Saving time with just a carry-on bag on a cruise

Hi everyone, I’d love to hear from your experience—does having just a carry-on bag actually save time during boarding and disembarking? Thanks in advance! Muriel

Welcome to the forum!

Of course you save time without checked luggage. You just get off the plane and—boom—you're out. Waiting for baggage claim is at least half an hour (and sometimes your suitcase doesn’t even show up 😅). That said, watch out for prohibited items in your carry-on: bottles over 100ml, and so on… And you’ve gotta know how to travel light!

Hello

Oh, absolutely! 😉 For the past few years, I’ve only traveled with a small carry-on suitcase. It’s a learning process! It means letting go of a lot of things and moving around without your usual habits. It’s all about surrendering—isn’t that the essence of travel? You just need to optimize space by rolling clothes and packing them side by side.

The advantages: -Time saved at departure: no checked bags, and I’d rather wander around the airport than stand in another line. -Time saved at arrival: I’ve waited over an hour at baggage carousels before. -No worries about lost luggage during a layover (been there, got nothing back). -No mix-ups with someone else’s bag (also been there—someone took mine, and I had to buy a bunch of stuff in New York). -No dragging luggage around on a multi-stop trip. -No scattered belongings in a hotel room. Easy! With so little to unpack... -No outrageous fees for extra baggage on low-cost flights.

Hello

Oh yes indeed! 😉 For the past few years, I’ve only traveled with a small suitcase that I take in the cabin. It’s a learning process! It means letting go of a lot of things and moving around without your usual habits. It’s all about letting go! But isn’t that the whole point of traveling? You just need to optimize space by rolling your clothes and packing them side by side.

I admire you 😊 I’d love to be able to do that, but it’s impossible for me. Even less so for my girlfriend 😅 The least we’ve managed is 12 kg for a month. And the backpack couldn’t be considered a carry-on 😢

I struggled at first, but after trying it, I’m hooked 😉 It’s so much better! That said, I’ve never gone on a long trip to a cold country—it’s easier with light clothes... In the small extra bag (the one that fits under the seat), I manage to fit quite a bit: my camera, my toiletries, my iPad, a foldable backpack (3 € at Decathlon 😛), and my documents. In the suitcase, my clothes and 2 pairs of shoes. On me, I wear a bunch of things—jacket, sweater, scarf, etc.—which I’ll stash in the foldable bag once I arrive. My travel buddies (the ones from India, for example 😉) did the same and are now total converts to the method !

And what about gifts on the way back—how do you bring them? 😅

Hi Montagnard, it’s for a cruise. But I think it should be the same, right!? Thanks for the reply :) Muriel

Hi Kate, and thanks for your reply. As I mentioned to Montagnard, this is a Northern Europe cruise. After a cruise in Norway, I realized how many clothes I didn’t wear over 15 days, so I’m scaling back my pack! I’m thinking of boarding without waiting in line—who knows! Muriel😇

Hi Montagnard, it's about a cruise. But I think it must be the same, right!? Thanks for the reply :) Muriel

Well, I'm stumped! 😕 I’ve only been on one cruise in my life, back in 2007, and I’ll admit I wouldn’t do it again (but that’s not the point). So, no idea 😅 There’s a section of the forum dedicated to cruises—ask your question there 🧑🏼‍✈️

And how do you bring back gifts on the way home? 🤔

I save money, I don’t bring back ANYTHING! :P No, that’s not true—actually, last time we cheated and bought a suitcase (a 5 € Samsonite knockoff) the day before flying back to France to carry all four of our amazing gifts.

as I was telling Montagnard, it's a cruise in Northern Europe.

I’ve never been on a cruise :/ But for flights, my tips stay the same.

And how do you bring back gifts? 🤔

I save money, I don’t bring back ANYTHING! 😛 No, that’s not true—last time we cheated and bought a suitcase (a Samsonite knockoff for 5 €) the day before heading back to France to carry all four of our amazing gifts.

This is starting to get too complicated for me... The only reason I’d consider it is the cost, since more and more, prices are "no luggage included," and you quickly hit 100 or 150 € per person. And since I like to travel stress-free, I don’t want to deprive myself—so I pay...

