aVacation4me

Journeymore, happy birthday! I booked my 70 birthday Celebrity Solstice solo cruise to Alaska in Sept. 2017, It was awesome, literally was treated like royalty. A lot of time was spent on my aft balcony; delicious, hot room service dinners and many breakfasts. Met really terrific, friendly people, and took two tours. The Ketchikan floatplane was breathtakingly beautiful and Juneau whale watching was fun; I was welcomed by both groups. The only downside was missing the Helicopter/Glacier walk in Skagway...a mudslide the night before got us diverted to Icy Straits...pricey food, little to do, so went back to the ship for MDR delicious lunch (and maybe a little too much wine). Enjoy your birthday cruise and let us know some of the highlights.

All time best cruise was solo to Alaska! A little 70th birthday splurge, aft concierge cabin on Celebrity Solstice. I loved it, was treated like royalty. as far as dining, there were many options...could sit alone at my window side table, ask to be seated with a random group, eat at the buffet, or choose room service. I ate many meals, by choice, on my (larger than those beside mine, 2152) balcony...yes, food was hot when it arrived. Loved the buffet for breakfast and sometimes lunch because of the variety, but dinner on the balcony or MDR was the best (MDR with and w/o the company of others). I was welcomed by the small groups on the Juneau whale watching tour and on the sea plane tour in Ketchikan. Dining with new groups was always a good time, and I was often invited by those I sat with to have drinks with them afterwords. Staff was the best, catering to my every whim, such a pleasure! I met with the concierge manager and we got along so well he sent me flowers and chocolate covered strwberries, and the young man even escorted me to my seat for dinner one evening, where two ladies my age sitting nearby were obviously jealous, one uttered, "well, la de dah." (their reaction was very satisfying, thank you). Loved that I went where I wanted, when I wanted, and best of all, could keep my cabin cold, which I prefer. Embrace the solo trip, smile at everyone, and for timid folk, I guarantee the solo trip will be a great experience.

You just need more info from solo cruisers, remember, there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Think of the positives; you're free to do what you want, when you want, without someone else whining, or you having to acquiesce {{{boom!}}}. 

A three time family cruiser, I booked my first solo - an aft concierge cabin on Celebrity Solstice to Alaska. Wow, just wow! First of all, I literally was treated like royalty by staff (some extra attention for a solo?). Anytime I was unsure or turned around, there was always someone, a passenger, or staffer, to offer assistance. There was never a lack for company if I wanted it, with myriad invitations to join others...with so many friendly and helpful people, being solo might even have been a benefit. Booking anytime seating worked great, every MDR meal was a choice: my solo table by the window, or to be seated with others...both perfect for the mood. I never felt like an "outsider" on port trips, and enjoyed all three. One of the highlights: A young, handsome gentleman staffer that befriended me walked me to my table for dinner one evening. The looks on the two ladies (my age, 60-70) faces at the next table was priceless; one said "Well, la de dah." (That alone made every penny of the solo worth it.)

The key to my wonderful cruise? Cruise Critic. From the ship Roll Call to all the tips and advice, priceless! It's how I chose 3 awesome port adventures, knew what to pack and what not to, and learned lots of ins and outs that made the whole experience memorable. Channel that trepidation into excitement, it will probably be your best cruise; you'll be glad you didn't cancel.

ON the Solstice August 17 in a Concierge Cabin and had some questions.

What is a good time to arrive?

:)

I arrived at a Sea-Tac hotel the day before, used a shuttle service to the port, arriving 10:15am. Concierge embark was fast, 20 min. at most. MDR Concierge lunch is well worth attending (skip the crowds), food's a great intro to a great cruise. Very clean ship, excellent staff, great accommodations. I got excellent assistance from Concierge desk several times, top notch staff! For me, because of easy on/easy off ship, concierge worth xtra $$. Getting off the ship, we were grouped in a restaurant with continental breakfast, not crowded at all, and near the gangplank! Soooo easy.

 

Anyone in a Concierge Cabin remembers what was served for the embarkation lunch

MDR Concierge lunch's a treat; there were 4-5 entrees; I remember short ribs, a pasta dish, a vegetarian, and broiled salmon; also soup, salad and several desserts. I had Salmon, Caesar salad, and cheese cake, everyone said their meals were good, especially the short ribs.

were you able to get hot dishes for in-room breakfast?

