← How It Works
3 Ways to Book

Booking Paths

Guests can book Ship&Play through three equally seamless channels. Each path routes to the same great experience — bags delivered to the stateroom, no airport stress.

The 3 Booking Paths

Every path delivers the same outcome. Expand any card below to see the full step-by-step guest journey.

Ship&Play guests can book through three equally seamless channels — online at your co-branded URL, by phone with our dedicated Concierge team, or onboard through Guest Services. No matter which path a guest takes, the result is the same: bags shipped door-to-stateroom, tracking included, and labels delivered before they leave home. All three paths are available at no cost to your cruise line.

01
Self-Service · Frictionless
Book Online

Guests visit your co-branded URL and complete the booking flow in under 3 minutes — independently, at any time. Your cruise itineraries pre-load automatically. Confirmation and labels are emailed instantly. Zero staff effort required.

Your Co-Branded Booking URL
shipplay.com/[your-cruise-line]
1

Guest Visits the Co-Branded URL

The page loads with your logo or cruise line name, your itineraries pre-populated, and partner pricing applied.

2

Select Sail Date & Embarkation Port

Guests select their sailing from a dropdown. Cruise dates, itinerary names, and ports come from Ship&Play's integration with your booking system.

3

Choose Bags & Direction

Guests select bag types (carry-on, checked, oversized) and quantities. They also choose direction: embarkation only, disembarkation only, or round-trip.

Recommend round-trip for the best guest experience — bags go out and come back with zero airport friction.
4

Enter Pickup Address

The guest enters their home address. Ship&Play's system calculates the latest safe pickup date based on sail date and port agent lead time requirements.

5

Pay & Confirm

Standard credit card checkout. Pricing reflects any partner add-on or promotional rates. Guest sees an itemized total before confirming.

6

Confirmation & Welcome Packet

Immediately after booking, the guest receives a confirmation email with their Ship&Play order number, pickup details, and tracking link. A Welcome Packet (pre-printed labels, tags, zip ties) is mailed to their home.

Labels can also be printed directly from the confirmation screen if timing is tight.
02
White-Glove · High Touch
Book by Concierge

Guests call our Cruise Concierge team and we handle everything — booking, labels, customs forms, and special requests. Ideal for less tech-savvy travelers, world cruise guests, or anyone who prefers a person on the line. Available Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET.

Cruise Concierge Direct Line
(855) 566-2085
Mon–Fri
9am–7pm ET
1

Agent Introduces Ship&Play

During a pre-cruise or booking call, the agent mentions the luggage shipping service. "Did you know you can have your luggage shipped directly to your stateroom? You'd never have to check a bag at the airport."

2

Hand Off to Ship&Play Concierge

Email intro (preferred): Send an intro to concierge@shipplay.com with the guest CC'd — include name, sail date, and cruise line. The Concierge team follows up within the hour.

Direct line: Share (855) 566-2085 and ask the guest to mention your cruise line for automatic attribution.

See the Call Center SOP for the ready-to-use email template and full call scripts.
3

Concierge Books on Guest's Behalf

The Ship&Play Concierge team handles everything: collects pickup address, sail date, bag types, and payment. The guest never needs to touch the website.

4

Confirmation & Welcome Packet

After booking, the guest receives a confirmation email with their order number. The Concierge team mails a Welcome Packet with pre-printed labels to the guest's home.

Quick Reference: Agent Script

Use this language when mentioning Ship&Play on a call:

"We've partnered with Ship&Play to offer a luggage shipping service so your bags travel directly to your stateroom. You won't have to check any bags at the airport. Would you like me to connect you with their Concierge team to set that up?"
03
Onboard · Added Service from the Onboard Team
Book Onboard

Guests book disembarkation shipments through your Guest Services desk at any point during the voyage. Ship&Play keeps labels, zip ties, and instruction cards stocked onboard at all times. No pre-planning required — perfect for guests who discover the service mid-voyage.

Note: Onboard booking is primarily for disembarkation shipments — bags going from the cabin back to the guest's home after the voyage. Embarkation bookings should ideally be made 3+ weeks in advance online or by phone.
Guest Services Desk — Keep Stocked
Blank shipping labels
Luggage tags
Zip ties
Adhesive sleeves
Booking instruction cards
Guest brochures
1

Guest Approaches Guest Services

Typically early in the voyage or during the last day at sea. The guest wants to ship bags home rather than checking them at the airport on disembarkation day.

2

Guest Books via Concierge or Online

Guest Services points guests to either: Call (855) 566-2085 (Concierge books on their behalf) or Book online at shipplay.com/[partner].

Recommend calling the Concierge for guests who are less tech-savvy.

3

Guest Receives Labels

Labels are emailed immediately after booking. Guest Services can assist with printing, or Ship&Play can issue labels from onboard supplies.

4

Guest Prepares Bags on Last Night

The night before disembarkation, the guest applies labels to each bag and leaves them outside the cabin door or drops them at Guest Reception.

Book at least 1–4 business days before disembarkation. Earlier is always better.
5

Port Agent Collects & Ships

The Ship&Play port agent collects all tagged bags and initiates the homeward shipment. Guests walk off the ship empty-handed. Bags arrive within the estimated delivery window.

Need help?
Not sure which path is right for your guests?

Our team is happy to help you figure out the best approach for your guests — or to book on their behalf directly.

Contact Ship&Play →