HAL's direct baggage service?

[elycelynne]

I forgot exactly what they're called -- Bags To Go? Luggage To Go? Luggage Direct?

 

At any rate, I read that you have to be in the very first disembarkation group if you use them. Is that true?

Edited October 15, 2013 by elycelynne

[RuthC]

Luggage Direct. And it most certainly was true that I was in the first group after self-disembark when I used it in Ft. Lauderdale.

I can't recall ever being off a ship so early, or sitting at my gate by 8:20! :eek: No way I would be moving so early if it were my choice.

[mollyanne]

Luggage Direct. And it most certainly was true that I was in the first group after self-disembark when I used it in Ft. Lauderdale.

I can't recall ever being off a ship so early, or sitting at my gate by 8:20! :eek: No way I would be moving so early if it were my choice.

 

Our flight isn't til 1:35 - do we really have to get off the ship that early?

[mamaofami]

I too was at the gate very early for my noon flight at Ft. Lauderdale, but by being among the first ones off, we missed the very long line for immigration. I prefer sitting at the airport than standing in line for two hours. Luggage direct is great.

[RuthC]

Our flight isn't til 1:35 - do we really have to get off the ship that early?

Not if you don't use Luggage Direct, you don't.

 

But as Carol said, you are at the head of the masses passing through Immigration at the port, and again, ahead of the masses at airport security.

 

Your choice---wait on the ship and in lines, or wait in the airport.

[mollyanne]

Thanks Ruth & Carol - what you say makes sense. We'll tough it out at the airport!

[elycelynne]

My flight isn't until 4:45 p.m. I really don't want to be off the ship THAT early. And if I signed up for one of HAL's Ft. Lauderdale tours it would probably be the same story.

 

Hmmm. What to do, what to do???

[rafinmd]

An I correct though that once you give the bags to Luggage Direct you don't see them again until your home airport? That can be nice if the airport where you leave can has decent transit to the center of town.

 

Roy

[RuthC]

An I correct though that once you give the bags to Luggage Direct you don't see them again until your home airport?

Yesssss! :D

[Jemima]

Yes, we've been assigned the first group or so when we've had Luggage Direct. Our flight wasn't until after 5 p.m. While it is great to not have to deal with your luggage until you arrive at your destination airport, we've decided we prefer to overnight in a hotel and fly out the next day. This makes it easier to repack the evening before disembarkation; no problems with liquids that have to be checked or with stuffing the night clothes etc. into a carryon. It's much easier to quickly move a few items to the correct bag in the hotel. It also makes disembarkation day much more pleasant and relaxed.

 

Our next to last cruise we did Luggage Direct in Fort Lauderdale. We were assigned an early off, sat in the HAL tour bus waiting and waiting and waiting, got to the airport somewhere between 12 and 1, stood in a l-o-n-g line to get something to eat, sat in the airport until five, did the about 4 hr. flight to Phoenix, located luggage, waited for shuttle, were probably last off the shuttle (we usally are), and arrived home late that evening to malfunctioning alarms which wouldn't go off, and had to wait for someone to check them. We then crashed at the home of a very kind friend.

 

This cruise we disembarked in San Diego which doesn't have Luggage Direct. We walked us and our luggage over to Wyndham Bayside (formerly Holiday Inn on the Bay), lucked out in being able to get right into our room, dropped off the luggage in the room, and headed across the street to visit the ships at the Maritime Museum. The day continued in this pleasant relaxed fashion including watching the Westerdam depart while we ate dinner at Elephant and Caslte. Next morning we had a quick breakfast and with everything easily stowed correctly we took the hotel shuttle to the airport. Security was easy as there weren't lots of people there from a just disembarking cruiseship. Nice pleasant flight home and home early enough to go for a late lunch. We even managed to completely unpack and one of us (me) did their laundry. Much more pleasant.

[Typhoon1]

You will be among the first off the ship.

