Send your cruise luggage straight to SeaTac

If you’re cruising out of Seattle and flying home the same day, the luggage valet program can make your disembarkation morning much smoother. Here’s what you need to know about how it works and whether it’s worth it.

WHAT IS THE LUGGAGE VALET PROGRAM

The luggage valet, sometimes called “EZ Check” or “Onboard Airline Check-In,” is a service offered in partnership between cruise lines, the Port of Seattle, and participating airlines. It allows you to check your luggage for your flight directly from the ship, so you don’t have to carry it off the ship, through customs, onto the airport shuttle, and through the airport check-in counter.

HOW DOES IT WORK

1. Sign up onboard
   You will receive a signup form early in your cruise, usually in your stateroom mailbox or at guest services. There is a per-person fee, generally around 25 to 30 dollars, plus any airline baggage fees. However, this form can be easy to miss - we get a lot of paperwork put in our rooms each day.

2. Deadline to enroll
   Pay close attention to the deadline to enroll in the program. On our recent sailing, the form had to be turned in by Juneau day, which was still several days before the end of the cruise. If you wait until the last day, it will be too late. I strongly recommend that you visit the guest services desk on your first sea day to get it set up.

3. Requirements

• You must be flying with a participating airline

  • Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue Southwest, and United

• Your flight must be after a certain time, usually noon or later, to allow time for luggage processing.

• You must be flying to a domestic destination or meet specific international airline agreements.

1. Luggage tags delivered to your stateroom
   The night before disembarkation, you will receive special luggage tags with your airline flight information. Attach these tags to your bags and place them outside your cabin by the stated deadline.

2. Disembarkation morning
   You keep only your carry-on items. Your checked bags are transported directly from the ship to the airport and loaded onto your flight. You do not see them again until your final destination baggage claim.

3. Check-in boarding passes
   Your boarding passes are usually delivered to your stateroom along with your luggage tags or are available at guest services before you leave the ship.

WHY USE THE VALET OPTION

This service saves hassle because you do not have to drag suitcases off the ship, through customs, onto buses, and through the airport check-in lines. It frees up your day if you are taking a tour or spending time in Seattle before heading to the airport, since you are not stuck managing large suitcases. It also streamlines the airport process because you can go straight to security without waiting in airline check-in lines.

ANY DOWNSIDES

You must be comfortable handing off your luggage the night before and not seeing it again until your final destination. Lost luggage is rare but possible, as with any checked bag. If your flight is not with a participating airline, or it departs too early, you cannot use this service.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The valet luggage program is one of the best kept secrets for cruise travelers flying home the same day from Seattle. For a small fee, you gain significant convenience and peace of mind on what is often a hectic travel day. Check your cruise paperwork early, and visit guest services on your first sea day to set it up before the enrollment deadline passes.