Luggage Receipts from Cruise Lines

[Giorgi-one]

Just thought of this while I was answering another post. I have always felt less than comfortable when I hand over my luggage at the cruise terminal since I do not receive a receipt for the bags. Do you think that cruise lines should give receipts for luggage as they receive it? It would be a simple matter to attach a tear-away receipt to the luggage tags they give you which would be stamped by the porter when he takes your luggage. I have never had a problem personally, but I have met people on cruise ships who did not get all their bags.

[jhannah]

If your bag doesn't show up, what good is a receipt?

You could pull your camera out and take a shapshot of the porter picking up your bag ... but again, what good would it do if the bag were lost?

[gizmo]

I have never had a problem personally, but I have met people on cruise ships who did not get all their bags.Did these people evetually get their luggage? Is it possible the cruise lines picked up the luggage from the airport? If so maybe the airline lost the luggage.

I never heard of a cruise line loosing luggage but I guess anything is possible. Occasionally I have heard about it being delivered to the wrong cabin.

[Randyk47]

I guess anything is possible but I've never met anybody who didn't get their bags when they knew they have seen them and/or given them to a porter at the terminal. I've met folks who didn't get their bags from the airlines, or back in the days when the cruiselines pulled bags, didn't watch over their bags to make sure the cruiseline pulled them and didn't get them until a couple of days into the cruise. Guess it would be OK to get a receipt (i.e., pull off tab) but I can't say I've ever had a problem. Might add here that I'm one of the folks who doesn't put their cruise bag tags on until I reach the embarkation airport. Once I claim my own bags and they're all accounted for then I put the tags on and give them to the cruiseline. Works for me and I'm not sure any cruiseline still pulls bags for that matter. I've read here that others prefer to put them on when they leave home in case their luggage gets misrouted and the tag helps the airline figure out what to do with the luggage. It's a good argument but just not the way I've chosen to do it.

[divinggirl]

If your bag doesn't show up, what good is a receipt?

You could pull your camera out and take a shapshot of the porter picking up your bag ... but again, what good would it do if the bag were lost?

My thoughts exactly. Plus, then they would have to collect each person's receipt upon delivery of the bags to prevent fradulent claims of lost luggage (don't laugh, it happens), so they couldn't just leave it, but would have to wait until you're in your cabin. More work for all staff involved, plus more delays in everyone receiving their bags.

[iluvcruzin]

Actually it does make sense in that it's proof you had a piece of luggage. If the tag comes off the luggage it's going to be hard to match. Which by the way - it makes sense to put double tags on your luggage incase one falls off.

This subject reminds me of one of those "trouble shooter" segments on our local TV station. Someone put their luggage outside the last night of the cruise and it was never seen again. The cruiseline was only responsible for about $100. They recommended either taking the luggage off yourself or obtaining traveler's insurance.

Here's HAL's Policy on Baggage. Note the part about sending them the value of the contents PRIOR to sailing.

Baggage Policy
If Holland America, due to any cause whatsoever, is liable for loss of, damage to or delay of your property, the amount of Holland America's liability will not exceed USD$100 (USD$600 for passengers who have purchased Cancellation Protection Plan) unless you have specified to Holland America in writing the true value of your property and paid to Holland America before departure of the Cruise, Cruisetour or HAL Land Trip, 1% of the value in excess of USD$100 or USD$600, as applicable. In that event, Holland America's liability will be limited to the amount so specified. Please contact the ship's Front Office immediately upon embarkation for forms and additional details; you must have your luggage with you when making these arrangements. Holland America's baggage policy is further detailed in the baggage section of your Cruise Contract.

Something else one may not know is that Homeowner's insurance covers baggage loss after your deductable. I found this out after having mine stolen on the way to the cruise (long story). I learned a lot from that experience on what to pack/not pack.

[sail7seas]

Very occasionally I have heard of a bag being delivered to the wrong cabin and, because of the 'lack of urgency' on the part of the people who incorrectly got the bag and their delay in reporting they had someone else's suitcase, it took an inordinate amount of time for it to be located.


I have never heard of anyone's luggage never showing up when they personally handed it over to the stevedores. Or if they arrived on an HAL bus with their luggage in the hold.

What could delay delivery to your cabin is, as stated, if the HAL baggage tag falls off. But, you will still get the suitcase if you have any sort of identification on it. Your personal name/address tags certainly identify whose bag it is. However, it will take them a bit of time to pull out the passenger manifest and find what cabin you are in.

[elmorejj]

Well it happened to a lady on our recent Zaandam cruise. Her, and her sister and 90 year old father had driven to the port from somewhere in Florida and on arrival at the pier, unloaded their car, watched the porter place it on top of the baggage cart and move it towards the ship. One of the bags never made it to her cabin. HAL checked and rechecked with the port but it never showed up. She was given $100 by HAL and a $25 voucher to spend in the shop. All that she could buy in the shop was some underwear. Our 2nd stop was STT so off she went to KMart to buy some shorts, tops and a bathing suit. They did give her free laundry so she was able to get her few things washed every couple of days. So yes, it does happen. She didn`t have insurance but I told her to claim on her house insurance.....jean :cool:

[Giorgi-one]

Baggage Policy
If Holland America, due to any cause whatsoever, is liable for loss of, damage to or delay of your property, the amount of Holland America's liability will not exceed USD$100 (USD$600 for passengers who have purchased Cancellation Protection Plan) unless you have specified to Holland America in writing the true value of your property and paid to Holland America before departure of the Cruise, Cruisetour or HAL Land Trip, 1% of the value in excess of USD$100 or USD$600, as applicable. In that event, Holland America's liability will be limited to the amount so specified. Please contact the ship's Front Office immediately upon embarkation for forms and additional details; you must have your luggage with you when making these arrangements. Holland America's baggage policy is further detailed in the baggage section of your Cruise Contract.

Thanks for the info. Rhetorical question - If I have my bags with me at the ship's front office after embarkation, why would I want to fill out any forms?

[jazzsea]

Just to be on the safe side, always put a large note on top of your clothes before you close each piece of luggage. Even your hand luggage. (I type the info on a 4 X 6 index card.)

Write the same info on this note that you put on your luggage tags.

NAME:
SAILING DATE:
SHIP:
CABIN #:
ARRIVAL FLIGHT #:
ARRIVAL AIRPORT:
ARRIVAL DATE:
DEPARTURE FLIGHT:
DEPARTURE AIRPORT:
DEPARTURE DATE:
PRE CRUISE HOTEL:
POST CRUISE HOTEL:
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:*

* Use your office phone or a friend or relatives if no one will be at your home number. Make sure your office/friend has your cell phone number if you are bringing one with you.

I have clients that also take digital pictures of their luggage before they leave home. Anything that you can think of to make your luggage easier to find if the tags come off is good.

I know of a lady that swore the cruise line lost her luggage. She ranted and raved the entire cruise. She was one of my passengers on a group. The missing bag was still in the trunk of her car when her husband came to pick her up at the end of the cruise.

Always take a few minutes to double check that all of your luggage is out of the car/van/motorcoach.