Luggage valet NIGHTMARE

[DrD]

Ever since I tried self debarkation a few years ago I've used it every time. No packing the night before and wondering what you'll need in the morning, no finding your luggage in a big pile before customs, no more waiting for your number to be called. And of course no lost luggage. And bags are so easy to handle now with wheels etc.

[lbjen]

That's really disappointing to hear that you have been treated so poorly, regardless of how much you paid (and tbh it had to be a lot). After I read other people's genie experiences too, and then I see that yours was not even close. I would be reconsidering too. I've heard that NCL's perks for cabins in the price range you're willing to pay are outstanding.

 

You might consider contacting your credit card issuer about the damage to your luggage and missing items. You probably have coverage for that.

[M&JfromSDL]

Very sorry to read about your experience. My wife and I were planning to use Luggage Valet when we disembark Allure next month. Since our flight is not until 1pm we figured we could Luggage Valet our bags to the airport and jump in an Uber and grab brunch before our flight. Maybe we will just Uber to the airport, drop bags and then poke around for a bit.

[Ashland]

Very sorry to read about your experience. My wife and I were planning to use Luggage Valet when we disembark Allure next month. Since our flight is not until 1pm we figured we could Luggage Valet our bags to the airport and jump in an Uber and grab brunch before our flight. Maybe we will just Uber to the airport, drop bags and then poke around for a bit.

You might want to check out the earliest time you can drop off your bags at FLL....We've seen people sitting with their bags not being able to do this any earlier than a designated timeframe.

[mad-dog74]

Same scenario pretty much happened to us a few years ago on Freedom. We never got our luggage. After 1 1/2 weeks of nothing able to locate it at port or airport, we filed a claim with our trip insurance.

[Coralc]

You might want to check out the earliest time you can drop off your bags at FLL....We've seen people sitting with their bags not being able to do this any earlier than a designated timeframe.

The sign at FLL (last Friday) said no earlier than 4 hours before departure.

[Poplin]

Very sorry to read about your experience. My wife and I were planning to use Luggage Valet when we disembark Allure next month. Since our flight is not until 1pm we figured we could Luggage Valet our bags to the airport and jump in an Uber and grab brunch before our flight. Maybe we will just Uber to the airport, drop bags and then poke around for a bit.

We have used the luggage valet many, many times - just my husband and me and with large groups - knock on wood, we have never had a problem. We just got off the Harmony with 20 in our party - all luggage arrived at our final destination. We will use it on our May cruuse on the Allure.

 

What disappoints me about the problem the passenger had is the lack of response from Royal Caribbean.

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app

[M&JfromSDL]

The sign at FLL (last Friday) said no earlier than 4 hours before departure.

 

Which is why I thought the Valet program was a good idea. 4 hours before would put me at roughly 9am. FLL at 9am on a Sunday is a zoo.

 

We have used the luggage valet many, many times - just my husband and me and with large groups - knock on wood, we have never had a problem. We just got off the Harmony with 20 in our party - all luggage arrived at our final destination. We will use it on our May cruuse on the Allure.

 

What disappoints me about the problem the passenger had is the lack of response from Royal Caribbean.

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app

 

 

Glad to hear a few good experiences. The lack of response is disappointing. I wonder if RCCL uses a vendor to provide the service. Might be worth looking into and contacting the company they outsource to.

[pkexton]

I would think that with this service being included with the Star Class (which I've read that you don't have to put your luggage out the night before like the rest of the others) that there would be something in place for someone to come to your cabin & collect all the luggage and put it where the other valet items would go - therefore possibly eliminating the chance for a tag to be missing while sitting in the hallway.

[RFerrington]

I've read that you don't have to put your luggage out the night before like the rest of the others/quote]

 

Even with Star Class you must place your luggage outside for collection.

[reallyitsmema]

The sign at FLL (last Friday) said no earlier than 4 hours before departure.

