I would like to hear from people who have used "luggage transporters" to have their baggage sent ahead of time to their travel destinations. Are they reliable ? Can we trust them when we are going on a cruise and need to absolutely get our bags on time ?

I have not done this but for many years my elderly next door neighbors UPSed or FEDEXed their clothes to the hotel they stayed at the night before their cruise. Worked for them.

Some businessmen do it all the time using FedEx. Never carry luggage on the plane. Luggage is waiting for them when they check in the hotel and they ship it "home" as they leave the hotel. I assume the company is picking up the tab

Fed-Ex, DHL or UPS (next day) works good for this but it can be a bit pricey - think $75 to $100+ per bag. They have 3 rate structures (listed in desending order) next morning, next afternoon or 2 day). If you don't mind sending your stuff out a week or so in advance you can use Fed-Ex Ground or UPS Ground which will less expensive but delivery dates are not guaranteed. Least expensive would be Parcel Post, either Priority Mail (2 to 3 days) or Regular Mail (7 to 21 days).

We used Baggage Direct from Los Angeles to Maui. Money well spent. They bring your boarding pass and pick up luggage the day before. It is $30 for first passenger and $15 for each additional to the destination airport. If you want it taken to your hotel on the other end, it is twice that amount. I highly recommend it.

UPS has guaranteed time in transit. You can visit their website to see how long it will take for a "package" to get from your zip code to another location. Cost is based on weight, size and distance. Then you can track your package on their website. The post office is less expensive is you are shipping to Alaska or Hawaii. For an additional fee you can track a package with them, too.

Try a company called CruiseShippers. My wife and I used them last year. Can't be happier. The offer a money back on-time guarantee if late. I have used them to a resort in colorado and to a cruise ship in Barcelona, Spain. Thier webpage is www.cruiseshippers.com