New offering: airline check-in and luggage valet

[patrioticgirl]

Used the new service disembarking Zenith last week; well worth the cost of $10. :)

Observations:

• Boarding passes and baggage claim checks were delivered in the stateroom the night before disembarkation. No hassle trying to print boarding passes onboard and no standing in line at the airport!:)
  
• Priority disembarkation given, once local authorities have cleared the ship. We were asked to report to the showroom at 8:00 AM, but did not depart until 9:00 AM when the ship was finally cleared ... just one of those things that sometimes happens.:eek:
  
• After claiming luggage in the terminal and taking it through customs, bags were collected at the luggage valet station outside the terminal. It was transported to the airport, not to be seen again until flight's end. Easy navigation from the pier to the plane (without bags) with just one stop at airport security. Priceless!:D

Additional info on the new service: http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=rcl&script=410&layout=9&item_id=799192

[teedee]

I am so happy to hear about this! It will be a big help for those of us who have mobility issues. I think it will be money well spent!

Terri

[patrioticgirl]

Hi Terri! I have to say the service was wonderful! We did have to tote the bags from the pier through customs, but it sure beat carrying bags all day. I am hoping they add the service to San Pedro for this spring when I will be traveling with my mom.

By the way, I met cousin Deb on Zenith!:)

[Mercruiser]

Thanks for the tip. I'll check into it on my San Diego cruise in March. In the press release, it sounds like you sign up for this while on-board the cruise. Is that how it worked?

[patrioticgirl]

Hi Mercruiser! The information was handed out onboard early into the sailing and I believe we had to have it turned in at guest reations by 11 AM on the 20th, which was two days before disembarking. I just checked to see if I had brought home the info that was originally distributed, but I don't have it. Sorry! It seems to me the service was available to those flying on major carriers... American, Delta, and United come to mind. You needed to list the carrier, flight number, and departure time on the paperwork, which took all of a minute to complete. Special tags were delivered around dinner time on the last evening of the cruise, which were to be used in place of the regular colored tags. It was all very easy!

[lv2cruz80]

Is it 10.00 per person or cabin?

[patrioticgirl]

Ten dollars per person....sorry this was not clear.

[mahdnc]

Gina,

 

thanks for the heads-up on this! Will look into it for our next cruise (only 1 year from today). How did your trip go?

 

Oh and how is the 50 lb/bag limit handled? In other words how do they assess the overweight fee with this system?

[patrioticgirl]

Hi David! The Zenith voyage was delightful, but at five days, it was much too short!;)

Hope that you, Marcia, and the kids had a great holiday season!:) There is still time for you all to join us for the Summit to Hawaii this April!:)

I am not sure how they might handle bag weight limit overages, but it did cross my mind because on the trip down my bag weighed in at 46 pounds. For fun, I purchased 13 pairs of Kino sandals and 13 sweatshirts in Key West for holiday presents and packed them in an extra tote that my aunt had borrowed from me when she returned home to KW last month. I ended up arranging items in both bags for my return trip home to keep them under the weight limit. I imagine if there are extra charges for overweight bags, the charges would be billed to your credit card after the cruise.

[turquoisesea]

I just read the news release about this yesterday. My airline - UsAirways -was still not on the list. Oh for the good old days. Way, way back in the 80's (gee I'm old!) this service (or something close to it) was the standard. After we went through customs in Miami and claimed our bags there were large trucks outside the terminal from each of the airlines. The porters took them to the correct truck, you got your luggage tags and left. $10 is a great price to pay for this service!

[cruznut6]

Just one word of caution: the valet service was offered on our Nov. cruise on the Century. I was elated and went to Guest Relations to ask a few questions, as we had a "connecting" flight from Altanta to Philly. There wasn't any problem, or so I was told. We filled out the form, and handed it to the G. R. person. On the last night of our cruise, we didn't receive our boarding passes or luggage tags until after "first seating" dinner. Reviewing the information, we noticed our documents were only for our Atlanta stop and not for our return to Philly. After two separate visits back to Guest Relations, we were finally told that Delta decided that the valet service was going to be available for non-stop flights only. Needless to say, there wasn't any policy or instructions on restrictions for this service in our paperwork. My advice would be for both Celebrity and/or any of the airlines participating in this service to clarify any restrictions. This caused us plenty of aggravation after having a great cruise.

