kwren

My in-laws are thinking of going on an Oceania cruise in January, leaving out of Miami. They are in their mid 80's and had some travel problems the last time they went to Europe...late flight, missed connection, no porters (how come porters always bombard us, but the in-laws couldn't find even one??!!), etc. Not the best way to start a vacation. It would be great for them to go on another vacation, but they are a bit nervous about potential problems.

One thing which might help them tremendously, other than a direct flight to Miami, which they do have booked for the day prior to the cruise departure, is a service I have heard about where one can ship luggage ahead and have it delivered directly to the cruise cabin. Has anyone ever done this and if so, what delivery service have you used? Were there any problems? Did it work as advertised? Any downsides?

Any info you could provide would be so helpful to put their minds at ease! Thanks.

Eschew

The only time I have tried is with the cruise lines. You book your air through them, you can check your luggage straight through from thd airport to the cruise ship, or from the cruise ship straight to the airport terminal. The cruise lines makes all the arrnagement and it is free. The few times that I have used it, it worked as advertised except once, where Princess lost my luggae in Alaska, and they FedEx it back to me at home a week later.

I have not used or tried to use a third party company to send lugage ahead to the cruise ship.

If you worry about losing luggage, pack light with carry ons only and that should do it.

We cross pack so that if we lost any luggage, it won't be as devasting as we will both lose a bit of items and not everything for one person.

kwren

I didn't realize it was free through the cruise lines, but it sounds like they would still have to get the luggage to the airport. It's hard for them to handle it at all at this point and I'd like to suggest something where it's picked up at their house and taken all the way to the cruise. Sounds like we need to look at a third party. If anyone has experience with that, I'd love to hear about it.

wrldtrvlr05

I read that UPS has started a service of shipping luggage ahead. They have boxes that the suitcases fit in that can be picked up at any UPS store. I would call them and find out regarding shipping to a cruise ship - I don't know if that would work but you can ship to an address so it could get to their hotel ahead of time. If you advise the hotel it is coming and ship it well ahead of time it should be there waiting. If they take a cab from the hotel(or hotel shuttle) they wouldn't have to handle it at all.

Aristotle

It seems to me that the cuise line package only works with certain combinations of cruise line, airline and airport. And US customs is to be reckoned with. You still need to pick up and take your bags through custroms and recheck it etc. All very frustrating. Ship ahead - could be great but I would look into the catches. Nothing about international travel is easy.

wrldtrvlr05

As I understand it the OP's in laws would fly out of Miami - and I am assuming they live in the US. Shipping the bags via UPS as I mentioned they could send them right to the hotel in enough time to get them there (UPS has a great tracking system) The hotel would certainly hold them until they arrive and any shuttle or taxi would handle the bags from the hotel to the ship. The bags would be dropped with the bag handlers at the port so no need for them to handle them until they see them in their stateroom.

Eschew

You are correct about FedEx will ship lugagge. If they are staying at a hotel overnight in Miami, it should not be a problem to FedEx the luggage to the hotel ahead of their arrival. I have used FedEx to send things to hotels ahead of my arrival many times. However, you have to make sure that the hotel front desk knew about the package's arrival and will let you know when it arrives. Also, it is not cheap as they charge by size of package and weight.

The hotel porter and the cab driver will look after the lugage from hotel to cruise terminal and that would be fine.

Shipping international should not post a problem as FedEx has a "custom" department that will help you with the paperwork, for a fee, of course. All you have to do is to declare all items and put a value on it.

wrldtrvlr05

I was referring to the new UPS service for luggage which I believe they just started a few months ago. They advertise that it is competetive with airline charges for extra baggage and the boxes are suitcase style with handles (two sizes) They also suggest that you can actually use them as suitcases to avoid the extra weight. (I think I would only do that on a "one way" trip though). Eschew - I don't know if the OP's family is actually flying Internationally - sounds like the cruise is out of Miami.

Eschew

If that's the case, both UPS and FedEx would work ... Would that be round trip Miami? or they will need help shipping luggage back home?

kwren

Thanks for the suggestions.

I thought I had heard about a service that picks up luggage at your home and the next time you see it is at your cabin on the cruise. Maybe that's only set up through the cruise lines themselves. I'll have them check with them.

They will want to do the same thing going home...luggage picked up at the Miami cruise terminal and delivered to their home in Pennsylvania.

Luggage_Forward

Disclosure: I represent Luggage Forward.

Luggage Forward will provide collection of luggage at your home or business and deliver it directly to any cruise ship worldwide. You will find the bags in your cabin when you embark. On the disembarkation, the service can arrange for your bags to be collected at the port and sent back home. Unlike UPS/FedEx, Luggage does not require you to box your luggage. http://www.luggageforward.com for pricing and information.

Eschew

That's interesting. How do you get through customs and pick up the luggage at the cruise terminal? Or declaring the contents? How about homeland security? Do they scan the luggage?

kwren

That's what I was looking for - thanks. I forwarded the site to the in-laws.
I'm interested about customs too. Do passengers have the ship remove the luggage as it usually does (put it out in the hall the night before disembarkation) and pick it up to go through customs or does the company do that for them?

luggage_ahead

Luggage Ahead can pick up your luggage anywhere in the US and deliver to any port in most locations worldwide. We will assist in preparing necessary paperwork to avoid any customs delays and ensure a timely delivery. For more info, visit us at http://www.luggageahead.com