Yes, I had eggs Benedict w/American bacon, potatoes and coffee on balcony 1st morning at sea. Heavenly. My room steward, Shawn, offered to arrange Eggs Ben every morning in room if I wanted. Instead of the canapes, we settled on kiwi every afternoon. (There's a small fridge in the room.)

 

Does anyone have pictures of the menus?

Preview...MDR DINNER MENU (changed daily, but always these STARTERS: Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, Fr. onion soup, escargot. And always these ENTREES: Broiled Salmon, Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled N.Y. Sirloin Steak). I didn't capture* any dessert menus, but you could always get cheese cake - love it, had it every day. All food portions were petite, perfect for me, but you could ask for two starters or entrees, or...whatever you want, they were very accommodating, especially for restricted diets. Oh, best Bloody Mary's ever.

 

* I have 6 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch menu on my iPhone. Tell me how to post, give directions for a dummy, and I will try. (or, if you have a "throw-away" email address and post it in a reply, I can email you. :)

Were discounts offered for any of the specialty restaurants during the cruise?

Discounts were offered in Sept. '17. I was very happy with MDR for dinner (looked at dinner buffet, nah, went back to MDR and ate there or in cabin). But the buffet for breakfast, yum. Eggs Benedict made to order, w/American bacon, loved the bangers, back for other choices. I stopped at al Bacio for specialty coffee prior to buffet, almost always found a window table in the buffet restaurant, no lines...good times. When not on an excursion, lunch was MDR, once in buffet; I heard burgers in Mast Grill were good.

 

Favorite Meal/Ship Activity/Excursion?

FOOD: Beef Tournedo, and Short Ribs; when I wasn't in mood of daily choices, Salmon was great. Al Bacio was my home away from home, evening African Solstice (Rooibos) hot tea taken to my balcony with cookies before bed, twice daily latte w/shot of Kahlua, yummy free cookies and pastries.

EXCURSIONS: Well worth every penny, Island Wings float plane in Ketchikan - spectacular scenery!

Harv & Marv whale watching in Juneau, saw lots of tail. I have to go back, couldn't go to Skagway due to mudslide, was scheduled for Skagway Helicopter/glacier walk, booked thru Celebrity - I hear it is the best excursion. FREE: the outstanding scenery; memorable was up early for Fjords glacier view from my balcony, tremendous. I spent a lot of time on my large aft balcony, and the binoculars in the room, and umbrella, very nice touch. Had balcony dinner 1st night, Tournedos of Beef, impressed it arrived hot; easily the best meal of the cruise (wish I'd ordered for two, LOL). Oh, you may know this, I didn't...invitations are often left outside the door by the cabin #...I missed the first one (guess I'm not very observant), I thought they'd all be on the bed or counter. Another Concierge perk, an invite to a sail-away from port, with captain/crew, on the helipad (may still be done).

 

Just back from Seattle - Alaska cruise on Carnival Legend. I couldn’t get a definitive answer on Carnival participating before we left and wanted to let others know that at least as of last week (late June) they are NOT. I asked numerous people at guest services and was repeatedly told that Carnival is not associated with the port and they do not use that service.

Disappointed in this and having to keep our luggage all day for an 10 pm flight.

 

 

I hope you had a wonderful cruise, the Tracy Arm Fjord cruise I was on last September was incredible. It's unfortunate Carnival Legend chooses not to participate. From everything I read it was at no cost to the cruiser or the cruise lines. Perhaps because the cruise ship handles the paperwork (luggage tags and boarding passes go through them), they felt the staff time was not feasible. If I remember correctly, Seattle businesses fund the valet program because they want people to leave luggage behind and enjoy the sights (and buy stuff) before going to the airport. They would have been happy to fund your luggage transport, with a 10 pm flight you probably visited a number of businesses. .

Hi there! First time cruiser here, going solo on the EPIC in February 2020 on the Southern Caribbean itinerary from San Juan. Any tips or suggestions for a first time solo?

Smile; cultivate a positive, open attitude; friendly people attract friendly people.

