Any ideas on how to get extra clothing to Venice? We are flying to Venice with carry-on luggage only. We are taking a 10 night cruise and would like to send some of our clothes to our pre-cruise hotel before leaving the states (note - I'm not talking about a full suitcase but additional slacks and blouses/shirts). Should these be shipped or mailed? If mailed, how much lead time: 2 weeks, 3 weeks? On the return trip, these would be checked in as luggage.
Posted by
Washington DC
28463 posts
I'd proceed cautiously here. (In truth, I wouldn't do it; too much could go wrong.) The cheapest option is probably the US Postal Service, which quotes $56 for a 5-lb. shipment or $70.30 for a 10-lb. shipment to Italy via Priority Mail International. That's a less expensive service than the similarly-named Priority Mail Express International.
Service time is given as "6-10 business days to many major markets" but is not guaranteed. Note that for the USPS or commercial competitors such as FedEx or UPS, "guaranteed" just means you'll get your postage payment back if the article arrives late. It's not like anyone is going to stake his life on getting your package anywhere by any particular date. Which would be my first concern. Stuff happens.
Higher-cost options would of course have faster estimated delivery times, and some would come with a "guarantee", limited as above.
I'm not sure whether there would be a risk of customs' holding up the package even though the contents are used clothing.
To be prudent you'd need to allow considerably more time than your carrier estimates for delivery, which means extra time for the package to get misplaced at the hotel if delivery does occur per the original estimate.
Rather than doing this, I'd pack one small checkable bag with just the things I could most bear to lose. Since you're getting on a cruise (which I'm guessing doesn't return to Venice), delayed seems as good as lost in this case.
Others will probably tell you that you don't need more clothes than will fit in your carry-on, but I've never taken a cruise, so I'm not going there.
Posted by
278 posts
List of shipping service providers, pros and cons, at seatguru.
https://www.seatguru.com/articles/luggage_shipping_services.php
Posted by
seattle
2148 posts
Can you pay for hold luggage? It would be cheaper than shipping. Also, I also carry a small packpack instead of a purse that fits under the seat and carries several clothing items.
Posted by
3486 posts
I packed way too many clothes for our first cruise. On the second cruise, I dressed down for the "formal" nights and nobody cared and I didn't feel at all uncomfortable.
Why not just check a bag?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Does the cruise line have any suggestions ?
If it were me, I would 1) check a bag and 2) fly in a day early. One checked bag is free on most international flights.
Posted by
Freedonia
16600 posts
I recently shipped two small parcels from the UK to the U.S. They weighed a total of about 5lbs. It cost over $40.
It would be cheaper to just check a suitcase. I don't see why you wouldn't want to. I did that the other way. Had a bunch of stuff I needed to bring back to the States. PIcked up a larger suitcase, put my carry-on bag in it and the other stuff and had to wait an extra 5 minutes when I arrived to get the bag off the carousel.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16748 posts
I'd just check a bag too. It'll probably cost you less, would definitely be less hassle, and you'd be sure to be in possession of the items when and where you needed them.
All of our flights to Europe so far have been on airlines that have allowed 1 free checked bag apiece. Even if you're flying a budget line with a lot of extra charges - like for checked bags - I still think just biting the bullet on this one is the best option.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I ship a box in the other direction nearly every year; I have a 20% delayed delivery rate, which seems high to me. One time FedEx lost my box in Memphis! (They have a great system for finding lost stuff, though.)
I would pay for the extra checked bag.
Posted by
Atlanta
5290 posts
We've often cruised for up to three weeks with just a carry on. If interested in trying your cruise with only a carry on, send us a PM and we'll share our packing list.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
The consensus seems to be to check the luggage and that is what we have decided to do. Our first trip out of the U.S. and we've read nightmares of lost luggage.
Thank you all for your input and easing our concerns.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16748 posts
Postmark, we've checked luggage on almost all of our trips abroad and almost all of them domestically. Maybe we've been lucky but we haven't had a problem yet; 'lost' luggage is the exception and not the rule. Can it happen? Sure but so can any number of other snags. We've been more worried about cancelled or delayed flights (we HAVE experienced our fair share of delays) messing up connections or otherwise complicating itineraries.
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3943 posts
Just make sure to put the most important/expensive stuff in your carry on.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
We have done an 11 night TA cruise plus 30 days on the ground in Europe from a carry on. Our next trip will be 75 days on the ground plus a 15 night TA - all from carry on.
No one will care if you wear the same thing twice on a cruise and formal nights are all but gone on most cruises.
If you really need the extra - definitely check a bag rather than ship.