Princess Cruises has unveiled a new global advertising campaign titled “Love Boat by Hannah,” starring Emmy-winning actress and musical theatre star Hannah Waddingham, best known for her role in Ted Lasso.
The campaign reimagines the iconic theme song from the classic TV series The Love Boat, with Waddingham adding her own modern twist.
The ads, directed by Dave Laden of Hungry Man and created in collaboration with Princess Cruises’ agency of record, Terri & Sandy, showcase Waddingham’s rendition of the theme song, recorded at the legendary Criteria Recording Studios in Miami.
“Waddingham brings something truly special to one of the most recognizable theme songs in television history and the Princess Cruises brand anthem,”
John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
The campaign features 60-, 30-, 15-, and 6-second spots, which will air across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
The flagship 60-second commercial will also play in cinemas before major blockbusters like Wicked and Gladiator 2.
Princess Cruises designed the campaign to resonate with a variety of travellers, from seasoned cruisers to first-time adventurers.
Key target audiences include digitally savvy adults, active seniors, families with teenagers, and multi-generational groups. Which, of course, seems to cover quite the range of people!
Hannah Waddingham and Princess Cruises
Earlier this year, Waddingham was named Godmother of the Sun Princess, cementing her connection to the cruise line.
Her charismatic presence and musical talents bring new life to the Love Boat theme, which continues to serve as the anthem for Princess Cruises.
This campaign not only celebrates the brand’s legacy but also showcases its commitment to innovation and reaching new audiences, blending timeless elegance with a fresh, modern voice.
It also utilises one of the world’s top TV and stage stars right now, with Waddingham’s popularity having never been higher.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
A brand new class of cruise ships, which will debut late next year, touched water for the first time this week when the first vessel was floated-out.
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The float-out for Windstar Cruises’ new ship, Star Seeker, took place at the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
A ship’s float-out marks a significant construction milestone as the exterior of the vessel is completed. The interior will now be completed on the 112 suite cruise ship.
Star Seeker touching water for the first time.
Star Seeker is the first Star class ship and will enter service in December 2025. A second ship, Star Explorer, is expected to enter service a year later in late 2026.
Star Seeker will start off by sailing from Spain to Miami where the vessel will be christened. The ship will spend some time offering cruises to the Caribbean before heading to Alaska for the summer season.
Star Seeker and Star Explorer will both have ice-strengthened hulls allowing the ships to sail to more remote destinations.
The ships are equipped with the latest technology in safety, propulsion, and navigation, including pump jet thrusters and forward-facing Sonar.
To minimize their environmental footprint and uphold the cruise line’s commitment to sustainability, the ships have tier III Nox rated Rolls Royce engines and can connect to shore power minimizing port emissions.
In addition, the ships will have advanced wastewater treatment systems that meet all global standards.
Star Seeker now moves to the final stage of construction.
Windstar’s Vice President of Expansion Projects, John Gunne, gave the following statement:
“Seeing a ship come together and be at the point where she leaves dry dock for the sea is a memorable milestone in the life of a new build project.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity to be involved in creating a new ship for Windstar and thankful for Mario’s passion and vision for ships which helped guide us to this momentous event today – the float out of a new, beautiful ship for Windstar.”
Windstar Cruises is a small ship cruise line with vessels that carry between 148 to 342 guests. They were recently voted the #1 boutique cruise line.
If you are new to cruising, you may have a lot of questions about your luggage you need answering. Shall I carry my luggage on the ship myself? If not, will it arrive safely at my cabin?
So I have put together all the info you need, from what happens to your luggage to the pros and cons of carrying your own luggage.
What happens to your luggage on a cruise
If you’re checking in your luggage on a cruise, you might wonder what happens to it and where it goes. Below I have listed each step to help you understand what happens to your suitcases.
When you arrive at the cruise terminal, there will be a lot of activity. Find a curbside porter and make sure your luggage is appropriately labelled. If it’s not, they will help you with this. Hand over your luggage, and they will take it from here.
The porters may load your luggage onto trolleys, or it may be lined up with a pile of other bags in the sorting area.
Next, it goes through a security check. All bags are X-rayed to check for any items that may be prohibited on the ship, similar to those at an airport.