I've done, and love both. Sailing solo has its own benefits. Go and do whatever, whenever. Dine with others, or if "peopled out" eat alone. Mingle or be alone, it's your choice. Be prepared to hear..."You're so brave" or some such remarks; it caught me off guard the first time, after that I'd just smile.

Sorry, the PDF Link says Page Not Found. I am still trying to understand how this works so I know it will work for me.

 

Try this, copied from their website. I hope it helps. NOTE: every cruise line sets the time frame ELIGIBLE to use this service...hopefully you can call your cruise line to get the starting and stopping times for the service prior to getting onboard and reading it on the paperwork. If lucky, someone from Solstice (other ships, too!) who used the service this year posts (their ship's) times allowed. Note: I hop I'm wrong, but I think I remember reading that international flights were NOT eligible...if someone can verify, or correct me, please do.

 

Enjoy Seattle, Luggage-Free! It’s Complimentary, Convenient and Secure.

The Port of Seattle is pleased to offer complimentary luggage transfer to our airline at the end of your cruise. Enjoy hassle free disembark with Port Valet.

It’s a complimentary luggage service sponsored by the Port of Seattle. While on board your ship, sign-up, check your luggage and receive your airline boarding pass. Your luggage will be transferred directly to your airline and checked to your final destination.

No need to rush to the airport, so enjoy Seattle and travel luggage free!

How does the service work?

1. Enroll during your cruise

Port Valet is offered by all cruise lines. Complete an enrollment form, found in your stateroom. If you have questions, check with the guest services team on your cruise line for more details.

You can use Port Valet if you are flying with these participating airlines:

• Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, JetBlue, Southwest, United
  

2. Drop your luggage

The night before your cruise ends, you’ll receive your airline boarding passes and special luggage tags from your ship’s crew. Set your bags outside your cabin that evening and the ship's crew will pick them up.

Your luggage will be securely transferred directly from the cruise ship and checked in with your airline all the way to your destination airport. You don’t have to do a thing.

3. Enjoy Seattle

Capitalize on your freedom and spend the day exploring Seattle in its most beautiful season. Visit Seattle can help plan the day. Check out the 2-hour, 4-hour and all day self-tours at:https://www.visitseattle.org/things-to-do/cruise-information/pre-post-cruise-activities/

4. Skip check-in at the airport

When you arrive at Sea-Tac Airport, proceed through security and board the plane. Your luggage is already checked to your final destination!

5. Track your luggage

You can track your bags at the Port Valet website: https://portvalet.maketraveleasier.com/

Explore Port Valet

 

And Enjoy Seattle Luggage-free!

 

 

And don’t always bank on that. We’ve asked a couple of times for cheese and biscuits instead of the canapés and have been told no.

I'm sorry to hear that...perhaps it depends on your room steward?

Mine was the best. Kiwi automatically, suite class shampoo (loved it) when I mentioned I hated the herb fragrance (smell, to me) of provided concierge brand, nicer tote, and of course a sparkling clean cabin. When we met 1st day I told him I was low maintenance, very tidy; give me fresh towels every day, no ice, no towel animals, no mints on pillow, and gave him the sparkling wine.

Thanks for all info. Turns out the concierge class cabin is actually cheaper than regular balcony so we'll go for it. As I mentioned, this will be our first time on Celebrity, wondering if there are major differences from Holland America?

I've been on HAL and Royal Caribbean, in my opinion, the staff and food on Celebrity were far better. My Celebrity cruise Sept. 2017 was on the Solstice. Their staff are top notch, professional yet very friendly, helpful and personable. It sounds corny, but I felt I was treated like royalty. Concierge was the icing on the cake; I personally felt it well worth the extra cost. (You may get an offer for a very low cost, or free, upgrade; mine was pay $50 more for AquaClass...Blu is amazing I hear, but I was set on where I was.) The concierge aft cabin I chose had one of the wider balconies; I spent a lot of time out there. Preferred embark, and disembark were both awesome - super quick, and a nice surprise, our disembark waiting area was in Silk Harvest, with continental breakfast. The lunch in MDR for concierge on embarkation day was delicious, nice to sit down and relax, and avoid the buffet crowd. About the canapes, not my fave, so I asked for kiwi instead, and it was in my room every afternoon. So, don't hesitate to confer with your steward as to options. I chose select dining, never made a reservation, and had little to no wait. I was always given the option to dine alone or with other passengers (met terrific people when chose company!) and was always seated at a window (maybe easier because I was solo?). It was a vacation to remember. I hope you enjoy your Celebrity cruise!

