Luggage Tags

[7x5090g]

I am flying into NYC to catch the Noordam. I book my flight through HAL. Just wondering if I should be attaching those HAL luggage tags before I check in at the airport or should I attach them only after reaching the pier:confused:

 

Any suggestions?

[DougandEric]

From HAL website: "You will find your luggage tags in the top pocket of your documentation wallet. Please refer to the Arrival Advice section of your Travel Documents book for instructions on when to attach them to your luggage. "

 

 

Here's what I think. If you are flying in on the day of departure and taking HAL transportation from airport to ship, I'd put that tags on before leaving home. If you are flying in prior to the day of departure, I would put them on the morning you are leaving for the pier.

 

I believe the in old days, cruise lines would collect your luggage for you at the airport and take it to ship. However, times have changed and I believe you have to collect your luggage at the airport then turn it over to the HAL reps for transportation (bus, luggage van, etc.) When we were on NCL in Hawaii in 2004, we were met at the gate by NCL reps then escorted down to the luggage area. We collected our luggage and dragged it out to the bus departure point. The driver loaded the luggage then we got on.

 

I could be wrong since this was my only experience - we always arrive a day early (or more) and make our own way to the port.

 

Doug

[Copper10-8]

Two ways of thinking on this one:

If you put them on prior to reaching your cruise city of arrival, there's always a risk of them getting torn off in transit (I worked as a ramper for America West Airlines at LAX - I've seen bag handling first hand). When we're flying we never travel on the day of the ship's departure so we don't attach the tags until the morning of the cruise in the hotel. We're going to keep doing this.

Having said that, many folks put them on before leaving home. I guess if you do lose them you can always get extras at the port (plus HAL usually gives you about six in your cruise doc folder). Some people like the extra tags with name and address on their luggage.

If you've ordered transportation from the airport to the port (or hotel) via HAL, you should most definitely put them on after you claim your bags from the carousel in your arrival airport.

The one I can't grasp are the folks that put HAL luggage and/or Mariner tags on their carry-on luggage but I'm sure there's a good reason for that one too!;)

[Orlandocruiser]

Some people worry that if they put their tags on before their flight a baggage handler will see that they are on a cruise and rob their house. I personally am not that paranoid. We always drive to the port , but I will say I use my cruise tags and those colored/stripey ones they give you to identify your exit group at the end of the cruise on my suitcases to ID them for airplane flights. (It is great to spot your cruise tags in the sea of black bags coming off the baggage carousels) I have never lost a tag yet.

[duckman715]

Used to put them on prior to plane flight but had too many of them torn off in baggage handling process. Now we only put them on after retrieving bags from the baggage carousel.

[michmike]

We always fly in the day prior, so I don't put the tags on until we get ready to leave the hotel the morning of embarkation.

 

I do make it a point to REMOVE the HAL tags from the bags before we head home. Not a problem leaving your color coded ones for disembarkation on the bags, but I take the ones with the ship's name OFF the bags, just to make sure they don't get misdirected back to the ship somehow. Maybe that's overly cautious, but you really have no need of them on the way home.

 

One thing everyone SHOULD do is to have regular luggage tags on all pieces of luggage, including carryons as well as having a sheet of paper INSIDE the bags that lists your itinerary and contact info. We always have hotel info and our ship cabin number on that paper as well as home address, so that if your luggage does get misdirected and somehow your regular luggage tag comes off, they still have a way of finding you and getting your luggage to you (another very good reason for flying in the day before). We also put our cell phone number on both the regular luggage tags and on the slip of paper we put inside the suitcases.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Although we always fly to embarkation ports a few days early, I highly recommend that you wait until you claim your luggage at the airport before putting on the tags. Then recheck your luggage once you get to the pier just to make certain that they weren't accidently ripped off while in the baggage hold of the bus.

[Randyk47]

We're in the "wait 'til you get to the port" group. However, we always go the day before after almost missing a sailing in 1998 on our one and only fly in the same day attempt. I suppose there could be some discussion about whether or not it would be smart to put the tags on the bags even going the day before in the event a bag or bags got delayed. Of course, that implies that the airline would hunt down the cruise line and figure out how to get the bags to the ship. I guess that could happen (has happened?) but that's a leap of faith I'm not ready to make.

[S1drfl]

Of course, that implies that the airline would hunt down the cruise line and figure out how to get the bags to the ship. I guess that could happen (has happened?) but that's a leap of faith I'm not ready to make.

 

It can happen. A few years ago I was sailing to Alaska on the Zaandam out of Vancouver. Flew in a day early and, what do you know, one of my bags (without cruise ship tag) had been misdirected. I talked to the nice people at American and they repeatedly assured me that they knew where my bag was and it would be delivered to the ship on time. I took their word for it, did not shop to replace anything in Vancouver, and for once a good deed did go unpunished - my bag showed up in the cabin after we were underway! Phew!

[grannynurse]

I agree with mitchmike and Randy. And i definitely agree with putting contact info inside the luggage.

GN

[RuthC]

The one I can't grasp are the folks that put HAL luggage and/or Mariner tags on their carry-on luggage but I'm sure there's a good reason for that one too!;)

I'll give you my "good reason":

Once in a while I fly the day of sailing, and use HAL transportation to the pier, or fly in advance and use HAL pre-cruise hotel. In either case I'm being met at the airport by a HAL rep. If I have a tag on my carry-on they spot me first as often as I spot them first.