The crew sort the luggage into groups by checking the labels to see what deck your stateroom is on if you’re at the front, middle or back of the ship and your cabin number. All ships have service lifts, so the bags are sent up there, where there will be staff on all levels sorting through the luggage to get it to your cabin asap.
Lastly, the crew members deliver the bags to your cabin. On most ships, it is usually left outside your door unless you have any special arrangements to have it delivered inside.
Want to carry it on yourself? That’ll depend…
Most cruise lines allow passengers to carry their own bags onto the cruise ship, providing it fits through the X-ray scanners, which are located just after check-in. This means you do not have to wait for your bag to be delivered, and you have access to all of your belongings straight away.
Remember, you won’t be able to access your stateroom until there’s an announcement. Many people like to change into swimwear to start their holiday right away.
Leaving the ship with your luggage
At the end of your cruise, you can carry your own bags off the ship. This means you don’t have to wait for a time slot and have the flexibility to leave the ship at a time better suited to you. However, no one can leave the ship until there is customs and immigration clearance or staff in place.
Alternatively, you can have your luggage taken off for you and collect it from the cruise terminal. For this option, you will have to put your case outside your room before you go to bed on the last night of your cruise.
Pros and cons of carrying your own luggage
Weighing up on whether to carry your own luggage on and off a cruise ship involves considering a number of things. To help you decide, I’ve used my own and others’ experiences to come to some conclusions. This should help you determine the option that best suits your personal needs.
Pros of carrying your own luggage
The first advantage is that you don’t have to wait for your bags to be delivered to your stateroom. This means you have access to all of your belongings.
However, it’s worth noting that this does not always mean you can find your stateroom straight away and unpack. You may have to wait a few hours until it’s ready, depending on the time you board the ship and when the cabins have been cleaned.
At the end of your cruise, you may want to carry your bags off the ship if you need to catch a flight or continue your holiday elsewhere. This ensures you have your bags, and there will be no worries about finding and collecting your bags in the arrivals hall. Being faced with piles of suitcases can be daunting. You won’t have that problem.
Many cruise lines offer “self-disembarkation” or “express disembarkation” to get off early. This gives you the flexibility to leave the ship as soon as the ship has clearance. Whereas, if you have a time slot to leave the ship, there might be lots of sitting around.
It’s not unusual for the buffet restaurant to be very busy on disembarkation day, with everyone lingering over their breakfast. Hand baggage is tucked under tables, with people taking turns to guard it whilst you peruse the buffet one last time.
Cons of carrying your own luggage
Firstly, as stated earlier, your luggage must fit through the security X-ray machines in the cruise terminal. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to hand it over to the porters for embarkation, regardless of your initial intention. These are the same x-ray machines used for hand luggage, which you will become familiar with when you reboard your ship at ports.
Embarkation and disembarkation days can be quite busy and crowded. If you carry your own luggage, this means you have to find your way through busy areas, which can be quite exhausting. Pulling large suitcases up the gangway is not always easy.
If you have any mobility issues, large and heavy luggage, or prefer assistance, you may find it easier to let the porters look after your bags. It might be useful to speak with guest services before disembarkation day to make sure you have help on the day.
Porter services are not always complimentary, as it depends on the country and port. Either way, it’s expected to tip the porters a few dollars, pounds or euros per bag. It could add an extra expense if you have a lot of luggage. However, this could also be worth the extra cost if you don’t want to have the hassle of carrying everything yourself.
Here’s what I do…
I always hand over my luggage as soon as I arrive at the cruise terminal. I can’t wait to get rid of my big, heavy suitcase and I walk onto the ship with a small bag, carrying as little as possible.
When we went on a two-week cruise from the UK (cold) to the Canary Islands (hot) as a family of four, we had SIX suitcases. We had to pack for all weather and had Christmas presents in there too.
There would have been no way we could carry three cases per adult. But, as soon as we stepped off the coach in Southampton, a porter was there to take the cases, so we didn’t have to touch them.
When I disembark the ship, it’s another story…
If we have a lot of bags or we’re getting the cruise line’s own coach, then we will put our suitcases outside our rooms when we go to bed on the last night and collect our bags from the cruise terminal after disembarkation.
