Auckland - Los Angeles. Post cruise help please.

[piri]

We were not able to get an award flight home to Australia after this cruise until 11:55 pm, Christmas eve. (Christmas day in the sky !!!).

With 3 nights to spare thought we would fly to Las Vegas for a bit of glitz, but would like to leave the larger part of our luggage in LA. Although we are flying Business class on both our other flights , for this short 1 hour one would prefer to go couch. I know there is no storage facilities at the airport so would appreciate any suggestions. I also could not see any on the Port of LA's website.

Secondly. The Mariner docks at 9:30am. How far is the port from the airport and approx. how long will it take by cab ? Would any flight leaving from 1pm be safe?

After a relaxing cruise 2 Aussies from the bush don't relish hiring a car and driving in the LA traffic and then the 4 to 5 hour drive to Vegas.

Will appreciate any suggestions. Thanks very much.

[nav1027]

I would recommend taking the luggage to Las Vegas. Also I would fly from the Long Beach airport. LAX is not far either (probably 30 minutes away) but you can be stuck in the freeway traffic, making it an hour drive. Taxi to the Long Beach airport should be around $20 I guess.

[marylizbeth]

You might want to look into those luggage shipping companies. I have never used them but I have heard that they can be a great thing. Pricey but worth it if you have a lot of luggage to drag around. Others may have other recommendations but there is one service called

luggagefree.com.

 

You can get a cab at the terminal and it is a short ride to LAX--shouldn't be more than an hour with a lot of traffic. Less than half an hour if there is no traffic. And traffic should be light on Christmas.

 

Good luck...and have fun.

Of course you could change your mind and do the glitz and glamour of LA and Beverly Hills for a few days. Although quite different from Vegas you could still have some fun.

[DaveFr]

There is a company near the LA airport (LAX) that will pick up your luggage at LAX, store it and return it to you at LAX when you are ready to fly to Australia. The company is called LAX Luggage Storage. (http://www.laxluggagestorage.com/)

It might be just what you need.

[JDRMYS]

You can arrange for the majority of your luggage to be shipped directly from the ship in LA to you home in Austrailia. Regent uses International Port Services (aka IPS). There is always an IPS representative on board. IPS will ship the majority of your luggage directly to your house while you travel to Las Vegas and home to Austrailia with only the few things that you need for that portion of the trip.

 

We have used IPS several times and find their services to be invaluable.

 

BTW, we have taken the reverse of your cruise: LA to Auckland on the Mariner in 2003. It was a magnificent cruise.

[piri]

Many thanks to you kind people for your suggestions. I have emailed the storage company but think we will end up just taking all our luggage with us and paying for any excess.

The reason we do not want to stay in LA is that we have visited there a couple of times already and know the coast road to San Francisco also very well. Las Vegas is a new experience for us however , and we hope to also take a flight over the Grand Canon which will also be a first.

Happy cruising to you all and thanks again.

[DaveFr]

piri,

 

If you decide to take all your luggage with you to Las Vegas, I believe that Southwest Airlines has the most generous free checked baggage allowance. Each passenger may check three bags. The total dimensions of each bag may be up to 62 inches and each bag may weigh up to 50 pounds.

[Jim B]

piri:

I am a little confussed.

Are you going to be on the Auckland to LAX Mariner cruise 12/03/07?

We have a number of people on it.

[piri]

Jim,

Yes we are on the Mariner 12/03/07.

I don't doubt your confusion ! My post was a bit long winded and written late at night.

DH and I are looking forward to this cruise very much. Will have just 2 nights in Auckland prior and the the 3 nights post in Las Vegas.

Hope we get to meet up with some of the CC members while onboard. Cheers.

[piri]

Dave,

Thanks so much for the info on South West.

Have checked their site . No bookings taken past Nov. 2nd as yet but that allowance is very generous. I now don't think we will have any worries at all . Instead of paying excess we can now donate our pennies to the Vegas casinoes !

[Jim B]

Piri:

Are you flying out of LAX on 11/29/07?

If so which airline?

We are on ANZ 8:00 pm flight.

Staying at Sky City Hotel downtown Auckland.