Getting to Ship from Airport - Luggage [Archive]

Beckyfaye-2008

April 28th, 2009, 01:55 PM

We are flying to Paphos from Stanstead, then by coach to Limassol, to cruise on Spirit. What happens to your luggage at Paphos, do you have to take it through customs yourself and then take it to the coach, also what happens to luggage when you get off coach at Limassol to board ship.
Is it like P&O, your luggage is loaded on plane at departure airport in UK, next time you see it is outside your cabin on ship.;)

Happy Sailing
Beckyfaye:)

kruzseeka

April 28th, 2009, 03:33 PM

That's how it worked on the Thomson Caribbean cruise, but on other arrival airports we've done (Tenerife, Palma) you collect your luggage from the carousel, then find the Thomson rep (not difficult - they have a very obvious presence at the airport) who will direct you to the waiting coaches where you give your cases to the driver to put in the boot.

When you get to the port, you reclaim your luggage, collect your envelope with ship's I.D./'credit' card and sticky labels with cabin number. Stick the labels onto your case then the porters will take them to your cabin. Meanwhile, you register your details/credit card with the reception staff to validate your ship's card for embarkation.

I don't know why the system was different (and more efficient) when flying to the Dominican Republic for the Caribbean cruise - there may be some logistical reasons why they can't adopt the same approach at Palma/Tenerife - perhaps because they sell 'seats only' on these flights too therefore not all passengers are destined for a Thomson holiday/cruise.

Is it the case that P&O use planes chartered exclusively for their cruise passengers? If so, this would make it much easier for them to treat the hold luggage 'as one' taking it all to the ship.

It sounds rather complicated, but we have always found the organisation slick and since there are so many flights coming in from different regional airports throughout the day, you are unlucky if you hit a log-jam.