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Section 02 — Best Practices

Best Practices & SOPs

Operational playbooks for call center handoffs, escalations, concierge coordination, and lost bag situations — everything your team needs to handle Ship&Play smoothly.

ACall Center Handoff
BTracking Escalations
CLost / Delayed Bag
DPort Coordination
EPartner Promotion
A
Call Center Handoff to Ship&Play Concierge

When a guest expresses interest in luggage shipping, the best practice is a warm email introduction that puts the guest directly in touch with the Ship&Play Concierge team — with full context already established.

The Email Introduction

While still on the call with the guest, compose a quick email to concierge@shipplay.com with the guest CC'd. This ensures the Concierge has full context, the guest feels personally taken care of, and the handoff is seamless — not another "call this number" brush-off.

Email Template — Call Center Handoff
To: concierge@shipplay.com
CC: [Guest Email Address]
Subject: Ship&Play Introduction — [Guest Name] | [Cruise Line] [Sail Date]
Hi Ship&Play Concierge Team,

I'd like to introduce you to [Guest First Name] [Guest Last Name], a valued [Cruise Line] guest who is interested in using your luggage shipping service for their upcoming voyage.

Here are the details:
- Cruise Line: [Cruise Line Name]
- Ship: [Ship Name, if known]
- Sail Date: [Embarkation Date]
- Embarkation Port: [Port City]
- Number of Bags: [Number and type, e.g. "2 checked bags, 1 carry-on"]
- Special Notes: [Any special requests or context]

[Guest Name] is CC'd on this email. Please reach out to them directly to complete the booking and answer any questions.

Thank you!

[Your Name]
[Your Title] | [Cruise Line]
[Your Phone / Extension]

Why this works

  • Concierge receives full sailing context upfront — no back-and-forth to gather details
  • Guest is CC'd and knows to expect contact from Ship&Play directly
  • Creates a paper trail for both teams and the guest
  • Guest feels personally referred — not handed to a random 800 number

Call Center Script

Use this language when a guest asks about luggage shipping during a call. Keep it conversational — the goal is to get them to a Ship&Play Concierge, not to fully explain the service yourself.

Call Script — Guest Inquiry
[When the guest asks about luggage shipping or shipping their bags to the ship]

"Great news — we actually have a luggage shipping partner called Ship&Play that handles this for our guests.

They'll pick up your bags from home, ship them directly to the ship, and they'll be in your stateroom when you board. You don't have to drag them through the airport or worry about them at the port.

I can introduce you directly — I'll send a quick email to their concierge team with you copied so they can follow up and take care of the booking for you. Can I get your email address?"

[Collect email, then send the email template above while on the call]

"Perfect — I've just sent you and the Ship&Play team an introduction. You'll hear from them shortly. They're great — really easy to work with.

Is there anything else I can help you with today?"

[If guest prefers to call directly instead of email intro]

"Totally fine — you can reach Ship&Play Concierge at (855) 566-2085, Monday through Friday, 9am to 7pm Eastern. Just mention [Cruise Line] sent you and they'll take care of you."

Things to avoid on the call

  • Don't quote pricing — rates vary by route and bag count; let Ship&Play quote them
  • Don't promise a specific delivery window — Ship&Play will set expectations directly
  • Don't say "I'm not sure if we do that" — Ship&Play is the official partner; the answer is yes

Alternative: Give the Direct Line

Share (855) 566-2085 (Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET) and tell the guest to mention that [your cruise line] sent them — this ensures partnership rates and attribution apply automatically.

B
Tracking Escalations

When a guest has a question about their bag status, follow this escalation path before escalating further.

Step 1 — Direct to Self-Service Tracking
Ask the guest for their Ship&Play order number (in their confirmation email). They can track in real time at shipplay.com/track or via the SMS updates already sent to their phone. This resolves the majority of tracking questions without further escalation.
Step 2 — Concierge Team
If tracking doesn't resolve the concern, transfer or email the guest to concierge@shipplay.com / (855) 566-2085. The Concierge team has full visibility into carrier status, port agent handoffs, and can intervene directly.
Step 3 — Operational Escalation (Sail Day Only)
For a bag that has not arrived in the stateroom on sail day, escalate immediately to Eric Schmit at eschmit@shipplay.com. Include the order number, guest name, sail date, and ship name. Do not wait — Eric needs as much time as possible to coordinate with the port agent.
C
Lost / Delayed Bag Protocol

What to tell guests — and what to do internally — if a bag hasn't arrived in the stateroom or at their home.

Ship&Play is always proactive — guests are never surprised

If a delay occurs, Ship&Play contacts every affected customer directly — before they arrive and before they ask. We communicate at every step of the resolution process until the issue is fully resolved. Guests never arrive at the port to discover a delay for the first time. This proactive communication is one of the things that sets Ship&Play apart from other shipping options and from self-managed luggage problems.

Tell the guest:
  • Ship&Play has already been notified and is making this a top priority
  • A Ship&Play team member will be in touch (or has already reached out) to communicate every step
  • If the bag is confirmed lost, Ship&Play will open an investigation — do not use the word "claims"
  • Do not promise any reimbursement amount — Ship&Play handles all investigation and compensation discussions directly with the guest
Do immediately:
  • Email concierge@shipplay.com with order # and issue description
  • CC eschmit@shipplay.com for same-day sail situations
  • Ship&Play handles all communication and claim resolution — do not initiate anything on behalf of the guest
Ship&Play Pay (SPP)

In some situations, Ship&Play may assist guests with out-of-pocket expenses incurred while a delayed bag is being traced. This is handled case-by-case.

