Anyone with recent Port Canaveral experience? Help me understand luggage!

[TreeFalls]

We've never cruised before, and I have a few questions:

1. I am acutely aware that someone might test positive and we'll be denied boarding (9 people, and the way our rooms and travel are arranged, we are all out if one person is positive). Can we keep our luggage with us until after we test, and then check it? We are driving to the port and parking.

2. It's my understanding that it works kind of like the airport- we can take carry on bags the size of those we'd take on the airplane, and we have to check larger bags. Is this right?

3. Where does checked luggage go once on board? In the hallway outside your room until you get there? We have a couple people in our group who are very security-conscious, and I want to make sure to tell them the correct info so they can arrange their luggage accordingly.

Thanks!

 

[TRTRguy]

You will need to drop off any checked bags prior to testing. In the rare event of a positive test your bags will be returned to you.
Yes you can carry on like an airplane but be advised you will have to carry it around until rooms open up around 2 or later. Most people just carry a backpack as larger suitcases are not permitted in the dining rooms.
Bags are places in the hallway outside of your room.

 

[Cheburashka]

Most people just carry a backpack as larger suitcases are not permitted in the dining rooms.

On debarkation morning, the dining rooms are always filled with suitcases just inside the entrance, where people place them so they can eat breakfast without the suitcase at their table (this was the case with my recent October cruise, as well, so it's definitely ongoing post Covid reopening). Isn't the policy the same for embarkation lunch? I wouldn't know as I always eat on the pool deck on embarkation day.

I find a carry-on roller bag easier to deal with than a heavy backpack, btw.

 

[ccsmith312]

I was wondering how this works as well. We plan to have backpacks and rolling carryon bags with us. We are being dropped at the port by a driver so no where to store bags while we test. I don't want to hand over our bags until I know our Covid tests are all negative. Hoping they will let us keep them with us.

 

[CrowMomma]

Isn't the policy the same for embarkation lunch?

I always bring a roller carry-on and always do embarkation lunch in the dining room. They've never had an issue with me bringing it, but I haven't traveled since COVID, so I'll let you know in a couple of weeks if it's still the same.

 

[dcassetta]

3. Where does checked luggage go once on board? In the hallway outside your room until you get there? We have a couple people in our group who are very security-conscious, and I want to make sure to tell them the correct info so they can arrange their luggage accordingly.

Checked bags are taken into the massive luggage hold and then sorted by stateroom location. They are delivered to the staterooms and left outside of the doors. This process begins after guests board and continues until all bags are delivered. This is usually, but not always, complete before sail away.

The staterooms will be available after 1:30. Your bags may or may not have been delivered at this point. If not, enjoy your afternoon and check back later. If there is anything of great value, it should be in your carry-on and kept with you.

 

[Southern Pirate]

You do not have to check your bags before testing. You can skip the baggage drop off and park, get tested and once cleared walk over to baggage check and drop them off. Testing is done on the ground floor so it is a short walk to drop your bags or you can continue to carry your luggage. Personally, I would leave the bags in the cars, get tested then once cleared, retrieve the bags and walk them over to the drop-off point and continue to terminal check-in.

 

[Freya424]

 

[FWRR3]

View attachment 633735

Could I ask where this was copied from? I have never seen anything like this enforced by DCL (the first sentence).

 

[starry_solo]

You do not have to check your bags before testing. You can skip the baggage drop off and park, get tested and once cleared walk over to baggage check and drop them off. Testing is done on the ground floor so it is a short walk to drop your bags or you can continue to carry your luggage. Personally, I would leave the bags in the cars, get tested then once cleared, retrieve the bags and walk them over to the drop-off point and continue to terminal check-in.

I didn’t think you could go back to the car after testing.

 

[TRTRguy]

I didn’t think you could go back to the car after testing.

You stay in the car the whole time while waiting on test results. However I dont believe you can go back to the luggage drop once entering the garage as it's all set up as a one way path to terminal. You have to stop at luggage drop before entering the garage to get a slip to enter the garage.

 

[starry_solo]

You stay in the car the whole time while waiting on test results. However I dont believe you can go back to the luggage drop once entering the garage as it's all set up as a one way path to terminal. You have to stop at luggage drop before entering the garage to get a slip to enter the garage.

Right. But the poster whom I quoted suggested skipping luggage drop off and going back to car after testing to pick up the luggage The original poster didn't say how he or she intended to get to PC in the first place.

 

[Freya424]

Could I ask where this was copied from? I have never seen anything like this enforced by DCL (the first sentence).

I emailed DCL to ask what the specific restrictions on carry-ons were and this was part of their emailed response. Doesn’t mean they actually enforce it though.

 

[mmouse37]

I didn’t think you could go back to the car after testing.

If parking a car at the port (like we did) you are tested in the car and stay in the car the whole time, though they did tell us to wait for results on a different level of the garage. So, at PC you could technically (in theory) keep your checked luggage in your car, get tested, wait for results and if cleared walk to bag drop off and hand over checked luggage.....if they allow you to walk back over. That I do not know. I think it works differently in Miami.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Could I ask where this was copied from? I have never seen anything like this enforced by DCL (the first sentence).

Actually, if you read through all the terms and conditions of the cruise it does mention a limit on carry on bags and checked bags. In our 47 DCL cruises I have never, ever seen them enforce this but it is stated in the T&C's.

MJ