wtjulianchan, thanks for reply. Any experience with being able to carry on one legitimate (say 22x14x9 inches) backpack/roller PLUS one medium size regular backpack? Or will EK check in staff say those are two carry on bags, and only one will be allowed as carry on? This is for econ class, where website says only one carry on bag is permitted.

Worse comes to worse I would check the backpack/roller for connection at DXB onward to VCE, but I fear risk of that bag not making it to VCE for whatever reason, and I have only one day in VCE before boarding a cruise ship. So I can't really wait even one day for a delayed bag to arrive to VCE. A lost bag or a delay of two days for bag to arrive would wreck havoc with my cruise arrangements, even with travel insurance.