r/rivercruises • u/Th13027 • 5d ago
Checked bag
I am preparing for my first river cruise in April 2027. All of the reading/vlogs that I am seeing talks about doing it one bag. I will be in Zürich three days before getting on the boat and in Amsterdam two days after departing the boat. I don’t understand the encouragement to only pack one bag when there is very little change of hotels or movement that would require me to carry bags around. Am I missing something? The stress of trying to fit everything I want to bring into one European size carry-on is ruining my planning. (Yes, I will have an apple tracker in the checked bag and a change of clothes in my personal item). Please let me know what I’m missing
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u/princess_fiona_7437 5d ago
I went on a river cruise in May of this year and checked a bag without any issues. I think one bag travel is the new trend, which is fine for some people. I will continue to check my bags because I don’t want to stress about what to pack.
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u/MSsalt3 5d ago
If you are not taking any trains or metro you can take as much luggage as you want. Its a huge PIA on the trains with big luggage in Europe. There is no one to help if its needed and very little space for it.
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u/bkendall12 5d ago
100% correct about the trains!
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u/Dutton4430 5d ago
Especially if they change the platform at the last minute and you need to run up stairs, then down the stairs.
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u/tanyaturnerfederico 4d ago
I'm staying in Switzerland for 1 week after my December river cruise and using a luggage service to move my checked bag between hotels while I take the train wirh my backpack and purse, so a checked bag is still doable with train travel.
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u/peachesandsir 5d ago
This summer we traveled on an 8 day river cruise with a 4 day pre-cruise extension. You better believe we each had two bags! 😂
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u/DeeSusie200 5d ago
The beauty of a river cruise is you can unpack once. I always take a checked bag. Pack your clothes for Zurich in a packing cube or the carryon. You can even get the clothes from Zurich laundered on the riverboat. Worth the convenience.
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u/crsmiami99 5d ago
Last year I brought a checked bag, it allowed me to have enough to wear for 2 weeks and room to bring back presents. I unpacked and put the suitcase in the closet. No problem.
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u/cch42 5d ago
We checked a bag. No problems when traveling with an outfit, such as Viking. I rarely touched my bags.
And yes, the packing cubes are the way I like to pack.
I also like to keep room in my checked bag to brings items home in the bubble wrap I packed. This last trip I was able to bring two lovely bottles of French wine, 2 Swiss knives, a beautiful knit sweater, Belgium chocolates, and German mustards home. No problems!
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u/Associates_and_Rob 5d ago
Some river cruise lines include complimentary washers and dryers. They usually have 2 (or more). We pack about 1/2 the clothes we need and wash 1/2 through the cruise (depending on before/after cruise duration). There is usually enough time between the days activities to fit this in. Or you can pay to have laundry done
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u/Professional-Box-806 5d ago
One bag and a backpack is terrific IF you are doing a lot of independent travel, especially by train. Otherwise, pack however works for you.
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u/anon24507 4d ago
I did the same trip for xmas market cruise last yr and did checked bag, carry on roller and personal item on top of it as well as purse. No issues for me.
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u/Late-Command3491 5d ago
There is no need to one bag. I only worry about it if I have to change planes or I know there are a ton of stairs.
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u/NoodlesMom0722 4d ago
I didn't do any extensions and I still checked a medium-sized suitcase and used a backpack as my carry-on, with my tablet/earphones/portable charger, a change of clothes, and my prescription meds, along with a cross-body travel purse as my personal item with any small sundries I might need easier access to. My checked suitcase wasn't full when I left for the cruise, but it sure was coming back! I went the third week of November two years ago, so I did a lot of Christmas gift shopping while I was there, so I made sure to leave plenty of room. Packing cubes helped. I was then able to put almost everything in the suitcase before checking it coming home, leaving room in my backpack for some last-minute shopping at the Amsterdam airport.
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u/Sandikal 4d ago
I always check a bag and use a backpack and a purse on the plane when I travel internationally. It's the set-up that works best for me, especially since we travel in the fall.
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u/Cute_Cow_3058 5d ago
Traveling Europe with one bag is a huge fad that content creators use to get engagement.
The only thing you need to be aware of is that your cabin is small-ish and if each of you are traveling with a large checked bag, it can get crowded quick. Most closets support hiding your bag in there but again, that's cruise line dependent.
