How does luggage drop off work at port?

[qa4ever]

I'm just curious as to the logistics of how the luggage works at port? Do you drop off your luggage before going through security? After you go through the check in line? Before entering terminal? etc.

 

[Kim1964]

I've only sailed from Port Canaveral, so I can answer for that port. If you take a shuttle, taxi, or drive to the port on your own, you drop off your luggage curbside, before you enter the terminal.

 

[xlxo]

To clarify..... which port?

In Vancouver...checked luggage is dropped off in the loading docks and you get in line for boarding. If you are staying at a nearby terminal hotel, I've read that you can check-in luggage from the hotel.

Your luggage magically appears in your stateroom a few hours later when you are at lunch.

When you leave the boat.... you can opt to leave your luggage outside your cabin at 8pm for it to appear at the docks the next morning. Otherwise you need to drag it to breakfast and leave it at the restaurant door.

 

[cedricandsophie]

You drop off with porters when you drive up to check in area. Then you see again outside your room anytime between 2 and 5 pm. I always hope to have it earlier so I can unpack before the lifeboat drill which is followed quickly by deck party.

 

[CruisingSarah]

I can speak for Port Canaveral, Vancouver and Barcelona and it's all the same. You drop your luggage with porters as you drive up/get dropped off. They are right there outside the terminal and you just hand over your bags and they are taken onto the ship. You then pass through security with your carry on baggage and then on into the check-in hall.

 

[tmoor]

Make sure to pay attention to a small covered area about 40 or 50 feet from the curbside gate you first go through or you may just be dragging your luggage the whole way. At least that is how it happened for us. Our first DCL cruise was out of Port Canaveral. We had no idea what we were doing. We found parking outside the parking garage across the street...thought it was an awesome location, but it apparently cost us more to be so close to the entrance gate and in the sun - but it really is a quick escape from the parking lot and was much faster than waiting in line to get out of the parking garage!
We walked all our luggage across the street to the very first gate outside the port terminal building, no porters in sight, but the people checking the first round of cruise documents and IDs welcomed us then sent us on to the main building to go through the scanners and into the terminal. Not once did they mention all the luggage we were dragging through the place but boy did we notice! We finally get all that scanned and used the elevator to go upstairs (instead of the escalator because we had all this luggage). We finally asked where to check our bags and they told us we should have done all that curbside! So just don't get so excited about the cruise that you miss that luggage drop-off area across the street from the parking deck! Miami was pretty easy to spot, we pulled up to the curb and porters were literally flagging you down so they can "help" you with your bags.

 

[CEGrant]

Yes if you hit the id checkers you've gone to far.

And don't forget to tip the porters if you can. That's how they make their living.

 

[wendlle]

So if they take your luggage as we are getting out of our shuttle do we tip them? I'm leaving in a week!!

 

[McGirls]

For those of us not accustom to tipping, how much is a suitable tip?

 

[CEGrant]

--I'm not sure about the shuttle. I have always arrived at Disney by car service.

--We usually tip $2-3 bag, depending on the size.

 

[CurtisB]

So if they take your luggage as we are getting out of our shuttle do we tip them? I'm leaving in a week!!

If you are taking the DCL bus you don't need to tip unless you bring your bags with you for some reason otherwise your bags come on a big truck at a different time. The porters are not Cast Members and make their living through tips. If the porters handle your bags $2-$3 per bag is a fair amount. We had two bags and tipped $5. He was appreciative. Apparently they get stiffed out of tips more often than not.

 

[bumbershoot]

We walked all our luggage across the street to the very first gate outside the port terminal building, no porters in sight, but the people checking the first round of cruise documents and IDs welcomed us then sent us on to the main building to go through the scanners and into the terminal. Not once did they mention all the luggage we were dragging through the place but boy did we notice! We finally get all that scanned and used the elevator to go upstairs (instead of the escalator because we had all this luggage).

I'm assuming that all your luggage was of carryon size, or it wouldn't have made it through the scanners!

 

[Marypoppins14]

Oh, how I wish that I had seen this thread prior to my 14-Aug-14 Dream cruise.