 

What airline were you flying? After reading the 4 hour rule here many times, I asked how early we could drop off our bags as we were checking in at FLL with Jetblue, the rep said 8 hours prior to our flight. Seems it is different depending on the airline.

[pkexton]

I've read that you don't have to put your luggage out the night before like the rest of the others/quote]Even with Star Class you must place your luggage outside for collection.

 

 

This is from a review from someone in Star Class:

 

Star Class you now put your luggage out approx. an hour before you want the Genie to escort you off the ship, and he takes you straight to your luggage and then to customs with the porter.

[brookie848]

What airline were you flying? After reading the 4 hour rule here many times, I asked how early we could drop off our bags as we were checking in at FLL with Jetblue, the rep said 8 hours prior to our flight. Seems it is different depending on the airline.

 

 

Southwest is usually four hours.

 

To the original poster, so sorry you had to go through the frustration of all of this -- especially the lack of response.

 

 

And you might want to check out the Haven on NCL. Not quite the same as the Star Class, but you don't have to be in their highest suites to get full suite service. I keep reading this board because I'm tempted to try one of RCI's larger ships, but I haven't convinced myself to pull the trigger yet -- one of the main reasons is that I'd have to get a Star Class cabin to even have it come close to comparing to NCL's Haven.

[A&L_Ont]

This is from a review from someone in Star Class:

 

Star Class you now put your luggage out approx. an hour before you want the Genie to escort you off the ship, and he takes you straight to your luggage and then to customs with the porter.

 

 

When we were Star Class on Allure in August we had to put our luggage out the night before for LV.

 

The example you mention reads as though the guest is taking the luggage with them to customs, once they pick it up in the luggage area. The only difference is they get to keep it overnight and a porter gets it the next morning at takes it to the suite luggage drop off area in the terminal. Once you are done with customs you are on your own.

 

Luggage Valet is picked up by a large panel truck and then delivers it in bulk to the airport, to the correct airline. It will be picked up early as they have to go to the other RC ships in port that offer it. There is no drop off for luggage valet out front of the terminal, not to mention that it would not make the airport in time. Perhaps the reviewer you mentioned thought that their service was luggage valet, when in fact it wasn't.

 

We are sailing again in just under two weeks and if the procedure is different than in the past I will report back.

[NateUpNorth]

Mistakes happen. It's a part of life.

It's how you handle the mistakes that really counts, and in this case, RCL is failing on all fronts.

[pkexton]

Perhaps the reviewer you mentioned thought that their service was luggage valet, when in fact it wasn't.

 

We are sailing again in just under two weeks and if the procedure is different than in the past I will report back.

 

 

It probably wasn't for luggage valet but you would think they would have better control of the luggage for people in Star Class.

 

We are doing a B2B on the Anthem in a Grand Loft Suite but driving to the port so hopefully we won't have an issue :cool:

 

Pat

[Coralc]

What airline were you flying? After reading the 4 hour rule here many times, I asked how early we could drop off our bags as we were checking in at FLL with Jetblue, the rep said 8 hours prior to our flight. Seems it is different depending on the airline.

 

 

Southwest.

[A&L_Ont]

It probably wasn't for luggage valet but you would think they would have better control of the luggage for people in Star Class.

 

We are doing a B2B on the Anthem in a Grand Loft Suite but driving to the port so hopefully we won't have an issue :cool:

 

Pat

 

 

You should be golden. Have a blast and enjoy it.:)

Andrew

[reallyitsmema]

Southwest.

 

 

Thanks, will make sure we remember that if we ever try Southwest.:)

[travelpeon]

Luggage valet could use improved tracking since it is a third party? Or perhaps as a temporary solve, put a GPS enabled luggage tracker like TrackDot in your bags http://nerdtechy.com/best-luggage-tracking-locator-2016 so you can file an immediate loss report or locate it in port if needed.