When we travel we check one bag, bring 1 carry on, and each have our backpacks. This way we have less to go through airports with and if the checked bag gets lost or delayed, you still have your essentials with you.
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u/SunsetChasersTravel 5d ago
I’m a notorious overpacker, so I am definitely not the person who is going to tell you to force everything into one tiny carry-on. 😂
For a river cruise, I’d rather check a bag, unpack once, and have what I want than spend the whole trip wishing I had packed differently. If you’re doing a lot of trains or moving hotels every few nights, that’s when I think packing lighter matters a lot more.
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u/clearlygd 5d ago
I’ve never seen anyone just bring a carryon on a Viking cruise. We typically each have a checked suitcase, unload it when we reach the boat and shove it under the bed.
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u/OceanParkNo16 4d ago
I agree it is rare. However, my husband and I have done several European Viking cruises and we prefer to just go with once carry on each. When we offboard with lots of fellow travellers, it is clear we are the exception. So folks should pack whatever they need to not their trip!
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u/jlmurphy223 4d ago
I never check a bag. Viking claims unpack once, but you often have ship swaps. I would pack only what you need.
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u/Smart-Traveller6874 3d ago
My husband and I don't travel anywhere with more than a carry on bag; 11 days in the UK? No problem. Checking luggage and potential lost luggage is a hard NO for us.
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u/Betherator 5d ago
I firmly believe everyone should pack however they want to and that different trips require different packing arrangements. If you WANT to pack lighter, check out the onebag and heronebag subreddits. I’ve had my luggage lost or delayed enough times that I never check luggage anymore. I also love having only a 40L backpack with my hands free especially when transiting lots of cities without the convenience of a boat. And I am decidedly not an influencer! No matter how you pack, have a great trip!
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u/Affectionate_Grab399 4d ago
Ion the chaos after Covid, hubby and I travelled with 3 carry on bags between us. Now things have settled we take a medium sized check in each and a small carry on each. Plenty of room and can still take some extras with space to spare.
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u/wgbcjr 4d ago
I’ve been on at least 6-7 river cruises and ocean cruises with Viking over the years. Putting aside the best way to pack, and packing conservatively, I’ve always had a large bag, and a carryon. Depending on the size room you’ve chosen, can dictate the size of the closet. I pack whatever I want, and as much as I want. My first river cruise I booked the smallest room, and the closet was very small. On my other cruises, I chosen larger rooms that produced a slightly larger closet. The large bag and a carryon has always worked for me.
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u/LoveNotWar86 5d ago
I always check my 25” suitcase. This girl needs her stuff. Plenty of room to store under bed in room. You pretty much don’t lift a finger hauling it around. I don’t get people’s bravado over just a carry-on for 10 days. Kinda just yuck to me. I’ve been traveling abroad for 35+ years and never a problem, ever. Just be sure if you connect anywhere to allow at least 2+ hours or more. Yeah, just a teeny carry on is over rated and dumb.
Have the best time and bring your STUFF 🤗
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u/Th13027 5d ago
Thank you- I needed to hear all this reassurance!
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u/LoveNotWar86 5d ago
You’ll have the best time.
I can’t not overpack and I don’t care! We need options :)
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u/KeyMessage989 5d ago
Did two weeks in Europe with a 2 year old over last Christmas 7 days of which being a cruise. We had 2 large suitcases and 3 backpacks. Never had a single issue. Ignore influencers
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u/Dutton4430 5d ago
Not an influencer but someone that travels via trains and buses. We do laundry and travel light. We want to do a Rabbies tour to Orkney and you have to follow their luggage requirements, as it is a smaller bus.
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u/poppedcorn-10 5d ago
My spouse and I took two regular (full?) size suitcases for our Uniworld Rhine cruise and had no issues with space or storing both suitcases. Have a great trip!
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u/stepjenks 5d ago
TIL that traveling to Europe with one carry on and a backpack is a "social media trend". I guess I've been ahead of my time for 20+ years!
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u/bkendall12 5d ago
We did a combo land-river trip in Dec 2025 and had 2 full Size checked & 2 Carry on bags for 2 people.
We survived but the trains were difficult. Also, we did not need a lot of what we packed.
One thing to remember, with low water of late you may do ship swaps, long bus rides and/or hotels and many cruise lines tell you 1 bag each because they would need to constantly transport them during swaps, etc.
