carry your own bags off?

[Triptakers]

Someone here someplace said you can carry your own bags off on the last day, saving time, etc. I cannot find that post now.... has anyone here done it? Do you have to specially request it, or just not leave your bags out on the last night?

Pros/cons?

Thanks.

We did it when leaving the Conquest in November. It was available on the Holiday in January but that was such a small ship it wasn't needed.

If you can roll your own luggage off at one time it is convenient. Some of the people who took advantage of it couldn't. They each had two huge bags and a small roller. My DH and I each had a medium bag and a small roller that hooked together and had no problem except crowded elevators.

We did save time and didn't have the hassle of sorting through lots and lots of luggage. There was no chance of someone taking your luggage by mistake which has happened to me and other family members before.

sls

Imagine how much fun it'd be if EVERYBODY did it!

For most people, it's utterly impractical. Most people bring far too much baggage, more than they could ever carry off the ship.

And even if you could, the ship's public areas/passageways are far too small to accommodate people stumbling around with all their luggage. Gangways at many ports are awkward and narrow with sharp turns, not a place to schlep your worldly goods.

Some people are always looking for an edge--whether it's to be the first on, the first off, the first on the tender, the first at the buffet.

Wouldn't it be better to just relax and go with the flow?

[GJG]

We did it from Glory at Port Carnival on 2/28 cruise. We each had one large bag. They announced self assist could leave the ship at 7:30AM and at 7:45 we were off the ship, cleared customs and immigration and in the parking lot. We never really had to carry the bag, but in case escalators were out of order, you'd have to descend two flights of stairs carrying bags. We won't consider doing it any other way on future cruises.