Rules about checking case of 'liquids' questions and worries

[pannm]

My family will not be checking a case of water, but we are bringing a few bottles with for excursions. We'll just take them with us in our carry on bag...no big deal, because we aren't taking many.

I have heard over several weeks now, that most people can check a case of water along with their luggage. Sure, that is very conveniant for them- they don't have to lug it around.

Today, TWICE, I have heard o people being able to check a CASE OF BEER?!?!?! And, they, themselves have done it before and will plan to do it again.

This makes me extremely nervous. I have SEEN how people mis-handle luggage and checked items! One crack into the side of that case and beer will be all over some poor persons luggage.

I know that the Disney site specifically states that all liquids MUST be carried on board in your carry-on...RIGHT? And, if the DCL people decide to accept these liquids as 'checked baggage' are THEY at fault if someone's suitcases are covered in beer/water and things get wet?

If THEY allow it to be checked, and my baggage gets gross, you better believe I'll be furious and I'll be going to guest services.

So, will THEY clean everything? Would they properly launder all of our 'wet/smelly' things with no cost to us- with out us having to do the work? Because the last thing I want to be starting my vacation doing is cleaning my clothing and suitcase! I will be packing a few nice dresses and those can't easily be cleaned...should I think twice???

I know that they've allowed cases of liquids to be checked. I also know that it states that you are not supposed to do that in our contracts...I also know that people come to EXPECT that they can just check these things, since they've done it before. I also don't feel like people should think they are entitled to do this, but I know they do.

I have heard of other cruise lines COMPLETELY banning this (NO MATTER WHO or WHERE you are checking in)

I'm new to cruising. So, I haven't seen- but maybe they store these cases differently??? On a different forum, there's people who have gone on DCL and experianced someone elses case of water getting busted open ON their checked baggage...so I've heard that it does, occasionally happen...

[mmouse37]

Originally Posted by pannm

My family will not be checking a case of water, but we are bringing a few bottles with for excursions. We'll just take them with us in our carry on bag...no big deal, because we aren't taking many.

I have heard over several weeks now, that most people can check a case of water along with their luggage. Sure, that is very conveniant for them- they don't have to lug it around.

Today, TWICE, I have heard o people being able to check a CASE OF BEER?!?!?! And, they, themselves have done it before and will plan to do it again.

This makes me extremely nervous. I have SEEN how people mis-handle luggage and checked items! One crack into the side of that case and beer will be all over some poor persons luggage.

I know that the Disney site specifically states that all liquids MUST be carried on board in your carry-on...RIGHT? And, if the DCL people decide to accept these liquids as 'checked baggage' are THEY at fault if someone's suitcases are covered in beer/water and things get wet?

If it is THEY allow it to be checked, and my baggage gets gross, you better believe I'll be furious and I'll be going to guest services.

So, will THEY clean everything? Would they properly launder all of our 'wet/smelly' things with no cost to us- with out us having to do the work? Because the last thing I want to be starting my vacation doing is cleaning my clothing and suitcase! I will be packing a few nice dresses and those can't easily be cleaned...should I think twice???

I know that they've allowed cases of liquids to be checked. I also know that it states that you are not supposed to do that in our contracts...I also know that people come to EXPECT that they can just check these things, since they've done it before. I also don't feel like people should think they are entitled to do this, but I know they do.

I have heard of other cruise lines COMPLETELY banning this (NO MATTER WHO or WHERE you are checking in)

I'm new to cruising. So, I haven't seen- but maybe they store these cases differently??? On a different forum, there's people who have gone on DCL and experianced someone elses case of water getting busted open ON their checked baggage...so I've heard that it does, occasionally happen...

Ok...DCL's official policy is that ALL BEVERAGES MUST BE IN CARRY ONS, NOT CHECKED LUGGAGE. What people actually do is another story.

You must understand if people do not adhere to DCL's policy they are putting their and OTHERS stuff in the line of fire if something were to bust.

