A simple question is dividing cruise passengers nationwide: is it rude to bring your own luggage into a crowded ship elevator, especially on the chaotic morning everyone disembarks at once?
The debate has spread across social media and Reddit, where cruisers argue over whether hauling rolling suitcases into packed elevators is a practical necessity or a breach of shipboard manners.
Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert based in Texas, told Fox News Digital that passengers are allowed to bring luggage into elevators but need to be mindful of how little room there is to work with.
“When it comes to traveling, space is a priority,” Gottsman said. “You always have to think about the people that are going to be around you.”
Gottsman suggested an alternative for travelers who want to avoid the crunch altogether: leaving larger suitcases outside the cabin door the night before so crew members can collect them ahead of departure.
“When possible, it’s always best to keep your suitcases to a minimum when getting on a crowded cruise ship elevator,” she said.
Passengers who’d rather keep their bags with them are free to do so, she added, but they should be ready to manage the luggage on their own rather than expect others to make room.
Cruise lines have their own systems for handling checked bags. Carnival Cruise Line’s website states that checked baggage service during embarkation ends two hours before a ship’s scheduled sailing time, after which “guests arriving after this time will be responsible for taking their bags on board.”
Gottsman said the crush is predictable and travelers should plan for it, particularly on disembarkation day when the entire ship is trying to get off at once.
“We know when we’re getting off a cruise ship, it’s going to be busy,” she said. “Everyone is getting off the same cruise ship. So you have to plan in advance.”
Her advice: let others exit before boarding, and if an elevator is already full, wait for the next one rather than forcing your way in with bags.
“Don’t just charge on with your luggage,” Gottsman said.
She also said passengers with mobility issues should get priority, and those carrying extra bags should expect to wait longer.
The Reddit fight that reignited the debate
The controversy resurfaced after a first-time cruiser posted on Reddit describing being scoffed at by a fellow passenger while riding an elevator from Deck 14 to Deck 5 with rolling suitcases.
Many commenters sided with the couple, arguing elevators are the only realistic option when hauling bags across many decks.
“I always hand-roll my luggage off. I always use the elevator,” one Reddit user wrote. “I’m not hauling my bags up and down stairs.”
Another asked simply, “How else would you get your luggage down that many decks?” One commenter described her mother being treated poorly at the elevators while using a scooter due to a bad back and knees, adding, “People find any reason to complain [about] a ship elevator.”
Someone else observed that “the rudeness always seems higher on disembarkation day,” while telling the original poster they hadn’t done anything wrong.
Others took a middle position, saying luggage in elevators is fine as long as passengers stay considerate of the people around them, while a few argued that using the ship’s luggage delivery service is simply the more courteous option for everyone involved.
The debate comes as cruising itself keeps growing. The Cruise Lines International Association projected in an April report that roughly 38.3 million people would travel by cruise ship this year, a 4% increase over last year’s record of 37.2 million passengers, according to The Associated Press.
Add comment