I was just given a 1 deck higher upgrade for a cruise I'm going on in just 11 days. I'm worried that if I have to check my bags, they are gonna end up somewhere else - other than my room. We already have received our bag tags, and I'm sure I won't receive any new ones before we leave. Do you think I should switch back to the lower deck? What would you do??

We did not find out we were up graded till we arrived, and were assured that our cases would still reach our new room. That was not the case(no pun there) We checked outside the rooms we were first allocated and found them there. This was a smal price to pay for our up grade.

There should be someone at the baggage drop-off area with blank luggage tags - either a cruise line employee or a porter. This is for people who forgot their tags, or lost them, and for those with guaranteed category cabins who didn't get tags with their cruise docs. Get new tags from this person and put the new cabin info on them. Don't put your old tags on the bags.

Dave is on spot with this.

To the Question, No you don't have to check them but would be very wise. You don't want to be carrying luggage through lines and escalators.

As Dave said, there will be Carnival people and Porters with tags. I have had this same thing happen and they re-tagged them for me, and they sometimes even ask if is current to everyone.

If you worry, just put your name on them also and they will find their way to the cabin. I use the plastic/rubber tags and seal my business card in them. Wal-mart has them in the luggage area.

Have had only one time my snorkel equipment bag was not delivered. I told the steward, he got on the phone and ask me to describe it. I say well it has snorkel equipment in it, and all four fins have cans of Coors Light in them. I had it within 15 minutes, with beer intact.

So after that, I started using the extra tag with my name on it so they can find me that way.

Hope this helps alleviate your worries,

IslandCruz

Take the upgrade. Dave is correct about the blank tags curbside. I upgraded recently after checking my bags curbside. I was told to give the information to my steward (which I did) and he would make sure my bags were upgraded with me. Didn't happen...but I found them in front of my original cabin. Not a big deal. Make sure your name is on all your bags...YOU DON'T NEED YOUR ADDRESS etc. They can find you by name.

Funship

Hey Funship,

The question was about being upgraded 11 days prior to the cruise date. The curbside you speak of will put the new cabin assignment on the tags. The Stewards will deliver the luggage to the tagged cabin.

In your case has to do with your already checked bags, and then the cabin being changed..of course they will go to the cabin you originally checked them to.

"Loose lips sink ships"

Yes...but....I was told at the "upgrade desk" to give my steward a written note (they provided) and the steward would make sure the bags were retrieved. After several attempts...we found the bags in front of the original cabin. Not what we were told would happen. No big deal.. Anytime we can upgrade for a reasonable amount...we do.

FSF

Freddy, I see what you mean. The steward did not go get them as the note told him. That is odd. Nothing against upgrading, I do it all the time. Just didn't want us to confuse the original poster about checking bags. That is a whole different thing than checking them and then changing their destination.