Well, my folks, Arlene, and I made it as far as Atlanta. When we saw that our connecting flight to JFK would not make it in time to get our KAL flight to Hong Kong; we gave up. :(

However, we found a great gal at the Crown Room who has us booked on the Non-stop to Tokyo tomorrow then onto Hong Kong on Dragonair (whatever they are). We only arrive eight hours later. :banana:

We will report more later.

Oh dear Marc, what a pain but what a wonderful attitude you have about it all. The airlines - if ONLY we could do a "beam me aboard Scotty" wouldn't life be grand.

Marc, what a bummer! Keep us updated, if you can!

Ngaire, if I could "beam" to the cruise ship, I would be in geek heaven!!

I'm sorry to hear that you've had a rough start to your cruise and that you've had to spend "a rainy night in Georgia!" BUT we haven't had any rain in a month so....

Keep in touch; I'm sure the Mariner will wait for YOU! :D

Marc, that's too bad. At least you left early enough to avoid missing the ship! Keep in touch.

Marc and Arlene - Dragonair is a good airline so not to worry about that part of it. So glad you were able to be rebooked! Very rainy up here today & likely to be about the same or worse so just as well you're not going through JFK. Hope you both enjoy it very much. I look forward to hearing all about it. Seamail if time permits, please! Cheers, Anne

PS - I'm going to the Lehigh/Holy Cross game in the rain with Gary today. Don't you think it would be fun to see a Lehigh/U of C Maroons game? I'd love to hear the science students come up with more creative cheers.

So impressed with your calm attitude, Marc...and so glad you could work out the air connections! We're flying DragonAir from Shanghai to Hong Kong this Christmas. Heard they're MUCH better than China Air. Let us know.

Happy Sailing! Bonnie and Jack

Marc, we're all keeping our fingers crossed that you got your one and only bobble out of the way early!! Keep us posted and have a great time from here on out.

Sorry to hear of your delay, Marc. Fortunately, you have it all pulled together. I admire your calm. Have a marvelous time.

It's all about attitude and yours is outstanding! We have some friends we do not enjoy traveling with as they cannot handle the least little problem with the airlines and schedules -

well marc that just gives a little more time in your cabin! Cruise has been everything we hoped for so far. I am sure yours will be the same now that you have your one bad moment out of the way!We had very rough, high seas yesterday and last night but this ship barely regsitered it. Some were bothered but it really was miraculous how little rolling there was. Heading off to lunch and then to watch this magnificant ship sail into equally glorious HK!

don't know how that happended but this post and the prior are fom me Ms Understood, not Crystal. Sorry Crystal!

Marc, you and Arlene take care and have a safe flight and wonderful time.

Marc - best of luck for the flights upcoming! You're right, it can only get better from here!

Masaki

Delta and Dragonair were fantastic. Rerouted through NRT, everyone made it in business. Luggage went to ????????

We are hoping we have bags when we board tomorrow. Just don't know if they are in Atlanta, JFK, Seoul, or Tokyo....they AREN'T in Hong Kong.

We are going out to dinner tomorrow with an old friend of the folks; probably won't be able to post until Tuesday night.

Thanks for all the support!

Marc, thanks for the update. Sorry about your luggage. I hope it finds its way to you before you sail tomorrow. Traveling light has its virtues but this might qualify as a little too light.

Marc, good luck with your luggage. I'm so impressed with the way you've handled the airline difficulties. I can tell that nothing is going to stop you from enjoying your cruise. Have fun!

Oh My, Mark!
I do too hope your luggage is found, in time for your boarding.

Your experience brings to mind, a trip we made to Hong Kong, a few years ago. They also lost our luggage. It was quite a task, shopping for underwear and things, to make out, until our bags were found. Not speaking the language, or understanding sizes. etc. LOL.

Good luck! Enjoy your cruise! Please post for us, when you have the time.

Betty

Wishing you the best, Marc. You've exceeded your travel woes quota! Hopefully, this problem is resolved very soon!

Stuff that happens like this is what gives us great stories to remember down the road when we can't travel!

I can see Marc borrowing clothes from Capt. Dag for the formal night! (lol)

As I am partially packing for our trip to Italy in a few weeks, it reminds us all to make sure we have a clean change of underwear or two in our carry on! And one all purpose outfit to change into.

Marc, having been there once, I can feel your frustration. I think I am going to throw a little more in my carry-on for next week's cruise in your honor. Let us know how it goes.

Murphy has certainly been busy; hope you see the last of him soon! Enjoy HK!

Marc, we're glad you made it safe and sound. If all else fails, buy new clothes and have a blast! We wish we could have been with you on this cruise.

Marc, we've left the ship more or less in one piece for you. You're sailing out of HK at night--that should be spectacular. Watch for the Diamond in the harbor--she looks so forlorn out there.

Am awaiting my disembarkation call--boo hoo. Perhaps I'll find your luggage and hitch a ride back aboard on it.

Have a great cruise.

Ken and I have lost our luggage now about 10 times in the last three years. We are almost surprised when it turns up. I feel we are "luggage challenged". I bet Marc has it when he boards it is usually only a day or two behind. The airlines have not completely lost it yet always just delayed. Linda had a bag go to Urbekistan once. Why it went there we never knew. She did not get it until we returned about a week later. CROSS PACK everyone it is amazing how often just ONE bag is lost.

We are now onboard; Barry gave Arlene a big hug and end of gangway. :banana: :banana: :banana:

Our luggage is nowhere to be found; Dragonair, Korean, and Delta really have been no help. Called Travelguard this am; just emailed Delta and TA. Our fingers our crossed but they are getting tired. :( :(

We are trying to maintain our sense of humour but you should have seen all of us about to lose it this morning in Executive Lounge at the Conrad; they were about to throw us out because of the loud discussions on how to handle the situation amongst the four of us!

