I Have Info. on Luggage Express in San Juan!

[Queen B1]

We were on the July 13 sailing of the Destiny this summer out of San Juan and were able to use the Luggage Express program that was offered! Our return trip could not have been any easier nor leaving the ship quicker! Here is everything that we either experienced or learned about it:

 

Participating Airlines: American, Jet Blue, Continental, Delta, Northwest, US Air and United

 

Cost: $15 per person (We sent 2 bags each - still $15)

 

Sign-up: Eligible passengers receive a sign-up form in their cabins in the middle of the week. Each passenger fills out his/her own form and returns it to the Information Desk by 3:00 on Friday. You will need to have a hard copy of your flight information for the Purser to check. We took our flight confirmation sheet that we printed off the computer when we first made our flight arrangements. (They seem to need this to prove you have a flight and that the flight falls within their guidelines.)

 

Eligible Flight Times: I have misplaced my sheet with those times. The earliest flights were sometime after 12:00 as I remember. The last flight was definitely 11:59 that night. Our flight was with US Air at 2:30.

Boarding Passes/Luggage Tags:These were received on Saturday afternoon along with a special instruction sheet for debarkation. We attached the white luggage tags onto our handles and had to have our luggage in the hall by midnight that night. You were given group letters (AAAA, BBBB, Tours, CCCC, DDDD, and EEEE) which seemed to reflect the time of your flight. It was great to have our boarding passes in hand!

 

Debarkation Day: Luggage Express passengers were given priority debarkation, so they were among the first off. We met in the Criterion Lounge according to this schedule:

 

AAAA & BBBB & Tours - 8:00 (our group)

CCCC - 8:30

DDDD & EEEE - 9:00

 

We met at 8:00 in the lounge and were literally stepping into a taxi at 8:30. There is a crew member who leads you through the ship, so you don't come in contact with any other lines or people. You get off quicly and clear immigration. You continue to the baggage claim area and get your bags from your own special section (using your group letters). (We decided to use a porter.) You proceed out of the terminal building down to almost the end of the covered pier on the right side. That's where you hand over your luggage to the Luggage Express handlers (BAGS, Inc.). They replace your tags with the correct flight tags. We stepped to the curb and got a taxi!

 

Airport: We arrived at the airport and went straight through security. Thanks to Luggage Express, we avoided both the check-in lines and the USDA lines. We were sitting at our gate by 9:00. We were also thrilled to beat the crowds and zoo-like atmosphere that everyone talks about at the San Juan airport!

 

Arrival in Charlotte: When we arrived in Charlotte that evening, our bags were waiting for us!

 

This is a wonderful service and we would sign up for it again in a heartbeat!

[Jojiboy]

Queen B1, thanks so much for this information! We were planning to use Luggage Express too next month when we cruise on the Destiny. This detailed information you provided is great and timely. Thanks.

[bonniemari]

We used the luggage service on our May 4 Destiny cruise and it worked like a charm. We had a later flight and it was really nice not having to deal with the luggage.

[Carolinamamasita]

this is great info

thanks:)

[Queen B1]

I'm glad that I could be of help!

[geezersgirl]

This service sounds great. We are on the Victory in February and our flight home to LAX does not leave until 4:50 pm. We were wondering what we were going to do with our luggage. So how exactly does this work? Did you contact them ahead of time or were you automatically given the info onboard? Is this a service through Carnival or is it an outside company? Any additional info would be great!

[Queen B1]

When you fill out the information for your e-documents, you must give them your travel details. I believe that they must use this to determine who gets the information sheet for Luggage Express, and who doesn't. We didn't have to request it. It's my understanding that Carnival contracts out to BAGS, Inc. to provide the service. Not all ports offer it, and airline participation varies from port to port!

[Queen B1]

I'm sorry that I can't be more exact about the earliest flights that are able to use the program. That particular bit of information was on the form we had to turn in, and, unfortunately, I can't find the paper that I wrote that earliest flight time on!

[DSA]

Thanks for the info on express debarkation. I was also thinking of doing that when we sail next March in San Juan. Do they also offer self debarkation and if so, how did that work in SJ. Who was called first? We have a 12:08pm departure so we wan't to be off the boat fast but 15$ pp (we are 5 = 75$) is bit expensive...

[Queen B1]

DSA - This is taken directly from the "SAn Juan Debarkation" sheet which was delivered to our cabin. As you will read, self assist were off the ship before Luggage Express passengers:

 

Self Assist is a program offered to guests who wish to get off the ship first thing Sunday morning. From approximately 7:15 AM - 7:45 AM guests will have the opportunity to leave the ship using the self assist option. In order to participate in this program, guests must be able to comfortably carry all of their own luggage off the ship as no assistance wil be available. Beginning at 7:15 AM we will make announcements for guests participating in the self assist program and call you down one deck at a time. Once your deck is called you may come to the deck 3 gangway. However, it is very important that guests remember that you will have to carry all of your own luggage. If you choose this method of debarkation, please do not put your luggage ouside of your cabins tonight. Hold on to it and take it off tomorrow between 7:15 AM and 7:45 AM.

 

Hope this helps!

[DSA]

Great info - I think I will use the self option - I will save some $$$. I imagine as long as yon can carry them out without help, there is no limit on the size of your luggage as opposed as when you are boarding ?

[Queen B1]

We agree! The size of your luggage will only matter to you as there are no security scanners to send them through as you navigate the terminal at debarkation! It sounds like you'll be on the way to the airport in more than enough time! Glad we could help!

[geezersgirl]

When you fill out the information for your e-documents, you must give them your travel details. I believe that they must use this to determine who gets the information sheet for Luggage Express, and who doesn't. We didn't have to request it. It's my understanding that Carnival contracts out to BAGS, Inc. to provide the service. Not all ports offer it, and airline participation varies from port to port!

Thanks so much for the info! This is only our second cruise and I had no idea this was even available. We are flying AA so it looks like we will use the Luggage Express option, I also passed it along to our family, thanks!

[Queen B1]

geezer's girl - You're so very welcome! What a difference it will make for you!