 

Luggage Direct is one of the best investments you can make on your cruise.

[djhsolara]

My flight isn't until 4:45 p.m. I really don't want to be off the ship THAT early. And if I signed up for one of HAL's Ft. Lauderdale tours it would probably be the same story.

 

Hmmm. What to do, what to do???

 

We've done it especially when we have a later flight. It does put you off the ship a bit earlier, but as another poster said, you won't have to pick out your luggage and hopefully the immigration line won't be very long at that time.

 

We've used the time to go up into Ft Lauderdale to do a little shopping and have a nice lunch. It's a nice way to end the the vacation without bring rushed (if you go to The Galleria this can all be accomplished at one stop...there are a few places to eat there). By the time that you need to be to the airport in the afternoon, you'll most likely be able to walk right in without a long line at security (at least that is our experience).

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[mudscraper]

I forgot exactly what they're called -- Bags To Go? Luggage To Go? Luggage Direct?

 

At any rate, I read that you have to be in the very first disembarkation group if you use them. Is that true?

The first time we used Luggage Direct we followed the directions and left the ship early. While walking through the luggage area a worker saw the color of my baggage stubs that I was carrying and she said,"Your luggage is long gone,have a nice day". Since then, when using Luggage Direct I get off the ship at my leisure, sometimes waiting until the last minute. Never a problem. My luggage is always `long gone` to the airport no matter when we get off the ship.

[djhsolara]

The first time we used Luggage Direct we followed the directions and left the ship early. While walking through the luggage area a worker saw the color of my baggage stubs that I was carrying and she said,"Your luggage is long gone,have a nice day". Since then, when using Luggage Direct I get off the ship at my leisure, sometimes waiting until the last minute. Never a problem. My luggage is always `long gone` to the airport no matter when we get off the ship.

 

That's a great idea...but here is some food for thought...

 

One time when we used the Luggage Direct service and we're exiting the ship when we were supposed to, as we both "key carded" off, all of the bells and sirens went off. We were immediately met with customs officials who escorted us down into the luggage area where all of our luggage was sitting there on a table. We were told that people from one or two staterooms participating in Luggage Direct are randomly chosen to have their luggage searched by the TSA (just like it is random at the airport) before the luggage can leave the terminal. They checked our luggage and then we were on our way.

 

Moral of the story...I wouldn't want to be the person who was responsible for everyone's luggage (all of those participating) not being taken to the airport in a timely manner. Whether we believe it or not, the rules are made for a reason.

 

 

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kjeanne2001]

Does the Volendam have luggage direct in Vancouver?

[RuthC]

That's a great idea...but here is some food for thought...

 

One time when we used the Luggage Direct service and we're exiting the ship when we were supposed to, as we both "key carded" off, all of the bells and sirens went off. We were immediately met with customs officials who escorted us down into the luggage area where all of our luggage was sitting there on a table. We were told that people from one or two staterooms participating in Luggage Direct are randomly chosen to have their luggage searched by the TSA (just like it is random at the airport) before the luggage can leave the terminal. They checked our luggage and then we were on our way.

 

Moral of the story...I wouldn't want to be the person who was responsible for everyone's luggage (all of those participating) not being taken to the airport in a timely manner. Whether we believe it or not, the rules are made for a reason.

Thank you for pointing out the reason, based on personal experience.

Knowing the reason won't stop the selfish people, but it will educate those who simply didn't know.

[elycelynne]

I'm staying at the Embassy Suites for my pre-cruise night. Since I'd be a recent guest, I wonder if they'd let me stow my luggage there after I disembark until the time that I'd be ready to retrieve it before heading to the airport?

Edited October 16, 2013 by elycelynne

[djhsolara]

I'm staying at the Embassy Suites for my pre-cruise night. Since I'd be a recent guest, I wonder if they'd let me stow my luggage there after I disembark until the time that I'd be ready to retrieve it before heading to the airport?

