The scoop on cruise line E-documents

Years ago, the airlines started doing away with paper tickets. Now, in order to get paper tickets, you must pay an additional fee.

The cruise lines have started the same process in full force. Until recently you had the option of paper documents or e-documents. I always chose paper documents. I would rather pay for shipping the documents to my clients rather than have then print off pages upon pages of E-documents and then have to print off a paper luggage tag that would rip off.

The latest is from Carnival- E-documents only as of August 25.

Based on the popularity of Carnival’s electronic documents, beginning with cruise departures of August 25, 2009 and beyond, Carnival will discontinue the paper version of the cruise travel documents. All guests on sailings from this date forward will need to use Carnival’s MyDocuments portal to print electronic cruise documents.

Since the vast majority of our guests already use the electronic system, we are expecting a smooth transition. As an added convenience for your guests you may print the electronic cruise documents for them at anytime once the booking is paid in full by simply going to the MyDocuments portal (accessible at www.carnival.com/mydocuments). This feature will also provides guests with on-demand access to their Carnival booking, enabling them to print boarding passes, the terms and conditions of the cruise ticket contract, luggage tags, and other pertinent information regarding their “Fun Ship” cruise from any Internet-connected computer.

This “paperless” system provides guests with many conveniences and offers the same travel documentation and information typically available with traditional cruise documents. Housed within a secure, easy-to-navigate Internet portal accessible on a “24/7” basis, the electronic document system operates in “real time” which ensures that all last-minute changes are reflected. In addition to the peace-of-mind created by eliminating the wait for cruise documents to be delivered by mail, this initiative has a positive impact on the environment. Please be advised that the migration to an entirely eDocument format applies to both individual and group reservations.

Popularity of this system???? How about how much it saves the cruise line and how much more it costs the guest.

Do I like e-documents? No- but this is the wave of the future.

What irks me is when clients pay $10,000 for a vacation or cruise and get a piece of paper to show for it. Just doesn't sit well with me.