Carry on luggage and lunch - Maasdam

[martinimadam]

On the Maasdam, is there somewhere I can check my carryon luggage once I board the ship. I know the rooms won't be ready if I board early, but, I'd sure like to not have to mess with my carry on while I'm having lunch and waiting. Any chance the dining room will be open for lunch, or is the Lido my only choice?

[Krazy Kruizers]

There is usually a section roped off by the Lido pool where you can check-in your carry-ons. They will tag it with your name and cabin number and when the rooms are ready, they will deliver it to your cabin.

[Two if by Sea]

Can Suite passengers proceed directly to the Neptune Lounge and leave bags there? Or is that floor closed until cabins are ready?

[sail7seas]

Suite passengers can go directly to Neptune Lounge when they board. It is open for arriving guests.

You can stay there if you wish to wait for your cabin or leave your carryon and go to Lido.

 

We always keep our carryon with us. We are carrying it on as it has valuables and necessities in it. Otherwise we wouldn't have carried it. I can't risk losing our medications etc

[jtl513]

Any chance the dining room will be open for lunch, or is the Lido my only choice?

On the Maasdam it is unlikely that the d.r. will be open for lunch. I've only heard of that being done on Vistas.

[JimVrhovac]

When you are boarding the ship ask where you can put your luggage. If you are in a suite the Neptune lounge is available.

 

Ruth & Jim

[many cruises]

Since HAL is considered to be a higher level of cruising, I don't understand why they don't have the dining room open for lunch on embarkation day. We really enjoy going to the dining room on embarkation day when we cruise on Princess. Why can't HAL keep their dining open too?

[JimVrhovac]

Have never eaten in the dining room on embarkment day

 

Ruth & Jim

[martinimadam]

Thanks all for your replies. Unfortunately won't be a suite passenger so guess I'll use the Lido check in. What a relief! Can I go back and pick it up my carryon, or will I have to wait for it to be delivered. I'd prefer the former, if possible.

 

Sail7Seas - I usually keep my meds in my purse, so they'll be safe. As for valuables, I don't have that many, but, I will have my carry-on locked, so it should be fairly secure.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks all for your replies. Unfortunately won't be a suite passenger so guess I'll use the Lido check in. What a relief! Can I go back and pick it up my carryon, or will I have to wait for it to be delivered. I'd prefer the former, if possible.

 

Sail7Seas - I usually keep my meds in my purse, so they'll be safe. As for valuables, I don't have that many, but, I will have my carry-on locked, so it should be fairly secure.

 

If you do finish lunch before the announcement is made that the cabins are ready, you certainly can go and claim your carry-on.

You would be surprised how many people do keep their carry-ons with them while they eat.

[martinimadam]

KK - Thanks for the info. Since I'm traveling solo, seems like it would be pretty cumbersome to drag the carry on and carry a tray! That's why I asked about the Dining Room. Wouldn't mind taking it in there since I'd have sit-down service. Oh well, looks like my problems been solved.

[sail7seas]

I'm thinking that might be one reason the dining room isn't open on embarkation day. They may not want everyone wheeling/carrying in carryons and potentially hitting tables/people etc with them. ???

 

Also, dining room stewards are who escort guests to cabins after the announcement we can go to our cabins. They need (at least some of) the stewards available on the gangway.

 

 

[jtl513]

Since HAL is considered to be a higher level of cruising, I don't understand why they don't have the dining room open for lunch on embarkation day.

They do on some Vistas. We ate there embarkation day on the Zuiderdam. I read that the Oosterdam did it at least a few times.

I'm thinking that might be one reason the dining room isn't open on embarkation day. They may not want everyone wheeling/carrying in carryons and potentially hitting tables/people etc with them. ???

We didn't see any baggage problems on the Zuiderdam.

[sapper1]

On the Maasdam, is there somewhere I can check my carryon luggage once I board the ship. I know the rooms won't be ready if I board early, but, I'd sure like to not have to mess with my carry on while I'm having lunch and waiting. Any chance the dining room will be open for lunch, or is the Lido my only choice?

My husband and I just grab a table by the pool and he sits with the luggage while I get a tray of food. When I return he goes and gets his food. It's a simple solution which suits us just fine. Locked or not, I do not like to part with my carry-on luggage with my valuables inside.

[jtl513]

My husband and I just grab a table by the pool and he sits with the luggage while I get a tray of food. When I return he goes and gets his food. It's a simple solution which suits us just fine. Locked or not, I do not like to part with my carry-on luggage with my valuables inside.

