Is It Rude to Bring Luggage in a Cruise Ship Elevator?
Key Aspects:
A recent Royal Caribbean guest has asked about elevator use etiquette while toting luggage after encountering a skeptical passenger.
Cruise lines do not restrict guests from bringing luggage into elevators, even on the most crowded days.
Elevator etiquette can be a hot topic among cruisers, including rude behavior, misusing buttons, or smart elevator operation.
Every experienced cruiser has found themselves faced with a crowded elevator, and both embarkation and debarkation days are notorious for lacking elevator space when guests are trying to make their way around a very crowded ship. But what is the etiquette with luggage in the already tight confines of a cruise ship elevator?
Reddit users are debating the question after a recent guest on a Royal Caribbean ship was wondering if they were inadvertently rude when debarking the ship with their luggage.
“Is it proper to take the elevator with luggage? We were scoffed at by an older lady mumbling about having our luggage with us in the elevator,” the guest asked on the Royal Caribbean subreddit on September 5, 2026.
They noted that they had chosen to carry their luggage themselves rather than hand it over to cruise crew members to move more quickly on debarkation morning and not have to wait, so they took to Reddit to check their behavior.
“We are as green as can be to cruising, so maybe we missed that part of the briefing where you are not supposed to take your luggage with you in the elevator,” the poster explained.
Responses were swift that there is no “no luggage in the elevator” rule aboard cruise ships, though polite guests will try to minimize how much space their bags take up in an elevator by using a corner, stacking bags, or standing over them.
The original poster did not identify the exact cruise ship they were on, but did state they were moving from Deck 14 to Deck 5. Many commenters agreed that while 1-2 decks might be okay to manage with a bag or two, multiple decks is too much without an elevator’s assistance.
Alternative Options
The idea of someone complaining about luggage in an elevator quickly led to multiple alternative suggestions for how to move one’s bags down multiple decks.
“I chuck mine over the railing down into the Central Atrium like any reasonable person would,” one guest said, to which another guest explained, “I prefer using the water slides.”
This was met with a loyal-to-Royal comment of “Amateur. Try the Abyss,” referring to the Ultimate Abyss dry slide which spans 10 stories onboard the cruise line’s six Oasis-class ships.
Another guest noted how simple it is to throw one’s luggage off the balcony to lighten the load for debarkation.
On a more serious note, some commenters did suggest making sure one debarks early when there are fewer people leaving the ship, so elevator space is more available.
Elevator Debates Not Uncommon
Elevator etiquette has been a frequent debate among cruise guests. Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has even issued informal guidance to guests on elevator etiquette, including urging respect for those using mobility scooters in elevators.
The introduction of “smart” elevators in recent years onboard different cruise ships, including newer Royal Caribbean ships, has also caused some confusion as guests learn how to use the new design and find their designated elevators.
Of course, one contentious topic has always been children misbehaving in elevators, such as pushing every button as a prank or simply hanging out in elevators when others wish to use them.
It isn’t just children who may be rude in elevators, however. In February 2025, Cruise Hive reported on an upset guest who witnessed apparent overuse of the “close door” button in a rude way while sailing on Wonder of the Seas.
Experienced cruisers know the best way to approach any elevator onboard is to just be patient. After all, what goes up will eventually come down again.