Question about Shuttle

[Chefaleslie]

We are on the Discovery in a few weeks, and are coming into Seattle the day before our departure. We will be traveling with our Mom that has limited mobility and will be in a wheel chair. If we take the shuttle from the airport is our luggage checked there, or do we still need to que with our luggage when we get to the port? Thank you for any in-site into this. 

[1025cruise]

If you are coming in the day before departure, you won't be getting on a cruise line shuttle. They only operate the day of.

[Chefaleslie]

1 hour ago, 1025cruise said:

If you are coming in the day before departure, you won't be getting on a cruise line shuttle. They only operate the day of.

We are staying close to SEA, so we could just go back to the airport to catch the shuttle if it means that we don't que with luggage. 

[memoak]

6 minutes ago, Chefaleslie said:

We are staying close to SEA, so we could just go back to the airport to catch the shuttle if it means that we don't que with luggage. 

If you take the cruise line shuttle from the airport to the pier your luggage will be sent from the bus to the ship for you 

[DCThunder]

7 minutes ago, Chefaleslie said:

We are staying close to SEA, so we could just go back to the airport to catch the shuttle if it means that we don't que with luggage. 

How are you getting from the airport to your hotel the day before when you arrive? You'll have to schlep your luggage to the hotel (via a hotel shuttle perhaps) and then back again to the airport the next morning in the same hotel shuttle.

 

Once you're at the hotel, I think its preferable to just get a cab/Uber from the hotel to the cruise port and not fool around with going back to the airport just to catch a shuttle.  Then drop off the luggage at the cruise port, pay the cab/Uber, and proceed to check in for the cruise.

[Chefaleslie]

We saw that if you take an uber to the port, they don't have the same priority as a taxi so you get dropped off very far from the entrance to the que. I understand that there is still going to be a bunch of moving luggage around, but we are just trying to figure out the best way to navigate with mom. 

[DiRonT]

Our experience at Seattle is Uber or Taxi drives right up to the terminal and drops you and your luggage.  Flag down a porter and they will take your bags and next time you see them will be in your cabin.  Returning into Seattle is a different story.  If you use taxi or Uber you need to walk quite a way with your luggage to get to where the taxis and Uber can pick you up.

[DCThunder]

2 hours ago, Chefaleslie said:

We saw that if you take an uber to the port, they don't have the same priority as a taxi so you get dropped off very far from the entrance to the que.

This is definitely the case in Vancouver.  Taxis can go into the underground area at Canada Place's parking structure to unload, but Uber's can't.

[memoak]

1 hour ago, DCThunder said:

This is definitely the case in Vancouver.  Taxis can go into the underground area at Canada Place's parking structure to unload, but Uber's can't.

Easy if you are on an Uber   Just get dropped off at the Pan Pacific then go inside to the Convention Center elevators snd go down to the CS level to drop off luggage 

[Treasure Hunter]

Perhaps they are taking a Princess Hotel plus transfer package. We used to do that all the time. In that case you will need your luggage at the hotel. The day of sailing, the luggage is loaded on the bus early at the hotel and when you arrive at the pier you still identify it and check it with the porters. 

[cjpj]

17 hours ago, Treasure Hunter said:

Perhaps they are taking a Princess Hotel plus transfer package. We used to do that all the time. In that case you will need your luggage at the hotel. The day of sailing, the luggage is loaded on the bus early at the hotel and when you arrive at the pier you still identify it and check it with the porters. 

So you're not actually staying at the hotel as part of a Princess package, but just going there to catch the shuttle? Or did I missundstand and you booked the hotel package that includes transfers from the airport to the hotel, then the hotel to the port.

[walkingsoon]

Fwiw, I had a frustratingly bad experience with the Princess shuttle transfer in Seattle.

 

I understand that you're trying to minimize luggage handling and make things easiest for your mother, but I'm not sure that doubling back to the airport will do that.

 

As far as lines once you get to the port, there are usually porters right there at the curb to take the bags with no real wait.

 

Rideshare might be your best option.

 

Walkingsoon

[macandlucy]

We have done the shuttle a few times, usually directly from a flight. Once off the flight, you meet the Princess rep at the baggage claim area. You then wait a while for other passengers to arrive. You pick up your luggage from the carousel and usually walk it out to the bus. The bus is usually parked outside, but sometimes it can be a short walk. The driver loads your luggage on to the bus. Once you are at the cruise terminal, you get off the bus and then wait for your luggage to be unloaded. You get you bags from the sidewalk and head into the building with your luggage. You could opt to get a porter, but if you don't, you'll be handling your luggage and schlepping it into the cruise terminal from the bus lane. Usually not a very long walk, but some walking is involved.

 

One time we did what you are asking about and made our way to the airport (from our hotel) to meet the Princess rep. It worked out fine in the end, but IIRC, there was much confusion and consternation ;) Hard time trying to find the Princess rep, lots of waiting, as we were waiting for several flights from several airlines. Would not do this again.

 

Honestly. unless it's a huge price difference (really huge), or not do-able for some other reason, I would take a taxi directly from the hotel to the cruise port and avoid the shuttle in this scenario. I think the shuttle, while do-able, will take longer, add more baggage handling requirements, and more walking. Taxis are just so much easier, and you don't have to wait for a whole bunch of people to show up, so much quicker.  

 

Best of luck with whatever you route choose, and have a wonderful cruise!

 

 

Edited August 14 by macandlucy

[Jadn13]

Check if your hotel is included, they were great to the ship and to the airport from the ship

Seattle Express 

https://seattleexpress.com

[memoak]

Not a big fan of shuttles unless the port is a long way from the airport like Rome or Southampton