I guard the carry-ons while DW goes and gets enough food for both of us for a first course. (She picks all things she likes, and eats whichever I like least.) Whichever of us finishes eating first goes for desserts! :)

[martinimadam]

From Sapper: "My husband and I just grab a table by the pool and he sits with the luggage while I get a tray of food. When I return he goes and gets his food. It's a simple solution which suits us just fine. Locked or not, I do not like to part with my carry-on luggage with my valuables inside."

 

If I were traveling with someone that would work. But, I'm not, so that won't work. Maybe I can fit what jewelry I have in my purse. That and the meds are the only things I'd be worried about someone taking. I'm going to try to get by with a large wheeled garment bag and my carry on this time (I usually take two large suitcases plus a smaller carry on), so the carry on will have mostly clothes in it.

[boards]

The area near the hot tubs was used for storing your carry on and they gave us a card with a number on it and you went back later and got your carryon when the announcement came that the cabins were ready. That is what happened on the Rotterdam in May.

[Krazy Kruizers]

KK - Thanks for the info. Since I'm traveling solo, seems like it would be pretty cumbersome to drag the carry on and carry a tray! That's why I asked about the Dining Room. Wouldn't mind taking it in there since I'd have sit-down service. Oh well, looks like my problems been solved.

 

Since you will be traveling alone - definitely check in your carry-on -- lock it no matter what you have in it.

Then eat at your own pace as the dining room won;t be open on embarkation day on the Maasdam.

Once you have finished eating lunch, collect your carry own - go somewhere and sit and relax until your cabin is ready.

Enjoy your cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I guard the carry-ons while DW goes and gets enough food for both of us for a first course. (She picks all things she likes, and eats whichever I like least.) Whichever of us finishes eating first goes for desserts! :)

 

 

That's a good plan!! :D

[O2B@C]

From Sapper: "My husband and I just grab a table by the pool and he sits with the luggage while I get a tray of food. When I return he goes and gets his food. It's a simple solution which suits us just fine. Locked or not, I do not like to part with my carry-on luggage with my valuables inside."

 

If I were traveling with someone that would work. But, I'm not, so that won't work. Maybe I can fit what jewelry I have in my purse. That and the meds are the only things I'd be worried about someone taking. I'm going to try to get by with a large wheeled garment bag and my carry on this time (I usually take two large suitcases plus a smaller carry on), so the carry on will have mostly clothes in it.

 

Yes, the one-person-watches-the-stuff-while-the-other-gets-food method won't exactly work for the solo cruiser! You might be able to find a friendly fellow passenger who will watch your things while you get a tray, though. Or, if you can fit all your valuables and meds in a shoulder-strap purse or backpack, then just check your other bag with the porters. Just because it was a carry-on for purposes of your flight doesn't mean it has to be a carry-on for purposes of the ship. If all it has in it is clothing, and you've worn something onboard that you can manage in through dinner if need be (unlikely you'll have to), then why not just let the baggage folks deal with it?

[mamaofami]

The dining room on the Noordam was open on embarkation day. I didn't eat there, but heard from others. I would never check my carry on because it has my meds and jewelry and any other valuables that I wouldn't put in a regular suitcase.

We've often taken turns at the Lido. One watches the luggage and the other gets the food.

[boards]

In the past that is what we have done too, but that was because they didn't have the storage thing on our previous cruises.

[brucory]

Since HAL is considered to be a higher level of cruising, I don't understand why they don't have the dining room open for lunch on embarkation day. We really enjoy going to the dining room on embarkation day when we cruise on Princess. Why can't HAL keep their dining open too?

 

On our recent Princess cruise, we had read a lot about being able to use the DR on embarkation day. Arrining at 12 for a smart lunch, there was no way we were going to be allowed in there. We were directed to the buffet. It was the Coral Princess and unfortunately, it set the tone for a rather bland cruise with the word "no" said over and over. :( I don't think I heard the word "No" once on HAL except when someone said that "it was no problem at all"....

[RuthC]

I generally arrive, if not travel, solo. Ever since the early embarkation started I have used the "carry-on check-in" system whenever it's offered. I love it!

I have meds, make-up, jewelry, and my breathing machine in that bag and have never had a fear when I left it. It's behind a barricaded area and there's stewards guarding it while it's in their care. I trust them completely that I will get back exactly what I turned over.

btw---only once was the bag delivered to my cabin. The rest of the time I've been required to pick it up. As a matter of fact, there's been a deadline for picking up the bag.

[boards]

I totally agreed with Ruth C, we have did the same thing this last cruise and never gave it a second thought. When it was time to go the cabin we went and got our bags and until now just realized they were sitting all by themselves waiting for us to pick them up. NO problem, would do it again.