Embarkation Day - Luggage?

[jtruth33]

I've read more than one horror story now from people who have had someone in their party test positive that it took DCL hours to retrieve their luggage while they were forced to wait.

Is it possible to keep your luggage with you until after you're tested and deemed clear to sail?

I know this might differ by how you arrive... we're arriving by Uber.

 

[apathetic]

We sailed out of Galveston last month and the answer there is probably no. You have to drop your luggage and enter the terminal. After testing you go through security and wait in another area until cleared. I assume all ports are similar. I believe there are limits on luggage size going through security, so unless everything is the size of a carry-on, you must check it.

 

[auntlynne]

If sailing out of Port Canaveral, testing and luggage drop-off are before entering the terminal and going through security.

I imagine they would discourage dragging luggage through the testing tents (due to space), but I would give it a try if it gives you peace of mind.

After testing, you could cross the street and drop off your large suitcases with the porters. If you are traveling light (airline carry-on size, as ^^poster stated, you can keep it with you, anyway). With the reduced passenger count, I don’t see luggage congestion as being significant these days.

 

[jtruth33]

Thanks for the replies and intel. We'll likely go with the flow and just be prepared for a long wait if the worst happens.

Frankly I've been surprised to read more than one similar account about it taking hours to retrieve luggage. That strikes me as a major flaw in their process.

 

[Lynes88]

I did read where someone insisted on keeping their luggage with then during testing at Port Canaveral. It caused a stink, but the family was able to keep their luggage with them. I think it was in the Thread about that family testing positive at the port recently.

 

[soniam]

Thanks for the replies and intel. We'll likely go with the flow and just be prepared for a long wait if the worst happens.

Frankly I've been surprised to read more than one similar account about it taking hours to retrieve luggage. That strikes me as a major flaw in their process.

They probably are not organized enough to deal with the positives, which they should be by now. They are also probably understaffed due to hiring issues and employees testing positive for covid. Not an excuse, but probably the reason for such foobars. Glad to know though, so that I can be prepared. Driving to the port and keeping the car in the garage is sounding better and better. I have a while though, July.

 

[Bishoparc]

If you’re arriving by your own transportation and parking at the Port, I don’t see why you couldn’t keep your luggage with you until you got your clear to sail. They don’t scan anything to check you in until you get to the parking lot to get your test but they do put some random piece of paper on your car so they know you're within your boarding window. It would just be a matter of walking your luggage across on the first floor (which they tell you to go across on the third floor bridge). I’d definitely ask when you pull up to drop of your luggage if your driving yourself, never hurts to ask.

 

[closetmickey]

Absolutely keep your luggage with you! We all packed a carry on and had an extra backpack or shoulder bag. Yes- we were not able to pack as much as we usually do but the peace of mind of not having to wait for the luggage was so well worth it.

 

[CamColt]

We are driving ourselves and I think it just makes sense to keep the luggage. If DCL agrees and allows it, who knows? As jtruth33 said above it seems like a major flaw in what otherwise seems like a very smooth process. Yes it only affects a small portion of guest but separating people from their luggage in such a large delivery process before they are clear to sail seems crazy.

 

[freshmanjs]

If you’re arriving by your own transportation and parking at the Port, I don’t see why you couldn’t keep your luggage with you until you got your clear to sail. They don’t scan anything to check you in until you get to the parking lot to get your test. It would just be a matter of walking your luggage across on the first floor (which they tell you to go across on the third floor bridge). I’d definitely ask when you pull up to drop of your luggage if your driving yourself, never hurts to ask.

When we went on the Dec 26 cruise, you were required to have a tag on your dash from the porters in order to enter the parking lot. They were turning away any cars without it and sending them back around to check luggage.

 

[Freya424]

Just off a 3 night dream cruise at PC. There are 3 of us and we brought 2 carry on size rolling bags and 3 backpacks. Pulled up to the luggage drop and told the lady we didn’t have any luggage to check and she said ok. We were directed into the garage and tested and brought our luggage once cleared. When we got just outside the security check a woman asked if we wanted to check our bags, so it seems we could have had them checked at that point. We opted not to, as it wasn’t any trouble to just bring them. We parked them at our table in cabanas and by the time we were done with lunch and checking in at our muster station the room was ready and we were able to go and unpack straight away. Obviously it would be more challenging for a longer cruise where you’d need more or bigger suitcases. But I would definitely do it again for a 3 or 4 night. It was nice to not have to worry about waiting for the luggage to return in the event we tested positive.

 

[Bishoparc]

When we went on the Dec 26 cruise, you were required to have a tag on your dash from the porters in order to enter the parking lot. They were turning away any cars without it and sending them back around to check luggage.

Yeah correct, that's the same on ours so that's why I had suggested stopping and asking first. Modified my post to make that more clear.