Diamond Princess/LA pre-cruise pkg & return to LAX airport

[4275princess]

7 of us, decided to do Princess Marriott pre-cruise. We arrive in LA @ 10:00a day before the cruise. Will a Princess consultant greet us? How do we get to the hotel? How does Princess handle get all guest to pier next day? What is done with our luggage & how do we proceed to board the ship as a group? We are Platinum & don't want to deal with a major line...

 

Upon return, we considered Princess vouchers to LAX. Has anyone arranged a private shuttle? If so, how do you know what time to give for pick up? How soon do you get off ship (we have a 1p flight out LA) thanks

[Pam in CA]

You've made a great choice by booking the LAX Marriott pre-cruise. I can't answer your question about being greeted at baggage claim since we rented a car and went directly to the hotel late at night. I'm going to assume that you will be greeted by a Princess rep and transferred. The package is a good deal since it includes transfers to the ship.

 

FYI, if you plan to rent a car, you can rent a Hertz car at the airport and drop it off right at the Marriott.

 

When you check into the Marriott, you'll be given a Princess package with all of the information. When you go down to breakfast in the morning, you leave your luggage IN your room with your Princess tags on. It'll be picked up from your room and delivered to a holding area behind the hotel. There are usually several busses going to the pier and you'll be assigned to one of them. After breakfast, you check out and wait for your bus. When your bus is called, you'll be led to the back of the hotel. There, you'll identify your luggage which will then be put on your bus. (You don't have to move or handle it.) The bus will go to the pier and you'll stay onboard the bus until all of the luggage is removed and taken directly to the ship (no porter tipping.) You'll then be allowed off the bus, go into the terminal and check in. Your luggage will be delivered directly to your cabin. The busses leave every half hour, starting at (as I remember) 11AM. It takes at least an hour to load the bus, get to the pier, unload the bus, and go into the terminal to check in. We were on the last bus which left at 12:30PM and were able to check in and just walk onto the ship.

 

When you're at the terminal, there will be special Platinum/Elite/Suite lines. Just go to the one corresponding to the first initial of your last name and check in. Since you'll be arriving at the terminal after boarding has started, the line will probably be relatively short and you'll be able to walk on. If you arrive as they are starting to board, you'll be able to get priority boarding with the other Platinum/Elite/Suite passengers, ahead of the other passengers.

[Pia1913]

We use the LAX Marriott quite often and I assume a Princess rep comes with a Princess package. If not, the Marriott free shuttle is always available. It's a 5 minute ride. Also, Champions is a good sports bar to grab a burger or nachos; located off the hotel lobby.

 

Pia

[just having fun]

;) thanks for the info...we r going in april 2008 to hawaii on the diamond and are staying at the lax for 3 days before and 1 day after...your info will be a great help...:D

 

butch/muriel