Do not reference SPP proactively or promise any specific assistance. If a guest asks about compensation, direct them to concierge@shipplay.com or (855) 566-2085 — the Ship&Play team will make the determination and communicate directly.

D
Port Agent & Onboard Coordination

Ship&Play manages all port agent coordination directly. Your ship's team does not need to coordinate with any third parties — here's what to know:

  • Bags arrive at the port agent 1–3 days before sail — never on embarkation morning
  • Port agent delivers all bags to Guest Reception by 9am on sail day
  • For onboard supply questions (labels, zip ties, instruction cards) — contact Jake Case
  • Guest Services staff do not need to interact with the port agent at any point
  • Ship&Play's operations team monitors every manifest and stays in contact with port agents throughout
Port-specific questions? Contact jcase@shipplay.com — Jake maintains the port agent contact list and delivery window schedules for all active embarkation ports.
E
The Activation Playbook

Six proven touchpoints that drive guest adoption. Ship&Play provides all marketing assets and copy — your team's job is to deploy them consistently. The more touchpoints active, the higher your conversion.

01

Pre-Cruise Email

Highest Impact

Send a dedicated Ship&Play promotional email 45–60 days before each sailing. Guests are actively planning and receptive to adding services — this single touchpoint drives the majority of partner-sourced bookings.

Best Practices

  • Send 45–60 days pre-sail (before airline baggage locks in)
  • Subject line: "Ship your bags — travel lighter with [Cruise Line]"
  • Include co-branded URL and unique promo code
  • Personalize with sailing date, port, and guest name
  • Follow up with a reminder at 21 days pre-sail
Email templates provided — contact Concierge to request
02

Website Callout

High Impact

Add a Ship&Play banner or callout module to your cruise detail pages, booking confirmation pages, and guest services section. Drives organic discovery for guests planning their voyage.

Recommended Placements

  • Cruise detail / itinerary pages (below the fold)
  • Booking confirmation / thank you page
  • Guest services & pre-cruise planning section
  • FAQ page ("How do I handle my luggage?")
Banner ads and embed widgets available — contact Concierge
03

Call Center Scripting

High Impact

Train reservation and guest services agents to proactively offer Ship&Play on qualifying calls. A 30-second offer during the booking or pre-sail call dramatically increases awareness and conversion.

Suggested Agent Script

"Before I let you go — are you planning to fly to [port]? We partner with Ship&Play to ship your luggage directly to the ship, so you can skip the baggage carousel and travel hands-free. Would you like me to give you the link?"

When to Offer

  • During the initial booking call
  • On pre-cruise service calls (30–45 days out)
  • When a guest mentions flying to the port
  • When a guest mentions packing concerns or mobility
04

Digital Signage

Medium Impact

Display Ship&Play promotions on digital screens in guest service areas, embarkation lounges, and terminal waiting areas. Captures guests at the exact moment they're thinking about logistics.

Best Placements

  • Terminal embarkation and disembarkation areas
  • Onboard guest services desk
  • Ship lobby / atrium screens
  • Disembarkation waiting lounge (drives next-cruise signups)
Digital display assets in 16:9 and 9:16 — contact Concierge
05

Onboard Collateral

High Impact

Physical printed materials placed in cabins, guest service desks, and cruise directors' offices. A QR code linking to the co-branded booking page makes conversion frictionless.

Material Types

  • Cabin card: Embarkation day (pre-cruise) or final night (disembarkation promo)
  • Flyer / brochure: At guest services desk throughout voyage
  • Daily program insert: Small strip ad in the ship's daily schedule
  • Welcome packet mention: Brief mention in the embarkation welcome package
Print-ready PDFs provided — Ship&Play covers printing for qualified partners
06

Special Services & Grand Voyages

High Value

Grand Voyages, World Cruises, and Premium Voyages are the highest-value opportunity for Ship&Play. Guests pack more, pay more, and have the most to gain from the service.

What Makes These Different

  • Guests are packing for 30–180+ days — multiple bags guaranteed
  • Ship&Play coordinates with each port stop as needed
  • Concierge provides white-glove planning call for each Grand Voyage guest
  • Custom pricing packages available for luxury & expedition segments

Best Practice

Flag all Grand Voyage and World Cruise bookings for a Ship&Play outreach call at 90 days pre-sail. The Concierge team will handle the rest.

Execution Tips
Partner Best Practices

Start with email

If you can only activate one touchpoint, make it pre-cruise email. It drives 60% of all partner-sourced bookings.

Timing matters

Offer Ship&Play 45–90 days pre-sail. Too close to departure and guests can't meet shipping deadlines.

Train your guest-facing staff

Call center agents, shore excursion staff, and concierge desks should all know the service and the co-branded URL.

Use the co-branded URL

Your unique URL ensures attribution, unlocks partner-specific pricing, and maintains brand consistency.

Prioritize premium segments

Luxury, suites, and Grand Voyage guests convert at 3× the rate of standard cabin bookings. Start there.

Report & optimize quarterly

Ship&Play provides quarterly booking reports by touchpoint. Use them to double down on what's working.

Ready to activate?

Reach out to Ship&Play to request your co-branded URL, marketing assets, and get your activation plan in motion.

Contact Brett Nollbrett@shipsticks.com

Contact Ship&Play →
Quick Contacts for Escalations

Print this and keep it at the Guest Services desk.

Ops / Port / Missing Bag
Jake Case
jcase@shipplay.com
Tracking & General Guest Support
Ship&Play Concierge
concierge@shipplay.com (855) 566-2085