When we disembark, you'll be directed to where your luggage is awaiting you. The area is a large "warehouse" full of thousands of pieces of luggage. A number or color-coded card will have been issued to you prior so you can go directly to the section where your suitcases are. It's a smooth operation.
However, there'll be gobs of suitcases in your section, almost all in similar colors.
To find your suitcases quickly, I suggest you purchase some suitcase straps and put them on before you leave for Miami. They're invaluable. They are also somewhat difficult to find. I needed a few more and was fortunate to find some at J.C. Penney's in my mall. I purchased the bright lime-green color straps as they will be in contrast to my dark luggage.
If you don't want to purchase straps, tie some yellow or other bright color yarn "bows" on the handle of your suitcases.
Be sure every piece of your luggage has an ID tag attached to it with your name, address, phone number and/or email addy on it. This labeling should include your carry-ons.
Make sure you pack your mandatory ID papers first thing.
Don't worry if you don't have smart-looking, new luggage for this voyage. You should see some of my ancient, well-worn suitcases!
Your luggage is really handled with TLC by porters and loaders, so don't worry about that. But don't invest in new suitcases if you don't want to.
Further info on disembarkation is on reply # 152 of this Bahama Mama thread.
Bahama Mama
Here's a check list for you of important things to do ASAP:
1) - Do you have your certified birth certificates ready for ship ID? This is a must. Don't let it go till the last minute as you may have to deal with county or state bureaucracies. For complete info on acceptable ID, please refer to Bahama Mama post # 97.
2) - Have you made your air reservatations yet? Do it as soon as you can. There's some good bargains out there. You can make your own reservations or phone our TA, Wanda, and she'll handle the whole thing for you. Details are on post # 152 on this Bahama Mama thread.
3) - Have you allowed yourself wiggle room on your travel arrangements in case of glitches or delays? You MUST, I repeat, MUST be at the terminal at least an hour before sailing time (4:00 PM, Saturday, May 31).
For the sake of a comfort zone, a number of freepers are arriving the Friday before sailing date. We'll be staying overnight at the Embassy Suites in Miami. The hotel van will pick you up at the airport when you arrive (the van leaves every 20 minutes) and will take our group and luggage directly to the port terminal in the morning. The Embassy has a package deal for the night's accomodations including its convenient van transport services at a very low cost. But the number of these hotel cruise packages are limited, so you have to move quickly. You must contact Wanda for this package. Complete details are on post # 176 of this Bahama Mama thread.
4) - Anglers interested in Strela's Great Freeper Deep Sea Fishing Adventure during our stay in Cozumel should freepmail him at "Strela".
Wanda's toll free numer is 1-800-890-7583 (Pacific time zone).
Any questions, contact Bahama Mama by freepmail at "MinuteGal".
More info coming soon. Please make it your personal responsibility to check the regular cruise threads plus the Bahama Mama threads between now and embarkation time. Just click the little ship logo at the top of the "latest posts" page for links.
Thanks and FReeps Ahoy!
Bahama Mama