Can you carry your own big luggage on?

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

The people running the terminals in Florida try to strongly encourage you to check your luggage. I sometimes wonder if they're in cahoots with the porters to drive business their way. ;)

[Colo Cruiser]

We have carried our baggage onboard at one point or another at pretty much every major US port that Princess sails from and have never been encouraged by anyone to check luggage with porters.

I am sure that terminal mgmt is involved at some level with the baggage personnel.

[satxdiver]

We always like to start our vacation ASAP so we are among the first to board. We have always received our checked luggage by muster. When it arrives is no big deal as we can unpack at any time. Our carry-on contains the usual medicines, change of clothes and all more expensive items like camera etc. Accidents certainly happen and one can always find examples of luggage left in the rain, left on the pier, dropped into the water etc to validate their irrational beliefs.

 

If you decide to lug on some over sized bag please be courteous enough to not hold up the security line while you wrestle with the monster and walk on the right side of the boarding ramp so others with normal luggage can pass you as you lug that monster onto the ship. Everyone is free to being on their luggage but don't make the rest of us stand there and watch you struggle with it.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We always like to start our vacation ASAP so we are among the first to board. We have always received our checked luggage by muster. When it arrives is no big deal as we can unpack at any time.

 

Not with my wife. She wants everything unpacked immediately after reaching the room. It's hard to convince her not to start unpacking before lunch even when we get to the cabin before 11:30. ;)

[susiesan]

If you decide to lug on some over sized bag please be courteous enough to not hold up the security line while you wrestle with the monster and walk on the right side of the boarding ramp so others with normal luggage can pass you as you lug that monster onto the ship. Everyone is free to being on their luggage but don't make the rest of us stand there and watch you struggle with it.

 

I won't be struggling with it. It is a rolling duffel bag, it won't be full, the cruise is only 7 days. I have lugged it successfully all over the world. No one will have to be waiting on me.

[iancal]

We carry them on. Actually, we now only do carry on when we travel.

[shredie]

If you decide to lug on some over sized bag please be courteous enough to not hold up the security line while you wrestle with the monster and walk on the right side of the boarding ramp so others with normal luggage can pass you as you lug that monster onto the ship. Everyone is free to being on their luggage but don't make the rest of us stand there and watch you struggle with it.

 

Once I saw a lady trying to get her bag up onto the security table, and a young man, obviously travelling with his parents and sister, said "excuse me" and passed in front of me to help the lady lift the bag. Then he slipped back into line behind me. (I had no bag to lift.) I thought at the time what a credit that polite young man was to his parents. It's always nice to see someone who is compassionate rather than judgmental.

[iancal]

We downsized our luggage to a point where we could each handle it independently. It was a challenge however it makes our travels much more enjoyable.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We downsized our luggage to a point where we could each handle it independently. It was a challenge however it makes our travels much more enjoyable.

 

It takes a while & many cruises to realize that all the junk people take along can be done without. Anything I forget or really need on a cruise can be bought at the first port we stop at. My goal is trim down to a 19 " suitcase someday. :)

[iancal]

We got down to a 20 and a 21. It took some time, some knashing of teeth, and some compromises.

 

The downside is on a longer trip DW gets tired of the same clothes. The upside is that we do not have to rely on others to help us and our luggage arrives when we do. And it arrives intact with nothing missing.

Edited December 26, 2014 by iancal

[DrivesLikeMario]

This is taken in Galveston but I would think the same measurements, more or less, would apply.

 

I will be sailing on the Emerald on Jan. 18, 2015 from Bayport/Houston. I know that there are frequent delays in embarking when the prior cruise has come in late. Upon getting to the pier, if it looks like there will bea delay, can I carry my big rolling duffel bag to my cabin myself? I don't want to be waiting until 8:00-9:00pm to get the luggage delivered to the cabin. I am in a suite so I will be able to board first, but that doesn't mean my luggage will be delivered first. I'd just as soon take it to the cabin myself. I don't trust the porters not to drop it in the ocean or let it sit out in the rain of the weather is bad. I have done this on every cruise I have taken in the past, over 35; I never let the porters take it and have it delivered to the cabin. I always just carry it myself.

 

I also always carry the big bag off when I disembark.

Edited December 27, 2014 by DrivesLikeMario

[abrb]

Last year when sailing out of the Houston port on a Princess cruise, it was raining. I did not think about our luggage getting wet, but when it arrived to our cabin, the contents were soaking wet. Since then, I have purchased a

more weather proof suitcase; however, I would like to carry on. I'll get my

chance in 2 days when we sail out of Houston (They're predicting rain!!)

[crochetcruise]

This is taken in Galveston but I would think the same measurements, more or less, would apply.

 

THANK YOU! This is most useful information, I have a tape measure with both inches and centimetres printed on the same side, so handy for quick conversions.

 

Yet again, Cruise Critic Forum members magically provide the VERY information I'm looking for, BEFORE I realise I actually need it! For example, I was politely alerted to take a change of clothes and swimwear in my carry on case so no delays in enjoying the facilities.

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

This is taken in Galveston but I would think the same measurements, more or less, would apply.

 

Thanks. That's the first port I've seen take the time to post measurements. It allows for a majority of the bags.