Luggage direct???

[grammie2maddie]

Newbie here - could someone explain luggage direct please?

[maxout]

Right from Hal's website...



Luggage Direct

Luggage Direct offers you the opportunity to receive your airline boarding passes, and check your luggage in to your flight while still onboard your Holland America Line ship. Our TSA certified partners will take your luggage directly from the ship and deliver it to your outbound aircraft. You will then claim your luggage when you arrive at your final airport destination.

This disembarkation option allows you to enjoy your final hours in the port at your leisure. Imagine your options: 1) enjoy the sights of the city or 2) stand in a never-ending line at the airport--the choice is yours with Luggage Direct.

Luggage Direct is available in selected departure ports and for selected ships, detailed below. Once onboard, a letter explaining the eligibility requirements will be sent to you.

Holland America Line is offering Luggage Direct in:


•Fort Lauderdale
•Los Angeles
•Seattle
•San Diego
•Vancouver (on select dates only)
•Tampa



On the following thirteen (13) vessels only:


•ms Amsterdam
•ms Eurodam
•ms Oosterdam
•ms Maasdam
•ms Noordam
•ms Ryndam
•ms Rotterdam
•ms Statendam
•ms Veendam
•ms Volendam
•ms Westerdam
•ms Zaandam
•ms Zuiderdam



Please note the following general information about Luggage Direct:


•Cost is $19 per person at all ports
•Airline assessed baggage fees will be applied to guests' onboard account - fees vary by airline and all pricing is communicated directly from the airline to our partner company, BAGS, Inc. These fees are collected onboard and are then distributed to the airlines.
•Guests are able to check no more than 2 pieces of luggage per person.
•Upgrade Requests, Seat Assignment Requests, and Flight Changes cannot be accommodated onboard.
•There are restrictions established for each homeport city.
•Restrictions include: participating airlines, earliest and latest flight times, and citizenship requirements.
•All flights must be Domestic (inclusive of U.S. Territories).
•In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada all flights must be bound for the U.S.



Those guests not participating in Luggage Direct should expect the following: Upon disembarking the ship, all luggage will be organized in the disembarkation hall by color/number order. Once you have been invited to exit the ship please come to find your color/number group and claim your bags. There will be a limited number of porters available, but individual carts will not be available. Please exit the building with all family members and luggage, as re-entry is not permitted.

[grammie2maddie]

I knew I should have gone to HAL website - but somehow I thought it was something directly to do with the ship or something else that someone had come upon on his own. Thank you!

[maxout]

Hal does an ok job of keeping their site updated but I would call if you have specific questions about using it at a particular port and ship.

[Cinder Again]

Does anyone know if Jetblue participates in Ft. Lauderdale? I would love to leave the ship without worrying about luggage!

[MACPC]

To anyone who has used this service, what has your experience been with luggage direct?

Did the luggage and you get home on the same plane?

[RuthC]

To anyone who has used this service, what has your experience been with luggage direct?
I used it on Southwest from Seattle to home. Best few dollars I spent for the cruise.
My luggage wasn't the first off the plane, but it was there.

I recommend Luggage Direct highly.

[want2retire]

We used the luggage direct in Seattle last July with Alaska Air. Our boarding passes and luggage tags appeared like magic in our stateroom. Next time we saw our suitcases was upon our arrival in Minneapolis. We walked off the ship and went to the airport where we were able to go right to the screening area and on to the boarding area. Very slick. We well always use this now when available!

[ICUQT]

Delta changed my flight plan from Ft. Lauderdale this morning to an earlier departure time (11:05). Which makes it tight for clearing the airport. I was thinking about using Luggage Direct to get me off ship faster. I will provide private transportation to the airport and request from HA earliest time to disembark the ship. I am thinking that the Nieuw Amsterdam being a new ship that it has not been added to the above list. I have sent HA an email to see if the service is available.

[shoppern]

We have used this service on our last 2 cruises, and will always use it when available. It is SO worth the money. and much easier than schlepping our own big suitcases.