to carry, or not to carry?

[CanadianMAG]

I have a few questions and I am sure there are some good advice that will be given. I have been on one cruise and it was a once night re-positioning cruise so we carried on our luggage. Some however checked it in as they were heading up to Alaska. The people who checked it in got their stuff later in the afternoon. Which I think is normal..... so I have 2 questions

1) should I carry our stuff on again? So we don't need to wait?
2) Or check it in, and just not have anything until later like 5ish I think (cruise starts at 4:00)

My Fiance is more of the high maintance then me (he's the girlie one!!), I am sure he will want to change and relax before checking out the ship. What do you suggest?

[jhannah]

How much luggage will you have? If you each have just a carry-on, then take them with you. If you have a larger bag, you should give it to the steveadores at the pier. Anything you take aboard ship has to pass through the x-ray machine which is of similar size to what the airport uses to check your carry-on bags. We have one carry-on with a change of clothes and all personal/valuable items in it. That way we don't have any concern about just when our large bag makes it to the cabin.

[CaptData]

I agree, what is the size of the luggage? If you have a larger piece because you are going for more then one day plus your formal stuff, it will not fit the x-ray machine. Plus on longer voyages the rooms may not be ready when you board and you will have to take your bags with you. If you are in a suite then you can leave it in the Neptune Lounge.

For my carry-on I have all my meds, cameras and extra outfit/bathing suit in it. The rest is tagged to be delivered whenever (I'm always inside so I get luggage last). Have recieved luggage as early as 3pm and as late as 9pm, I usually board at 12noon. I'm disabled and my wheelchair was the last item to show up.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Since we know that we will be gone roughly 3 weeks for cruises, we always have 4 suitcases besides our carry-ons. So we check our luggage at the pier. And since we are coming from a hotel, we are already changed and ready to relax on the ship. Being in a suite helps as we can leave our locked carry-ons there while we roam around waiting for our cabin to be ready.