But, if we don’t have the kids with us, we can easily pull our own suitcases. So in that case, we would keep our suitcases and do the ‘self disembarkation option.
You can leave your case if your room while you go for an early breakfast. Then when it’s time to disembark, just grab it and walk off the ship. Easy!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Bottles of water are some of the most popular items from cruise ship bars and restaurants. You’re often cruising in warm weather, and you need to stay hydrated – but do you really want to pay the premium to buy the bottles on the ship?
Some people prefer to bring their own bottles of water onto a ship – if they’re allowed. It varies by cruise line though.
So let’s take a look at the major cruise lines and their policies on bringing your own water onto a ship.
Bringing your own water onboard a cruise
Many cruise lines let you bring water onto a cruise with you, but not all do. Some block it completely except for if you need distilled water for medicinal purposes, while some others won’t let you bring single-use plastic bottles onboard, but permit cans and cartons which can be recycled.
Each cruise line has a different policy, so I’ve done the research to check what each one allows you to bring.
Rules by cruise line
Here’s a quick summary by cruise line of whether or not you’re allowed to bring water onto the ship.
Cruise line
Can you bring water onto the ship?
Carnival Cruises
Yes – cans or cartons only
Celebrity Cruises
Yes – unlimited
Costa Cruises
No, except for medical purposes
Cunard Line
Yes – unlimited
Disney Cruise Line
Yes – unlimited
Holland America Line
Yes – cans or cartons only
MSC Cruises
No, except for medical purposes
NCL
No, except for medical purposes
P&O Cruises
Yes – unlimited
Princess Cruises
Yes – unlimited
Royal Caribbean
Yes – unlimited
Virgin Voyages
Yes – cans or cartons only
While some cruise lines ban you from bringing your own water onboard, others let you bring all sorts of drinks including soft drinks, beer, wine and even spirits. To find out more, read this article next: Can You Bring Your Own Drinks on a Cruise?
Taking water on a Carnival cruise
Guests are allowed to bring a small number of non-alcoholic beverages onto their cruise, including water, but it can’t be packaged in plastic or glass.
Instead, you’re asked to only bring cans or cartons – a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons no bigger than 12 ounces/354 ml each. It must be included in your carry-on luggage.
12 500ml bottles cost $9.95 plus an 18% delivery fee. Or, for $20 + 18% you can get 8 large 1.5 litre bottles instead.
The Lido buffet on every Carnival ship has a water dispenser. It’s not designed for water bottles though – for contamination reasons, fill a cup with water from the fountain and then pour it into your water bottle.
Taking water on a Celebrity cruise
While it is not mentioned in the Celebrity Cruises terms on their website, many guests have reported that yes you can take water onto your Celebrity cruise with you.
You should expect to have it checked by security though, to make sure it is sealed – many people try to sneak alcohol onboard using water bottles.
You can enjoy free tap water on a Celebrity cruises ship at any of the bars or restaurants. Bottled water costs $3.50 but you can get it included with a drinks package. It’s available on the Zero Proof Drinks Package, costing from $30 per person, per day, so you don’t need a really expensive alcohol-inclusive package to enjoy it.
There aren’t any ways you can pre-buy bottled water on the ship to save money. But there are plenty of water fountains available if you want to refill a bottle.
Taking water on a Costa cruise
Costa is one of the few cruise lines that doesn’t allow guests to bring any water onboard. The only exceptions are when you need water for medical purposes, but you’ll need to get in touch with the cruise line in advance to clear this with them. Otherwise, it will still be confiscated at the port by security. They’re really strict!
Bottles of water cost €1.70 for 500ml, or €2.90 for a litre. With Costa you need to buy water, it’s not freely available as tap or fountain water as it is on other cruise lines. It may be a good idea to buy a drinks package – they include unlimited bottles of water for you to enjoy.
Taking water on a Cunard cruise
Despite the lack of mention in the Cunard terms and conditions, you are allowed to take unlimited soft drinks on your Cunard cruise with you. It’s a good idea to carry as many as you’re comfortable with since it can save you money compared to buying them onboard.
Bottles of water on a Cunard ship cost between $2 and $3.50 but you can get them with a drinks package. You need the Premium Soft Drinks Option, which costs $30 per person, per day. If you choose the Beers, Wines and Spirits Option then you get the Premium Soft Drinks inclusions as well.
