Port of Miami and Luggage

[CC Help Michell]

There have been SO many posts here lately about luggage being misdirected, lost, sent to the wrong ship, and so on. (Or maybe it's just me paying more attention, now that we are sailing in less than 2 weeks).

 

I think we are going to plan on bringing onboard all of our luggage for our cruise on the Dawn, rather than trusting "the system." We've never even thought of such a thing before -- but after looking forward to this cruise for nearly two years, I do NOT want to wind up onboard without our luggage and turn our trip into a farce of "make do" clothing and toiletries.

 

Anyone have any input that might change my mind about this? I'd rather NOT have to babysit all of our luggage until our cabin's ready, and haul it around the ship -- but (regardless of whether it's the dock workers or NCL's employees) these reports have really become VERY common the last month or so, and it's darned frightening. Alternatively, anyone know a way to help make sure our luggage makes it onto OUR ship, and then into our cabin? Per several reports here, tips to the Port of Miami longshoremen aren't doing it.

[skolega]

Michelle,

 

I don't know if you read my previous post, but we just returned from the Pearl. I believe we sailed late because there were bags that were on the wrong ship. My friends carried their luggage onboard and walked to their room and noticed a bag sitting outside their cabin. They noticed that it was for their room but on the Jewel. They called to report it and it was quickly taken care of. The captain came on and announced at about 3:45 that we would be sailing late because of some "problems" on the pier. We watched from our balcony the luggage handlers frantically loading bags at 4:20.

 

Our bags did not appear until 8 pm. We went to the customer service desk and were escorted to a back room with bags that the tags had come off. We also went by the naughty room and the customer service agent looked in there. This is when we were told that if our bags were on the Jewel that we would get them in Cozumel (thurs). We were also told that we would be given used clothes to wear. My husband was not going to accept that. We were also told that when you give the porter your bags out front that you are assuming the "risk" and NCL has nothing to do with those folks.

 

Long story short. Our bags magically appeared and our cruise was perfect.

 

My suggestion to you is arrive at the port around 1 pm and wheel your luggage on with you. Go directly to your room when you get onboard. Your room should be ready by the time you get on. That is what we are going to do in the future.

[cliffd64]

There have been SO many posts here lately about luggage being misdirected, lost, sent to the wrong ship, and so on. (Or maybe it's just me paying more attention, now that we are sailing in less than 2 weeks).

 

I think we are going to plan on bringing onboard all of our luggage for our cruise on the Dawn, rather than trusting "the system." We've never even thought of such a thing before -- but after looking forward to this cruise for nearly two years, I do NOT want to wind up onboard without our luggage and turn our trip into a farce of "make do" clothing and toiletries.

 

Anyone have any input that might change my mind about this? I'd rather NOT have to babysit all of our luggage until our cabin's ready, and haul it around the ship -- but (regardless of whether it's the dock workers or NCL's employees) these reports have really become VERY common the last month or so, and it's darned frightening. Alternatively, anyone know a way to help make sure our luggage makes it onto OUR ship, and then into our cabin? Per several reports here, tips to the Port of Miami longshoremen aren't doing it.

 

Do the math...

 

Maybe 1 or two here and there ever have a problem... out of over 2000 passengers per ship? The odds are that you will never have a problem. I dont consider myself lucky at all that in 19 cruises with Norwegian, many of them from Miami we have never had any luggage go missing from the port.

[msboo18]

We were on the Dawn and they announced you could leave your carry-ons in Dazzles lounge - there were 2 NCL staff members and they gave us a ticket for our bag(s), then when they announced that the cabins were ready (before 2pm) - we went to pick up our bags in Dazzles and they really checked the ticket even tho I pointed out our bags. This worked out well!

[CC Help Michell]

Do the math...

 

Maybe 1 or two here and there ever have a problem... out of over 2000 passengers per ship? The odds are that you will never have a problem. I dont consider myself lucky at all that in 19 cruises with Norwegian, many of them from Miami we have never had any luggage go missing from the port.

 

I've never had a problem so far from any port, including POM, but what prompted my post isn't my "newbieness" -- it's several reports here in literally the last two weeks about luggage disasters at POM. It sounds like for some reason the system is breaking down.

 

When I do the math, I realize that fewer than 1% of cruisers ever even find CC, let alone join and post here -- and even with those long odds, I've read at least four reports in the last two weeks about these luggage problems out of POM (and nowhere else). To me, that seems a red flag for a system problem someplace at POM.

