How does the transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal work?

[thermal]

I've done the transfer (on Princess) at the end of the cruise to the airport.  It was very straight forward; I simply walked off the ship and was directed to a a bus waiting nearby, which took me directly to my terminal. 

 

But I've never done a transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal.  How does this work? 

 

What happens when I get off the plane?  Is there a dedicated Princess cruise bus transfer place that I walk to?  For Disney World, I know there's a dedicated bus transfer area at the Orlando airport, which is easy to find.  Is it similar flying to LAX and catching a Princess cruise?   Is there a person at the airport holding a big sign that says 'Princess Cruises Transfer'?   

 

Thank you kindly. 

Edited November 9, 2023 by thermal

[memoak]

Just now, thermal said:

I've done the transfer (on Princess) at the end of the cruise to the airport.  I simply walked off the ship and was directed to a a bus waiting nearby, which took me directly to my terminal. 

 

But I've never done a transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal.  How does this work? 

 

What happens when I get off the plane?  Is there a dedicated Princess cruise transfer place that I walk to?  For Disney World, I know there's a dedicated bus transfer area at the Orlando airport.   Is it similar flying to LAX and catching a Princess cruise?   Is there a person at the airport holding a big sign that says 'Princess Cruises Transfer'?   

 

Thank you kindly. 

Your travel summary will tell you which luggage areas you can get your transfer at and when. There will be a Princess rep there with a clipboard to tell you where to take your bags to the bus

[georgetheblue]

When I used the Princess transfer from LAX there was a person at the baggage claim wearing a Princess logo shirt.  She retrieved my bags and brought them to the curb.  She had my hotel voucher (and hotel to ship transfer) and brought me to the correct hotel van.    It was very easy.

[reedprincess]

1 hour ago, thermal said:

I've done the transfer (on Princess) at the end of the cruise to the airport.  It was very straight forward; I simply walked off the ship and was directed to a a bus waiting nearby, which took me directly to my terminal. 

 

But I've never done a transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal.  How does this work? 

 

What happens when I get off the plane?  Is there a dedicated Princess cruise bus transfer place that I walk to?  For Disney World, I know there's a dedicated bus transfer area at the Orlando airport, which is easy to find.  Is it similar flying to LAX and catching a Princess cruise?   Is there a person at the airport holding a big sign that says 'Princess Cruises Transfer'?   

 

Thank you kindly. 

While it varies slightly by airport given whether you're arriving internationally or domestically.

 

Essentially, you exit the aircraft, collect your luggage and there will be a Princess rep with a sign with the seawitch symbol and Princess Cruise priced on it - check-in with them, they'll direct you to out your luggage tags on your bags, and where to wait for the bus, escort you to bus and bag loading and off you go.. 

 

If you're arriving internationally, you'll clear immigration, collect bags, clear customs and there will be a rep at the exit area with a sign

 

They're visible and easy to find, usually several cruise line reps all bunched together..

 

Enjoy. 

[Ken the cruiser]

3 hours ago, memoak said:

Your travel summary will tell you which luggage areas you can get your transfer at and when. There will be a Princess rep there with a clipboard to tell you where to take your bags to the bus

@thermal, here’s an example from our upcoming Antarctica booking’s Travel Summary where we’re flying in a day early and staying at the hotel next to the Santiago airport. However, we will be taking the Princess transfer from the airport to the ship the next day.
 

You’ll notice both options are provided. One for if we were arriving the day of the cruise and one if we were going to arrive prior to embarkation day. However, you’ll obviously need to check out the details provided in your Travel Summary for details about your airport transfers. BTW we did not book our flight through Princess, just the transfers.
 

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[skynight]

Make certain your air flights have been entered into the Princess system. Princess then knows you are arriving. Go to the baggage pick up and a Princess rep will be there.

[Rick&Jeannie]

1 hour ago, skynight said:

Make certain your air flights have been entered into the Princess system. Princess then knows you are arriving. Go to the baggage pick up and a Princess rep will be there.

Absolutely make sure that you enter your flight information! This is how Princess knows the number to expect for any given flight. 

[WisCruiser2]

Which port are you flying to? For some, like Ft. Lauderdale, it's just easier to catch a cab for the 10 - 15 minute ride and not have to wait for the bus to fill up.

[memoak]

We never fly or train in the day of the cruise so we need the info on location and times. We rarely use this service except in San Francisco 

[Tedferg]

5 hours ago, skynight said:

Make certain your air flights have been entered into the Princess system. Princess then knows you are arriving. Go to the baggage pick up and a Princess rep will be there.

Very important. We recently landed in Honolulu and, like you, did not know what to expect. I did not have my Summary or itinerary, just booking confirmation. There should have been portside rep in white/blue Hawaiian shirt to greet us at baggage claim. Other passengers on other flights were greeted this way. Our rep was overly concerned with another large group and told us, vaguely, to go to the pick up area. I won't bore you with the details, I thought she was just Hawaiian Information Rep. If I had known what to expect I could have handled it differently. BTW I complained onboard, and Guest Services refunded transfer fee.