On another thread, it was mentioned that this service was only offered on Southwest flights from 11 - 4. Can anybody confirm this? I called the Port of Seattle and they referred me to the ship. We are sailing on the Carnival Legend if that makes a difference.

Port of Seattle told you to check with Carnival because each cruise line sets the flight time frame that's eligible.

According to the Port's website, all cruise lines are participating this 2018 season (someone said their ship didn't). So, if you're sailing from Port of Seattle and don't see the paperwork in your cabin, you might want to double check with your ship's guest services.

I used the free service in Sept. '17, and glad I did! My 28" was slightly overweight with added souvenirs, (NO CHARGE), I also checked a carry-on (Southwest/up to 2 checked bags - free); both were waiting for me on the carousel when I got off the 2nd leg of my flight home. Sweet.

Any updates? Is this still working well?

 

"I'm going to be on the Norwegian Bliss, departing on Southwest at 11:30 AM (as of now; still thinking of changing)."

 

Well, it appears the program is still in place, but Port of Seattle doesn't give any program-ending dates, nor do they list cruise lines (still, or new) participating, just airlines. I suspect it's because each cruise line, if participating, has their own rules (such as valid eligible flight time frames, maybe even which cabin class they allow to participate). Also important: Seems last year other people besides me said TSA was unable to scan the program's boarding passes supplied by the cruise line - have back up ready (boarding pass on cell phone?) you may have to go to airline counter for active boarding pass(es). I had to get in counter's line, but arrived so early, it was not an issue. Well worth it not to have to worry about my bag probably being overweight.

 

Hope this helps, sorry I couldn't answer fully; I added some info from the Port's website and (PDF) brochure (www.portseattle dot org./cruise

Is the service really free?

 

The Port of Seattle values your passenger experience and is pleased to offer this complimentary service. Passengers are only responsible for airline baggage fees. We hope this service from ship to plane makes your travel easier and your time in Seattle more enjoyable!

How does the service work?

 

• Complete an enrollment form on board your ship.
  
• Receive boarding passes and luggage tags in your stateroom.
  
• Ship's staff pick up your luggage the night before disembarkation.
  
• Enjoy hassle free disembarkation in Seattle.
  
• Your luggage is sent from the pier to Sea-Tac Airport via secure truck and delivered to your airline. No need to check your bags at the arport.
  
• When you arrive at Sea-Tac, proceed to security.
  

Questions?

Check the enrollment form in your stateroom toconfirm eligibility. Guest Services can also assist.

Participating airlines

• Alaska
  
• American
  
• Delta
  
• JetBlue
  
• Southwest
  
• United
  

Ship: Solstice (Tracy Arm Fjord Alaska, September 2017)

Deck - 12

Cabin # 2152: aft

Class – Concierge

Bed near - Balcony

Aft Cabin – Never heard anything from either side, one side was "connecting" wouldn't have known it. There is a restaurant above, occasionally heard chairs scraping, but really wasn't an issue for me. There is a slight overhang, giving half sun, half shade every sunny day, and protection from rain - big BONUS!

Balcony View - Great unobstructed view, loved watching the wake. Looking down, you could see all balconies - mine and all below were about 5' wider - plenty of room on the balcony for two chair/loungers with foot rest and a table, still lots of empty space.

Balcony Size? Oversized balcony

Was wind a problem? Not at all...I used the balcony a lot for lounging and enjoying room service for a few breakfasts and dinners. Last few days we had a lot of fog, loved hearing the fog horn.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? Never saw soot.

Any specific problems with this cabin? Not for me. It was spacious, the bathroom had great storage and the roomy shower had glass doors, not a curtain. The upgraded Concierge amenities were nice, the bed and pillows very comfortable, and the closet was big, with lots of hangers. I brought a plug device with two USB charging ports and two 120 plugs, perfect for all my needs. My two charging cords were long enough to reach the bed.