 

And you might want to check out the Haven on NCL. Not quite the same as the Star Class, but you don't have to be in their highest suites to get full suite service. I keep reading this board because I'm tempted to try one of RCI's larger ships, but I haven't convinced myself to pull the trigger yet -- one of the main reasons is that I'd have to get a Star Class cabin to even have it come close to comparing to NCL's Haven.

 

Mistakes happen. It's a part of life.

It's how you handle the mistakes that really counts, and in this case, RCL is failing on all fronts.

 

 

From my small experience and observations, NCL is not good at post-care issues and change management. Unused NCL refundable OBC was actually refunded via check about a week after the sailing... RCCL/X has always been a prompt refund to credit card on file very soon after disembarkation. I prefer the credit card refund, even if it costs me some travel points.

 

I was on an NCL sailing after dry dock was extended by a day. A roll call member in Haven had the same communication run-around issues confirming the new sail date as non-Haven. I filed for promised hotel reimbursement but it took over two months for a check to be mailed (which I never received). Some B2B guests on that sailing hadn't gotten their promised OBC by the time the first sailing was complete nor any explanation of it would be applied to the second.

 

A friend's family was on NCL Star departing from Sydney to Auckland, where known Azipod issue happened and two Azipods went out. Definitely interested on how they will be executing the refunds and credits.

 

The truth is good customer service, especially in dedicated post care and change/crisis management, costs the company money. This is money that many lines would rather spend on your booking and on-board experience to maximize its effectiveness. I believe someone from the NCL Star schedule change thread pointed out Carnival does a reasonable job communicating changes but this is likely due to the PR nightmare that cost them significant bookings.

[easyboy]

Or perhaps as a temporary solve, put a GPS enabled luggage tracker like TrackDot in your bags http://nerdtechy.com/best-luggage-tracking-locator-2016 so you can file an immediate loss report or locate it in port if needed.

 

 

Seems a useful item. What was your experience on battery life?

[travelpeon]

@easyboy - Here's some experiences on flyertalk with luggage trackers: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1425118-consolidated-luggage-tracking-solutions-trakdot-help-you-track-your.html

 

I don't personally have a trakdot as I choose to avoid checking bags by traveling light with a carry-on on the way there. On the way back, if I need a second bag, I will usually have packed a carry-on size fold out bag or will purchase a bag. Valuables will go onboard with me while things like dirty clothes will be in the checked carry-on.

 

Yes, there are some local things which can only be purchased while traveling but I try to choose to savor them while there as part of the experience. There's always shipping, too. I don't personally think the discount on globally available liquor, perfume, or cosmetics is worth the bother.

[suite dreams]

ZSTARBRITE, sorry about your luggage valet mishap. It is true that when traveling these things sometimes happen. What should not happen is the poor communication and, what sounds like, utter lack of helpfulness from Royal Caribbean. We were on the same Jan 29 cruise in a deck 9 AquaTheater Suite. Allan was great. We did not send laundry out (I have had not great experiences in the past) and did not have your needs for proper refrigeration, so can't really speak to those difficulties. Wonder who ended up with your breast milk? Anyway, our Star Class experience was great. We had many of our meals on our balcony. It was great to be able to order from the specialty restaurants, including mixed drinks.

 

Curious about your embarkation issues. Allan had emailed and asked that we call his cell about 30 minutes out and he sent us an email saying once inside the terminal to look for Brian or (can't remember other name) also to call in if there was a problem. We called, arrived at terminal, showed our little Star Class sign (this was also in an email), we were immediately whisked up by a port genie, she had a porter with her who collected the bags, and went immediately through security, over to the picture taker check in person and handed off to Allan and up to the room. Total time was however fast one could walk from the terminal door, trough the terminal, up the ramp and to the room. Did you receive this embarkation info?

[easyboy]

@easyboy - Here's some experiences on flyertalk with luggage trackers: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1425118-consolidated-luggage-tracking-solutions-trakdot-help-you-track-your.html

 

 

Thank you!