Gus and I have yet to cruise with anything less than four pieces of luggage! Last year we invested in a really top quality suit carrier. It is sturdy enough to be checked and has carried 6 suits without problem - that's a tux and 2 formal suit each! We have now just bought a new matching set of 3 Samsonite cases, in a rather fetching leaf green. These are hard cases with 2 embedded wheels and a pull out handle. They are effectively big roller cases. I prefer hard side cases to softside - my experience is they withstand the knocks of cruise and air travel so much better! Also i've had wet clothes before when a softside case has been left in the rain!

And i don't think these newer hard cases are that much heavier.....to be honest - any weight problem we have is because of the amount of stuff we pack!!!!!!!!!

But if you want to travel in style....embark on the world cruise with a steamer trunk and 10 matching Louis Vuitton cases....

ian & gus