Terminal 5 fly-cruise? Tips to help

Some passengers who fear losing their luggage are cancelling cruises that require them to travel out of Heathrow Terminal 5 to their embarkation port, but you can do a lot to try and avoid the problem:

The new insurer solution Cancel your current insurance and take out one with a company that will cover you, such as Saga or Norwich Union, or with a specialised company. If you have an annual travel insurance policy, then you should be covered, but double check (and get it in writing) before you head off for your cruise.

The Fly/Buy solution Some travellers are taking the opportunity to get a new wardrobe out of the problem! By taking only hand luggage, and working out how they can buy clothes in the ports they visit, they are travelling superlight – of course the gamble here is that the problems will be resolved by the time you return with your new wardrobe!

The Primark solution No offence to the chain of shops in question, but some shoppers have worked out that buying clothes from Primark to take with them means that if they do lose their luggage, they haven’t lost a fortune. One avidly purchasing lady in London yesterday told me, ‘I reckon I can get my whole two week wardrobe, apart from an evening dress for formal nights for under a hundred quid. Okay, I’ll still be gutted if my luggage goes missing, but I won’t have lost my favourite Calvin Klein jeans and my best dress, which cost over £600 – I can write off £100 without too much pain, and I’ll buy stuff in the ship’s boutiques to wear during the cruise.’