Guests sailing with Seabourn can by-pass the problem of airport hassle - by having their luggage sent direct from home to ship.

In three years the company's luggage shipping service has handled over 25,000 bags and taken the hassle out of getting its guests' personal baggage to and from their ships in Asia, Europe and the Americas for a growing clientele of satisfied customers.

DHL Worldwide Express collect personal luggage from addresses all over the world and transport it to the intimate Yachts of Seabourn.

Dubbed "Personal Valet", the service includes preparation of all shipping and customs paperwork, scheduled DHL pickup of luggage, 24-hour on-line tracking, Shipment Value Protection and delivery directly to the ship. Rates will be available for both one-way and roundtrip shipping.

Says Seabourn president Pamela Conover: "A lot of our guests travel independently before or after their cruises. They want to look stunning on board, but they don't want to drag their cruise attire on the land portion of their vacation. With Personal Valet, those bags are in their suites when they arrive, and they simply send them home when the cruise ends."

Personal Valet prices vary according to the weight of the baggage and the destination, but average around $350 for a suitcase to Europe, and slightly higher on return.