I do not know if DCL will clean your clothes if someone happens to check a bag with a liquid in it. Their policy is no liquids in checked luggage. They do x-ray all luggage before it comes onboard (checked luggage behind the scenes), carry on luggage before you check in at the terminal). If a case of anything was found in someone checked luggage then DCL usually confiscates it and people can pick it up at the end of the cruise. If something slips by the x-ray machine for checked luggage...well I am sure it happens but I don't know what DCL would do for you in that case.

What people also must understand is that the porters at the terminal will let you check just about anything as they are working on tips and do not really care if you check a case of water with them for delivery to your room. This is against DCL policy but they do not work for DCL...they are a private vendor.

I just wish people would follow the guidelines on bringing booze or water onboard and only having it in carryons or they will cease to offer this nice perk.

MJ

[lanejudy]

You are correct that people post about checking a case of water, case of beer, etc. with the luggage porters. It is still against DCL policy. The porters who take your bags curbside when you arrive at port are not DCL employees, and they know they'll get a good tip if they take the case. While they may stack it neatly on the luggage racks at the curb - all checked luggage gets tossed around quite a bit and piled high before it makes it to the final destination - your stateroom. If a guest checks a case of water/beer/anything, and it breaks, and it not only ruins their items but soaks through other passengers' luggage - that guest who incorrectly checked the case of liquids can be held liable for any loss or cleaning. Unfortunately for the guest who's items were ruined, it would be very hard to track back to exactly which porter allowed the item to be sent through checked luggage to try and hold that person accountable. But it is very easy to determine which case is busted and dripping in the luggage room.

Claiming ignorance of rules doesn't make one immune to repercussions of not following said rules. It would be nice if all people followed rules, unfortunately there are those who believe rules are for breaking and will continue to do so until there are repercussions.

[RMAMom]

I don't know the answer to your question but it sparks new questions for me. How does DCL know whats in your luggage, If someone packs a bottle of wine or two in their suit case or a 12 pack of beer or soda, how would DCL know it and be responsible for it should it break and leak?

[lanejudy]

Originally Posted by RMAMom

I don't know the answer to your question but it sparks new questions for me. How does DCL know whats in your luggage, If someone packs a bottle of wine or two in their suit case or a 12 pack of beer or soda, how would DCL know it and be responsible for it should it break and leak?

At stated in an earlier post, DCL does x-ray checked luggage, similiar to the airports. Plus, if that bottle of wine breaks and causes enough mess to damage someone else's suitcase, it's rather obvious which was the culprit.

[pannm]

Originally Posted by mmouse37

I just wish people would follow the guidelines on bringing booze or water onboard and only having it in carryons or they will cease to offer this nice perk.

MJ

Yes, that is what I was thinking too!!! They certainly don't have to allow people to bring adult beverages and unlimited amounts of water/drinks on board. If people continue to go against the rules, they may get rid of it all together and force you to buy it on board instead...THEN people would be really mad!

[TDC Nala]

I do not know if DCL will clean your clothes if someone happens to check a bag with a liquid in it.

I doubt it as whoever put the liquid in the bag is violating DCL's rules. No reason as to why DCL should supply free cleaning in that instance. The porters at the ports do not work for DCL and it's speculated that they don't want to give up a tip by refusing to take a passenger's case of beer.

And yes, DCL could change its current rules at any time. Which probably means little to the guest who insists on checking a case of beer when the porters will take it.

Have never seen this happen on DCL, but I was present at the Beach Club once where a bottle of wine in someone's luggage broke during a transfer of luggage between resorts and damaged other guests' luggage.

[pannm]

So why can't these people checking in luggage be forced by Disney to follow their rules? The same "rules are rules" policy should be applied to everyone who gets checked in for any ship. The rules state that no adult beverages be brought abord AT ALL for other cruise lines- even in carry on bags. I'm sure that OTHER cruise lines make sure those check-in people follow THAT rule!

I am not really talking about the 'bottle of wine or liq. or what ever' that people hide in their checked luggage bags...I'm talking about the CASES of water and Beer that people leave out, unbagged and then they get to CHECK them- someone just puts a sticker on the outside.