[CC Help Michell]

We were on the Dawn and they announced you could leave your carry-ons in Dazzles lounge - there were 2 NCL staff members and they gave us a ticket for our bag(s), then when they announced that the cabins were ready (before 2pm) - we went to pick up our bags in Dazzles and they really checked the ticket even tho I pointed out our bags. This worked out well!

 

Ooh, good point, I totally forgot about that "check your bags here" option on embarkation (never had to do it before; typically we only board with minimal carry-on luggage and wait for the big stuff in the cabin). Thanks!

[TeresaJ]

Remember, tip your porters so your luggage doesn't get "misplaced."

[evilinnocence]

Ugh, I'm worried about my luggage making it to Miami thru the airlines...now I have to worry about it getting on the SHIP too? :confused:

[E&HT]

Remember, tip your porters so your luggage doesn't get "misplaced."

 

When we dropped our luggage off with the porter he "patted his pocket" and said "I'll make sure it gets on." My husband did give a tip. He's pretty cheap though when it comes to tips, so I thought for sure our luggage "wouldn't get on".

 

It did and all was well!

[CC Help Michell]

Remember, tip your porters so your luggage doesn't get "misplaced."

 

I tip $2 per bag to anyone who handles my luggage (bellmen, redcaps, longshoremen, etc), so I'm not worried about that. I really think what sent my antennae up lately was several reports about NCL/POM luggage screwups (as Skolega mentions above -- they had someone's bags from ANOTHER SHIP outside their cabin door. :eek: )

[garycarla]

I really do not think this is a big problem. With thousand and thousands cruising each week, it has been VERY RARE to hear about someone with luggage getting on the wrong ship. Really.

 

does it happen? YES

If it a big deal if it happens to you? YES

 

Do you know ANYBODY that had it happen to them? I doubt it.

 

 

I would not be worried about that.

[skolega]

We always tip too. I think that our bags were just at the bottom of the pile since we dropped them off early at the port.

 

On the first night I happened to be walking by the customer service desk and the CS agent was showing a man two pair of used shoes for him to choose from. I guess he was one of the victims of the bag mix up.

 

I just wonder why NCL has the same color of tags for the Jewel and the Pearl. When they have two ships in port at the same time they should use different color tags. Not too hard to figure out.

[Karysa]

Remember, tip your porters so your luggage doesn't get "misplaced."

 

I could not agree more. Once the porter gave me a smile, a nod and a "thank you", I never had any doubt that I would be reunited with my luggage.

Karysa

[cliffd64]

I've never had a problem so far from any port, including POM, but what prompted my post isn't my "newbieness" -- it's several reports here in literally the last two weeks about luggage disasters at POM. It sounds like for some reason the system is breaking down.

 

When I do the math, I realize that fewer than 1% of cruisers ever even find CC, let alone join and post here -- and even with those long odds, I've read at least four reports in the last two weeks about these luggage problems out of POM (and nowhere else). To me, that seems a red flag for a system problem someplace at POM.

 

You seem bound and determined to expect failure... well, then you certainly can try to take matters into your own hands... I prefer to be a little more optimistic that the port can solve these types of anomalies rather easily. If this sort of thing was commonplace, the port would have serious issues.

 

Go ahead... you have the absolute right to inconvenience yourself by trying to carry all your luggage aboard and inconvenience other passengers as you drag it it around the terminal and the ship until your cabin is ready. It's certainly an option for you. Be sure that your bags will fit in the scanners they use for security, because if they are too big you will have dragged your bags that far for nothing.

 

For me personally, I'll gladly roll the dice every time in that if I can at least make it to the port and hand my bags off to a porter that it will show up sometime that afternoon in front of my cabin, rather than haul all the bags through security, through the latitudes line, through the waiting area, and up the stairs and up the gangplank. Heck... this kind of aggravation is why I will never use express disembarkation, never mind carrying it all ON the ship as well... But, thats just me, I'm more of a glass is half-full kind of guy... I try to enjoy myself on vacation.

 

One question... airlines lose luggage all the time... so much so that they have a lost luggage OFFICE in every airport... Do you only take carry-on on a plane in case they lose that as well?

 

Sooner or later you have to trust in the system just a little bit...

 

Whatever your choice, enjoy your cruise.