We ARE going to have a wonderful cruise no matter what. We have three days of clothing with us; formal nights might have to be in cabin followed by flambe in La Verandah. I guess we didn't need to pay for upgrade on Vietnam Airlines on post cruise that we purchased JUST to get a higher baggage allowance. ;)

Went to Victoria Peak this morning; then had wonderful lunch and mini-tour this afternoon with an old acquaitance (native of Hong Kong) of my folks. Tomorrow, he is going to take us around all day.

We will write more; now we are off to what we hope will NOT become our DAILY laundry excursion.

Marc & Arlene

Hi Marc,

I'm so sorry your luggage hasn't turned up! But, at least you were smart enough to have a carry-on. What are the airlines telling you? They have no idea where your luggage is?

Hope it's sorted out before you leave!

Marc,
Hope your luggage turns up... on another note, how was the Conrad in Hong Kong? We are going to Southeast Asia in March and will probably stay there as DH is Hilton Honors for most of his business travel...

Thanks! Ronnie

Marc the ship will keep following up on the luggage for you and I BET that it will turn up in a day or two. It usually does. The ships really do a great job at the luggage follow up issue and take it right off the guests back. I have always been impressed with how they handle this.

Wish I had been there and then perhaps I could have helped with the "loud discussion" and told you that it was really off your shoulders and onto the ships shoulders. It is not worth the stress it will all work out.

They will do laundry for you free when your baggage is lost. So you can just keep wearing the same items. Everyone feels sorry for you too, AND no packing and unpacking either! I am impressed - 3 days clothing!!

Even though I lose luggage all the time I only take spare underwear on board. I know I should take more but I dont want to have all that hand luggage and with Kens cameras and computer, necessary dob kits, my paperwork, and my video machine for the plane we have enough as it is. The ship always launders my clothes at night and they are back first thing in the morning.

Dont give up formal night. Talk to the head housekeeper onboard. She will take care of the men with officers jackets and quite frankly the ladies can wear absolutely anything and they will be fine. Ken looked fantastic in his officers uniform with his tennis shoes!!

I was talking to a hotel director once and he told me he cannot remember a cruise where everyone got their luggage. So they are very used to handling this and it is part of every cruise for them. It is always "such a treat" when it finally arrives.

The only time I remember that I was personally aware of luggage never making it was Linda's. Interestingly they got two pieces but one piece did not come until they got home.

Also you claim on the last airline you flew, the one you arrived on at your final destination for compensation for lost luggage. They have agreements between themselves so you dont have to figure out WHO lost the luggage at all.

You can do this in addition to your insurance.

It is so easy. You just keep receipts and send in a letter with those receipts, a copy of your ticket and the paperwork you get for the lost luggage when you report it at the airport. They send a check. No questions asked.

I cannot remember the amount now as we had never done that until the last time we lost luggage. I think it is $200 or $300 each person if the luggage is delayed over 24 hours. We got some nice new "stuff" last time.

Have a great cruise - this anxiety will pass and your luggage will arrive I think the odds are very high.

Marc, So sorry to hear that your luggage is still missing. I'm sure, as Ngaire has stated, that Radisson will take fine care of you all.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your much anticipated cruise and give your luggage problems over to RSSC to oversee and resolve (hopefully, very, very soon!).

BTW, if you are able to wear officer's attire, how great a photo would that be!

Marc, I feel for you! I hope you will still attend formal night, I am positive the other guests will understand why you are not up to snuff. Maybe you can wear buttons that say "Our luggage was lost" :)

Your situation has me debating if I should unpack the first nights clothing and put it in my carry on instead.

Karen, I love that -- buttons that say "our luggage was lost". A new business opportunity! Plenty of demand that is for sure.

Anytime there is a flight change or mix up - that always equals lost luggage.

It is amazing how word spreads among the passengers of those souls who dont have luggage and EVERYONE is always quite understanding in these circumstances.

Thanks all!

Ship's representative is following up. It just concerns me that ALL five bags are missing; therefore, they still could be stateside.

I will let you know more tomorrow.

Hi Marc,

Hopefully the bags will show up soon...five bags all at once? Wow.

Marc, Sorry about your luggage. Our family always has bad luck. We use the old Hee Haw saying. "If it weren't for bad luck we'd have no luck at all!!) I wish you only good luck.

Marc, boy that is a situation i think we call all relate too. It is just awful, but i do recall that most of the passengers hear it through the grapevine, and feel so bad for you. We even had offers to loan us things. Thanks Ngaire for all that good info, i had no idea the ship took care of that. Ours happened while sailing Seabourn, i don't recall if they did or not, but i don't think so. Your trip sounds fabulous, have a marvelous time.
Cindy

Marc,
Glad to hear that you made it to the ship. Keep us posted us on the luggage. Lets hope it arrives soon as Ngaire says.
Jan

It really is amazing how nice and understanding fellow passengers can be if you've lost your luggage. Ours went missing on the way to a cruise out of Athens and didn't show up until 2 days into the trip (I was amazed it showed up at all!). The ship provided my husband with a full tuxedo (including shoes!) and sympathetic passengers let me go through their closets to find an outfit for formal night. It turned out to be a really great way to get to know your fellow passengers. Hope it works out as well for you Marc.

Marc, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and Arlene. Sure hope your luggage turns up real soon.

Nancy

Marc, when my luggage was lost on VJ7, they sent someone to the cabin with several outfits for my daughter and me. Maybe they were articles left behind that were drycleaned and recirculated, but they sure came in handy. My carry-on is going to be really heavy this week.