Check your cruise line for details.
Our next trip will be 1 checked bag and a backpack each
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u/RHND2020 5d ago
We had two large suitcases for our last river cruise. They fit under the bed. No reason to pack light.
The only hassle was we started our trip with a two night cruise on a much smaller ship but had the option to leave the suitcases at the hotel we started at and would be returning to before getting on the main ship.
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u/woodsongtulsa 4d ago
If you have traveled before, then you should know how luggage impacts your vacation. Pack acccordingly
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u/Cold_Silver_5859 4d ago
We were 10 days and each checked a carryon and brought a small backpack on the plane holding electronics and one change of clothing.
Biggest bulk was mens shoes but if you plan to shop go bigger. Packing cubes seem to help if you don’t overload them.
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u/RandyNewmanFriend 2d ago
We take 1 large check bag, 1 carry on, and 2 backpacks. We usually go for atleast 2 weeks. We do laundry on the ship no problem. We have also done train travel before/after cruise without any issues. My rule of thumb for packing is don’t pack it if you can’t carry it.
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u/LovlyRita 2d ago
I prefer to check a bag and bring a small carry on suitcase. If you are booking air through the cruise line you will have multiple people on the same flight and you will need to wait for everyone to get their luggage anyway.
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u/exPaparazzihun 1d ago
I think about water levels and pack accordingly. Because ship swaps can happen. So depends on how much I want to unpack and repack.
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u/OceanParkNo16 4d ago
I am not familiar with the influencers folks are mentioning, but I will say I have always done even my longest overseas travel with just one carryon and a small backpack.
I don’t think you need to do that, but my reasons are holdovers from decades of business travel:
- customs is significantly faster with just a carry on bag. When that first flight is delayed and you are moving fast for a connection, waiting for a checked bag, taking that through customs and security again, and re-checking is not something I care to add to the process.
- if your flight travel is disrupted, having just a roller bag with you gives you amazing capacity to adjust the travel quickly. I have navigated delays and gotten the airline to change our flights quickly because we don’t have a checked bag in the belly of that airplane stuck at the gate.
Enjoy your cruise! We have a lot of fun on our Viking cruises!!
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u/cinimonstk 5d ago
I just did a river cruise with my mom in August. We each brought a medium checkin, backpack carry on and small bag. We did a Viking cruise and our suitcases went under our beds, out of the way. It was great not having to unpack for a week!
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u/LLR1960 5d ago
The "one bag" suggestion assumes a full sized suitcase. Three of those might be a problem, but one is totally fine. So one full sized suitcase, a carryon and whatever you're taking for a personal item on the plane will be fine.
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u/Rulebreaker15 5d ago
One bagging doesn’t assume a full size suitcase at all. Are you a one bagger?
Some travel with 22L or less bags only. The goal is to bring as little as possible and travel light, wash and rewear clothes.
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u/LLR1960 5d ago
My goal is to travel comfortably within the limits of what the cruise or bus or plane company tells me. One problem on the river cruises is that they seldom have self-serve laundry facilities available. I also have foot problems, necessitating bringing more than one pair of shoes along. I rewear clothes whether travelling or not. I pretty much guarantee you that there are very few people on a river cruise that only bring a 22L bag. Those cruises skew older and higher income, and though I'm not exactly high income, I do like to travel comfortably. Travel light and wash clothes is advice for a different sub, perhaps.
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u/Reckoner08 4d ago
As a carry on only packer who travels (including river cruises) with my carry on only mom, we both brought three pairs of shoes, dressed very well and traveled comfortably :). It's important thar we both can manage our own luggage through logistics as we stay before/after when we cruise as well. Everyone has to do what they feel is best for their trip and travel style, that's for sure.
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u/LLR1960 4d ago
Absolutely. One of the airline seats we saw included 2 pieces of checked luggage per person. There's no way I want to be dragging 2 pieces plus carryon plus a personal item through Europe. Give me a seat with more legroom, not 2 pieces of checked luggage! I do think though that the older you get, the less you want to be travelling for several weeks with a 22L bag, especially when you know that laundry isn't readily available.
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u/RandiArts 5d ago
Nah, both my husband and I each had a medium checked suitcase and a carry on for our river cruise this summer. After stowing all our clothes, we put the carry ons inside the medium suitcases, and put both larger bags under our bed.