I go back and forth on this one, and end up doing both

The first option is to just handle your bags yourself, which is called self assist.

Now, this is a safer way because your bags are going to stay with you at all times and you don't have to wait for your bags when your stateateroom is open.

You have to carry around heavy bags, possibly for hours, which can be inconvenient, especially lugging them around when you're trying to eat lunch and up and down stairs because on imbarcation day, elevators, they're a mess.

The benefit of this, obviously, it's very convenient. You don't have to carry your bags around, but you will have to plan ahead and print out your luggage tags, but it's so nice and convenient to pull up to the cruise terminal and simply drop your bags off with the porter.