Agree with what Dobson has said. Just in case you don't know, you also on the last night of your cruise put your packed & locked suitcases outside your cabin before dinner.The cases are then collected that evening and put in a secure area and you don't see them again until you arrive back in the UK. On the actual morning of departure you have to vacate your cabin after breakfast so you can either leave your hand luggage in a "holding area" that princess will inform you of (usual one of the bar lounges) or you can carry your hand luggage bags around with you until departure. If you're flight doesn't depart until later they usually allow you to use the showers in the spa area.

Yes it's true, even for those embarking at Montego Bay. We checked our luggage in at Manchester at 0520 and din't see it again until we had been on board for about two hours. Don't worry though, it will be perfectly safe. Just make sure you lock your case - the usual! I would advise maybe putting a change of top in your hand luggage as 2 hours at the airport, 9/10 hour flight, then 2 hours for emabrkation, safety drill etc, etcn can be long and tiring. If like us you arrive on ship about an hour before dinner (we were on 1st sitting, fixed) you can dine in whatever clothes (even shorts) you're wearing. They are very understanding that on the first night your case will arrive after you.

This does happen in some ports and I think Barbados, for instance, is one of them. Princess invariably charter flights which gives them the edge when off-loading luggage but often will not give you the best flight. The only people who will give you a definitive answer is Princess but my guess in this instance is that the agent could be right. Just as a footnote because Princess charter a load of flights it is often difficult to get much, if anything, knocked off for a “cruise only” booking. I was recently offered a £1 pp reduction with them regards .... Neil