In the old days, when dinners on cruise ships were formal affairs, most passengers dropped their luggage at the pier. It would then be delivered to their rooms, usually, but not always, before dinner.
That forced cruise lines to relax their dress codes on night one as sometimes passengers simply did not have their clothes to change into.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line bans onboard practice, explains menu changes
Now, while some passengers still don formal outfits for pictures and a fancy meal, the tradition has become less popular. So more people pack in airplane-style rolling bags and walk their luggage on to their ships.
That causes problems, however, because in most cases cabins are not ready until between 1 and 2 p.m. This leaves many passengers with their luggage at the buffet, in line at guest services, and in the other spots that get crowded on embarkation day, the day the ship leaves its home port.
Every cruise line handles this slightly differently. Royal Caribbean, for example, does not allow most passengers to drop their bags in their cabins, while its sister cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, allows every passenger to do that.
Carnival Cruise Line’s policy falls somewhere in the middle and Brand Ambassador John Heald recently explained how his cruise line’s passengers should handle their luggage once they board the ship.
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Cabins are not ready until the early afternoon.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Some Carnival passengers can drop off their bags
Carnival allows some passengers to drop off their bags. That benefit comes with one major caveat and a small difficulty.
One unidentified passenger recently wrote to Heald about the issue.
“We have ‘Platinum status’ for our last 5 cruises so we could take our luggage to the cabin and leave it upon boarding,” they wrote.
“No crew member was ever standing in front of those heavy doors that say do not enter. They are very heavy and there should be a Carnival employee standing at each door to open it for us.
It is [too] heavy for most people to do this. I also suspect some people without Platinum status also took their luggage to the cabins early which is just not right. Can you confirm who is allowed and who does not.”
Heald answered directly.
“So say that these fire screen doors are heavy, so I do understand they are not easy to open,” he wrote.
“In a perfect world I would be 150 pounds and have perfect Turkish teeth and not be as ugly as an inside out yak and we would have spare crew members to man each of the four or more fire screen doors on each side of each deck. However, the brilliant cabin attendants are aware each cruise which cabins have this privilege and can drop their luggage off.
“Those that can are:
Diamond guestsPlatinum guestsFaster to the Fun guestsGuests staying in a suiteMembers of the Cleveland, Ohio, Clog Dancing Association.
“So, please only those guests listed above can open the fire screen door carefully, go to the cabin and please drop off your bags and leave straight away so that the brilliant housekeeping staff can prepare your cabin to the highest of standards,” he added.
Carnival passengers respond to luggage rules
This topic seems polarizing for Carnival passengers, but many thought the original post was a bit entitled.
“The doors are heavy for your safety, not for your convenience. Please find some common sense somewhere and use it,” posted Rita Gross. “All the crew are actually busy getting the ship ready for your cruise because thousands of people just got off the ship. They don’t have time to be standing at the doors, opening it for you because of [your] self-absorbed entitlement.”
Deborah Starkey Street shared a similar sentiment:
“The doors are heavy and takes some strength, but only once did I need assistance and a passenger walking by was kind enough to help. I would prefer all of those employees be doing their job of getting our cabins ready instead of waiting to open a door.”
Glenda Kinkel took a more practical approach.
“When I reach the stage in my life where I can’t open the door I will just check my luggage,” she posted. “That way I don’t have to worry about my luggage or the door while I’m waiting in line to get my mobility scooter.
“Cruising is for all ages but I do think you have to adjust your expectations to your actual physical ability. It’s not the cruise lines responsibility to make up for your deficit. They do a great job of caring for the mass average cruisers young and old.”
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