Quick Baggage Question

[FaeCruisers]

It’s been over a decade since our last cruise so I was hoping to get some clarity on something.

 

Royal says that we need to bring an extra “overnight” bag because staff will take our luggage the night before the end of the cruise.

 

We’re both planning on just packing a small carry on and I don’t want to bring an extra bag - is the extra just for if you’re bringing larger luggage or more than one bag per person?

[BND]

3 minutes ago, FaeCruisers said:

It’s been over a decade since our last cruise so I was hoping to get some clarity on something.

 

Royal says that we need to bring an extra “overnight” bag because staff will take our luggage the night before the end of the cruise.

 

We’re both planning on just packing a small carry on and I don’t want to bring an extra bag - is the extra just for if you’re bringing larger luggage or more than one bag per person?

You only need to bring what you want to bring.  They just want to make sure people have clothes for getting off the ship and a place to put anything they kept with them.   We've been cruising for 17 years and it hasn't changed.

Edited July 9, 2022 by BND

[UKWLDCruise]

If you don't plan to let the ship take your luggage down as you only have a carry on and you are happy to carry it off the ship then you don't need an extra bag.  Remember though that it can be very difficult to get a lift that morning and when boarding you will have to carry around your stuff until the cabin is available.

 

[Luckynana]

9 minutes ago, FaeCruisers said:

 

We’re both planning on just packing a small carry on and I don’t want to bring an extra bag - is the extra just for if you’re bringing larger luggage or more than one bag per person?

Exactly.  You will be fine with each of you just bringing a carry on.  You will just carry it off with you when you debark the ship.  Enjoy your cruise!

[not-enough-cruising]

We just carry our bags off at debarkation, and don’t turn anything over to the staff. 

[carlandlyn]

Its just so that when you get up in the morning to depart, you are not just left with the PJs you were wearing the night before. Some have packed everything into their bags, had the Stewards collect them overnight, and realise they have 'absolutely nothing to wear' when they go to depart!! 😲 
If you loading on and off all your bags yourselves, then no problem.

Have fun!!

Lynn and Carl

[ARandomTraveler]

You could use your beach bag or a packing cube to throw your change of clothes in, and put your toothbrushes and makeup and other toiletries in a purse or a toiletry bag with a handle.

 

BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook, Water-resistant Makeup Cosmetic Bag Travel Organizer for Accessories, Shampoo, Full Sized Container, Toiletries https://a.co/d/dDY4e2N

 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, FaeCruisers said:

It’s been over a decade since our last cruise so I was hoping to get some clarity on something. Royal says that we need to bring an extra “overnight” bag because staff will take our luggage the night before the end of the cruise. We’re both planning on just packing a small carry on and I don’t want to bring an extra bag - is the extra just for if you’re bringing larger luggage or more than one bag per person?

If you want the porters to take your bags to the luggage hall, you leave your bags outside your door on the last night of the cruise. In that case, you just need to be able to manage your toiletries and night clothes. We have a single reusable grocery bag for that. 

 

If you are going to carry your bags off the ship yourself, then just keep your luggage in the room and take them with you the next morning as you depart. Just make sure that you can handle your own luggage. Too many people "try" to carry their bags off the ship and do not have enough hands or the strength to do so. They bang into other people and hold up the disembarkation because they "crash" in the gangway (which has a lot of uneven joints). 

 

Normally the advice is that if you have a large piece of luggage, let the ship move it on and off the ship for you. 

[broadwaybaby123]

We just leave the clothes out that we want to wear on Disembarkation Day and then set the luggage out to be picked up.  It's never been an issue.

[FaeCruisers]

6 hours ago, BND said:

You only need to bring what you want to bring.  They just want to make sure people have clothes for getting off the ship and a place to put anything they kept with them.   We've been cruising for 17 years and it hasn't changed.

Can we just keep our small carry on, rolling suitcases? Or do they have to take those the night before?

[BND]

10 minutes ago, FaeCruisers said:

Can we just keep our small carry on, rolling suitcases? Or do they have to take those the night before?

Yes, you can keep whatever you can get off without assistance.  Plenty of people keep small rolling bags.  DH has a backpack and I have my backpack purse, camera bag and shoulder tote that we carry on and off.

Edited July 9, 2022 by BND

[Surfguyxxx]

8 minutes ago, FaeCruisers said:

Can we just keep our small carry on, rolling suitcases? Or do they have to take those the night before?

Absolutely you can however,  you might only need one of them.  Then, just pick up your packed bags in the terminal.  Enjoy your time.

[smokeybandit]

You don't need and extra bag, per se. Just need something to put your last overnight stuff in until you get off the ship and can put stuff back in your luggage.

[flamingos]

54 minutes ago, FaeCruisers said:

Can we just keep our small carry on, rolling suitcases? Or do they have to take those the night before?

The only thing that needs to be outside the door is the luggage that you do not wish to carry off.  Since you have cruised, they have added self-disembarkation.  Instead of going to the theater or the lounge and waiting to get called, you simply wake up, eat an early breakfast, go back to your room and pick up your things, and walk off the ship.  They have also changed Customs - no more filling out the declaration form and meeting personally with a DHS agent at the window.  They simply take your photo  as you enter the big hall, and unless someone has flagged you for an interview or inspection, you just walk on through.  We are off the ship and in the car in 10 minutes, and it's wonderful.

 

 

[SG65CB]

16 hours ago, carlandlyn said:

Its just so that when you get up in the morning to depart, you are not just left with the PJs you were wearing the night before. Some have packed everything into their bags, had the Stewards collect them overnight, and realise they have 'absolutely nothing to wear' when they go to depart!!

 

This is why you see people wearing pajamas in the Windjammer on departure day. 

[BND]

19 hours ago, flamingos said:

The only thing that needs to be outside the door is the luggage that you do not wish to carry off.  Since you have cruised, they have added self-disembarkation.  Instead of going to the theater or the lounge and waiting to get called, you simply wake up, eat an early breakfast, go back to your room and pick up your things, and walk off the ship.  They have also changed Customs - no more filling out the declaration form and meeting personally with a DHS agent at the window.  They simply take your photo  as you enter the big hall, and unless someone has flagged you for an interview or inspection, you just walk on through.  We are off the ship and in the car in 10 minutes, and it's wonderful.

 

 

Not all ports use facial recognition for Customs.  Baltimore for example, while you no longer have to stop at a window to talk to an agent, you still have to walk by, passport in hand, open to the page so they can see it.  For BC and DL users, they have a separate line.  

[DukeASUGirl]

They only take your luggage if you want them to carry it off for you. If you're perfectly capable to walk your own luggage off the ship, then great! Don't put it out, and then do the self-disembark. It can save a lot of time.

Edited July 10, 2022 by DukeASUGirl