Clarity on allowed luggage
Hello all,
About wrapped up packing but wanted to clarify something. Currently my wife and I each have a carry on sized suitcase with wheels. I will also have a backpack. Are we allowed to bring a third carry on sized suitcase with us? It's not completely necessary, but would be great for the extra space for souvenirs, jackets etc. The wording on my trip info was a bit vague. Thanks in advance.
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My wife and I travel with one medium checked bag and she has a small cabin bag and I a 30L backpack. The size of her cabin bag and my backpack have slowly decreased over the last several years. We do carry one small compressible tote from peak design for any additional things to bring home. I have seen couples each bring a medium checked bag, a shared carry bag for the things they don't want to check and a change of clothes for each of them just in case of lost luggage plus a personal size item(backpack, cross body bag...) It has not been an issue. Just make sure if your are carry on only, everything meets the airline's guidelines.
You are both allowed one bag maximum of 62" (LxWxH) and no more than 50 lbs. Basically the same as the guidance from major airlines.
Because this is a river cruise with few luggage transfers, Tauck generally doesn't limit you on the carryon bags the way they do on land tours. I regularly travel on Tauck tours with my larger checked bag, a roller bag that fits under an airline seat and a small tote/backpack. Never any problems with that even on land tours. The smaller roller bag goes into a separate compartment under the coach different from where the big bags go. I bring that bag down to the coach and retrieve it at the next hotel. You only have one hotel transfer. Sometime from the ships the luggage goes by a truck while the guests go by coach for sight seeing before arriving at the hotel. You might ask Tauck if that's how the Day 8 transfer goes.
For extra space to take souvenirs home, we usually pack collapsible bags like a duffel folded up in our suitcase. Dirty clothes go into that bag and the souvenirs in the more structured suitcase.
Great! Not seeing an issue with a total of three wheeled carry on sized bags for two people
Be aware that your third carry on will probably not be handled by the bellmen / porters, since you will only get two Tauck bag tags. In other words, when traveling by bus, you may have to walk the bag to the bus yourself. Admittedly, this isn't too much of problem on a river cruise and the TD may be willing to give you an extra tag. Is there a reason why you don't do a medium bag and a carryon instead? This would seem easier to me and provide just as much space.
I have always been able to get 2 bag tags per person. One for my checked bag and one for my 30 to 45l carryon.
It entirely depends on your tour director, the niumber of people on the tour and the number of luggage porters available for the very early morning luggage pulls. The alternative we have seen is to have the luggage pull even earlier in the morning, up to 2 hours before departing which we have experienced and in some instances that has been very very early in the morning. Clearly if there are several people with extra bags, the whole process takes longer. If only everyone would stick to Tauck’s ‘ luggage rules’ which we have always followed.
Merely my opinion, but there are “rules” for a reason. Not abiding by them places an undue burden on the porters, tour directors and especially the coach drivers.
I have watched the drivers as they work diligently to load and organize the luggage compartment in a neat and orderly fashion. They certainly get an extra gratuity from me!