Any other comments? It's an aft cabin, I knew it was a hike to the stairs/elevators but I enjoy the exercise. I only used elevator if late (rare) so while I started out day one resting between multiple decks, by day four I was good, day seven I felt like Rocky. (Even with moderate food/drink, I lost 6 lbs.) Food on Solstice was good, especially MDR, but loved eggs benedict made to order for breakfast at the buffet when I didn't order from room service. I was glad I got the classic beverage pkg., daily use of 5 bottles of water, 1 glass wine at lunch and dinner, 2-3 lattes a day/couple w/shot of Kahlua, and a bloody Mary here and there, I saved money. Loved the cheesecake, had it for dessert every day, and al Bacio cookies and pastries, yum. The cabin and staff were top notch, I felt pampered and the cruise exceeded my expectations. The only disappointment was the mud slide night before in Skagway, I missed a booked heliocopter/glacier walk as we were diverted to tiny, not much to do, Icy Straits. (Now I'll have to go back. I'll book the same cabin.) loved Concierge - upgraded embark and disembark a breeze, virtually no lines...for me that alone was worth the extra cost. Especially nice was the welcome lunch when got on ship, and continental breakfast in restaurant waiting area to disembark. Concierge host Josue saved me several times (most appreciated: I needed an additional luggage tag for Seattle's free luggage valet-to-home airport baggage pick-up, guest services said too late, but he got it for me), he was awesome! My fourth cruise, this cruise EXEEDED my expectations; if I am fortunate to go on another cruise, only Celebrity for me.

And, often they are $300 PP higher than C2 for 7 days.

If you don't have mobility issues, embrace the longer walk from an aft stateroom to mid-ship stairs and elevators. I did, plus avoided elevators unless a time issue, and had lost six lbs. at end of cruise. I ate three meals a day, afternoon snack of kiwi, wine with dinner and sometimes lunch, an occasional mixed drink, double shot espresso latte 2-3 x a day (often with a shot of Kahlua and a soft serve ice cream dumped in, too!)...and cheesecake for dessert Oh, the African Solstice tea every evening, with a macaroon, was heavenly on the balcony watching the wake. I loved Celebrity, it was my third cruise and leagues better above HAL and Royal in terms of cabin, food and staff; worth every penny in comparison of same itinerary, as was C-1 Concierge...the only way to cruise (well, unless you are in a suite).

I have had thyroid symptoms for 10 years since the birth f my daughter. I was misdiagnosed for years until a new doctor finally figured out I was severely Hypo about 3 years ago. I am currently seeing an endocrinologist to determine whether my thyroid issues may be Hashimoto's.

 

Let me just say, a severely underactive thyroid absolutely does cause weight gain. I was eating 12-1400 calories a day and still gaining 4-5 lbs each month until I was at 350 lbs. (btw, I am 5'11", not a small woman, so that is a very low calorie count). Worse than the weight gain is the constant, severe fatigue, achy muscles, thinning hair, and the absolutely awful brain fog.

 

I have recently been prescribed Armour Thyroid as levothyroxine did nothing for me. Even with my dose maxed out, my TSH levels were at 11-13 each time. I am finally starting to feel some progress, but not by medicine alone.

 

The first 2 months on the new med, my levels were still way off, so I did some research and started a Paleo diet. I started out with the whole 30 which is an ultra strict version and I lost 17 lbs in one month. all total, in just under 3 months, I have lost nearly 30 lbs. many others suffering from thyroid conditions have seen results as well, so it may be worth a try for you.

 

Please don't let anyone tell you that this is an excuse, and an invalid one at that. Hypothyroidism is a serious medical condition known to have life changing symptoms. A treatment which works for one person, may hve zero effect for someone else, and while positive thinking is nice, this disease is not just in your head, and therefore a sunny disposition and daily walks will not cure you of what is ailing you! Much love and well wishes, I hope you find what works for you!