There are water fountains available in the buffet restaurant. With these you’ll want to refill your bottle using a cup, to avoid putting your bottle directly under the fountain.
Taking water on a Disney cruise
Disney Cruise Lines lets you take as many bottles of water onto your cruise as you wish, as long as they are factory sealed – that’s the only caveat.
They are also the only cruise line to remind you that since you need to carry it on, be wary of how much you can carry since your room may not be available for a few hours. It’s good of them to think of that!
You can buy bottles of water on the ship for $2 to $3, or you can pre-order a Dasani pack to be waiting for you in your cabin’s mini fridge. The prices aren’t amazing though – a 6-pack costs $15 plus an 18% service charge. Drinks packages aren’t available though.
There are water fountains located throughout the ship and you’re welcome to refill your own bottle here. Fountain sodas are also free too with Disney, if you prefer something with a bit more flavour and fizz.
Taking water on a Holland America Line cruise
Holland America Line has a similar policy to Carnival when it comes to bringing water onboard the ship. You’re welcome to bring up to six litres of water onto the ship, provided it’s in cans or cartons, and not bottles. You can bring 12 x 500 ml cans/cartons, or 6 x 1 litre cans/cartons, but nothing bigger.
Bottles of water on a Holland America Line ship are a little more expensive, starting at $3.25 and ranging up to larger bottles for $5.50. You can get bottled water (both still and sparkling) included on a drinks package – not the most basic one, but anything from the Quench package upwards.
Water fountains are available in the buffet restaurant, but this is another cruise line where you’ll be expected to fill a cup and then decant that into your water bottle, instead of using the fountain directly.
Taking water on an MSC cruise
MSC Cruises is another of the cruise lines that doesn’t allow guests to bring water onboard the ship in any form, unless it is distilled water that’s needed for medical purposes.
Again, you’ll need to speak to the cruise line in advance to arrange this – don’t assume you can just walk up to port security and declare it, and they’ll let you on with it.
MSC isn’t as strict as Costa though, because you can at least enjoy water on the ship for free when you’re onboard. The buffet has a water fountain you can use, while tap water is available from the bars and restaurants.
If you want to buy it, bottled water costs $3.50 for 500 ml and it’s free if you buy any of the drinks packages for your cruise.
Taking water on an NCL cruise
NCL is another cruise line that doesn’t let you take any water onto the ship. Again, there are exceptions if you need distilled water for medical purposes, but you’ll have to speak to the cruise line before you travel to get permission. Otherwise, it may be confiscated at the port of embarkation.
You can get bottles of water for $3 for 500 ml, while larger bottles cost $6. You can get the 500 ml bottles with a drinks package, but only if you buy at least the Premium Drinks Package for $109 per day – or you choose the Open Bar perk with the Free at Sea promotion. You don’t get water with the cheaper Soda package.
Another option is to pre-order your drinks and have them delivered to your stateroom before you sail.
A 6-litre package costs $19.95, 12 litres costs $34.95 and 24 litres costs $49.95.
Considering how 24 litres costs $144 if you bought 1-litre bottles individually from the bars, that’s not a bad saving. Tap water is also available for free from bars and the buffet.
Taking water on a P&O cruise
P&O’s terms and conditions don’t mention bringing water or soft drinks onto the ship – the website only covers alcoholic drinks. But you are allowed to bring as many soft drinks and water onto the ship as you like – I know, because whenever I cruise P&O we’ll take a couple of bottles with us.
Bottles of water (330 ml) cost £1.95 each, although you can get a drinks package if you want unlimited bottles. You’ll need the Alcohol Free package, as the cheapest Refresh package doesn’t cover water.
You can get tap water from the bars on the ship, and if you ask nicely the waiters will even refill your own water bottles for you. There are water fountains in the buffet, but these are the sort that you’re not allowed to put your bottle under for hygiene reasons.
The new ships Arvia and Iona also have water dispensers by the pool and by the atrium.
Taking water on a Princess cruise
Princess Cruises has one of the more relaxed policies when it comes to bottled water. You’re allowed to bring as many bottles of water onto the cruise as you like, provided they’re manufacturer sealed.
