Every cruise line handles embarkation day — the day you first board the ship — differently.
That holds true even with brands that share the same corporate parent. And how each cruise line handles luggage and cabin access is a point of contention for many passengers.
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Every company offers you the option of checking your bags and having them delivered to your room. Many people opt for that, but they also still hold on to a fairly hefty carry-on. That's because if you check your bags, they may not arrive at your cabin until late afternoon or early evening.
Those people pack their carry-ons with essentials like toiletries and medicine, along with a bathing suit and a change of clothes. Some people, of course, don't want to hand off their luggage to the cruise line, opting instead to walk it onto the ship by themselves.
Depending upon the cruise line, that can mean having to keep your bag or bags with you until 1 or 1:30 p.m. Royal Caribbean and Carnival's namesake brands allow only select passengers access to their cabins before they open. Most passengers must keep their luggage with them, which creates an unwieldy situation on already crowded elevators and in the buffet.
Celebrity Cruise, a Royal Caribbean brand, allows all passengers to drop their bags off in their cabins. The cruise line asks that passengers go to their cabins, leave their bags, and then leave so the room attendant can finish their work.
That's a privilege that many Carnival customers would like to see extended to all passengers.
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Carnival passengers asked a question
Carnival Cruise Line currently allows select passengers to drop their luggage off in their cabins before they are fully opened.
"Carnival’s Priority Check-in is an exclusive service designed to afford our [Very Important Fun Person Club] Diamond, Platinum, and deluxe suite guests with special embarkation and debarkation privileges on cruises from the U.S. and Europe," the cruise line says on its website. "Priority Check-in is not offered for Carnival Journeys cruises. Minors traveling with parents who have Priority Check-in in separate staterooms may check in together using this exclusive service."
The cruise line's brand ambassador, John Heald, does not seem to understand why passengers want to get onboard and immediately go to their cabins.
"Why do people want to have their cabins ready as soon as they get on the ship? Is it so they can unpack or go for a sleep or use the bathroom or all of the above?" he asked on his Facebook page.
Heald overlooks the idea that people may simply not want to be burdened by their luggage or carry-ons. Passengers do have to keep their passports or other needed documents with them for check-in and many like to put those in a secure location.
"Surely there is so much to see on embarkation day. You get on board the ship, don’t you want to go for something to eat or have a cocktail or go outside and explore? Discussion, please," he added.
Carnival passengers push back
Most passengers made clear that dropping off their luggage was the key reason they want early access to their cabins.
"So I can put things away like my C-pap machine and not have to worry about lugging it around," Richard King wrote.
Variations of that accounted for hundreds or more of the more than 3,300 comments on Heald's post.
"I don't think people necessarily want the cabin ready as much as they just want to drop off their carry-ons. It's very difficult to tote those bags around buffet lines and the crowded, chaotic Lido deck. Being able to drop off the bags is one perk we enjoy on other ships," added Terri Whitaker.
Some passengers would like to be able to occupy their rooms earlier.
"I don’t enjoy the huge crowds stuck on the Lido deck. At embarkation and disembarkation, everyone is crowded into a few areas so it’s nearly impossible to move or relax. During the cruise, people are more spread out. I cruise to chill and relax not to party so if I could get into my cabin and out on my balcony right away I’d be happiest," Amanda Comer said.
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In other cases, people just want a quick chance to freshen up after a long morning of travel.
"We want to drop off luggage mainly but I also want to freshen up, brush my teeth and hair etc. Change clothes possibly if it's hotter than I thought it'd be. Plus, if I'm tired from traveling, I may want to relax a bit before heading out to explore," posted Teresa Oliver Gilbert.
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