Thank you for sharing, you have given good info. I'm glad to hear the Paleo diet works for you, I will look into it. I suffer from a completely non-functioning thyroid and need to get better control of my weight. A couple of decades ago my ob/gyn caught the problem when he felt a mass...referred me to a really good Endocrinologist. While waiting in his office, I read a list of Hypo symptoms - I had all but one! I attributed each new symptom as "getting old" instead of the red flag they were. For me, if I walk a lot, take stairs, I can lose weight, and I need to step it up, but looking into the Paleo diet could be an added benefit. I do take Synthroid, the generics are not stable enough for me and cause too much flux, requiring additional blood tesing...not worth the monetary savings (or DR. visits)! Good luck to you, because without our health, what have we really got?

Lol- actually, on my last 4 cruises, I have found the answer to be NO! At least on RCI... For the last 5 years, I have been eating very small portions. I always tell this to my waiter, and I always say "please give me a smaller portion", but they never do. And they always say "is the food not good" when I don't finish. And I always say, it is very good, I just don't eat much. In fact, on my trip a year ago, the head waiter noticed, and he came over and was very concerned that I never finished my food. Sigh :). #firstworldproblems

 

Well, I just got of a Celebrity Alaskan cruise, and the portions in MDR should be to your liking, 'cause they were...petite. Which I loved (THANK YOU Celebrity!), and I resisted asking for seconds, which was even better.

Try and find a time even if every other day to get some exercise on board at the fitness center... Don't completely lose the good habits you have started...

Good advice. While I never went to the fitness center, I rarely took an elevator and specifically chose an aft cabin at top of the ship far from the them and stairs. Even though I didn't deprive myself (actually splurged on a daily cheesecake, 2x wine, and at least two latte's with Kahlua, and a couple with a soft serve ice cream dumped in!), I lost six lbs. I did drink a lot of water, had a plate of kiwi every afternoon for a snack, ate only the small portions served, and rarely ate after dinner (late night "treat" was always unsweetened African tea and maybe a raisin oatmeal cookie) which required another walk down/up seven flights of stairs. The only downside (short term) was the aching ankles/calves from stairs, which subsided as I got used to using new muscles - well worth it!! It's been two weeks and I have managed to lose a couple more lbs., by sticking to the no food" after dinner, and one-two kiwi for an afternoon snack. I figure the reduced walking/stairs offsets no more cheesecake or Kahua in my coffee :).

Hello future cruisers. Looks like a lot of folk are pre-dieting, which can't hurt. However, I wasn't very successful. I also seen to have zero metabolism, along with no thyroid, so I wasn't expecting much. To my surprise, I LOST six pounds! Did I deprive myself? Heck no. But, I only took the elevator when there was a time factor. My cabin was aft 12th deck, so I did a LOT of stairs (admittedly, first day I did a lot of resting between decks), but "powered through" including the day 2-3 pain from newly used muscles. I was never really hungry, I always ate breakfast, lunch and dinner (one glass of wine with dinner and lunch) every day, but rarely ate after the cheesecake ("had" to have it, ate every bite -yum!) at dinner. The 1st splurge was eggs Benedict the first morning on my balcony...followed by Kahlua in my latte daily every day (sometimes 2x...) and at least 3x dumped in a soft serve ice cream-wow! My best choice? A plate of sliced kiwi every afternoon. I drank LOTS of water, and had unsweetened African tea each evening before bed. I loved that there were small portions (and was able to resist asking for 2nds) in the main dining room, and was very picky when I ate at the buffet, which was rare. I've been home for little over two weeks and haven't gained any weight back, and my blood pressure is lower...I've actually lost another couple lbs., by sticking to a similar routine (minus the cheesecake and Kahlua, but not as many stairs or walking). I hope this helps someone fearful of the dreaded cruise weight gain; for me the new "exercise" seems to have awakened my metabolism...let's hope it continues.

Just got back from Pacific Coastal cruise. Southwest Valet Service only works if your flight is between 2-6PM. We had a 1:00 flight and they would not allow us to use it. Had to sit longer on the ship and at the airport. We had planned a morning in Seattle. :-(

My 1:10pm flight was eligible - I was on Solstice, flying Southwest. Something everyone needs to keep in mind: Depending on the cruise line, eligible flight times vary. And, for whatever reasons, not all airlines or cruise lines are participating.

