the same as other passengers. Towards the end of your cruise you will receive your luggage labels for collecting your baggage after disembarkation - these are black for independent travellers.

Edited April 4, 2016 by campolady

[Lucie14]

Many thanks campolady, probably a stupid question but once we have gone through the check in process do we take our own bags to our cabin?

[okavango]

Many thanks campolady, probably a stupid question but once we have gone through the check in process do we take our own bags to our cabin?

 

NO from the minute you get to the check in desk you are no differant to anyone else.

[Lucie14]

Thanks all. Can pass on to hubby now with safe knowledge.

[campolady]

Many thanks campolady, probably a stupid question but once we have gone through the check in process do we take our own bags to our cabin?

 

No, you get your cabin luggage labels when you check in which go on your cases then you next see your baggage when it arrives outside your cabin. On your final night you leave your luggage outside your cabin in the wee hours and next see it, with all the other black label independent travellers cases, on the quayside.

[Lucie14]

We are planning on trying to book a late check out cabin on the last day (I know these are limited availability) so hopefully we will be able to hold on to our cases rather than putting them out to the portside. Our flight back home doesn't leave until about 8 o clock so won't be leaving the ship until about 5.

[campolady]

We are planning on trying to book a late check out cabin on the last day (I know these are limited availability) so hopefully we will be able to hold on to our cases rather than putting them out to the portside. Our flight back home doesn't leave until about 8 o clock so won't be leaving the ship until about 5.

 

Hope you get your late checkout cabin but, just in case you don't this info may save some stress:-

 

If you are not on a Thomson flight write what time you will be leaving the ship on your luggage labels as well as your flight number. We didn't the first time and, when we eventually disembarked at 4 p.m., our luggage had been moved to the Police compound as 'suspicious' due to not being collected in the morning or having a Thomson flight number! The Police Officer we dealt with was extremely helpful but we had to open all our cases (somewhat embarrassing due to a fortnights supply of dirty washing!!!) and he advised that putting the departure time would, more than likely, prevent this happening in the future - we have never had problems since and are always late leaving the ship.

 

Have a brilliant trip.

Edited April 4, 2016 by campolady

[stevedeccaman]

cases always taken by 3am afore you leave

hand baggage kept with or stored until you leave :)

all facilities available to you disembark (unlike other cruise lines ) ;)

 

Stevie :)

[Lucie14]

Thanks all. This will be our first time doing cruise only as it worked out cheaper to book everything individually. 3rd time on Majesty and it is great that everything is included until leaving the ship. Being up north can only get flights included in the cruise between May and October. Hence we have to go from either Glasgow or Edinburgh and that's why we have booked everything individually as given the itinerary we can fly back to Aberdeen with Thomsons on the 3rd May.

[GLYNAGP]

We checked in Cruises only on the Majesty at Malaga a couple of years ago and were treated like some sort of VIP. There were queues of people getting off buses from the airport and somebody rushed up to us as we got out of the taxi and said, " You must be our independent travellers" we where whisked the front of the baggage drop off queue, escorted up the escalator to the checkin desks and we were on board and escorted to our cabin within about 15minutes. We couldn't beieve it . We're on the Spirit cruise Only again in October from Malaga and hoping for the same experience again.

[campolady]

We checked in Cruises only on the Majesty at Malaga a couple of years ago and were treated like some sort of VIP. There were queues of people getting off buses from the airport and somebody rushed up to us as we got out of the taxi and said, " You must be our independent travellers" we where whisked the front of the baggage drop off queue, escorted up the escalator to the checkin desks and we were on board and escorted to our cabin within about 15minutes. We couldn't beieve it . We're on the Spirit cruise Only again in October from Malaga and hoping for the same experience again.

 

This has been our experience the 2 times we have sailed from Malaga too - we were even whisked straight to the front of the 'Priority Check In' desk whereas other passengers were queuing at the other desks. Not so at Palma sadly!

Edited April 5, 2016 by campolady

[GLYNAGP]

This has been our experience the 2 times we have sailed from Malaga too - we were even whisked straight to the front of the 'Priority Check In' desk whereas other passengers were queuing at the other desks. Not so at Palma sadly!

It's lovely isn't it. I just love a bit of spoiling

[suron]

We are planning on trying to book a late check out cabin on the last day (I know these are limited availability) so hopefully we will be able to hold on to our cases rather than putting them out to the portside. Our flight back home doesn't leave until about 8 o clock so won't be leaving the ship until about 5.

 

 

Have just returned from cruise on Majesty (Colourful Coasts) and our return flight to Bristol was not until 8 pm. We paid for a cabin to use on the departure day (cost £35). Although it was only a standard outside cabin on Deck 4 and a bit cramped with 4 of us in it, it served the purpose of somewhere for us to store our hand luggage and have a shower prior to departure. We were on a fly cruise package but I cannot envisage there being a problem with you wanting a late check out cabin as you are independent travellers - more money in Thomson's pocket eh?

 

Having seen the courtesy cabin we are so pleased that we booked an Inside Plus - we had far more room and better facilities than in the standard outside and the outside plus opposite us was no bigger than our cabin the only extra was a window.

 

I am sure you will have a great time on your cruise.

 

I have just submitted my review which should be published soon.

 

Good Luck with your plans

 

Suzanne (Bristol,UK)