Anyone used the US Direct Guest Program?

[Bemidji Ty]

Got our docs for upcoming cruise. It has info regarding 'Catagory 1 US Direct Guests' where we apply our baggage tags, give them to the airline and they show up later in our cabin. Has anyone used this? Any problems? When I called X today they were closed. But #2 on their phone tree is "Lost Luggage". This doesn't build much confidence.

 

Also, we have friends who took a 2 week Med cruise last July on Princess and their luggage never made it to the ship. Apparently lost by airline.

 

My DW wants to try it. I guess we should. Just want to know if anyone has any experience with this program. Thanks in advance.

[alcpa1]

We have just returned from the Summit leaving from Vancouver. We did use US Direct and it was a wonderful service.

The way I look at it is if the airline is going to loose my luggage [again] it doesn't matter if I wait at baggage claim or not. I really think that it provides a priority service. The way I understand it your bags are pulled as they are offloaded and checked against a master list. To me this represents a safety net.

The next time we cruise through a port where this if offered we will use it.

I hope this helps and enjoy your cruise.

[Shirley and Les]

In the summer of 2005, we used US Direct on a norhtbound cruise on the Summit from Vancouver. It was great. We started out in the morning in Pittsburgh and checked our luggage. We then flew to Chicago, Seattle and finally Vancouver. In Vancouver, we bypassed customs, went thru a minor 'fill out the form' session, and got on a motorcoach to the port. At the port, we went through the 'X' checkin, had the 'Welcome Aboard' glass of bubbly, and met our luggage sitting outside our cabin. It was great.

Go for it. Check your luggage and full speed ahead! They have a nice robe in your cabin in case an 'OOPS' :( happens.

Les

[BarbaraP]

This is the second time I have heard about this service. Could someone explain a little more about it?

-Is this arranged through "X"?

 

-Can you have this service if you arrange a pre-cruise hotel on your own or is it just airport to cruise ship?

-What's the cost?:confused: :confused: :confused:

[caviargal]

FYI, clients of mine choose not to use it for a recent Alaska Cruise and it took them over 3 hours to clear customs and immigration at Vancouver airport. The Celebrity rep at the airport told them they would have been cleared the lines immediately by special escort had they used this option but that was never stated clearly elsewhere.

 

They used X's air and transfers.

[CruisingChick]

We also used this in July 2005 off Summit in Vancouver. It worked wonderfully and I would do it again.

[Bemidji Ty]

Thanks all for your responses.

[Ephraim]

US Direct is a special service offered by the cruise lines in association with US CBP. This is a service ONLY for US passengers arriving to Vancouver directly from the US and vice-versa, it does not work for anyone else.

 

US CBP does pre-clearing in Vancouver for air and sea passengers who are going to visit the US directly from Canada. Either at the airport (for those leaving Canada for the US) or at the port (for those sailing to a US port from Canada). It is just easier to do it this way. In fact, US CBP is at all Canadian airports doing pre-clearing for flights to the US and from what I understand they are also in Ireland as well as Bermuda, the Bahamas and Aruba.

 

If you are entering Canada you need to go through Canadian Border Security twice, once through Immigration and Naturalization (before you collect your luggage) and once through Customs and Excise (after you have your luggage.)

 

If you have US Direct you are taken immediately BEFORE you go through Immigration and Naturalization (ie you have not entered Canada, yet) and kept in a quarantined bus until you are delivered to the ship. Because you haven't entered Canada you don't have to go through preclearance, because you are essentially for all purposes still in the US.

 

For this reason, your baggage must also be captured before it goes through to the baggage claim and be shipped (in quarantine) to the ship directly.

 

I hope this clears this up.

[BarbaraP]

Thanks Ephriam!

:rolleyes: So if I stay in a Vancouver hotel pre-cruise then this service is unavailable because I have to enter Canada? Is there any advantage with arranging the pre-cruise stay and transfers through the ship since this service would not be available?

 

Do the cruise lines only offer this service to passengers who book their air through the cruiseline or can it be done with just purchasing transfers? Barb

[Shirley and Les]

Thanks Ephriam!

 

 

:rolleyes: So if I stay in a Vancouver hotel pre-cruise then this service is unavailable because I have to enter Canada? Is there any advantage with arranging the pre-cruise stay and transfers through the ship since this service would not be available?

 

If you enter Canada (to stay in a hotel as an example), the US Direct service is not available. Booking on your own or through Celebrity depends on your choice. Typically, we book directly to save money. I think a Celebrity booking can be tied in with transfer to the ship from your hotel. It might save some baggage handling in exchange for spending extra money. Your choice!

Do the cruise lines only offer this service to passengers who book their air through the cruiseline or can it be done with just purchasing transfers? Barb

On our Alaskan cruise, I am 100 percent positive the TA arranged the air travel on his own and only bought the US Direct transfers from Celebrity. The whole trip was part of a group and this particular TA had 32 people race from one end of Chicago OHare to the other (both going and coming) to make approximately $200 on each person. Celebrity would have arranged United from Pittsburgh to Chicago to Vancouver. This clown of a TA arranged United from Pittsburgh to Chicago and then Alaskan Airlines from Chicago to Seattle to Vancouver. He made money and but the group really suffered. But, that's another story. To answer your question, you just buy the transfer from Celebrity if you going directly to or from the ship to the airport in Vancouver and you are an USA citizen.

Les