You still need to get yourself to the airport. If you don't get information from your cruise line and ship regarding YOUR particular eligibility (prior to sail), go ahead and make your port-to-airport arrangements prior to sailing if you wish. If your ship is participating, there will be a form in your cabin (mine was there the first evening with a bunch of other stuff). FYI: Your flight must be the same day you dock, you do NOT pay anything if your 1-2 checked bags are over 50 lbs., but you do still pay if your airline charges a checked bag fee. I was eligible, did fill out and turn in the form ASAP, received not only luggage tags but printed boarding passes, and my luggage was there in baggage claim when I got to my home airport as promised. Of note, I'm glad I had time to spare, for some reason my pre-printed boarding pass would not scan and TSA sent me back to SW check-in for reprints. I also got PRE-TSA boarding, not sure if was because of port valet luggage program, or my luck. I hope this info helps clear up some of the confusion.

This is a great service, and I have used it on RC, Carnival and NCL in both Ft Lauderdale and Miami.

 

However-- it only works on certain airlines, and the flight must leave after a specified time...like in Miami, the flight had to leave after 11:45, I think. So check the flight departure times carefully.

 

And you do end up paying like $20 per bag. But so much easier than slepping off the ship and to ground transportation, and checking it in at the airport.

I cannot say enough good things about the Port of Seattle offering free valet luggage service. I flew Southwest, so my two bags were free. A big plus for me was that I didn't have to pay an overweight charge for my over-50 lb. bag! Thank you Seattle, Celebrity, and Southwest! My bags were both delivered to my home airport baggage claim.

We're back from our cruise now, and we did use Port Valet. We got B boarding group, and numbers 18 and 19. I'm not complaining, since it all worked out fine for us, but I really don't think they check you in automatically at exactly 24 hours out. I'd definitely do Port Valet again, since it was great. But I'd do my own check in at 24 hours out on the dot.

Did you fly Southwest? I paid $15 for "Early Bird" check in (your assignment is based on ticket purchase date and they start checking us in at 36 hours not 24.) - mine were SEA A-33, and BNA A-36. I also got pre-TSA priority boarding.

If your cruse ship and airline offer the free valet luggage perk, get the form, fill it out and turn it in pronto. It worked flawlessly - I was on Solstice for Sept 1-8 cruise, flying Southwest - what a lifesaver. I caught a viral sore throat, started feeling bad in Victoria B.C., and woke disembark day with sore throat. Not having to even think about a big (overweight, but NOT charged a penny) case and smaller case I normally carry on, until I got to my home airport was a blessing. My two bags were on the carousel just like promised. BTW: If you normally check one bag, but might change your mind like I did, write in two bags so you have two luggage tags - I checked only one first day onboard. But by thursday was feeling unwell and decided to check two bags. With Concierge's help, was able to get two luggage tags the afternoon we had to tag bags and put them out the door for pick up.

Thanks Kevlien2001 so much for posting this. I shared this post with my Explorer September 15, 2017 roll call. Like that the flight time is 2 rather than 3.

FYI, if you are sailing on a ship other than the Explorer. It appears each cruise line choosing to implement this free program (not all cruise lines even offer the free valet service) has chosen different times your flight can leave, in order to qualify. Months ago I checked on the Port of Seattle website and most flight times were ok (my 10am flight qualified), they even posted the lines that were participating. Now the site just advises you to check with your cruise line (a little miss-directed flack from disgruntled passengers???).

Celebrity Solstice - Alaska 9/1/17. Luckily my son told me about Cruise Critic, I love it, it's full of great tips and info, especially the roll call. I'm pretty comfortable about the solo part, and looking forward to the meet and mingle. It would be nice to hear from other solos on this cruise.

Thanks to this the information on this thread, I knew to look for the form and turn it in right away.

Thanks for the reminder to find, fill out and turn in the free valet luggage form ASAP, I've added it to my WHAT TO DO TODAY spreadsheet. It's full of phone and confirmation #s, excursion times, and reminders like this. I plan on having so much fun that I'll need a reminder list to keep me on track with the dreary (but necessary) stuff at a glance.

It's a shuttle service, don't worry about it. It's not like you're committing to mortgaging a house for 30 years. ;p

 

Roz

I was referring to their 9 pages of terms and conditions, where it read like they were not only going to own my personal info, but share it. Now that you mention it, it read like my last mortgage...however, I did book it.