Sure, I know that MOST things in my luggage cannot be RUINED with water- they will dry. And, I wouldn't go super super crazy getting a 'water wet' bag...But it's the idea of receiving them wet, when I was careful to pack them properly. Beer is another story. I would FLIP and be FURIOUS if I received a 'beer wet' bag after checking it through!! FURIOUS.

DCL and other cruiselines should come together and require a number to be on the check in ticket/bag- a number that states who checked you in. That way, these people could be held accountable if things go bad.

[TDC Nala]

In order to do that, Disney would have to pay for "baggage police" to watch what the porters are checking.

And how would the people who check you in enforce that? By asking "do you have any liquid in your checked luggage?" Because there's always the chance that a guest will lie rather than have to carry their liquid, by following up with a luggage search while still in the terminal? In the case of luggage that is coming from elsewhere (the airport or Disney resorts), a search of that luggage? They know who that luggage belongs to, they can hold the guest accountable. The guest is expected to know what the rules are.

Damage happens, but apparently not often enough for DCL to dedicate staffing to this problem. They are more likely to just ban the ability to bring your own drinks aboard. They likely aren't cracking down at this point becuase the vast majority of times it goes off without a hitch.

[pannm]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

In order to do that, Disney would have to pay for "baggage police" to watch what the porters are checking.

And how would the people who check you in enforce that? By asking "do you have any liquid in your checked luggage?"

Damage happens, but apparently not often enough for DCL to dedicate staffing to this problem. They are more likely to just ban the ability to bring your own drinks aboard.

Once again, I am NOT talking about the 'hidden beverages people stow INSIDE OF A SUITCASE." I am talking about the CASES that are out in the open. The cases are not bagged. People just check the case of liquid. THAT is the rule I believe needs to be enforced completely instead of it 'depends on who checks you in'

[TDC Nala]

You may need to write to DCL and suggest they confiscate the cases if the porters check them, they're the only ones that can do anything about that. As for will they clean your clothing for free in the event of a spill...I haven't seen it happen on DCL so I don't know for sure.

[pannm]

I didn't know that it wasn't DCL's people checking us in- I thought it was DCL cruise, so DCL would be responsible for wrecked/wet/smelly baggage.

I thought it was kind of like the airline check in- the people checking you in work for the airlines.

Even knowing that, though, DCL still has control of this- because people continue to openly pack cases of what ever- and those cases STILL get delivered to their rooms...instead of getting a slip that says "please pick up your case of _____ at the end of your cruise. Liquids can only be brought on with your carry on tems." Maybe then, people would learn or hear from others NOT to be doing it instead of getting advise to do it...even though it's againsed the DCL rules.

I have e-mailed DCL about it, but I doubt anything would be done about it until several people have complained or had problems with it.

[lbgraves]

It's just rude to do something you know can affect someone else's cruise in a negative way because you are too lazy to do what the rules state. It boils down to a sense of entitlement.

[pannm]

Originally Posted by lbgraves

It's just rude to do something you know can affect someone else's cruise in a negative way because you are too lazy to do what the rules state. It boils down to a sense of entitlement.

I totally agree. Really, I didn't even think anything of it until I read about some one's experiance with a case of water busting open on top of his suit case. (It wasn't HIS case of water, but someone elses.)

I know it's a lot of work to lug around a big case of water (or beer in some people's cases). I get that. But, imagine yourself on the receiving end of that water or beer busting open. Imagine HOW HORRIBLE it would be for THEM to receive a wet/smelly/gross piece of luggage that contains all of their clothing for the cruise.

I can't imagine anyone would want to be on the receiving end of that, so why would anyone think that doing it is a good idea?

I know there are people out there that say "OHHH, that doesn't happen." BUT IT DOES.

Kind of sad actually that people are that inconsiderate.

[lbgraves]

That's horrible. Not the way to start out a cruise at all. I missed that post.