Bottles are fine though – unlike sister cruise lines Holland America and Carnival, they don’t have to be cans or cartons.
Expect to pay around $2 for a bottle of water on the ship. You can get them included with a drinks package too, but only if you buy the Plus package or above. The Zero-Alcohol package doesn’t include bottled water.
You can get water by the glass with ice for free from any of the bars, and there are water fountains in the buffet area too if you want to top up a bottle, provided you do it using the cups at the station.
Taking water on a Royal Caribbean cruise
On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’re allowed to bring water (and other non-alcoholic drinks) onboard at the start of your cruise, as long as it doesn’t exceed 12 bottles, cans or cartons no bigger than 17 oz, which is around 480 ml.
Typically a bottle of water on a Royal Caribbean cruise costs $3. You can get water included in drinks packages – with the Classic Soda Package you get Dasani flavoured or sparkling water, but if you want bottled water you need the more expensive Refreshment Package
Flavoured water is available for free in the Windjammer Buffet, and there are free water stations around the ship too. Use a cup or glass to fill your own bottle, don’t refill directly from the station.
Taking water on a Virgin Voyages cruise
Virgin Voyages lets you bring as much water and other soft drinks onto your cruise as you like, but the ships do have a policy of no single-use plastics – so again, you’re looking at cans or cartons.
Don’t bring your own flask filled with water, as they’ll assume you’re sneaking alcohol onboard. Sealed products only!
Once you’re on the ship, water is free from the bars and restaurants. This isn’t just tap water, but filtered still and sparkling water, which you can get by the glass or from a water fountain if you want to refill a reusable bottle on the ship. You don’t need a drinks package – not that the cruise line offers them anyway.
Final word
Most cruise lines are perfectly happy to let you bring water onto a cruise ship, although some prefer it if you bring cans or cartons instead of bottles. And on most cruise ships, you can enjoy tap and fountain water for free.
Bottled water is often, but not always, included in drinks packages too so you can carry a bottle ashore on a port day without paying expensive charges at local stores.
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
If you have a cruise lined up, you may be wondering where to get the luggage tags, how to attach them securely and when to put them on. With so many things to consider, it’s understandable if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
I get lots of questions about this small but crucial aspect of cruising. I’m answering everything here in one place, so you have all the info you need on cruise luggage tags to help you before your next cruise.
What are cruise luggage tags for?
Cruise luggage tags are essential in guiding porters and crew members, helping them deliver your luggage to the right spot on the ship. After you leave your bags with the porter at the port and proceed through security, the cruise line relies on these tags to correctly distribute your luggage.
Basically, if you don’t put the tags on your bags, they might not make it to your cabin!
The information included on a cruise luggage tag
Your luggage tag will display essential details such as your name, the ship’s name, stateroom number, sail date, and reservation number. They even specify your cabin’s position on the ship, such as AFT (the back of the ship), FWD (the front of the ship), or MID (the middle of the ship).
Where you’ll get your cruise luggage tags
There are a few methods of obtaining your luggage tags:
The cruise line posts them to you
Print at home
Get them at check-in
Some cruise lines will send them to you through the post. However, in most cases, printing your luggage tags at home is the best method, as it allows you to prepare before arriving at the port, which means a quicker check-in process. If you don’t have a printer, you may have to visit a local printing service or ask a friend.
Fred Olsen Cruise Line sends luggage tags in the post
Although at the cruise terminal, the curbside porters often have a bundle of luggage tags. You will need to show them your booking details, add any details required on the tags, and hand over your bags to be taken on from here.
How to print luggage tags for a cruise
When booking a cruise, you will receive e-documents either in an email or on an online account which you have to log in to. There should be a section with text such as “print cruise luggage tags.” Click on this, and a PDF will download. From here, you can print the cruise luggage tags at home.
Do cruise luggage tags have to be printed in colour?
If you’re printing your cruise luggage tags, ideally, they should be printed in colour. The labels are colour-coded for some cruise lines, so it will be more difficult for the cruise line to deliver your luggage to your cabin.
However, for some cruise lines such as NCL, Carnival and Princess, it is ok to print off in black and white.
