Baggage Tags Arrived (To dance or not to dance???) Hmmmm?

[Chuck Palm]

Our Xmas Panama cruise is official, I guess!

Our baggage tags have arrived from Princess with a mound of paperwork and pre-cruise "homework." Ugh!

I miss the days of real cruise documents in all of their clear plastic glory!

We cannot help but think this cost cutting approach regarding pre-cruise information is a mistake on the part of Princess, especially when trying to attract repeat business from first time cruisers should be a priority.

So do we do a baggage tag dance (formerly doc dance) or just nuzzle up real close to the computer to do our pre-cruise homework assignment?

I'm starting to have greater appreciation for those dark blue travel pouches, of which I have a drawer full, one receives from Holland America with the docs and other cruise info filed appropriately. They make the cruise seem a bit more official, or so it seems to me.

Well I guess I'll go work on my homework now!

[LS80]

Do a little dance for the tags......then after you fill out online....dance some more.........you've got things in hand that makes it official......go for it!!!! Enjoy........the cruise will be great............



Sharon

[Desdemona01]

I LOVE my HAL Docs when they arrive! The latest is a blue fabric with the HAL logo woven into it--very classy! It's such a milestone in the lead up to the cruise

[katlady]

Dance
Cruise homework is the best kind of homework I don't have a cruise booked so Dance for the rest of us trying to put together the money for our next cruise.

[CruisinK n J]

I'd do both, Chuck. Enjoy yourself!

Judy

[Dorothy]

Dance for those tags, Chuck!

So what does Princess send besides the tags?

dorothy

[Mean Dean]

Chuck,

Congratulations on receiving your documents!

But you think this is bad? Just wait until the cruise lines start sending your documents via e-mail..........

But whatever the case, you guys are going to have a great time! Hoist a pint for all of back here!

Dean

[VTJen]

Always choose to dance!

[Mike M]

I just show them to Kramer, the dog, and he does "The Tag Wag".

I do miss the days when the docs showed up in a nice travel wallet. Then it turned into a plastic thing, then a paper thing and now you receive some luggage tags.

Then again, most of it goes into the recycle bin and the luggage tags, passenger info, cc document and maybe an immigration form are all that you take with you, so it is somewhat of a waste. You really don't "need" the documents.

I have to admit that there were a few "document wallets" sold at my last garage sale. I won't say the prices.

Take care,
Mike (Who will now be keel hauled.)

[Kuki]

You can do the Bag Tag Tango!

[rollerdonna]

Chuck, I have something for you! E-mail me please?

donna

[Chuck Palm]

Dorothy, They sent a list of "to dos" which included immigration data, passport information, excursion options, & stuff they wanted to sell.

Basically they just want you to do your own data entry. It probably saves Princess a ton of money when they add up the costs on each passenger.
I guess the only constant is change.

RD I sent you my e-mail address, I can't wait.

[Divemaster]

Maybe more to it Chuck. If you do the paperwork at home you will need to pull your docs. Have seen passengers actually left at the docks because they never bothered to pull their passports (or certified birth certificates in the good ol' days). When HAL sends out the "Know Before You Go" brochure and immigration questionnaire I think they are preempting possible problems at the dock. You have not lived until you have seen folks who paid several thousands of dollars for a cruise get stuck watching their ship sail away for lack of a piece of paper.

Originally Posted by Chuck Palm

Dorothy, They sent a list of "to dos" which included immigration data, passport information, excursion options, & stuff they wanted to sell.

Basically they just want you to do your own data entry. It probably saves Princess a ton of money when they add up the costs on each passenger.
I guess the only constant is change.

RD I sent you my e-mail address, I can't wait.

[Chuck Palm]

We ALWAYS fly with a passport, even on domestic flights. It seems to make things go more smoothly. I too have seen horrible delays, especially at U.S. customs/immigration, on the part of passengers using drivers licenses, birth certificates, etc.

However having the customer do all the data entry is the ultimate outsource, or so it seems to me. We can hope thst this cost cutting will be reflected in the cruise fare, which may be the case. Of that I'm not so sure.

[Divemaster]

Actually, its more like my experience in Canada where customs made all the passengers on our bus grab, standby, and declare their bags in person. If you go straight to the source the potential for errors is reduced and accountability can be defined?

Originally Posted by Chuck Palm

We ALWAYS fly with a passport, even on domestic flights. It seems to make things go more smoothly. I too have seen horrible delays, especially at U.S. customs/immigration, on the part of passengers using drivers licenses, birth certificates, etc.

However having the customer do all the data entry is the ultimate outsource, or so it seems to me. We can hope thst this cost cutting will be reflected in the cruise fare, which may be the case. Of that I'm not so sure.