What a mix-up.

Drove rental car to port, saw the porters on the right, misunderstood that it was for passenger/luggage drop off. Had 2 children with me, did not want to leave them as I parked the car, so I asked if I could check my luggage elsewhere. "Sure!"

Parked the car, retrieved luggage from trunk (2 to check, 1 carry-on, plus back-pack), proceeded to entrance. "Can I check luggage in port?" "Sure!"

Head to security. No line! All luggage through scanners (blowing the dimensions theories). Son's wooden pop-gun trips alarm. "Please come with me." "Ma'am, we need to determine safety of questionable item in this section of your luggage."

Unlock/open luggage to retrieve pop-pistol. "Ma'am, that is the best packed suitcase that I have ever seen!" Pop-pistol inspected (btw - it had been purchased on a prior DCL cruise), and returned. Stow pistol, close and re-lock luggage. "So we can check this luggage at the desk?" "No Ma'am, you need to exit the security line, go around the building to your left, and check you luggage with the porters there."

Retrieve all luggage, exit security, walk around building, find porters, apply tags, return to security -- major line! Not a happy camper now.

Go through security (again), ascend escalators to check-in. Really really unhappy due to late start in morning (trying to gather belongings, transfer other luggage to next WDW hotel for split stay, wake up, feed, and cattle prod two boys to get moving, there by blowing way past my originally planned 10:30 PAT. Darn. So by the time we checked it it was closer to noon.

At this point, I'm saying to myself, "Happy @#!! birthday to me! How did I not know this? This is my 5th DCL cruise!"

Wait -- first 2 DCL out of NYC. Next one, HB took DCL transport to port, with our checked luggage. 4th, we arrived via MCO Hyatt, with checked luggage retrieved my Hyatt, etc. Duh! I've never done this before.

Oh, it got worse -- at check-in, I was told that we would be denied boarding due fact that the passport my son's friend had expired a month ago. But that's another story. (We did manage to board).

What a great way to celebrate my 50th birthday! It all worked out in the end... We enjoyed a wonderful 3-night cruise on the Dream.

Like I said, I really wish that I had seen a thread like this prior to my cruise. Live and learn...

 

[Octoberbride03]

I have yet to actually tip the porters for our bags, and its not because I don't want to. We take the shuttle from the CI&S over to the port. BOTH times our shuttle pulls up it pulls right in front of the loading container for the luggage, so the driver pops the doors and they start grabbing and packing the luggage into the big bin. I never see who actually takes my luggage to tip them, especially since its more than 1 porter doing it. And they don't turn around with their hands out either, or I'd pick the first hand and tip. Next cruise is in a month, we'll see if we go 3 for 3 this way. But I'll have tip handy just in case

 

[niccikatie]

I have yet to actually tip the porters for our bags, and its not because I don't want to. We take the shuttle from the CI&S over to the port. BOTH times our shuttle pulls up it pulls right in front of the loading container for the luggage, so the driver pops the doors and they start grabbing and packing the luggage into the big bin. I never see who actually takes my luggage to tip them, especially since its more than 1 porter doing it. And they don't turn around with their hands out either, or I'd pick the first hand and tip. Next cruise is in a month, we'll see if we go 3 for 3 this way. But I'll have tip handy just in case

Similar to what happened to us in Vancouver! The guy grabbed our bags, whisked them away and never returned. I didn't even really know if we had left them in the right place. I felt bad, but I guess if they work for tips it would make sense to come back to the person you took the bags from.

 

[tmoor]

I'm assuming that all your luggage was of carryon size, or it wouldn't have made it through the scanners!

We had one huge wheeled suitcase that was expanded all the way, so I'd say it was about 14" thick fully packed. We also had two small carry-ons with wheels and about two or three totes. Way too much stuff! They didn't seem to have any problem getting that largest suitcase through the scanner, granted it did take up the whole opening.

I guess with all the luggage, we just assumed someone would've said, "Hey, you can check that stuff, you know."

 

[SeattleSuz]

This is good to know. I hadnt even thought about this. I will have to share this information with the other family that we are going to share a shuttle with.