**This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you decide to make a purchase through my links, I will earn a commission at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more information.**
Luggage selection is one of the most important, yet often overlooked considerations when planning a cruise vacation.
The luggage that you select can set the stage for your entire vacation. Embarkation day will set the tone for your entire voyage, and if you choose the wrong luggage, things will not start off smoothly.
Here are 5 key things you should consider when purchasing luggage for your upcoming cruise vacation:
Table of Contents
The Best Luggage is Easy to Maneuver
You will want luggage that is easy to maneuver on roadways, ramps, and small hallways for a cruise vacation. While you may be able to check your luggage as soon as you get to the ship, depending on when and where you board, you may also have to keep it with you during embarkation and disembarkation.
If this is the case, you will want luggage that is easy to get around. You don’t want to be holding up other passengers while you struggle with a heavy suitcase. Trust me when I tell you, spinner wheels will be your best friend on both embarkation and disembarkation days!
While luggage with 2 inline wheels is probably sufficient, spinner wheels will make it so much easier to move quickly, which will make the whole journey much less stressful.
The Best Luggage is Identifiable
It is true that black may go with everything, but when it comes to luggage, orange really should be the new black. Seriously though, any colour will be better than black when you need to locate your luggage in a sea of suitcases.
Have you ever been at the airport waiting at the luggage carousel and noticed that every piece of luggage looks exactly the same? Now consider what that might look like at a cruise terminal where anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 passengers are embarking or disembarking off the same ship.
If you are in a hurry to make a connecting flight and you are looking for a black suitcase amongst 2,000 other black suitcases, you may regret not buying the orange one.
The Best Luggage Can Be Stored Out of Sight
Cabins on Cruise ships are small. They are designed to make the most of every square foot available, so you will not want a massive suitcase taking up valuable real estate in your cabin.
Make sure that you purchase cruise luggage that that will fit under the bed. Ideally, you want a piece of luggage that appears to have an infinite amount of space when packing, and then can seamlessly disappear until you are ready to pack for disembarkation day.
The Best Luggage Will Protect Your Belongings
Cruise vacations include formal nights, so you are probably going to be packing some valuable personal items that you will want to make sure don’t get damaged. A quality suitcase will give you peace of mind during travel that your possessions are safe.
Protecting your luggage is also important if you have air travel as part of your cruise. If you have ever seen the way checked luggage gets handled at an airport, you will probably want to opt for luggage with a hard shell and a good reputation.
The Best Luggage is Well Designed
A cruise vacation generally requires multiple wardrobe changes per day, so you will need a piece of luggage large enough to accommodate all of your belongings. An expandable suitcase will be your best option. Even if you don’t need the extra room prior to embarkation, you may find you need it once you disembark with all of the wonderful souvenirs you acquired during your vacation.
You may also want to consider luggage with separate compartments to keep your belongings better organized, or with other added features such as a portable charging station for those long travel days before and after your cruise.
Top 5 Luggage Recommendations for Cruise Travel
Best Cruise Travel Backpack
Nomatic is a great option as a carry on bag for your cruise vacation. It is designed to comply with airline carry-on regulations and has expandable compartments with compression technology. This means it can hold all of your carry-on essentials, while still leaving room for those much needed souvenirs you plan to acquire while abroad.
Price: $289.99
Best Cruise Travel Carry-On Luggage
This bag may be a carry-on in size, but it certainly has the feel of a large suitcase by the amount that can be packed into it. Also, with 8 spinner wheels it is a dream to maneuver around the tight hallways of a cruise ship. Testimonial: My husband owns this bag and won’t use anything else for travel, even when he needs a bigger suitcase. On those rare occasions he just sneaks things into my much larger suitcase.
Price: $314.49
Best Cruise Travel Suit/Garment Bag
Designed specifically to keep your suits and dresses wrinkle-free, this is a must have for formal nights on your cruise vacation. It is designed with multiple pockets for all of your accessories, including dress shoes. It can be carried as a duffel bag with the shoulder strap, or easily attached to the extension handle of your wheeled luggage with back flap.
Price: $45.99
Best Cruise Travel Luggage for Kids
If you are travelling with small children, this luggage will be a lifesaver on embarkation day. It is a ride-on suitcase that allows you to pull your toddler (who is more than likely refusing to walk because “I’m too tired”). I had a similar one when my youngest was a toddler and it was the only way to get him to travel in the same direction as the rest of the family. Bonus: this model also doubles as a footrest and an in-flight bed for air travel.
Price: $268.95
Best Cruise Travel Checked Luggage
Whether I am checking my luggage or not, I am all about the ease of maneuvering, and Travelpro leads the pack with making luggage that is a breeze to move! These suitcases are also expandable and have lots of compartments to organize your luggage as well as TSA-approved lock for your protection. While this suitcase is a little on the pricier side, it is well worth the money as they stand up well over time. It also doesn’t hurt that they look good too!
Price $399.49
