Bag dropoff

[ClevelandKid]

Hi all,

 

Viking has a schedule as to when you get onboard and when you can get to your cabin.  However, my question is not about either - instead, if we fly in a day early and only want to drop our bags off and then go sightseeing, how early can you do that?  We are thinking of staying at a hotel just across the street from the cruise terminal.  Instead of sticking our bags with the hotel it would be nice to just get them to Viking and be done with it.

[Dauntless]

I have not done this but I assume you can drop them off anytime.  They are certainly up on the ship as there are usually many with early trips to the airport.  You might contact TellUs@Vikingcruises.com

[Peregrina651]

Sometimes it depends on which port you are talking about.

 

In Barcelona, we had no trouble dropping off our bags. They were ready and waiting for us when we got there from the airport (we had arrived from Bilbao at 9 am). This was the first time out of 3 arrivals at BCN that we arrived before check in began.The ship was still disembarking so they could not check us in -- the space pax were departing through was the same space that would become the check in area. We were docked at the World Trade Center and just walked to the Rambla. However, the set up might be different on Moll Addossat, where Viking also docks while in Barcelona.

 

In Rome on the other hand, even though we arrived at the port before 9 am, they did not offer us the option of dropping our bags and taking the shuttle into Civitavecchia. On the other hand, we never asked (we just wanted to find a quiet corner and nap until our cabin was ready).

 

If you tell us where you are embarking, maybe someone can reply with some port specific information. 

[The Other Tom]

If you fly in a day early, most likely the ship will not be in port.  I would think you can drop them off anytime on the day of.

[Peregrina651]

16 minutes ago, The Other Tom said:

If you fly in a day early, most likely the ship will not be in port.  I would think you can drop them off anytime on the day of.

 

Not always.  Differs from port to port. 

[Cruise Wonderland]

5 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Not always.  Differs from port to port. 

 

Right, I believe it really depends on the port, or even the specific terminal.

OP does not mention which port it is, so it is difficult to say whether it is yes or no.

[ClevelandKid]

Thanks all.  I thought this would be a Viking thing that would be standard across the various cruises. This is in San Juan and (assuming everything works out) we would stay at the Sheraton across the street. Our very first cruise out of Venice they allowed us to drop off our bags even while passengers were departing. Our next cruise we flew in and arrived in the afternoon so no need for early check in. This time we would like to fly in the day before, hold our bags overnight, dump them with Viking that morning and do sightseeing until early afternoon when we can get aboard. Prefer not to have to have the hotel hold them. 

[Heidi13]

It may also vary at a particular port based on the number of ships in port, size of ships and the number of longshoremen available.

[Peregrina651]

29 minutes ago, ClevelandKid said:

Thanks all.  I thought this would be a Viking thing that would be standard across the various cruises. This is in San Juan and (assuming everything works out) we would stay at the Sheraton across the street. Our very first cruise out of Venice they allowed us to drop off our bags even while passengers were departing. Our next cruise we flew in and arrived in the afternoon so no need for early check in. This time we would like to fly in the day before, hold our bags overnight, dump them with Viking that morning and do sightseeing until early afternoon when we can get aboard. Prefer not to have to have the hotel hold them. 

 

Shore-side services are not handled by Viking thus no standardization from embarkation port to embarkation port. Viking contracts with the local port authority and are dependent on what is offered. Some ports will store your luggage for you in the terminal and expect you to retrieve it before you check in. Others will process it and deliver it to your cabin. Even in the same port it can differ from berth to berth.

 

But, now we know that you are embarking in San Juan, hopefully others who have embarked there will share their experiences.

[Clay Clayton]

We have embarked from San Juan twice (Transatlantics in 2018 and 2019). In 2018 the ship was docked at the pier across from the Sheraton.  However, in 2019, due to Pier Construction we boarded at the Pan American Pier which is across the canal/bay from Old San Juan. We weren’t informed of this change in Pier until a week or two prior to our cruise.   
 

Unfortunately due to our late arrival the night before, we didn’t head to the ship until 10:30 am so I can advise if you can drop your bags earlier. 
 

But did want to make you aware that your docking location is never guaranteed until you see the ship tied up.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Clay Clayton]

*can’t advise

 

someday I will learn to proof better!