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Putting luggage out on the last night...ughhh!


mcgratru
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Of course but it doesn't hurt to be cautious about putting anything of value in a suitcase left in the hallway. If we bring anything of value it remains with us all the time.

Whatever we give to Princess to take off the ship are articles that no one would want to steal anyway.

Our suitcases have 4 wheels and for years we have always taken our own cases off every ship we have been on.

 

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That's great' date=' and I'm glad that you can physically handle all your luggage needs. Not everyone is so fortunate.[/quote']Thanks, the 4 wheels means we can just push the cases and definitely make it much easier but I'm sympathetic to the fact not everyone can do this.

 

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Thanks, the 4 wheels means we can just push the cases and definitely make it much easier but I'm sympathetic to the fact not everyone can do this.

 

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This is fair enough but four-wheelers have had their day. If you want top efficiency like I achieve get a case like mine.

 

 

 

Regards John

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This is fair enough but four-wheelers have had their day. If you want top efficiency like I achieve get a case like mine.

 

 

 

Regards John

 

How about this -

 

Wonder what those things way. Also, how do you deal w the limits of the batteries that you can bring on a plane.

 

DON

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well over 60 cruises, 30 years of travel all over the world. never lost a suitecase... we always book direct flights, no code share between airlines... putting luggage out the night before is a non issue... plenty of other things to worry about traveling.

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Things are going to change. On our last cruise in April we were quized intensively at the airline ticket counter about leaving our bags our at night for collection. We asked the agent later when we saw him at the boarding gate. It’s the new normal. If you don’t have control your bags all the time you have a potential problem.

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Things are going to change. On our last cruise in April we were quized intensively at the airline ticket counter about leaving our bags our at night for collection. We asked the agent later when we saw him at the boarding gate. It’s the new normal. If you don’t have control your bags all the time you have a potential problem.

I guess you are correct that it is a potential problem. On my April 11 flight after the cruise, I got the usual questions and I gave the answer that my bag was out of my control while it was under the supervision of the cruise line. Nothing more was said, no details requested, no luggage inspection.

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I guess you are correct that it is a potential problem. On my April 11 flight after the cruise' date=' I got the usual questions and I gave the answer that my bag was out of my control while it was under the supervision of the cruise line. Nothing more was said, no details requested, no luggage inspection.[/quote']

I like your reponce. I will have to file it for later.

I can see why some people would want to carry off on their own, but some do seem a bit over the top (paranoid comes to mind). As I stated earlier in this thread, and even after all the concerns that have been aired, we will continue to place our bags out and will not have any second thoughts.

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I had one thing stolen from my suitcase a few years ago--a blue Princess luggage strap (these used to be given out as prizes at Trivia). I've learned to use a generic luggage strap-- At least while on a Princess ship

 

I have had a lot of those straps go missing I don't think they are stolen I think they fall off.... I had one Princess one, like you said from trivia.....I wonder whatever happened to it...don't put the straps on anymore..because as I said on my luggage they never stayed on....

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You can leave anytime you like.

 

When we opted for carrying our suitcase ourselves off the ship in March this year, we were give a very early time.... 6.30am.

 

We were told to met in the casino at that time, which we did and were off the ship ten minutes later.

 

Could we have ignored the instructions given to us and left later,as long as we were out of our cabin by 8am.

 

Many thanks for any advice

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When we opted for carrying our suitcase ourselves off the ship in March this year, we were give a very early time.... 6.30am.

 

We were told to met in the casino at that time, which we did and were off the ship ten minutes later.

 

Could we have ignored the instructions given to us and left later,as long as we were out of our cabin by 8am.

 

Many thanks for any advice

Yes, you could have ignored your 6:30 time and disembarked at your convenience, provided that you were out of your cabin by 8:00. You don't need to be off the ship by 8:00, only out of your cabin. But you will have to take your luggage with you at that time.

 

The time you were given is the earliest time you could disembark, not a mandatory disembarkation time.

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When we opted for carrying our suitcase ourselves off the ship in March this year, we were give a very early time.... 6.30am.

 

We were told to met in the casino at that time, which we did and were off the ship ten minutes later.

 

Could we have ignored the instructions given to us and left later,as long as we were out of our cabin by 8am.

 

Many thanks for any advice

Absolutely.

We have left the cabin plenty of times at 8-8.30 and went to the buffet with our cases and lots of other people were doing the same.

 

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When we opted for carrying our suitcase ourselves off the ship in March this year, we were give a very early time.... 6.30am.

 

Could we have ignored the instructions given to us and left later,as long as we were out of our cabin by 8am.

 

 

Most people taking all of their luggage off of the ship will be moving slower than people with only carry-on luggage.

 

 

Princess designed the disembarkation schedule with the ideas that (a) those wanting to carry off their own luggage were doing so so they could leave the ship before the ship could have luggage unloaded into the terminal and (b) that those carrying off their own luggage would be moving slower and thus wanted these passengers to all disembark and be off of the passageways before the rest of the passengers started disembakation.

 

So although you could disembark later along with those not taking all of their luggage with them, that was not the intent of the program.

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Most people taking all of their luggage off of the ship will be moving slower than people with only carry-on luggage.

 

 

Princess designed the disembarkation schedule with the ideas that (a) those wanting to carry off their own luggage were doing so so they could leave the ship before the ship could have luggage unloaded into the terminal and (b) that those carrying off their own luggage would be moving slower and thus wanted these passengers to all disembark and be off of the passageways before the rest of the passengers started disembakation.

 

So although you could disembark later along with those not taking all of their luggage with them, that was not the intent of the program.

Maybe...or perhaps the idea was that those taking off their own luggage didn't have to wait while the crew unloaded the luggage for the first groups who had put luggage out the night before. It provided a way for those who needed or wanted to be off early to do it.