How to fold and put on the cruise luggage tags
Once the luggage tags are printed, it’s essential to put them on correctly, as they need to be visible and secure. You’ll need to fold them, seal the ends together and then add your details before attaching them to the bags.
Fold the tag: Instructions for how to fold the luggage tags will be on each tag document. Start folding from the top where it indicates “Fold Here”. You should now have a long, narrow strip with your cruise information visible on one side.
Seal the ends: Some people like to tape over the folded tag to make it more durable and water-resistant.
Fill in your details: Often, there is a space to write your name on the tag. My tip would also be to add a mobile phone number in case of any problems.
Attach the tags to your bag: You can attach the tags by looping them through your suitcase handle and stapling them along the sides, or by using a luggage tag holder.
I always use luggage tag holders because they make it virtually impossible for your tags to get ripped off. If you’re flying or it rains, then cruise luggage tags come off very easily.
These are the luggage tag holders I use…
Different cruise lines have different sizes and shapes of tags. I chose these tag holders because they’re universal, so I can use them for every cruise. The last thing I want is to have to buy a bunch of different holders and figure out which one to use for each cruise!
If you lose or damage your tags…
If luggage tags get lost or damaged, this may mean they may not be delivered to your stateroom. If this does happen, check with the guest services desk on the ship. Misplaced luggage often ends up there, and you can reclaim it by identifying it and providing your details.
Unfortunately, this does happen occasionally, so there are a few things you can do so it gets to you as soon as possible:
If your bag has an outside pocket, write your details clearly on a piece of paper and slide them in there. A crew member may check this pocket, which might help identify your bag quickly.
Make your bag look different. This will ensure you can easily identify it quickly. You could add a ribbon or a unique luggage strap.
Pack a carry-on bag with essential items you’ll need for your cruise’s first day.
Securing luggage tags
To avoid the luggage tags getting ripped off, you can strengthen them by using thicker paper or card, or use clear tape to seal it better. You can add a backup second tag if you’re concerned. But the best way has to invest in some luggage tag holders. They’re pretty cheap and will save you any unnecessary worry or stress.
There are a few things you can do to secure your tags:
Print your tags onto a thicker paper or card, making it less likely to tear.
Use plenty of staples. Bring a mini stapler with you, especially if you’re staying in a hotel before your cruise.
Seal the ends with clear sticky tape. Bring a small roll of this with you too.
Attach a second tag as a backup. It could be placed on another handle or part of the luggage.
Use Cruise Ship Luggage Tags Holders
Cruise ship luggage tag holders
Luggage tag holders aren’t essential, but I think it makes the process easier. Using them removes the hassle of stapling and taping without worrying about ruined or lost cruise luggage tags.
Cruise luggage tag holders are very durable and reusable for any other holidays you may have booked. They are generally made of plastic material with a braided steel loop to securely fasten the tag to your luggage.
Be careful about size
Cruise luggage tags are not all the same size; they can vary between cruise lines. This is important to remember when purchasing holders for your luggage tags, as you will need to ensure they are appropriately sized for the specific cruise line’s tags.
For example, Carnival and Princess Cruises generally have wide tags, whereas NCL usually has smaller tags. So make sure you buy the right ones for your cruise line – I recommend these universal luggage tag holders as they fit all cruise lines.
Where to buy cruise ship luggage tag holders
No matter which cruise line you are using, there are plastic luggage tag holders available on Amazon designed to fit various cruise line tags.
Carry-ons & tags
Typically you do not need luggage tags on your carry-on bags for a cruise, as you will have these with you, or once you find your stateroom, you can leave them in there.
However, it can still be a good idea to tag them. If you accidentally misplace them, it will be easier for the crew to return them to you.
If you have a flight and cruise package, the labels should be put on after the flight. If you attach them before the flight, unless your cruise line tells you otherwise. That’s because they might get damaged, ripped off or confuse any baggage handling staff.
You should only put a luggage tag on before your flight if you are instructed to by a tour company. For example, once you hand over your bags to the airline on some flight and cruise packages, you won’t see them again until they get delivered to your cruise stateroom.
Got any more questions about cruise luggage tags? Ask away in the comments section below…
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
There are some obvious things that you have to take with you on a cruise holiday – clothes, shoes, passport etc. But there are some essential items that regular cruisers always pack, that you might not know about.
