Zurich or Basel + Lucerne pre cruise
 

Have 2 nights pre Rhine Cruise (Uniworld)
arrive Zurich abut 12 1/2 day
day 2-Lucerne
Day 3-back to Basel

Should we go direct to Lucerne on our arrival and overnight? Or do Zurich in the afternoon/overnight Zurich
a.m. train to Lucerne-overnight
a.m. train to Basel

the problem is luggage.
Could do day trip to Lucerne from Zurich, (2 nights there) or day trip from Basel (2 nights there)

I do want to spend a part of the day in Basel

MAIN QUESTION-should we skip Zurich and go straight to Lucerne? Not sure what to do with the bags

thanks (late May)

I would suggest that luggage should be the last thing you consider -- the train stations in each of these cities have luggage storage options, including both manned counters and lockers. You can find the details at the swiss rail website on the "station and services" page:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services.html

To minimize hassle and unnecessary movement, I suggest you take a hotel right by the Zürich central train station (called HB for Hauptbahnhof).

From the airport you go there first. There is a train station underneath the airport, the building adjacent to the one where you show your passport. Follow signs "To Trains". Go down a level or two and you see the signage about the underground tracks. Trains either go nonstop to the central station in Z., or they make a really quick stop in Oerlikon - same difference.

Z. has a nice older part, with two big churches, one with stained-glass windows by Chagall. You can take public boats on the river Limmat or on the lake itself. Plenty more to see and do.

It's only an hour by train from Z. to L. - make it a day trip.

And it's only an hour from Z. to Basel.

Perfect-thanks for the advise!