← Onboarding
Best Practices — Onboard Operations

Onboard Operations

Lost and delayed bag protocols, port agent coordination, and onboard logistics for your guest services and operations teams.

1
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.

Proactive Monitoring

Ship&Play actively monitors every shipment in transit. Our operations team tracks manifests, carrier scan events, and port agent handoffs in real time — identifying and resolving issues before guests are even aware. If a bag appears at risk of a delay, we contact the guest and the port agent proactively, before the sail date.

Tell the guest:
  • Ship&Play has been alerted and is making this a top priority
  • Someone from the Ship&Play team will be in touch as soon as possible
  • 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 jcase@shipplay.com for same-day sail situations
  • Ship&Play handles all claim communication — do not initiate a claim on behalf of the guest
Ship&Play Shipment Protection Plan (SPP)

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

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 with the guest.

2
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.
3
Port Deviations

When a sailing's port of call changes for any reason — water levels, weather, security, or scheduling — Ship&Play's operations team needs to be notified immediately so we can reroute shipments and coordinate with the affected port agent.

When a port change is required:
  • Contact Jake Case at jcase@shipplay.com as soon as the change is known
  • Include the original port, the new port (or cancelled stop), and the sail date
  • Ship&Play will handle all port agent adjustments — your team does not need to coordinate directly with any agent
  • The earlier you notify us, the more options we have to ensure guest bags are rerouted successfully

Common port deviation causes

Low water levels on rivers, adverse weather conditions, mechanical issues, geopolitical situations, or port congestion. Any of these can affect delivery windows — early notification is the single most important thing your team can do to protect the guest experience.

4
Printing Guest Labels

Ship&Play mails a physical Welcome Packet (pre-printed labels, tags, and zip ties) to all guests who book prior to their voyage. If a guest loses their labels, forgets them, or books onboard, labels are still available.

Guest-Printed Labels

Guests receive a digital copy of their labels in their booking confirmation email. They can print from home or at the hotel. Encourage guests to print a backup copy before traveling.

Staff-Printed Labels (3-Day Manifest)

Three business days before disembarkation, Ship&Play sends a manifest to the Guest Services contact on file. This manifest includes a link to print labels for all guests who booked onboard or requested a reprint. Keep this link accessible at the Guest Services desk.

Quick Contacts

Print this and keep it at the Guest Services desk.

Ops / Port / Onboard Supplies
Jake Case
jcase@shipplay.com
Sail Day Escalations
Jake Case
jcase@shipplay.com
General Guest Support
Ship&Play Concierge
concierge@shipplay.com (855) 566-2085