I need luggage!

[MrsPete]

We're usually duffle bag kind of people, but I'm thinking of investing in a "real" suitcase before our Disney cruise. I'm thinking of buying one BIG rolling suitcase, which my husband can handle while I manage the kids. One BIG suitcase plus the medium-sized duffle bags we already own will be plenty for us.

Here's my question: How high are the beds on the cruise ships? I definately want to be able to store it under the bed!

Maybe I should go with a BIG rolling duffle bag instead. They are practical

Thanks.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There are two problem with the "one big bag" idea -- the weight and the size. One big bag, fully packed, is likely to weigh over 50 pounds. On American Airlines' domestic flights, you're hit with a $25 fee if the bag is over 50 pounds or a $50 fee if the bag is over 70 pounds. And if the bag exceeds the maximum dimensions, you're hit with an $80 fee in addition to the weight fee!

It doesn't matter that two passengers are sharing the bag. You could each have two normal-sized bags weighing 50 pound bags each, for a total of 200 pounds. No problem. But if you try to share one oversize bag weighing 71 pounds, you're hit for $130 in fees -- which is $260 on a roundtrip.

The rules might vary by airline. I'm going by the domestic baggage rules for American Airlines, which are:
<blockquote>For flights wholly within the United States and between the United States and Canada
The maximum amount of baggage each ticketed passenger is allowed free of charge is:
2 pieces checked and one carry-on
Please note that one carry-on personal item (see "Carry-on Allowance") does not count toward the free bag allowance.

The size limitation of your luggage is calculated by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, that is, length + width + height.
Two checked bags at 62 in/157 cm each

One carry-on bag at 45 in/114 cm
The maximum weight per checked bag is 50 lbs/23 kgs.
The maximum weight per carry-on bag is 40 lbs/18 kgs. </blockquote>

 

[fredms]

I had bought a big (I think 35') and medium (I think 26') roller bag from samsonite for my cruise. The medium fit under the bed easily. The big did not, but we were able to keep it in the closet w/o a problem and actually stored dirty clothes in there.

But we were just two adults and it sounds like you have kids. For the two of us, we felt like we had plemty of space including drawers, shelves and counters and didn't even need the over the door shoe hanger (although it is nice for someone like me who is always loosing things).

 

[MrsPete]

Thanks for your reply concerning airlines, Horace, but I see that I didn't give enough details to get the answers I needed:

I'm close enough to Florida that we don't need to fly. We already own two small roller suitcases that my husband uses for work-related travel (I tend to think of them as "his" property, and I forget that we have them), but I'm interested in a large suitcase for the family.

What I really need to know at this point is how big a suitcase I can store under the beds on the Disney ships.

Thanks for your information, Horace. I'm sure it will help someone else who lives farther from Florida than I do.

 

[MrsPete]

Thanks for the specific sizes, Fredms! I looked at a 30" soft-sided suitcase today -- it looked pretty big to me -- a 35" must really be HUGE! From your post, I'm guessing that the 30" under the bed would be iffy, right?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, I have not cruised on DCL... But I have heard that most people have found that you can fit your suitcase(s) under the beds(s). Here are a couple tricks to try... I hear that you can raise the bed a little to actually put the suitcase(s) in there, then just lower the bed/mattress back down. If a large suitcase that opens in the middle, (as opposed to just like the top flap) is too thick, put it under the bed opened out flat. And, another tip, try nesting the small bags in the larger ones.

Good luck!

 

[mobetsy]

I have a big rolling duffel that I got at Sears; I really like it. It is labeled as "Jeep" brand...wonder if I should be looking for an engine hiding in it so I don't have to pull it myself