soaked suitcases and trashbag linings

[Billinaz]

What brand is that?

http://shop.samsonite.com/luggage/s...color=Charcoal&cgidmaster=lugaz-lu050#start=8

 

[C6PT7]

We were on the Dream cruise that just ended Monday. Our luggage was also soaked-clothing and shoes that were literally waterlogged. I mentioned this to our stateroom host-the only time we saw him-because having the wet suitcases on the bed soaked the bedding. He offered an off-handed apology & said he would change bed linens later.

Fast forward to the day we were packing to disembark...I was packing my kids' clothes (I had made them unpack themselves on Friday) and most of their clothes were STILL WET (having been thrown in the drawers wet in the haste to get to activities, I guess). So we put damp, mildewy clothes into still damp suitcases.

I'm happy to report that we had an amazing time overall on the cruise & this was the only negative issue we had. I will definitely be packing in plastic from this trip forward!

Why did you put obviously soaking suitcases on the bed to start with? Why did you put wet clothes folded in drawers for the duration of the cruise and not hang them up at least to dry out?
Did you go to GS to report this at all?
Why did you suffer in silence and not do anything to resolve this?

 

[MouseTrip07]

First of all, I would hardly call what we experienced as suffering. Annoying, for sure, but not suffering. Neither my husband nor I realized how wet the suitcases and contents were until we opened them. We did hang up our wet items & set the shoes out to dry. As mentioned before, it was my kids who shoved wet clothes into drawers and, tho I didn't find them until it was time to pack up, they were no worse off.

Again, we were annoyed, but the annoyance was overshadowed by the fun we had. We were not looking for compensation on the cruise, nor sympathy from this posting. I contributed to this thread to affirm that wet clothing/suitcases can occur and precautions like packing in ziplocs can help! Sorry if I came across differently than I intended.

 

[C6PT7]

First of all, I would hardly call what we experienced as suffering. Annoying, for sure, but not suffering. Neither my husband nor I realized how wet the suitcases and contents were until we opened them. We did hang up our wet items & set the shoes out to dry. As mentioned before, it was my kids who shoved wet clothes into drawers and, tho I didn't find them until it was time to pack up, they were no worse off.

Again, we were annoyed, but the annoyance was overshadowed by the fun we had. We were not looking for compensation on the cruise, nor sympathy from this posting. I contributed to this thread to affirm that wet clothing/suitcases can occur and precautions like packing in ziplocs can help! Sorry if I came across differently than I intended.

Sorry if I've read your post wrong, and it is helpful to others, but you did say you had to put damp mildewy clothes (mildew is mould) into still damp suitcases. That could have damaged both the suitcases and the clothing. How do you clean a mildewy suitcase?
Whilst you say annoying, I say you have suffered water ingress to your luggage during transit from the port to your cabin, and steps could have been taken to reduce the effects of your situation.
And I didn't say you should be compensated, but the cruise line could have offered to take all of your damp clothing and dry them for you, and also put your suitcases in a warm/hot area to dry them out had you made them more aware.
Personally I think you could have resolved some of your "suffering" as I say or "annoyance" as you say by speaking up more vocally and asking for assistance in your unfortunate situation.
It doesn't sound like your cabin person was particularly helpful.

 

[C6PT7]

All I am saying is they could have helped you more if you had spoken up more.
Like the drawers with the sodden clothes in that were mildewy. They would need to be throughly cleaned and disinfected between you removing the damp clothes your kids put in them and the next passengers using them and having their probably dry clothes smelling of mould or being damp as well.

Just thinking of your experience and others, and how it could have been better.

 

[MouseTrip07]

Sorry if I've read your post wrong, and it is helpful to others, but you did say you had to put damp mildewy clothes (mildew is mould) into still damp suitcases. That could have damaged both the suitcases and the clothing. How do you clean a mildewy suitcase?
Whilst you say annoying, I say you have suffered water ingress to your luggage during transit from the port to your cabin, and steps could have been taken to reduce the effects of your situation.
And I didn't say you should be compensated, but the cruise line could have offered to take all of your damp clothing and dry them for you, and also put your suitcases in a warm/hot area to dry them out had you made them more aware.
Personally I think you could have resolved some of your "suffering" as I say or "annoyance" as you say by speaking up more vocally and asking for assistance in your unfortunate situation.
It doesn't sound like your cabin person was particularly helpful.

Hot water & good detergent took care of the clothing items. We wiped out & laid the suitcases out to dry thoroughly. They seem fine. Had I checked the unpacking job my kids had done, the clothes would not have remained in their dampened state, but I did not.

It was not Disney's fault that it was raining buckets on our embarkation day. Maybe our stateroom host could have offered some solution other than clean linens, but we were first time cruisers & just happy to be onboard. I was also under the impression that luggage was not handled by DCL, but by employees of the Port. Perhaps I am wrong.

At any rate, thanks for your concern.

 

[C6PT7]

Hot water & good detergent took care of the clothing items. We wiped out & laid the suitcases out to dry thoroughly. They seem fine. Had I checked the unpacking job my kids had done, the clothes would not have remained in their dampened state, but I did not.

It was not Disney's fault that it was raining buckets on our embarkation day. Maybe our stateroom host could have offered some solution other than clean linens, but we were first time cruisers & just happy to be onboard. I was also under the impression that luggage was not handled by DCL, but by employees of the Port. Perhaps I am wrong.

At any rate, thanks for your concern.

I'm glad you managed to save your clothing and suitcases.
Yes it's not disney's fault it was raining, but they could and can use covers on their baggage crates, and whilst they do use the port stevedores to move the luggage from the port dock to the ship, they also can control and monitor that situation.
Maybe they need to provide a more sheltered area for the baggage crates to be kept in, or enclosed crates, or cease loading if it is a torrential downpour? Unless they know about the problems, they cannot provide solutions and sometimes a cost to them is a better prompt to do something than just a suggestion
They do have a duty of care with your luggage and should make attempts and set processes in place to protect it, and it does sound like in this case they failed. Both at the port, and with your cabin attendant's lack of ability or training to assist you after the fact.

 

[southerngirl528]

C6PT7, earlier in this thread I described how my hard side carbon-fiber suitcase's contents got wet from being left on the tarmac on a covered luggage cart during a very nasty thunderstorm at MCO. All luggage workers were called indoors to safety because of the lightning as well as the monsoon-like wind and rain. That would not have been DCL's fault at all. I do agree that DCL should do what they can to protect passengers' luggage but as described in my case, sometimes mother nature can cause wet luggage even if care is taken.

 

[C6PT7]

And I haven't disputed your specific situation southerngirl528 and think it is good advice.
All I have said is that if your luggage is suffering from water damage/ingress then speak up and ask for assistance.
Even if you pack in ziplok bags, your suitcases still need to be dried out before you reuse them, and better to get them dried than have to travel home with them still damp and mildewy and then have to scrub them!
On an airport apron is one thing when a thunderstorm rolls over, but they have more sheltered areas at ports to and ability to protect baggage carts and crates. So if your luggage is sodden for whatever reason, speak up and ask for assistance to get it dried out and clean!