From boarding to cabin ready - carry ons

[Solo Cruiser]

I am bringing a maximum sized carry on (or roll aboard in this case) and a tote style shoulder bag. My plan is to board as early as possible. Between that time and the time the rooms are announced as open, how difficult will it be for me to maneuver around the ship with a carry on sized roller? I'm thinking particularly of the Lido realizing how crowded the buffet it can be on boarding day. Any suggestions appreciated.

[jhannah]

If you're in a suite the concierge in the Neptune Lounge will keep it for you. If not in a suite, then there will be a place to check your luggage. Often it is in a corner of the lido deck near the pool.

[ekerr19]

As Jim says, the Lido or concierge - if you aren't in a Suite you can check on the Lido in a designated "check-in" area (we've done it even in a Suite) and they will give you a claim check. :)

 

You can claim your bag or ask it be delivered to your stateroom.

[cruizelvr]

What time can you board and what time are the rooms typically ready to enter?

[jtl513]

What time can you board and what time are the rooms typically ready to enter?

Boarding usually starts 11:00a to 11:30a, and rooms are ready at 1:30p. Sometimes, however, the previous disembarkation is delayed and these times slip.

[JimVrhovac]

Never had a problem with luggage. You will be told the designated areas to take the luggage too and you can leave it there. When you pick it up there will be crewmen to help you take your stuff to the room if necessary.

 

All you have to do is ASK.

 

Ruth and Jim

[RuthC]

I hate to be a nay-sayer (especially on this subject), but I'm not at all certain of the ability to store carry-on's anymore. I was used to it for several cruises, but not this year.

 

In January when I boarded the Noordam they had changed policy, and there was no place to store my carry-on. Fortunately, I met up with CC friends and they watched it while I got my lunch.

In July I found the same on the Prinsendam---no place to put my carry-on at all. Since I knew no one on the ship this looked to become a problem. One of the officers told the steward helping me to let me take the bag to my cabin, then leave. Bless him! :)

 

It was a lovely touch when HAL allowed the storing of carry-on's, and I am quite dismayed that on the last two cruises this service had gone the way of the dodo. Solo cruisers don't have anyone to rely on to watch things while they get lunch.

You can't carry the bag and a tray too! :eek:

[RuthC]

Having a little trouble with the boards today.

[ger_77]

Never had a problem with luggage. You will be told the designated areas to take the luggage too and you can leave it there. When you pick it up there will be crewmen to help you take your stuff to the room if necessary.

 

Waddyamean ... you never had a problem with luggage? You two bring along eleventy-nine pieces of luggage with you for just a short cruise - how many carry-ons do you bring?!? Inquiring friends from the "frozen tundra" like to know!

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry

[RuthC]

Bumping this to try to reveal the reply. :eek:

[ekerr19]

I hate to be a nay-sayer (especially on this subject), but I'm not at all certain of the ability to store carry-on's anymore. I was used to it for several cruises, but not this year.

 

In January when I boarded the Noordam they had changed policy, and there was no place to store my carry-on. Fortunately, I met up with CC friends and they watched it while I got my lunch.

In July I found the same on the Prinsendam---no place to put my carry-on at all. Since I knew no one on the ship this looked to become a problem. One of the officers told the steward helping me to let me take the bag to my cabin, then leave. Bless him! :)

 

It was a lovely touch when HAL allowed the storing of carry-on's, and I am quite dismayed that on the last two cruises this service had gone the way of the dodo. Solo cruisers don't have anyone to rely on to watch things while they get lunch.

You can't carry the bag and a tray too! :eek:

 

 

Ruth -

 

Tell your stories, by all means!!

 

In all honesty, we try not to board til about 1:00 pm or so when we are in a Suite, by that time, all S guests have usually boarded so we haven't had problems with carry-ons.

 

Last time we carried on, (Noordam - summer 2006) we were in 5003, 5007, 5009 and arrived just in time for cabin steward to have all cabins in order (though my sister and I went to the front desk asap to get room assignments changed), it couldn't been later than 1:30 pm....

 

I'm really sorry to hear of your unacceptable experiences....

[WindyCity]

On our last cruise, we locked our carryons and gave them to the stevedores with the rest of our luggage. Cameras were kept with us, in a back pack my DH carried and I kept all our paperwork in my HUGE purse. Worked out really well, since we didn't need anything from our carryon before it was delivered to our cabin.

[JimVrhovac]

Carryons are small suitcase with medications and jewlery and my laptop computer. Don't forget Ruth is in a wheelchair so I just pile it in her lap......

 

Ruth and Jim

 

PS

The porters do all the real work

[ger_77]

Don't forget Ruth is in a wheelchair so I just pile it in her lap......

 

Right, I forgot about Ruth's the wheelchair - I also forgot that she's sitting in it at this point, not pushing it laden with various bags/boxes/bottles from her shopping experiences on shore. I apologize.:eek:

 

Have you decided how you're getting all those suitcases back from Vancouver yet? And, are you honestly going to fly to & from for this trip? I thought you'd sworn off flying for good last time. If y'all decide to take a side trip to the "frozen tundra", there's a bed waiting for you!

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry

[JimVrhovac]

We are going to pack most of them up and UPS tham home when we are in San Diego so we do not have to deal with Canadian and US customs. This was suggested by several people on the board and it seems like a good idea.

 

If Ruth spends too much I may box her up and send her home early............

 

WHen we came home from Alaska had to sit on the suitcases and have the ported zip them shut and then Duct Tape so they would not split any seams..... We had 9 boxes shipped to our house during that cruise. Best was when purchased 20 pair of Snow Dog (grey and white Husky) slippers. Stil have couple pair left...

 

Ruth and Jim

[lka1012]

I travel solo and have always just dumped my stuff in a chair while I hit the buffet and never had a problem.

[Solo Cruiser]

Thanks everyone. I don't want to leave my small suitcase with the porters, it could get smushed LOL. It sounds like I will be able to handle the carry on sized roll on and the tote (especially since they will be stacked) without difficulty. If there is a check in area - great, if not - also great. Now if I can get everything down to the 2 pieces I'm going to give myself a prize... maybe an extra allowance for the casino. :D

[Sunshine91]

On Noordam this past January, I can verify RuthC's comment that there was no "carry-on check-in" at Lido. Everyone was schlepping their bags all over the ship. We were onboard so early, that I seem to recall that lunch wasn't even ready yet (not that we were ready to eat, so that was OK).

 

After lunch we enjoyed the warm sunshine on the aft Lido deck for a bit, then found comfy chairs in the library. Cabins weren't ready until well after 2pm, but no announcement was ever made.

[scamper]

On our last cruise, we locked our carryons and gave them to the stevedores with the rest of our luggage. Cameras were kept with us, in a back pack my DH carried and I kept all our paperwork in my HUGE purse. Worked out really well, since we didn't need anything from our carryon before it was delivered to our cabin.

 

But...doesn't that just defeat the whole concept of carryon?