Anyone bring carry-on bags onto ship themselves?

They have to empty, clean, setup thousands of cabins in a few hours. It is not a case of "cutting down on staff". It just takes time. Those folks that board late morning are getting on shortly after the others get off. Those that get on more like 1-2pm can go direct to their rooms as they are done.

When you are boarding, are they able to tell you if your room is ready? What I want to avoid is seeing the room un-made. That would really spoil the experience.

When you are boarding, are they able to tell you if your room is ready? What I want to avoid is seeing the room un-made. That would really spoil the experience.

they usually close the doors to the room corridoors until the cabins are ready

they usually close the doors to the room corridoors until the cabins are ready

Ah, that's good. Thanks.

I've never embarked a ship when the cabin hasn't been ready. Does this happen on all cruise lines now, or is it an NCL thing?

Hearing this I won't be in any rush to get on board early. Seems like another case of cutting down on staff.

No doubt the initial fare is cheaper than when I first cruised, but the standards are much lower.

If there's a chance our room won't be ready, then I'll check in all luggage, no carry on.

It's actually a function of NCL not forcing you out into the public spaces on disembarkation day.

The off-set is that people may still be in cabins until 10 a.m., and others may be trying to get onboard for the next cruise by 11:15.....it's just not a lot of time.

They will make periodic announcements about the anticipated room-readiness time (I've seen it at 2 p.m., 1p.m., and once as early as noon), and then they will make a subsequent announcement when the rooms ARE ready.

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I've never embarked a ship when the cabin hasn't been ready. Does this happen on all cruise lines now, or is it an NCL thing?

Hearing this I won't be in any rush to get on board early. Seems like another case of cutting down on staff.

No doubt the initial fare is cheaper than when I first cruised, but the standards are much lower.

If there's a chance our room won't be ready, then I'll check in all luggage, no carry on.

I disagree. Since the previous guests are allowed a leisurely and non hurried departure off the ship, frequently the last of them not getting off until around 10 am, and with boarding beginning around 11:30, it would be next to impossible to have all the rooms turned around and ready by then. Previously, NCL had blocked off the room corridors from guests until all rooms were ready, the call being made usually about 1:30 or so. However, for the last couple of cruises, you are now allowed to proceed to your room, leave you hand carried luggage there if you wish, then leave the area until all rooms are completed, again the call coming about 1 or so. I just don't see how they could do much better than that. I'm always so impressed at how quickly the ship does get turned around so quickly and preparation for the next departure done so completely. My opinion.

We have usually brought our carry ons with us and rather than wait in a line to store our baggage, we just took it with us to restaurants or anywhere else, until cabin was ready. Easy !

Easy for you, but a PITA for the other passengers who had to walk around you, give up space in the elevator, trip over your bags at your table in the too crowded buffet, etc.

I say this because we did this ourselves several times. Then we looked around and took notice of the hassle we were causing for our fellow passengers and staff. Now, the bags go to the Porter or to wherever the cruise line has set aside until our rooms are ready.

Our small backpacks contain our meds and other irreplaceable items. That keeps that stuff WITH US even if the airline checks our bags at the gate (which is getting very common these days). We NEVER check bags (except when required to at the gate) and travel with carry on only. Even for cruises and land based trips of four or more weeks.

I've never embarked a ship when the cabin hasn't been ready. Does this happen on all cruise lines now, or is it an NCL thing?

Hearing this I won't be in any rush to get on board early. Seems like another case of cutting down on staff.

No doubt the initial fare is cheaper than when I first cruised, but the standards are much lower.

If there's a chance our room won't be ready, then I'll check in all luggage, no carry on.

Yes, this is now pretty standard on mass market cruise lines unless you have booked in one of the special, private areas (like NCL's Haven or MSC's Yacht Club). Though I don't agree with you that the cause is cutting down on staff. I think it has more to do with disembarkation times and efficiency as well as a result of having 4000 passengers versus the 1000 passengers on the ships of yesteryear.

Assume your cabin will be ready between 2pm and 3pm. Check the bags, but keep medications and other required, non replaceable items with you (we use small backpacks for this)

oops

Hi, We live in NJ and get down to the pier around 10:30..After checking in, etc., most times we've been on board by 12:00 and head to the MDR...Most times, our rooms have been ready by 1:00, so right after lunch, we go up, drop off the carry on, coats and have time to wander the ship.

It works out quite well. We feel we are on vacation as soon as we get into the Pier....:D

Looking forward to the Gem in a few weeks.

Have a great cruise everyone:D

^^^ THIS!!!

 

When traveling, those bags with meds... do NOT leave our sides until we are able to leave them in a locked room (hotel or ship).

And then, the critical meds go right into the safe, along with any valuables, passports, cash, etc.

 

GeezerCouple

Sounds like we are on the same page!!

I've never embarked a ship when the cabin hasn't been ready. Does this happen on all cruise lines now, or is it an NCL thing?

Hearing this I won't be in any rush to get on board early. Seems like another case of cutting down on staff.

No doubt the initial fare is cheaper than when I first cruised, but the standards are much lower.

If there's a chance our room won't be ready, then I'll check in all luggage, no carry on.

It's a good thing, IMHO. I'd rather be able to board the ship around noon, and have a nice lunch, than have to wait until 2 or so, when all of the cabins have been made up. Some folks don't leave the ship until as late as 10, so there is no way they can get thousands of cabins turned around in only a couple hours.

Our "carry on" bags are our only bags no matter where we go or for any amount of time. We always take them on with us. Sometimes we're able to, as others have said, to drop them off in the cabin and then explore. Other times we've just kept them with us. No big deal for us. Once cabin is ready, we unpack, put everything away, and just explore.

Never once had an issue. With a suit they will take your carry on's right to your cabin, at least thats what they did with us. All the other times we walked on with carry on's and went right to the MDR. Between 12:30-1:00 they announced cabin were ready and off we went. Timing worked out perfect

We will "check" the bigger bags and a case of water/coke, and carry on smaller bags in case it takes a while for the luggage to get to our rooms. We just hold onto your carry ons until the room is ready.

Yes Best way to do it all is bring all your luggage with you and carry off with you, don't use porters, that way you are all ready.

Never once had an issue. With a suit they will take your carry on's right to your cabin, at least thats what they did with us. All the other times we walked on with carry on's and went right to the MDR. Between 12:30-1:00 they announced cabin were ready and off we went. Timing worked out perfect

Assume you mean a suite - we never take a suit - LOL!

Anyways, this is MAYBE true. If you are on the early side, they will escort you to Cagneys. And you just hold your carryon bag there. We have done this a few times.

Yes Best way to do it all is bring all your luggage with you and carry off with you, don't use porters, that way you are all ready.

We always take our luggage off with us so we can get off asap, but we let them bring it on for us because it's no fun dealing with all that luggage while waiting for your room to be ready.

Assume you mean a suite - we never take a suit - LOL!

 

Anyways, this is MAYBE true. If you are on the early side, they will escort you to Cagneys. And you just hold your carryon bag there. We have done this a few times.

Yes, dam spell check LOL