 

Regards...Bob

[Jimsgirl]

I used Valet Luggage at end of Infinity sailing ((Dec 4th) . It is for passengers using Delta, American and United Airways. You had to fly within continental USA, but they did allow for a change of aircraft (like at Dallas, Houston,Atlanta) but must be with same airline.

 

It was $10 per person for two regular cases.

I got my tags after Main seating on last night ( I had packed earlier in day.)

Bags were put out as usual.

 

Did NOT have to claim bags in the terminal in San Diego, just walk through and hand in Customs Form to official at gate. Then I was directed on to a bus going to the airline at the airport.

 

I changed planes at Dallas Fort Worth and arrived at Fort Myers Florida that night, my bags came off in the usal way.

 

Found the system worked, the only glich being the person calling out the disembarkation colur and tag initial/number on board. She was not clear at all as to who was to go,when.

 

I would use it again. Only hope I can do so when coming off HAL in Feb.

[teedee]

Hi Terri! I have to say the service was wonderful! We did have to tote the bags from the pier through customs, but it sure beat carrying bags all day. I am hoping they add the service to San Pedro for this spring when I will be traveling with my mom.

By the way, I met cousin Deb on Zenith!:)

 

Deb said she met some very nice CC people on the cruise. She had a great time too. Did quite well at bingo and in the casino from what I understand. I am hoping they add this program to San Diego. I'm on a Mercury Mexican Riviera cruise in late April and would love to take advantage of this service!

Terri

[SanFranBayCruiser]

We've been on the fence trying to decide between Galaxy and Sea Princess for the holidays in 2006. This certainly gives Celebrity a big boost for reasons to book Galaxy!

[parrothead1]

Sailing out of San Juan on Constellation 3/4/06 - could someone post how things work there. This may be worth the $40 for us to do since one of our kids will be 9 months.

 

Thanks

[gkm]

This certainly might come in handy for our Hawaii trip this spring. I know my DH would be delighted not to have to be a pack mule!:D

 

Garry

[ricko1]

Sailing out of San Juan on Constellation 3/4/06 - could someone post how things work there. This may be worth the $40 for us to do since one of our kids will be 9 months.

 

Thanks

It seems the only change from our use of the program in Vancouver : You do have to take the luggage to customs in P.R. . Then you are on your way. I like the way they did it in Vancouver. Once the luggage was put outside, you never saw it again.. Different port, different rules..Ricko1

[patrioticgirl]

Garry, it was nice to get off the ship and not have to worry about hauling as much stuff to the airport!:) I don't believe that the service is currently offered upon Summit's return to San Pedro.... but I surely do hope it will be offered by sailing time, too! (I'm booked on the 4/09 voyage.)

[Libracruzer]

I will be sailing on the Serenade on the 5/21 coastal. When I depart Vancouver for my return flight home; I will be changing planes in San Francisco. Do I have to go through customs there, or will my luggage just be transferred to my flight home to Palm Springs. Thanks ahead of time for the information.

[ricko1]

I will be sailing on the Serenade on the 5/21 coastal. When I depart Vancouver for my return flight home; I will be changing planes in San Francisco. Do I have to go through customs there, or will my luggage just be transferred to my flight home to Palm Springs. Thanks ahead of time for the information.

Unless they have changed the way they do this in Vancouver, You won't see your bags after putting them out the night before until you get home..

[Libracruzer]

Thanks Ricko1 for the info.

[bilgeboyPa]

I guess another perk gone that we now have to pay for..I loved this service. It used to be part of the deal when you got the Transfer vouchers from the Pier to the Airport. I remember disembarking in Port Everglades, going to the US Airways truck, giving my name, they put the tags on the bags and took the luggage and I got my boarding passes for my flight.

This Valet service is no way a "NEW IDEA".It stopped after 9-11. I'm sorta annoyed that they make you pay for it now, but I will use it because it is very convienient.

 

Jeff