Cruise Travel: Take the LUG out of Luggage

Two cruise lines recently unveiled enhancements to luggage handling service that eliminate some of the stresses associated with travel.

This fall, select guests on Disney Cruise Line sailings will find a more hassle-free vacation experience with the availability of Onboard Airline Check-In. This service allows qualified passengers to check in for post-cruise flights while still on board the Disney vessels. Boarding passes are delivered to their staterooms the day prior to debarkation and when their Disney ships return to Port Canaveral, participating passengers can proceed directly to Customs and then to Orlando Intl Airport where they breeze by check-in lines and go straight to airport security and on to departure gates. Meanwhile, their checked luggage is transported directly from the ship to their flights. In order to take advantage of this service, passengers need to meet certain requirements and be booked on a domestic flight on one of seven participating airlines.

Even more convenient, upscale Crystal Cruises has entered into an exclusive alliance with Luggage Concierge. For easy door-to-door baggage service between their homes and Crystal's world-wide ports of call, Luggage Concierge has established a dedicated phone line for Crystal guests, available 24/7. Arrangements for luggage shipment can be made by calling 877-231-6408 or registering at luggageconcierge.com/crystal. An added bonus for Crystal's repeat passengers (Crystal Society members) is a 20% discount on luggage shipments to and from their Crystal cruise, as well as a 10% discount on luggage shipments for other non-cruise related travel if they book directly through Luggage Concierge. Included in the round-trip service is automatic insurance coverage of $1,500 for all luggage shipments within the U.S., and $2,000 coverage for international luggage shipments. In addition, Crystal guests utilizing the new Luggage Concierge service receive personalized tracking and delivery notification of their baggage through their choice of phone, fax or e-mail.

If you've suffered the long waits in airport lines this past summer, you can appreciate the convenience of having someone else take care of the heavy lifting. More details are available in Cruise Diva's Cruise News.