E:Tickets

[zebra36]

I have no problem with these for air travel but for cruise documents these leave a lot to be desired: no ship baggage tags, no immigration forms provided(Bahama'S), no list of phone numbers for contact on ship. I realize that some of these will be provided at check in but isn't the whole idea of this process to minimize paperwork especially at check in with 1500 other folks trying to do this.

Frank

[pearlandmom]

Hmmmm...I'd like to know about this too. Are all tickets on RCI e-tickets now?

Are the immigration forms the same as the forms you can fill out online for each passenger? Or are they something different? I've already completed and printed our boarding information so I think we're OK there.

The RCI website says that all luggage tags are the same color on each ship now - just different from ship to ship. Of course, right after that they talk about sending the passengers their document booklet so I don't know how up to date the website is on this subject.

Does anyone out there have the scoop on this?

Legend of the Seas
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[JeffKoz]

We had EDocs on our recent Nordic Empress cruise and they were great. I had previously completed the boarding documentation online.

When arriving at the pier, we simply showed the baggage porter our docs, he confirmed on his manifest and put tags on our luggage.

When we went to the desk to the checkin, we presented the single page with our signatures and seapass credit card info. Our seapass and room keys were in an envelope waiting for us - no problems.

I am unsure about the immigration docs, since we did not have to complete them on the Western itinerary.

All in all, I was relieved with the edocs and think it made the whole checkin process a snap.

"Life's a b*tch, then you cruise"
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Voyager of the Seas, July, 2000
Sovereign of the Seas, June 2001
Celebrity Zenith, December 2001
Carnival Pride, June, 2003
Nordic Empress Mar 20, 2004
Up Next:
Hmmm..Still Planning, but definitely RCCL

Koz
Tampa, FL

[zebra36]

Hi Pearl--,

I have been talking with other folks going on the same cruise as I and some have gotten the hard copy documents, I guess the agency I used chose to go the e:ticket route. I called RCL and they wanted $35 to send out paper documents, fat chance. The on line registration form will take care of that paperwork but the Bahama's require another immigration form which is often sent out with docs in order to save time at the pier.

Frank

[pearlandmom]

Thanks for the info, JeffKoz. I was just reading the e-mail we got from our online TA (cruisequick) when we made our final payment. It says that the e-docs will be e-mailed to us 21-45 days prior to departure. Will this e-mail include the signature page you wrote about?

Frank - maybe the immigration form will be included with your e-doc e-mail. If not, there's bound to be a website where you can download the form. I'd probably call RCI and ask them exactly what I need for the Bahamas and where to find the form. I'm such a worry wart about this kind of stuff!!

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[Nancyquilts]

Don't worry if you don't get the form for Bahamas. Two weeks ago we filled them out while standing in line to embark. Of course, we didn't know we were going to Bahamas until we got to the dock. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] Nancy

[Host CMLA]

For our January cruise on the Mariner we had e docs and if possible we will NEVER have them again. It was terrible. We had no luggage tags so when the shuttle dropped 10 of us off with 25 or so pieces of luggage spread out over 5 cabins it was a mess. The porter had no blank tags and no manifest. We stood in a light drizzle for 5 minutes or so for him to come back then we had to sort all the luggage, pass around one pen to everyone to label our luggage...all of this before we even got in the security line. After we went through the metal detector we had to fill out the immigration forms. We weren't allowed to take them and fill them out while we waited in line to check in. We had to stop right past the metal detector and fill them out. There were dozens of people and only 3 counters.

Overall, it was more of a headache to us than a convenience and we don't want e tics again. I'm glad others didn't have problems. Maybe we just got an off day and under normal circumstances everything is smoother.

Cecilia

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[seetosea]

We had edocs for our caribbean cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. When we arrived at the port at 11:30, a porter met us, placed luggage tags on our bags, and we were on the ship within ten minutes. It was a piece of cake. Placed our carry ons in our stateroom and proceeded to lunch. I don't think the other type of documents would have had us on the ship any sooner. This was our first e doc experience after 10 cruises. Don't stress, life's too short. Enjoy your cruise

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[IKE]

We were on the 3/18 Mariner Cruise out of Port Canaveral with E tickets. I always like to have my luggage tagged and all forms filled out before entering terminal. We stayed at Radisson and took shuttle over to the ship. When We arrived there were many people that needed tags and luggage attendant had to go and get them. We had to fill them out. He did not. Then when We finally got to terminal after security check also had to fill out Bahamas form. We had priority checkin and it wasn't crowded so We were on the ship by 12:30PM. I was very nervous about my luggage but in the end it all worked out. Also for some reason We couldnot download the e-tickets and my TA had to send them on to us. Personally, We didnot like this meathod. It did not make the boarding experience any more efficient for us the passengers. It held us up.

[IKE]

Sorry, my mistake, sailing date was 3/28/04 on Mariner. Ike