Thread: Do You Like the Ability to Print Out Your Own Cruise Luggage Tags?

For being HAL Mariners who had not cruised with them for a few years, we were sent plastic luggage tags/holders for Christmas a couple years ago. Their computer generated printed luggage tags fit in them very nicely.

Originally Posted by glomarrone

Hi Vanny,

Thanks for your thoughts. I totally agree with you. Yes, the cruiselines are saving money by having us print out the luggage tags and hopefully we are ALL seeing the savings. My only problem is that passengers don't realize that just attaching them as is to their luggage doesn't work.

We were on a shuttle and two guests held up the van because they forgot to print out their tags. We all waited as they went back into the motel to use the motel's printer. As they came running out from the motel, they were stunned to realize that they needed a stapler to attach the tags. Back they went into the motel to find a stapler. As the driver lifted the bags into the van, one of their paper tags ripped. Back they went into the motel for scotch tape. The rest of us were a little peeved at this point as we were delayed over a half hour as were the later pick-ups. The couple was quite frazzled at this point but never apologized for the delay which would have made the rest of us feel a lot better toward them. I think that the cruiselines need to tell travelers to cover the tags with tape. One time it was raining and all the tags were getting soaking wet. Who knows if they survived getting to their proper destination. I do know that there are a lot of missing luggage lined up on ships all without tags. I checked on several cruises just to see if it was a problem. On the other hand, lots of luggage do make it to the staterooms without the tags being coated. Surprise, surprise. Gloria

That is a good point. It used to be that the cruiselines sent out luggage tags, cruise docs and perhaps a booklet with info that their passengers need to know. I remember hubby and I would read the booklet sent by Carnival (he would even use his highlighter). Princess has the cruise answer book. Even though these are no longer mailed, they are available on their sites as is a FAQ section (I imagine all the cruise lines have one of these).

In fact, Princess sent out a slew of emails before my last cruise, including one that listed things to print out from the site (the section called the cruise personalizer) so that there's no excuse (at least no good excuse) leaving home without taking care of these matters.

If someone uses a travel agent, I would hope the TA would go over with the client what to expect, what to do before the cruise, etc. At least with an experienced client, the TA could just touch base, especially if there's some new info to impart.

(I was at a parent meeting for the high school marching band last night and it was pointed out that they will be handing out this year's manual in a couple of weeks, and suggested that even parents of returning musicians should still look it over as there is some changes. It will be all new to me as my daughter just transferred there, but there may be parents who just assume they know it all. So same thing with cruisers. They should double check to make sure there isn't something new, even if it's a cruiseline they go on quite a bit).

Hhmm, wow. Thanks for the example, glomarrone. You'd think that common sense would kick in with covering the paper luggage tags so they don't tear. It's good that there are forums/discussions like this to bring awareness.

With NCL I printed out the tags because my room was updated a week before the cruise. I had the ones they mailed me but these worked just fine. I put them on the morning of the cruise so no problems with them ripping off.

We used plastic name tag holders that I found at an office supply store and used twist ties to attach them to our suitcases. Since we did fly to our departure port, I took all the tags with me in my suitcase, and I didn't tie them on until we were at the pier itself. That way, I didn't have to worry about them falling off on the plane or on any of the cabs we had to take. They are more work than the old peel-off tags we used to get, but much better than having someone write your name on tags at the pier and take a chance that they didn't understand you. We had one cruise where we kept getting luggage for the wrong people.

Now that Royal Caribbean has also jumpbed on the print your own luggage tags too it leaves Norwegian as probablyh the last one I know of that still sends tags. Holland America sells a luggage tag holder, of course it is a bit overpriced. My solution was to go to a sports card collectibles shop where I found some sturdy plastic sleeves that measured 3 3/4 in by 7 1/2 in then in the drug store I found some stretchy ladies hair bands. With a paper punch I poked a hole in the middle of the plastic sleeve about an inch from the top. The tags fit well inside and the bands keep them iside as well as attached to the luggage. Of course we only put thiese on at the pier before turring the bags over to the stevedors. Gave them out to my clients for a couple of years. At the time it cost me about $3 to make them.

There are a couple of companies that make the clear holders for the print at home tags. I've been using these for a couple of years, and give them to my clients.

Travelades, Inc. | Offering a diversified selection of travel inductry forms

I used reinforced packing tape (with threads running throughout) to apply to the back of the tag. We waited to attach them at the pier, where the porters now usually have staplers (with this change), or will have the "old" tags on hand, in case you really don't want to use them. I like the idea of a protective cover, in case of bad weather.

I think it is a nice convenience for people who book close to sailing, but I prefer to have the cruise line mail me my luggage tags.

HAL started having us print out our own luggage tags and documents in 2009.

Doesn't bother me. I made up plastic sleeves to put the luggage tags into. Then I punched holes where it saids to staple. When we are ready to leave the hotel I just attach them with cable ties.

I have used those same plastic sleeves for about 8 or 9 cruises now.