Best luggage to take on a cruise
Hardshell vs softshell?
Hardshell luggage may serve its purpose for general travel but is not great to bring on a cruise. Because there is limited space in a cabin it is best to be able to put your bags either under the bed (ideal), in the closet or under other furniture. Soft-sided luggage is what we use and love. Duffle type bags would also be good, but be sure to get them with easy to roll wheels.
How much luggage to bring?
When picking the best luggage for a cruise remember, less is more. Unless you have a large suite, you are faced with where to store your luggage after you unpack. Yes, you do need to unpack it – more on that in a bit. You can always send your laundry out to be cleaned as well as using the do-it-yourself laundry facilities onboard. People wear the same clothes twice, no big deal, and really …. are you ever going to see these people again?
Limit yourself to one checked bag and one backpack or carryon. 29″ luggage is really too big to be practical on a cruise, you will be better off with a 25″ or smaller bag. A roll-on carryon may work for some (instead of a backpack), but be aware you will have that bag with you until you can get into your cabin. If you bring a backpack, you will have two hands free to check out the awesome ship you are sailing on, it will be much easier to get something to eat or drink onboard and you will be able to climb the stairs between decks (the wait for the elevators can be especially long on embarkation day). A large shoulder or cross-body bag also works well.
In your carry-on:
In your backpack or carryon be sure to have your travel papers, identification, cash, credit cards, prescriptions, electronics, a small tube of sunscreen, as well as a change of clothes in case you want to enjoy the pool or go to dinner before your luggage is delivered to your room. Depending on where you are traveling you might want to invest in a good anti-theft backpack. We always take an insulated travel cup with us and like having a cup holder on the side of our backpacks (you would be surprised that many backpacks do not have this feature).
Unpack those bags!
When your luggage is delivered to your cabin, do yourself a big favor and unpack it right away. The cloth covering the end of the bed is there your first day so you can put your bags on the bed without getting the comforter dirty. It will reappear on your last day so you can pack your bags in anticipation of disembarkation. The cabins are small but there are plenty of drawers and enough closet space for your clothes. This is your home for the remainder of your vacation and an uncluttered room has a huge advantage over one that has a couple of suitcases open with clothes spilling all over.
Lock them up!
When cruising it is a very good idea to put TSA approved locks on your checked luggage. As a cruise comedian once said, “Your room steward and others are always reminding you to be sure to lock up your valuables in the cabin safe, but the night before you disembark, you are told to leave you checked bags out in the hall. What gives with that?” If your bags are locked, you will feel much better.
Ship time vs port time:
One additional item to bring with on a cruise: an analog watch or timepiece. Ship time is very important to adhere to. Depending on the port you are visiting, your phone or fitness watch may set itself to the local time, which may not be ship time. Ships do not wait for passengers that are late. We have an analog watch fob that we attach to one of our backpacks. We set it on ship time and use that when we are in port.
Shop:
You are encouraged to purchase your luggage backpacks and locks wherever you want, but if you are looking for suggestions, here is what we use on our cruises (along with an affiliate link;-):
We love the Luggage Pro Crew 11, with 4 spinner wheels.
Travelpro Luggage Crew 11 25″ Expandable Spinner Suitcase w/Suiter:
For backpacks, we have two (one for each of us):
Travel Laptop Backpack, Anti Theft, Slim, Durable Laptops Backpack USB Charging Port, Water Resistant – Grey
Travelon Anti Theft Classic Backpack
TSA locks:
Tarriss TSA Lock with SearchAlert (2 Pack)
Analog watch Fob:
Black Clip-on Carabiner Rotating Luminous Face FOB Watch
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