Disney Cruise Line to Offer Magical Express Service

Last week Disney Cruise Line announced that they will now be offering a check-in service for airlines that will allow passengers to get their boarding passes and drop off their luggage before they even leave the ship. The new system began testing the system on the Disney Wonder during the summer, and then they brought the service to the Disney Magic last month. They expect the program to be fully running by the end of year.

Passengers have been able to have bags brought to directly to the cruise ships upon arrival but the new option to have this done on the return trip home is what is really impressive. Having to deal with customs and border protection can be a real headache, but the technology involved in implementing to service is what some, like Craig Mateer, are calling "stunning". Mateer is the president of Bags, Inc., the company in charge of Disney's check-in service. "What you're able to do is, through a satellite system, check in passengers on the ship while they're at sea," he said.

Disney isn't the only one trying out this type of service. Carnival Corp. says that they are trying it out at Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean is offering a more limited version of the service.

The service will only be available to domestic travelers, just like the Magical Express service. It is also limited to specific airlines. Currently, those airlines participating in both the Magical Express and the Cruise Line include AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Jet Blue and US Airways have yet to sign up with the cruise line. They are expected, however, to be signed up within a month.

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