On long-haul flights, I’ve never paid extra for a checked bag. But maybe that’s changing... or will change. I forgot one thing... Since there were four of us on our last trip, luckily our suitcases weren’t too bulky, otherwise they wouldn’t have fit in the taxi trunk.

Hi there,

Traveling with just a carry-on bag really saves time and makes things more convenient. It depends on the flights and airlines, of course, but most of the time, it lets passengers who’ve checked in online skip the check-in counter entirely, head straight to security, and board. Just a side note—on many scheduled flights departing from Schengen countries, you often don’t even need to show your ID card, just a quick scan at boarding. At arrival, you’re out in no time—big time-saver. All in all, you can easily save an hour or more.

What’s your destination? Which flight? Which airline? Sometimes, you still have to go to the check-in counter, depending on the airport.

Michel

Hi there, as I mentioned, this is a cruise, not a flight. On my last trip, boarding was really tough, especially since I had a broken ankle! Since then, I’ve had trouble standing for long periods, and I’m boarding in Le Havre. Muriel

Your question made me think it was about a flight, especially since the category wasn’t very clearly about cruise preparation either.

Michel

Hi there,

Not having checked luggage usually saves time on arrival, but not always. You also need to travel very light.

Be careful—just because you don’t have checked luggage doesn’t mean you won’t pay extra fees!

Depending on the airline, some carry-on bags are now subject to charges, and they’re not always flexible (often strict, in fact) about allowed dimensions and weight.

Some carry-on bags also end up in the hold if there’s no space left in the cabin, but they’re usually returned at the aircraft door.

Checked luggage is still free with some airlines, so comparing fares is getting trickier...

Finally, at certain stopovers, checked luggage can arrive on the carousel before passengers do. This tends to happen in: - Countries with strict entry formalities - Places where labor costs are low enough to have plenty of staff for quick handling - Flights where few people check bags - Planes that land on the tarmac (requiring bus transport)

Checked luggage isn’t an issue when flying from a small regional airport to another similar one.

I only travel with a small suitcase that I take into the cabin.

Wow, I could never do that! ! Even with summer clothes.

It’s not that our suitcases are extremely heavy (we always have a big margin), but with everything needed for 15 days to a month away, it’s impossible. Even less so for cooler/cold countries or those that require some supplies or equipment.

On the other hand, one suitcase for two people for a dozen summer days? No problem.

? Just optimize space by rolling clothes and packing them side by side.

I don’t know why, but dirty clothes always take up more space than clean ones. !

Well, yeah, we just toss them in more haphazardly...

Some travelers optimize by using vacuum bags.

Hard to do on the way back unless you only pack rags and leave them behind...

worry about loss during a layover

To avoid that, I take a minimum in my carry-on, and we split everything between our two suitcases.

If one gets lost, we’ll still have the other!

No luggage to drag around when doing a tour

Renting a car helps a lot with that.

How do you handle your toiletries bag?

Plus, I’ve never understood what’s allowed and what’s not... ! Shampoo and shower gel are fine. But toothpaste? Deodorant stick?

I don’t know why, but dirty clothes always take up more space than clean ones.

I keep them separate in a foldable bag and have them washed regularly by the hotels.

How do you handle your toiletries kit?

To hell with makeup—I put my products in 100ml max bottles. Nowadays, pharmacies have tons of mini products (including shaving foam!). Often, we buy things like shower gel, shampoo, and toothpaste on the spot. There are also hotel samples... It’s the meds that take up the most space!

Plus, I never understood what was allowed and what wasn’t... Shampoo and shower gel are fine. But toothpaste? Deodorant stick?

Everything is allowed as long as it doesn’t exceed 100ml. No problem with deodorant sticks or soap bars—they’re allowed. No size limit for meds. That’s how I’ve brought body creams and lotions.

Last month, I spent 10 days in Morocco with just the small bag that fits under the seat 😉 I spent hours figuring out how to optimize it! And I didn’t miss anything—except the frustration of only being able to bring back a few spices...

I regularly have them washed by hotels

Don’t do a circuit in Iceland—the laundry will quickly cost you more than a checked bag! 😄

Did you get your clothes back in one piece in India? Their cleaning is *energetic*...

