Random question about bags to check at the port

[Flossbolna]

Since we are talking about all the dangers of checking luggage here, there was also once a case when a whole load of luggage ended up in the water when being loaded onto the ship. Of course no hard sided luggage will be that great in protecting in such an event either.

OP, I would pack clothes in the weekends and check it. I don’t think it’s too much of a risk and I wouldn’t want to carry it around either.

 

[msmama]

I often use a soft sided weekender bag when getting OFF the ship (have it packed in my luggage empty, used it for dirty clothes getting off the ship and all new souvenirs packed in the hard sided one). It turned out fine, like I said, only dirty clothes in there, nothing that could break. Nothing that would break my heart if it got dirty. But there is a reason I only use it if I don't need anything else in there - it's just going straight home to my washing machine.

So, while everything has always turned out fine for me...you see what happens to bags. 99% of the time you'd probably be fine... but there's always that pesky 1%.

 

[auntlynne]

Why aren’t you putting the wine in the rolling carryon? I find a backpack more cumbersome while waiting for the room than my smooth-rolling bag. A light bag (purse or non-bulky backpack) is sufficient for boarding paperwork, phone…

I do rearrange my packing after the flight the night before boarding, in case a bag gets misplaced by the airlines. I have put my trust in the cruise lines over the years - and they have not failed to deliver my bags. So I only put electronics, medical equipment and meds (ie, breakable / valuable / hard to replace during vacation) in my carryon. Of course, any beverages if applicable.

 

[JWelch62]

Since we are talking about all the dangers of checking luggage here, there was also once a case when a whole load of luggage ended up in the water when being loaded onto the ship. Of course no hard sided luggage will be that great in protecting in such an event either.

OP, I would pack clothes in the weekends and check it. I don’t think it’s too much of a risk and I wouldn’t want to carry it around either.

I remember one incident like this on the Wonder where one guest packed vital medications in their checked bag. My recollection (it was a few years back) is that the ship waited for the guest's prescriptions to be replaced.

 

[sadiecatie]

Why aren’t you putting the wine in the rolling carryon? I find a backpack more cumbersome while waiting for the room than my smooth-rolling bag. A light bag (purse or non-bulky backpack) is sufficient for boarding paperwork, phone…

I do rearrange my packing after the flight the night before boarding, in case a bag gets misplaced by the airlines. I have put my trust in the cruise lines over the years - and they have not failed to deliver my bags. So I only put electronics, medical equipment and meds (ie, breakable / valuable / hard to replace during vacation) in my carryon. Of course, any beverages if applicable.

Im planning to check it at port (I meant carry-on for my flight, sorry if that wasn’t clear) - I don’t want to be lugging around a bunch of bags on the ship, I’d rather just have one smaller bag with paperwork, wine, and possibly swim stuff. Everything else I plan to give the the porters to take to the room.

 

[auntlynne]

Im planning to check it at port (I meant carry-on for my flight, sorry if that wasn’t clear) - I don’t want to be lugging around a bunch of bags on the ship, I’d rather just have one smaller bag with paperwork, wine, and possibly swim stuff. Everything else I plan to give the the porters to take to the room.

And now I’m wondering how tiny you are that you are that you can get outerwear to fit in a carry-on.

Bottom line, I wouldn’t check-in a fabric weekend bag with handles at the port, either.

You’re a Brave and strong girl, Merida, you’ll figure it out.

 

[sadiecatie]

And now I’m wondering how tiny you are that you are that you can get outerwear to fit in a carry-on.

Bottom line, I wouldn’t check-in a fabric weekend bag with handles at the port, either.

You’re a Brave and strong girl, Merida, you’ll figure it out.

Compression packing cubes for the win

 

[MomOTwins]

We check duffel bags literally every cruise. I put all my beach/pool stuff in it (swimsuits, water shors/flip flops, beach toys, floppy hat etc.). If I am staying at wdw before the cruise, I have a second duffel that is where I put the dirty laundry. I wouldn’t put something valuable in a aoft bag but it really doesn’t hurt for those things to get squished.

 

[auntlynne]

We check duffel bags literally every cruise. I put all my beach/pool stuff in it (swimsuits, water shors/flip flops, beach toys, floppy hat etc.). If I am staying at wdw before the cruise, I have a second duffel that is where I put the dirty laundry. I wouldn’t put something valuable in a aoft bag but it really doesn’t hurt for those things to get squished.

I’ve put LLBean canvas bags through before, but her weekender with the soft quilted fabric and long soft handles just looks like asking for trouble. Doable, sure. And possibly comes through unscathed. Every bag that I let out of my hand comes home looking more worn. Which is fine for my hard sides, but anything pretty would be nice to keep that way for more than a cruise or two. Even if it’s not Vera Bradley.

 

[etherealcaitiff]

Another thing to consider is that your soft bag will probably be somewhere in the middle of the pile pictured earlier. All the hard sided bags are going to be heavy, with edges and wheels that can easily snag on your bag. There's a good chance that your bag will get torn up by that. If you have no plans to ever use the bag again and REALLY dont want to buy a cheap hardside bag, then go for it. Otherwise, I'd reconsider.