marluvs2go Posted November 9, 2019 #1 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Hi we have always used this putting the luggage out the nite before. I do not remember having to find it downstairs the next day and take it thru Customs???? This would be arriving Fort Lauderdale from Panama Canal and various Countries. Please let me know your recent experiences and thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted November 9, 2019 #2 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Unless you are doing self-embarkation, you have to put your luggage out the night before and claim in on the pier. HOWEVER, some ports do have a luggage service which does this for you, but you have to sign up for it and pay a fee (it Seattle it was FREE). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marluvs2go Posted November 9, 2019 Author #3 Share Posted November 9, 2019 If I remember correctly HAL charges a fee but we never saw the bags again until we arrived in San Diego. I sorry I should have stated for disembark and same day flight. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigi1977 Posted November 9, 2019 #4 Share Posted November 9, 2019 In Ft Lauderdale they offer luggage direct. You put your suitcases out the night before and you don’t see them again until you get to your home airport. You have to to sign up early in the cruise for the service. We have used it a lot. Last time in December it was $25. pp. plus any luggage fees due to the airlines but if you have elite status or the right CC you don’t have those fees. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marluvs2go Posted November 9, 2019 Author #5 Share Posted November 9, 2019 Thank you! that was what we used in 2016 and sounds right. The thing I am very curious about is the overweight fees from United. I am wondering if they even weigh them? anything one pound over 50 lbs is 200 to 400 fee? yikes...never had a charge but really would hate that...cannot see solution other than to buy a bag weigh thingie....Maybe we paid $25 per pp but wow I am starting to think it maybe easier to lug it off myself thru customs and into the Uber or Lyft? they do not make you put them out the nite before? do they as mentioned above? oh wait lugging two carry ons and two large suitcases will be too much. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigi1977 Posted November 10, 2019 #6 Share Posted November 10, 2019 With luggage direct - another ‘benefit’ is they ignore weight!! So you don’t have to worry about 51/52 lbs bags and shift and reshuffle trying to hit that magic 50. Just pack and tag put them out!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awhcruiser Posted November 10, 2019 #7 Share Posted November 10, 2019 56 minutes ago, Gigi1977 said: With luggage direct - another ‘benefit’ is they ignore weight!! So you don’t have to worry about 51/52 lbs bags and shift and reshuffle trying to hit that magic 50. Just pack and tag put them out!! Do you have personal experience with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigi1977 Posted November 10, 2019 #8 Share Posted November 10, 2019 With luggage direct - another ‘benefit’ is they ignore weight!! So you don’t have to worry about 51/52 lbs bags and shift and reshuffle trying to hit that magic 50. Just pack and tag put them out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigi1977 Posted November 10, 2019 #9 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Yes I do have personal experience. We always use luggage direct in Ft Lauderdale. Generally we cruise from there in November or December and again in early spring March or April. I used it last in December of 2018. As we did cruise of Viking in July rather than another Caribbean in the spring I have not used since then. I will use it again this December and again in February of 2020. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzn single Posted November 10, 2019 #10 Share Posted November 10, 2019 I just used Luggage Direct at end of October in Fort Lauderdale. Best $25 I ever spent. I know my bag was over 50#. I put it out night before and didn't see it again till I landed at my small airport in Colorado. If it is offered again on a future cruise, I will definitely use it again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted November 10, 2019 #11 Share Posted November 10, 2019 15 hours ago, cruzn single said: I just used Luggage Direct at end of October in Fort Lauderdale. Best $25 I ever spent. I know my bag was over 50#. I put it out night before and didn't see it again till I landed at my small airport in Colorado. If it is offered again on a future cruise, I will definitely use it again. Interesting, currently on the Koningsdam and we were told this morning that “the service isn’t doing it anymore”, and many others have asked about it. Since you just used it last month....🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzn single Posted November 10, 2019 #12 Share Posted November 10, 2019 I used on October 30 in Port Everglades, so don’t know what has happened. Maybe it is a day with numerous ships on port, especially a couple of RCCL mega-ships. Don’t know if that would make a difference. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeanieCM Posted November 10, 2019 #13 Share Posted November 10, 2019 For those who may not be aware, there is a luggage scale on all the ships, usually near Guest Services. Especially useful if you are just a few pounds over, as you can relocate the extra amount to a carry-on rather than pay those huge fees for overweight luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM1984 Posted November 11, 2019 #14 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Explanation of Luggage Direct and Luggage Forward: https://www.maketraveleasier.com/holland/services Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSinPNS Posted November 11, 2019 #15 Share Posted November 11, 2019 This summer on NS, there were scales in the mid-ship elevator bank on each deck with cabins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigi1977 Posted November 11, 2019 #16 Share Posted November 11, 2019 15 hours ago, Cruising-along said: Interesting, currently on the Koningsdam and we were told this morning that “the service isn’t doing it anymore”, and many others have asked about it. Since you just used it last month....🤔 Wow! I hope it is not completely discontinued! It made it so easy - putting it out the night before and not having to think about it again until we landed at our home airport. 🙁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted November 11, 2019 #17 Share Posted November 11, 2019 18 hours ago, Gigi1977 said: Wow! I hope it is not completely discontinued! It made it so easy - putting it out the night before and not having to think about it again until we landed at our home airport. 