 

Not "poo-poo-ing" your plan, but why would you want to be bothered with going back to a hotel to drop your luggage and then going back to pick it up...and that is even if they allowed you to do it, which I can't imagine they would. That's a lot of time and effort spent just to stow your luggage...not to mention additional taxi fares...which would probably be just as cost effective as using the service.

 

 

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[elycelynne]

Not "poo-poo-ing" your plan, but why would you want to be bothered with going back to a hotel to drop your luggage and then going back to pick it up...and that is even if they allowed you to do it, which I can't imagine they would. That's a lot of time and effort spent just to stow your luggage...not to mention additional taxi fares...which would probably be just as cost effective as using the service.

 

 

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Because I really, really, REALLY don't want to have to be up at the crack of dawn if I use Luggage Direct and have to be in the first group after the self-disembarkers.

[djhsolara]

Because I really, really, REALLY don't want to have to be up at the crack of dawn if I use Luggage Direct and have to be in the first group after the self-disembarkers.

 

Well if you really, really, REALLY don't want to get up early I understand...but it isn't that much earlier, maybe only an hour or so. I get that you like to sleep in and stay on the ship...so I certainly can't blame you at all. (I'm trying to insert a smiley but can't find them) :)

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[PunkiC]

We checked on the price of Luggage Direct to send one bag, one way from Seattle to our ship in Civatavecchia. It was $330 per bag one way. ??? We could hire an Italian sherpa for a fraction.

[djhsolara]

We checked on the price of Luggage Direct to send one bag, one way from Seattle to our ship in Civatavecchia. It was $330 per bag one way. ??? We could hire an Italian sherpa for a fraction.

 

I don't know anything about that part of the service. The service that I've been referring to is the service that is offered at disembarkation where when you place your luggage out on the last night of the cruise you don't see it again until you reach your home airport. From what I've heard it is generally from the US ports to US airports with certain participating airlines. My experience is that it is generally $20-$25 per person (not bag).

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[PunkiC]

I don't know anything about that part of the service. The service that I've been referring to is the service that is offered at disembarkation where when you place your luggage out on the last night of the cruise you don't see it again until you reach your home airport. From what I've heard it is generally from the US ports to US airports with certain participating airlines. My experience is that it is generally $20-$25 per person (not bag).

 

 

Sent from my iPad

 

I see. That is pretty reasonable if you don't want to mess with bags.

 

We have not found a reasonable way to get an extra bag to the ship or to our hotel in Civatavecchia. I talked to UPS today and they wanted $450 for one bag one way.

 

Shipping two bags both ways could easily cost as much as the cruise.

 

Does anybody know any magic tricks?

[jayisgerman]

I see. That is pretty reasonable if you don't want to mess with bags.

 

We have not found a reasonable way to get an extra bag to the ship or to our hotel in Civatavecchia. I talked to UPS today and they wanted $450 for one bag one way.

 

Shipping two bags both ways could easily cost as much as the cruise.

 

Does anybody know any magic tricks?

 

Usually your airline will just charge you an "over the limit" fee for an extra bag. For instance, if you area allowed 1 bag free then the 2nd bag costs $75 or such. Check with your airline.

 

Also, not knowing your carrier, last time I flew home to Germany - I was able to upgrade to Economy Plus for a reasonable fee. That upped me to 2 free bags then. Maybe that could be an option, too?

 

Good Luck!

 

PS: Buy a lot of stuff on-site rather than dragging with you. For instance all toiletries, etc. for a long trip take up tons of room and weight. Just buy those in a local drug-store and then leave them behind at the end of your trip. Hope this helps.

Edited October 17, 2013 by jayisgerman
Forgot!

[SAPMAN]

I will be on the Westerdam. Disembarkment at 7am. I have an 11:30 am flight from Ft. Lauderdale airport, which I know is only 10 min drive from port. If I use Luggage Direct service, will I get to the airport by 10:15am - in time to make my flight as no bags to check.???