It just makes things smoother sometimes.

[bepsf]

I'll give you my "good reason":

Once in a while I fly the day of sailing, and use HAL transportation to the pier, or fly in advance and use HAL pre-cruise hotel. In either case I'm being met at the airport by a HAL rep. If I have a tag on my carry-on they spot me first as often as I spot them first.

It just makes things smoother sometimes.

 

I agree - also makes spotting possible new cruise-mates easier...

;)

 

Have also learned to use a luggage tag on totes, etc that are used when going ashore or on shore-ex - Helps to identify your HAL bag from all the others

:)

[7x5090g]

Some people worry that if they put their tags on before their flight a baggage handler will see that they are on a cruise and rob their house. I personally am not that paranoid. We always drive to the port , but I will say I use my cruise tags and those colored/stripey ones they give you to identify your exit group at the end of the cruise on my suitcases to ID them for airplane flights. (It is great to spot your cruise tags in the sea of black bags coming off the baggage carousels) I have never lost a tag yet.

 

That's the least of my worries. I never put my home address on any luggage tags for that very reason. I use my work address.

[Randyk47]

I have Cruise Critic bag tags and they're on all our bags, checked and carry on, year around. You'd be surprised the conversations you get involved in. :D

[7x5090g]

Thanks for all the info. The one question I have is that if a piece of luggage got loss in transit (e.g. got on the wrong plane, etc.), without a HAL tag already on the bag, is the cruiseline committed totrack that down for you (since we booked the air and transfer with HAL - I did not purchase insurance from them though) or am I SOL.

 

How am I, if at all going, to get my piece of luggage delviered to the next port of call?

[jtl513]

I have Cruise Critic bag tags and they're on all our bags, checked and carry on, year around. You'd be surprised the conversations you get involved in. :D

 

I wish that HAL would furnish much more substantial tags than the flimsy cardboard and wimpy piece of elastic used, so that I COULD put them on before leaving home and not worry about the airline baggage handlers/equiment ripping them off. Currently I put them on after claiming my luggage at the carousel. Side note to Copper10-8: I put one on my carry-on so that HAL greeters can spot me arriving in baggage claim. But now that "carry on" means a plastic sandwich bag with your medications and little else ... :D

[Hoyaheel]

That's the least of my worries. I never put my home address on any luggage tags for that very reason. I use my work address.

Yep--we usually use a business card and put our cell phone on the back (for travels in the US, at least)

 

When I was in college, travelling home for the holidays, the airline "misplaced" my bag and the tags ripped off. They identified me by a library book in the bag...Since I can't guarantee that anyone will EVER be that thorough again, I make sure I have contact information loose in the bag, taped inside the bag, and outside the bag as well.....

[mrskmirolla]

Two ways of thinking on this one:

If you put them on prior to reaching your cruise city of arrival, there's always a risk of them getting torn off in transit (I worked as a ramper for America West Airlines at LAX - I've seen bag handling first hand). When we're flying we never travel on the day of the ship's departure so we don't attach the tags until the morning of the cruise in the hotel. We're going to keep doing this.

Having said that, many folks put them on before leaving home. I guess if you do lose them you can always get extras at the port (plus HAL usually gives you about six in your cruise doc folder). Some people like the extra tags with name and address on their luggage.

If you've ordered transportation from the airport to the port (or hotel) via HAL, you should most definitely put them on after you claim your bags from the carousel in your arrival airport.

The one I can't grasp are the folks that put HAL luggage and/or Mariner tags on their carry-on luggage but I'm sure there's a good reason for that one too!;)

 

John,

 

I put them on my carry-on for the reason that I once left one of my bags on the belt just before I got on the ship, I know what a dummy I am but I was so excited to be going on the cruise and talking to my husband I didn't grab both bags! But HAL found me and gave me my bag boy did I feel stupid but I did get my bag.

 

Kathy

[jcrandle]

That's the least of my worries. I never put my home address on any luggage tags for that very reason. I use my work address.

Ah, one of the few disadvantages of being retired, I no longer have a work address.:D

[RuthC]

Ah, one of the few disadvantages of being retired, I no longer have a work address.:D

Yeah, how we retirees suffer. ;) Ain't it great! :D

[7x5090g]

Ah, one of the few disadvantages of being retired, I no longer have a work address.:D

 

Ok Now Jim are you bragging or complaining?:D

[Hoyaheel]

Ah, one of the few disadvantages of being retired, I no longer have a work address.:D

Hasn't stopped my in-laws--they just use our work address (assuming we'll be home when they're travelling):p

[kletskop]

John

"Looking at cleavage is like looking at the sun. You don't stare at it. You get a sense and then look away"

Great line!!

Jerry

[Copper10-8]

John

"Looking at cleavage is like looking at the sun. You don't stare at it. You get a sense and then look away"

 

 

Great line!!

 

Jerry

 

Thanks Jerry, that line is from another Jerry (Seinfeld) - Kletskop is a great name too! (in Dutch someone who talks a lot) Niet te veel kletsen!/Don't talk too much!;)

[RSGS315]

Ah, one of the few disadvantages of being retired, I no longer have a work address.:D

 

You can always put the name of your travel agency, address and phone numer on your tags. They'll know where to reach you.

Ginnie