You may be an inexperienced cruise passenger, or perhaps you’ve just never stopped to think about how you could fix a common problem you encounter on your cruises.
But I have, which is why I’ve put together this handy list of 15 cruise must-haves that might not have occurred to you, yet could make sure your cruise runs a lot more smoothly. If you’re not sure what to pack for a cruise, this list is a great starting point!
And these are all Amazon cruise essentials, too, so you can place yourself a bulk order and have everything delivered all in one go. (Hopefully!)
You aren’t allowed to use power strips on cruise ships because they can be a fire hazard. But if you’re travelling with family you’ll likely have a lot of devices to charge at once.
This is ideal – it works with any plug socket thanks to some handy toggles, and can charge 5 items at once – one plug, and 4 USB cables. That’s everyone’s phone, and the kids’ tablet too. Winner.
When you’re going to board your ship, your cruise line will provide luggage tags that help to make sure your suitcases are sent to your room.
But the problem is, they’re made out of paper, and sometimes (whisper it quietly), you might have a rainy embarkation day. Wet luggage tags can be destroyed – the ink can run and the soggy paper can easily get ripped off.
These luggage tag holders will ensure your tags are safe and your suitcase makes it to your room. And unlike most others – they’re universal so will fit any cruise line’s tags and last you forever.
Unless you’ve booked a suite, cruise ship cabins are hardly known for their excessive storage space. This handy solution can turn a door into a helpful organiser, giving you 24 pockets to fit all kinds of things, even your shoes for different nights.
There’s really no need for your stateroom to be covered in clutter. I just hang this on the back of the bathroom door and as we leave the cabin, everyone’s sunglasses, hats and all those other little bits and pieces are right there.
Life on a cruise ship can be windy, since you are sailing after all – that generally involves moving into an airstream. So I always like to keep my towel secure on my lounger with these handy clips, that are easily big enough to fit around any chair.
When everyone uses the exact same cruise ship towels, it can be hard to spot your lounger when you return from the pool. That’s why I have bright, colourful towel clips to make my place stand out.
No more towels blowing away, or even just slipping down when you lean forward for a drink. Just be careful not to give off the wrong vibes with the flamingo ones though!
You know what your cruise cabin’s walls are made out of? Metal. So if you want to add your own hooks to the wall for hanging up jackets, dresses, coats or anything else, these will do the trick.
Just stick them on the wall and presto – a handy hanging space with no cabin stewards annoyed at your drilling!
You know what your cruise cabin’s walls are made out of? Yes, you do.
And these strong magnetic clips are another great option for keeping clutter and items away from the desk space, especially if you’re organising plans for your day. Clip your daily planner to the wall and everyone can remember the itinerary.
You know that horrible moment when you’ve crept out of bed in the middle of the night like a ninja, in need of the toilet but desperate not to wake your partner, and then BOOM – you turn on the bathroom light and everyone is awake and angry?
These battery-powered candles are a much better alternative than scorching your retinas and being in the dog house the next day (or peeing in the dark), and they’re smaller than a nightlight too.
There are very few delicate ways to word this, but basically, your cruise cabin toilet is not situated too far from the rest of the room. And it doesn’t have a window. Smells will be smellable to everyone.
It’s worth packing spray this just to neutralise any odours so that your family aren’t upset with you just for doing something completely natural.
A lot of cruise ships have a pressing service, but that’s time-consuming and it usually also has a cost involved. And your cabin doesn’t normally have space for an ironing board. This spray can help remove the wrinkles from your clothes, and keep you looking smart. A shame it doesn’t work on the face really.
If you’ve booked yourself an inside cabin, you aren’t going to know when the sun has risen. This can make waking up a little bit trickier, since your options are darkness or strong artificial light.
This clever clock remedies that by gently illuminating the room in time with sunrise, so you can be gradually raised from your deep slumber. It’s such a relaxing way to wake up!
If you’re on a longer cruise, you’ll be travelling across different time zones. And to make things a little more confusing, your phone might grab a signal from a phone mast intermittently, or it might update online.
So you can never be quite sure what time it is. Even the cruise line’s app tells you the wrong time sometimes!