 

I'm not a bit sure that those rolling their own luggage are moving slower. True, they are likely to be rolling a bigger case than others, but I don't see myself being slower when rolling my 25 inch case than when rolling my carry on. Hopefully people who are not physically able to roll their own luggage would not choose this option. I've seen plenty of people on Princess who can barely walk or can't move quickly without any luggage...whether they put luggage out or not, they won't be moving at any significant speed.

 

Point--I don't see the self disembarkation option early as a way Princess designed to allow these individuals to be slower than others, and in most cases I don't think they are. I see it as a way to get those who need to be off early an option to do so, while crew is still unloading luggage for the early "groups." If someone rolling their own bags stays on board till 9am, that will take up elevator space and make life a bit crowded in the breakfast venues.

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We always self disembark as we are not comfortable leaving our luggage out the night before. We are never in a hurry as we usually have a flight that isn't leaving until afternoon. Princess has never said anything to us when we show up well past the self-disembark time. What can they say? "You missed your time slot so now you have to wait until everyone else gets off?" We just fall in line behind whatever group is getting off when we are ready to leave, show them our "color" and keep on going. I appreciate the fact that they do check your tags to make sure you are not "jumping the line" If you try, they will politely tell you that your "color" is in lounge such and such and they will let you know when it is your turn if you do have a designated time and are time challenged and show up prior to that time.. I think their disembarkation process is about the best out there. They put you in a lounge, no public announcements calling your "color," and when it is your time, they come get you and escort you. The line moves efficiently as there are not the crowds of people on the stairs, passageways, etc. that you have to work around.

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We just fall in line behind whatever group is getting off when we are ready to leave, show them our "color" and keep on going. I appreciate the fact that they do check your tags to make sure you are not "jumping the line" If you try, they will politely tell you that your "color" is in lounge such and such and they will let you know when it is your turn if you do have a designated time and are time challenged and show up prior to that time.

 

I have never been asked to show my "color" tag when disembarking.

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We always self disembark as we are not comfortable leaving our luggage out the night before. We are never in a hurry as we usually have a flight that isn't leaving until afternoon. Princess has never said anything to us when we show up well past the self-disembark time. What can they say? "You missed your time slot so now you have to wait until everyone else gets off?" We just fall in line behind whatever group is getting off when we are ready to leave, show them our "color" and keep on going. I appreciate the fact that they do check your tags to make sure you are not "jumping the line" If you try, they will politely tell you that your "color" is in lounge such and such and they will let you know when it is your turn if you do have a designated time and are time challenged and show up prior to that time.. I think their disembarkation process is about the best out there. They put you in a lounge, no public announcements calling your "color," and when it is your time, they come get you and escort you. The line moves efficiently as there are not the crowds of people on the stairs, passageways, etc. that you have to work around.

The tag colors are only issued to guide people to the correct group of luggage in the terminal.

 

No one will tell you to go back & get off later. If you do get off to early, your luggage just might not be unloaded yet.

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I have more than once......if they are behind on disembarkation...it can become pretty crazy...probably another reason they pulled out of Houston;)

That's no problem.

Just request an earlier color tag ahead of time to show them on the way out, whenever you leave.

The only problem is that your luggage might not be unloaded when you arrive at the terminal.

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What most don't realize, the luggage is presorted for off loading. Luggage is divided by the same grouping of disembarkation order. Pax can go through customs faster than the bags are loaded out. General disembarkation is not allowed until several sections of bags are in the center. No need to have hundreds standing around an empty warehouse waiting for bags. The reasoning to have all the self disembarking folks together is customs. Inspection equipment and/or dogs in place. As far as ship personnel, their only concern is the OK to start the process

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The tag colors are only issued to guide people to the correct group of luggage in the terminal.

 

No one will tell you to go back & get off later. If you do get off to early, your luggage just might not be unloaded yet.

 

I stand corrected. They don't call by colors but by a number on your disembarkation tag. They will call numbers in groups like 40-55. The color is to assist you in finding your luggage in the terminal.

 

However, if they call 40-55 and you are 65-80, they will send you back to wait for your number. That is why they ask you to retain a "stub" from your disembarkation tag to show when you are exiting the ship. At least that is the way I remember it.

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Different cruise lines have different ways of doing things. At many ports, there is not sufficient room to place out all the luggage at one time. And to do so would result in VERY long lines at Customs.

 

Yes, the luggage is sorted while on the ship and the groups are unloaded into the terminal in the order that they are to be allowed off the ship. This provides a way to allow guests to remain seated on board rather than standing in endless lines in the terminal as well as a way to manage the luggage unloading process.

 

The luggage tags on our last cruise had both a color and a number. For instance, we were "silver 3." If you looked at the list of various disembarkation times, there were 3 groups that were "silver." Silver 1 and Silver 2 had much earlier disembarkation times than we had. I figured that the "save your stub" was so that people could remember their group number; we were asked for it once.

 

There were also groups like Red 1, Red 2, and Red 3, all with different times. Bottom line, if you do what you are asked to do, the system works well. The tags are distributed based on the information you supplied to Princess concerning your post-cruise plans. If you are assigned a time that doesn't work for you, simply go to Passenger Services and they will issue you a new tag/time. No worries. Each group is called in order at approximately the time indicated on the disembarkation schedule. It might be a little earlier or later depending on how the lines thru Customs are flowing. The few self disembarkers don't mess up the system. The one time we had a long Customs line was in Houston (where else?) I even asked the Princess rep why they didn't designate a few Customs desks for non-US citizens, which would have allowed the US citizens to clear much more quickly. She said that was supposed to be the system but something had been messed up and there were non-citizens at all the lines...and Customs was being very thorough....which is their job.

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