🙁 Mystery solved. Today we learned that it is not available for “our cruise” because we’re coming from Europe. In any case it hasn’t been discontinued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigi1977 Posted November 11, 2019 #18 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Thanks for replying. Makes sense. . . And I relieved that the service is still available! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted November 11, 2019 #19 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Question: Can you use the VIP Luggage Direct (To your stateroom) if you're flying in the day before the cruise? We can live out of a carry-on until boarding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted November 12, 2019 #20 Share Posted November 12, 2019 On 11/9/2019 at 8:43 PM, awhcruiser said: Do you have personal experience with this? Yes, several times we have had luggage that weighed more than 50# and have never been charged the over-weight fee. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted November 13, 2019 #21 Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) On 11/11/2019 at 4:42 PM, RocketMan275 said: Question: Can you use the VIP Luggage Direct (To your stateroom) if you're flying in the day before the cruise? We can live out of a carry-on until boarding. As best I can recall our experience from 5+ years ago (when we were going into Seattle 3+ days prior to our cruise), you cannot use VIP LD in the manner you indicated because the VIP operator cannot deliver the bags to the ship before it arrives and neither VIP nor the pier is set up to provide "luggage storage" services. However, I can tell you that the VIP reps with whom I have dealt over the past several years have always been extremely helpful and may be able to suggest an alternative for storing/holding your bags until the ship arrives in port. As such. I suggest you call VIP direct and see what can be done to accommodate your needs. Good luck and let us know how this turns out for you. P.S. I'm sure you already thought of it but another "solution" would be to have your bags delivered to your hotel upon arrival , and then cart them to the pier when you go for boarding the next day. Edited November 13, 2019 by avian777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted November 13, 2019 #22 Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) 16 minutes ago, avian777 said: As best I can recall our experience from 5+ years ago (when we were going into Seattle 3+ days prior to our cruise), you cannot use VIP LD in the manner you indicated because the VIP operator cannot deliver the bags to the ship before it arrives and neither VIP nor the pier is set up to provide "luggage storage" services. However, I can tell you that the VIP reps with whom I have dealt over the past several years have always been extremely helpful and may be able to suggest an alternative for storing/holding your bags until the ship arrives in port. As such. I suggest you call VIP direct and see what can be done to accommodate your needs. Good luck and let us know how this turns out for you. P.S. I'm sure you already thought of it but another "solution" would be to have your bags delivered to your hotel upon arrival , and then cart them to the pier when you go for boarding the next day. Actually, I've found out that you can arrive the day before and VIP will store your bags until the next day. Here's the link: https://www.maketraveleasier.com/holland/order Bags VIP Luggage Delivery To Your Stateroom Bypass the baggage claim and begin making the most of your vacation right away. Have your luggage delivered directly to your stateroom! No need to reclaim your bags when you land. You will see them next onboard your cruise in your stateroom.Arriving a day before your cruise? If your arriving a day before your cruise we can store your luggage overnight then deliver your bags the next day!You can also have them delivered to your hotel by using the last option below, "Bags VIP Luggage Luggage Delivery to Home or Hotel". >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My apologies for not returning to add this information to this thread. We will definitely take advantage of this service on our next cruise. I think we'll have our big bags delivered to the ship and to our home on our return. (On our last cruise we had to drag our bags from the remotest reaches of airport parking and back again. Not happy.) We have a couple of 'sling bags' we use as personal items which should be more than adequate for our needs prior to boarding. We will gladly pay this price to minimize luggage handling. Edited November 13, 2019 by RocketMan275 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted November 13, 2019 #23 Share Posted November 13, 2019 1 minute ago, RocketMan275 said: Actually, I've found out that you can arrive the day before and VIP will store your bags until the next day. Here's the link: https://www.maketraveleasier.com/holland/order Bags VIP Luggage Delivery To Your Stateroom Bypass the baggage claim and begin making the most of your vacation right away. Have your luggage delivered directly to your stateroom! No need to reclaim your bags when you land. You will see them next onboard your cruise in your stateroom.Arriving a day before your cruise? If your arriving a day before your cruise we can store your luggage overnight then deliver your bags the next day!You can also have them delivered to your hotel by using the last option below, "Bags VIP Luggage Luggage Delivery to Home or Hotel". >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My apologies for not returning to add this information to this thread. We will definitely take advantage of this service on our next cruise. I think we'll have our big bags delivered to the ship and to our home on our return. (On our last cruise we had to drag our bags from the remotest reaches of airport parking and back again. Not happy.) We have a couple of 'sling bags' we use as personal items which should be more than adequate for our needs prior to boarding. Thanks for the follow-up info. Now I'm wondering if VIP will only provide "overnight" storage or if VIP changed the service (to do multiple days' storage) after our Seattle experience. Thanks again, and hope you have a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted November 13, 2019 #24 Share Posted November 13, 2019 3 minutes ago, avian777 said: Thanks for the follow-up info. Now I'm wondering if VIP will only provide "overnight" storage or if VIP changed the service (to do multiple days' storage) after our Seattle experience. Thanks again, and hope you have a great cruise! I suspect they will provide most any service you're willing to pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted November 13, 2019 #25 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Just now, RocketMan275 said: I suspect they will provide most any service you're willing to pay for. Spot on!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now