[JamesIlsley]

Would it be overkill to label the luggage with a laminated 11x17 sign that says "NCL PEARL"?

[odblnt]

Don't forget that any bag that you take on the ship (as opposed to giving to the porter to be checked on) HAS to fit through the x-ray scanner.

[chrisbd1]

When you drop your luggage off make sure you are at the right place. The porters will be standing by signs that correspond to your ship. I've been there when both the Pearl and Jewel are in dock at the same time. If someone isn't paying attention to who they give their luggage to, being sure it's the person loading for the correct ship, luggage can get crossed up.

 

I actually look to make sure the sign corresponds to my ship before I let my luggage out of my hand. If you've seen what a madhouse it is with taxis, vans and cars unloading people and luggage, it's easy to see where things can get mixed up. After I tip the porter ;) I double check that my luggage is in the correct area.

[sc425]

Okay, am I the only one who is disturbed by the idea that to ensure my luggages' safe arrival I need to tip the porter the requisite amount? I find this very disturbing and by the way I am also a union member. If these porters are union, they are what gives unions a bad name.

[rasta]

Just did the Dawn and had the fastest baggage delivery of any previous cruise, around 4:00pm. I tip $10 a bag and ask for a good bin that gets unloaded first but I doubt that does anything special. I would guess that if there is just one NCL ship loading there is little chance of baggage getting "lost" and if there are two or more NCLs getting loaded at the same time just making sure you are getting out at the correct terminal would do the trick.

[chrisbd1]

Okay, am I the only one who is disturbed by the idea that to ensure my luggages' safe arrival I need to tip the porter the requisite amount? I find this very disturbing and by the way I am also a union member. If these porters are union, they are what gives unions a bad name.

 

They are. That's why no NCL personnel touches the luggage until it is on the ship.

[njhorseman]

Okay, am I the only one who is disturbed by the idea that to ensure my luggages' safe arrival I need to tip the porter the requisite amount? I find this very disturbing and by the way I am also a union member. If these porters are union, they are what gives unions a bad name.

 

Let's look at this from a slightly different angle.

 

In a hotel don't you tip the bellman who delivers your luggage?

 

In an airport don't you tip the skycap who helps check in your luggage?

 

Do you tip a waiter who delivers room service?

 

Why shouldn't you tip the longshoreman who delivers your luggage from the curb to the ship?

[CC Help Michell]

Okay, I went back and looked at the posts and in fact they all are from the Pearl/Jewel sailing days. We are on the Dawn, which does make me feel better since we're the only NCL ship embarking that day.

 

I'm not "bound and determined" to expect failure, and this isn't a "glass half full" kind of thing. I'm trying to be proactive and think about cutting down the odds of having a problem.

 

Regarding airlines, I don't fly with only carry on, but there definitely are steps I do take when flying to cut down on potential problems and minimize the chance of luggage misdirection -- I take nonstop flights whenever possible; I arrive at the airport well in advance of my flight; and I always fly in at least one day before my cruise just in case my luggage is lost... it gives time for it to be found. Asking here about any other thoughts or suggestions folks had about POM was the same kind of proactive step.

[steveaaaaa]

Let's look at this from a slightly different angle.

 

In a hotel don't you tip the bellman who delivers your luggage?

 

In an airport don't you tip the skycap who helps check in your luggage?

 

Do you tip a waiter who delivers room service?

 

Why shouldn't you tip the longshoreman who delivers your luggage from the curb to the ship?

 

Longshoreman makes a fat SALARY.

Steve

[njhorseman]

Longshoreman makes a fat SALARY.

Steve

 

 

They also don't work a 5 day 40 hour week like most people. A lot of the guys loading the ships are called in one or two days a week.

[fin]

Okay, am I the only one who is disturbed by the idea that to ensure my luggages' safe arrival I need to tip the porter the requisite amount? I find this very disturbing and by the way I am also a union member. If these porters are union, they are what gives unions a bad name.

 

"Okay, am I the only one who is disturbed"

 

Probably not, but you would likely feel better if you just accepted it and moved on.

 

In another similar thread, it was pointed out that the porters who take your bags have nothing whatever to do with delivering it to your stateroom.

 

Making sure that you have proper tags securely fastened to your suitcases and getting them there on time is about the limit of your own control over the situation.

 

If 99% of the bags arrive at the cabins on time, it still leaves 25 to 35 people upset and without any. If you are one such, the 99% success rate is scant comfort.