Carnival Announces End of Paper Documents

Following in the steps of lines such as Princess, NCL, and Holland America, Carnival announced today they will discontinue issuing paper documents starting with sailings departing on or after August 25. They said, and I agree, that most people are already using online registration and documentation, having been forced to get used to that type of system by the airlines, and it is a huge expense for them.

I do miss the tradition of paper documents and doing the "doc dance" when you received your anticipated package in the mail, but am glad for the efficiencies and savings, not to mention timeliness and environmental sensitivities, of electronic documentation.

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara still do issue paper documentation upon request (as, technically, does Holland America, but not really), but as a company, I am issuing electronic documents for all my clients on these mainstream brands. However, if you should ever need assistance with the online registration or printing of the documents, I'm happy to do that for you and send you the paper backup via regular mail. Electronic documents aren't the end of service, it just changes the dynamics a little.

Most of the Luxury lines and specialty lines, such as river cruises, still have their traditional documentation packets. However, how long until they, too, go the way of the rotary dial telephone?

Dealing With Electronic Documents

It was inevitable. Electronic documents are becoming the default in the cruise industry. Airlines adopted them years ago (and in fact paper documents are no longer able to be issued for most airlines by travel agencies), and the cruise lines have followed suit. It's long been the case that the printed documents you receive are redundant and unnecessary; several times I have shown up at the pier with nothing other than my confirmation number and passport. That's all you truly need. However, cruisers are attached to their cruise booklets. Unfortunately, most cruise lines are going to break you of that habit soon (though the luxury lines will likely hold on to their upscale presentations awhile longer).

Already, Princess and NCL have gone to 100% electronic documents. Celebrity, Azamara and Royal Caribbean are mostly there. Others are getting close. What does that mean to you?

You will still receive your Shore Excursion booklets by mail after final payment. However, the best source for excursion information pertinent to your particular sailing is found online at the various cruise line websites. There, you can see what is available on YOUR sailing, how many spaces remain, the cost, and go all the way to booking it. You don't have to wait for final payment (which, for some excursions, is too late as they're already full), and in fact even before your sailing shows the specific excursions available, you can download the full brochure - that one you'll receive in the mail later - to your computer.

After final payment, you'll have access to your cruise documents. How that happens varies by cruise line. But in general, either through your log on at the cruise line web site, or through email, you'll be given a link, from which you can print the relevant information. No longer do you need to wait for the cruise lines to send the documents - you can do your "doc dance" whenever you want!

The biggest complaint I hear about electronic documents (aside from the fact they lack some of the "oomph" of the arrival of the old booklets and packets) has to do with luggage tags. Princess and NCL have that solved, sending out the tags with the pre-cruise shore excursion booklets. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara don't send them out, leaving you to print them and tape or staple them to you luggage - not the greatest solution.

However, I do have a supply of the sticky luggage tags for the RCI brands, and I'm happy to print up your official tags and send them to you. All you have to do is let me know when your documents are ready to be printed, and I'll go into the system and take care of the tags.

The other thing which my clients miss from the old document packets are the wonderful Cruises Inc. luggage tags - those blue rubbery ones which are virtually indestructible. Never fear - I have those, too! If you have booked with me before, but need more, just let me know! I'm happy to send you some at any time. New clients will automatically get a set before their first cruise booked with me. If you're not yet a client, but would like some of these terrific tags, send me an email and I'll be happy to send you a few!

Of course, if you don't have a way to print out your documents from the online resources, there's no problem for me to print them for you and send them out. (Though I have to wonder how that would be the case if you're reading this blog.) But if there's someone in your family who is unable to print, simply let me know and it's all taken care of.

And as always, if you have any difficulty with the online registration or documents, give me a call - I can walk you through it on the phone, or even fill it in for you while you're on the line, and either print for you, or get you to the point where you can print them yourself.

Electronic documents don't mean the end of service. Service and value are about knowledge and assistance, not a few pieces of paper and how they're delivered. In fact, most of my clients are happier getting their documents much earlier and in their control. It's simply a change in presentation. I do miss those wonderful personalized books and their pouches, but love the convenience in not having to worry about lost documents.