Last month, I spent 10 days in Morocco with just the small bag that fits under the seat ;)

No way! I give up! 😲

Between contact lenses, spare glasses, my camera, smartphone, chargers, a book, some meds, documents, house and car keys, my wallet—it’s already full!

I suffered when Lufthansa lost my suitcase in Indonesia. In some countries, it’s really hard to find replacements, especially for women.

Well, there you go, I guess I’ll learn not to linger in the “traveling as a woman” section 😅 It always ends up in clothes debates… (10th degree, ladies and gents of the debate club!)

Anyway, I’m officially Team Attila now. No vacation with restrictions—even if, let’s be real, a month in Thailand isn’t the same suitcase as 8 days in Alaska! 🧳🏼

Sorry Montagnard😉 Muriel

Hi Muriel, I just read this discussion and I’ll try to answer the question you asked. On a cruise, having only one carry-on bag won’t save you time at boarding because you drop off your luggage when you arrive at the terminal, and it’s delivered directly to your cabin. This is the first step in the process. Even without luggage, you’ll still have to queue for check-in. At disembarkation, it’s a bit more convenient because you don’t have to wait for the assigned disembarkation time—you can leave the ship whenever you want. Personally, I keep my "big" suitcase with me so I can also leave at a time that suits me. Normally, you’re supposed to leave your suitcases outside your cabin the night before, and the crew picks them up and delivers them to the terminal hall on the morning of arrival. If you have any other questions, I’m happy to help.

Good evening Andy, and thank you for your reply. So, we wait on the way there, but we’re off on the way back! Sssssssssuper!! :) Best regards, Muriel

Hi there,

Beyond saving time at the airport (as already mentioned), when it comes to the cruise itself, it really depends on you!

Boarding: You won’t necessarily save much time because luggage is dropped off, scanned, and then delivered outside your cabin. Often, this takes a while (you might get your suitcase after 6 PM with some companies). During this time, you can obviously board the ship and start enjoying the facilities (depending on your boarding time, your cabin may or may not already be ready).

Disembarking: You can leave your suitcase outside your cabin the night before departure (by 11 PM at the latest), so the next morning, your luggage is handled for you, and you can pick it up at the port right after breakfast. This option isn’t mandatory (I never do it), which means you’ll have to handle disembarking with your suitcase yourself (and carry it if needed).

In short, carry-on luggage for a cruise isn’t necessarily a time-saver for me 😉

Fun little photo before we leave, for you and Bruno 😉 As planned, for 3 weeks, I’ve got one suitcase and a carry-on bag plus a small pouch 😛

For clothes and underwear, I can change seven times (all rolled up) 3 pairs of shoes 1 toiletries bag with max 100ml products 1 first-aid kit A camera and small accessories 1 iPad and 1 Kobo Chargers Documents, money, glasses... in the small pouch.

3 pairs of shoes

Phew, there’s at least one thing I travel lighter than you for! (That still makes 4 with the ones you’re wearing...) 😉

Have a great trip to India! 🙂

No, I counted the ones I’m wearing 😉 For clothes, I do the layering thing.

For clothes and underwear, I can change seven times (packed rolled) 3 pairs of shoes 1 toiletries bag with max 100ml products 1 first-aid kit A camera and small accessories 1 iPad and 1 Kobo Chargers Documents, money, glasses... in the small pouch.



Okay then, The black-and-white dress... seen The celadon green one... seen too The black top... I think so The white shirt... I think so (You travel India like you travel Brittany? )

The Kobo... I kinda know what’s on it 😛 The glasses... THE GLASSES!!! Check THE GLASSES!!!!

... and have a fabulous trip. 🙂

Okay, first of all, I hope you have a great trip—come back with lots of beautiful photos (don’t forget the cliffs ;))

For luggage, we checked in 38 kg in Geneva (plus our two small backpacks), so I can already tell you there’s no way you’ll get that photo.

That said, we’ve told ourselves at least 15 times that we need to travel lighter. But since my suitcase hasn’t left the trunk in 15 days…

Actually, our biggest problem is shoes (I wear size 44). No trip without hiking shoes, plus a pair of sneakers, flip-flops, and a pair of German-style sandals—and that fills up my suitcase! 🙁

Yeah, but you have small feet, right? 😊 Are you heading to India by ocean liner?