shipping luggage home upon disembarkation

[poss]

We've not done this in the past, but are thinking of trying to do some land touring (without car) post-cruise. Could not possibly manage trains and such with luggage; might be able to if we sent most of the baggage home ahead of us.
I've heard of the company called Luggage Free and would much appreciate getting feedback -- pro and con-- about them. Also would be interested in knowing whether there are other comparable companies.
Thanks a bunch.
(The whole notion makes me somewhat uncomfortable, but I suppose that's just because the idea is new to me. Also, I'm wondering if this kind of thing works better from some countries/ports than from others?)

[xrvlcruiser]

I have only "pro" comments for Luggage Free.

I have not sent bags home from foreign ports - only Ft Lauderdale - but have no doubts that everything will go smoothly. I have sent luggage with them to Canada as well as to FL and thre were no issues.

They are easy to work with . . . .

[TedC]

We shipped a large suitcase RT FLL and were very satisfied with the service - saved a lot of hassle.

There was a $50 fee for pickup and delivery - total $100 - and then a per pound fee each way.


TIP: Use lightest suitcase you have so weight of case and clothing is lower than using heavy case.

Get details at:

www.luggagefree.com

[Paint Horse]

While pricey, it works great. I do it often.

[kbuck73]

Thanks so much for posting this question as I am considering using Luggage Free to ship a suit case from Rome to the Mariner in Venice in May. We are doing 3 days pre-cruise time in Rome, on our own, and taking the train to Venice the day of cruise. My concern is a 28" or 25" suit case or large garment bag case (have not yet decided what to take) on the "fast train" and after much research I am just not sure what we can get away with on a 9:45 am train. I think there is a luggage area to store our suitcase(s) that will most likely not fit above the seat, but I understand this is on a first come, first served basis. If not, it's only 3:48 hrs, but I almost think it is better to ship at least one bag to the ship once we land in Rome.(??) I am trying to pack light, but anyway I look at it, 14 days for two persons ='s more than will fit on an Italian train, at least for my comfort.

Does anyone have experience with using Luggage Free in another country? Italy is one of my favorite countries, but I do understand how things work there and sometimes not work so well there. : ) I would hate for our luggage to arrive in Venice when we are in Dubrovnik.....

Thanks to any responses as any advise is greatly appreciated.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

You might want to ask your question about luggage capacity on the train over on the Med board, since there tends to be a higher density of destination knowledge. I would be worried too, but perhaps you can get concrete information on the space there is on the train.

[LOGHL]

we've not done this in the past, but are thinking of trying to do some land touring (without car) post-cruise. Could not possibly manage trains and such with luggage; might be able to if we sent most of the baggage home ahead of us.
I've heard of the company called luggage free and would much appreciate getting feedback -- pro and con-- about them. Also would be interested in knowing whether there are other comparable companies.
Thanks a bunch.
(the whole notion makes me somewhat uncomfortable, but i suppose that's just because the idea is new to me. Also, i'm wondering if this kind of thing works better from some countries/ports than from others?)


we always ship our luggage both ways.. Have done so all over the world..have never had any problems with luggage free.
They are not cheap, but we feel they are very worth it...once tried a line that was a lot cheaper..had several horrible problems.....".caveat emptor"

[LOGHL]

We've not done this in the past, but are thinking of trying to do some land touring (without car) post-cruise. Could not possibly manage trains and such with luggage; might be able to if we sent most of the baggage home ahead of us.
I've heard of the company called Luggage Free and would much appreciate getting feedback -- pro and con-- about them. Also would be interested in knowing whether there are other comparable companies.
Thanks a bunch.
(The whole notion makes me somewhat uncomfortable, but I suppose that's just because the idea is new to me. Also, I'm wondering if this kind of thing works better from some countries/ports than from others?)


We ALWAYS ship our luggae both ways, have done so with Luggage Free all over the world & have been very very satisfied. They are not cheap, but with the exceptional service that they provide..it is well worth it.
Once we tried a "bargain" service & had a horrible experience , so stick with a quality service & you will be most pleased

[poss]

Ah, this is good news-- thanks so much for the encouraging replies.
TedC: Alas, we'll need to ship the heaviest stuff home, since we're not able to heft much weight these days, especially onto public transportation.
I checked rates, and it'll cost more than I'd suspected, but I imagine it'll be worth it; we'll just figure that cost along with all the other details of traveling. (probably forego business class upgrade for this cruise)
I'm looking at a cruise for 2012 which ends in Monte Carlo. Since we've visited and much enjoyed that part of the Cote d'Azur (esp St Paul de Vence and Eze; actually loved Nice as well), we'd like to head to the "real" Provence for a week or so after the cruise. No way we could do that unless we send some of our luggage home-- maybe just keep our carry-on bags with us.
Many thanks for the responses-- as always, very helpful.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Sounds lovely, poss, I'm jealous! Where will you be flying home from? Could you not store your luggage somewhere locally, like Nice, if you're going back there to fly out?

[poss]

Hi Wendy-- IF this thing works (a big "if" at our age and stage), we'd be flying home from gay Paree (and not being able to spend any days there, can you believe?!)
What I'm hoping to do is travel by train from disembarkation in Monte Carlo (cruise starts in Venice, Sept. 2012!) to Avignon, and then join a 5-night, 6 day tour group there. Then we'd take the train from Avignon to CDG at the end of the Provence pleasures. We'd not have been able to do Provence on our own without a car, so I'd been trying to find a group that might just happen to have dates that'd match up well with cruise end.
It's frustrating that I haven't been able to collect much information on "France Off the Beaten Track." The website is good, and I've spoken with the woman who runs the tours. The tour that I'm looking at sounds great for us: begins 2 days after cruise ends (we'd have those 2 days to explore Avignon), picks up at Avignon train station, transfers to St Remy (all 5 nights in same hotel), and the activities and explorations for all the days sound very good (they visit many of the small towns that I've always been eager to see).
We've never done any sort of tour group thing in the past, but with not being able to drive anymore, and with still loving to travel (at least moi-- my husband would be as happy at home, but he's pleased to go along, so long as everything is made easy), we need to start trying the tour kind of thing. We'd resisted cruising for a long time, because we couldn't imagine ourselves enjoying being with lots of people, being hauled around in buses, etc. And you know what happened to that notion!! ;-)

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Well yes poss, but you do what you have to, right? It sounds lovely. I haven't been to Provence since I was 21, and spent time in a youth hostel in Arles. So it sounds pretty good to me! Shipping the luggage sounds fairly essential, in that case.