← 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. Use this guide to help guests find the right one — and to train your call center team on handoffs.

Path 01 — Online

Book Online

Guests visit your co-branded booking URL (e.g., shipplay.com/[partner]). Your cruise itineraries pre-load automatically. Guests select bags, enter pickup address, and pay. Confirmation and labels are emailed immediately. Best for tech-comfortable guests who want to book on their own time.

Step-by-step online guide →
Path 02 — Phone

Call the Concierge

Guests (or your call center agents) call our Cruise Concierge team at (855) 566-2085, Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET. The team books on the guest's behalf, handles payment, and mails the welcome packet with labels. Best for guests who prefer human assistance or have questions before committing.

Phone booking guide →
Path 03 — Onboard

Book Onboard

Guests can book disembarkation shipments (bags from cabin back home) through your Guest Services desk while on the ship. Ship&Play supplies labels, zip ties, and instruction cards to keep onboard at all times. Best for guests who discover the service mid-voyage or only want return shipping.

Onboard booking guide →

How to introduce Ship&Play on a call

When a guest asks about luggage or mentions airport stress, this is the moment. Keep it brief — frame it as a service, not a sales pitch.

Suggested intro script

Use this when a guest is booking a sailing, asking about pre-cruise logistics, or mentioning they have a lot of luggage:

"We've partnered with Ship&Play to offer luggage shipping directly to your stateroom. You'd never have to check a bag at the airport — your bags go from your front door to your cabin. It's [price per bag] each way. Want me to connect you with their Concierge team to set that up?"

Handoff options

★ Email Intro (Preferred)

While on the call, send an intro email to concierge@shipplay.com with the guest CC'd. Include their name, sail date, and cruise line. The Concierge team responds within the hour and books everything.

See the Best Practices page for the ready-to-copy email template.
Share the Direct Line

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

What agents get asked most

How far in advance does a guest need to book?

At least 3 weeks before sailing for domestic US shipments. 4–6 weeks for international. Ship&Play needs enough lead time for the Welcome Packet to arrive, for the guest to apply labels, and for carrier pickup to route through the port agent buffer.

What if a guest doesn't have a printer?

Ship&Play automatically mails a physical Welcome Packet with pre-printed labels to the guest's home address. No printing required. Labels can also be printed from the confirmation email if the guest prefers that option.

Can a guest book after sailing has started (disembarkation only)?

Yes — guests on board can book disembarkation shipping through Guest Services even mid-voyage, as long as there's enough time before the final night. Contact the Concierge team to confirm timing for a specific sailing.

Does Ship&Play work for guests flying into an embarkation city from abroad?

Yes. The guest ships their bags from their home address (in any supported country) directly to the port or hotel. They fly with just a carry-on and meet their bags at the port. This is one of the highest-value use cases for international guests.