Grab a travel alarm clock and you’ll always know the right time, even in the dead of night when you’ve awoken excited for your itinerary the next day.
If you’re the kind of person who just dumps everything into a single suitcase and hopes for the best, let me introduce you to life-changing packing cubes.
No longer will you have to sift through your case to find a charger when you first arrive. With these, you’ll have place for everything, and everything in its place.
Cruises are perfect for snapping a ton of happy photo memories, especially on days in port. So if you have an old phone with a battery that can barely cope, or you just have a ton of apps draining it constantly, carry a portable charger with you so that you never miss a photo opportunity due to lack of charge.
Without this, I could never take 200 photos each day. Yeah, that’s not an exaggeration either I’m afraid!
A basic first aid kit is a really useful thing to have with you on a cruise. A 298-piece all-purpose first aid kit is even better.
This nifty kit has everything you could need for basic scrapes, grazes and other minor ailments, without needing to sacrifice half your drinks fund for a trip to the medical bay onboard.
Some cruise ships are absolutely packed with things to do each day, so you’ll get a daily planner summarising them all. Pack a highlighter pen with you and you can go through and highlight the ones you don’t want to miss, so you never forget that wine tasting hour or themed party.
Plus, if your party is separated for different events, it’s easy for everyone to see where you’re going to be and when.
The Bottom Line
These 15 must have cruise accessories can go a long way to making your cruise holiday just run that little bit more smoothly, and keep your entire travelling party happy.
None of them are expensive either, but you’ll be able to use them again and again on every cruise you take. So add these Amazon cruise items to your packing list – you won’t regret it.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
When you’re packing for a cruise, most people like to pack a book or two to read by the pool. But which are the best books to read on a cruise?
Well, books that are set on cruise ships or are about cruising are always good options. And there are plenty of those to choose from on Amazon.
The best books to read on a cruise:
You can choose from paperback versions, kindle versions or audiobooks.
If you’ve never tried an audiobook, then now’s a great time to give it a go as you can get many cruise-related audiobooks for free when you take a free 30-day trial of Amazon Audible.
Fiction books set on a cruise ship
A cruise ship makes a great setting for a novel, and you’ll find scores of these available.
If you like murder-mystery ‘whodunnit’-type books, then you’ll have plenty to choose from. It seems that going overboard is a common occurrence in cruise ship fiction, thankfully much more so than in real life!
The Woman in Cabin 10 is a gripping psychological thriller set on a luxury cruise ship.
In a story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, a travel journalist embarks on a week-long voyage when she witnesses a fellow guest being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for and the ship sails on as if nothing has happened.
The brilliant Emma Le Teace (AKA Emma Cruises on YouTube) has released a series of kids’ books based on her real cat Captain Hudson, perfect for children who love cruises (and adults who are kids at heart, too).
The first book tells the story of how Captain Hudson became the captain of a cruise ship crewed only by animals, and where only kids are guests onboard.
Other books in the new series offer a mix of fun adventure and genuinely useful cruise info, such as Captain Hudson’s Brilliant Guide To Alaska and Captain Hudson’s Guide To Brilliant Cruises For Kids, so check those out as well!
I read this book on a cruise on MSC Virtuosa. It’s a murder mystery that keeps you turning the pages as more and more people are murdered on the ship in more and more mysterious circumstances.
If you like cruise ship mysteries, then I would certainly recommend that you give this one a read.
Awards:
New York Times Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Entertainment Weekly “Summer Must List” Pick
New York Post “Summer Must-Read” Pick
(A series of 24 books)
If you like cruise ship mystery books, then this series of novels is sure to keep you busy with 24 thrilling stories to enjoy.
The first book features Millie Sanders, a heartbroken lady who’s landed her dream job as an assistant cruise director on-board the fictional mega ship, Siren of the Seas. But before she has a chance to settle in, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
This classic novel is one of Agatha Christie’s most famous mysteries. The story is set to become a movie in October 2020, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh.
The story is set on a luxury Nile cruise. The tranquillity of the voyage is shattered when a young lady is shot in the head. Time for Hercule Poirot to solve the mystery in this exotic setting where nothing is as it seems.
This thrillingly funny book by bestselling author, Carl Hiaasen, is from the popular Skink Series.
It tells the tale of marine biologist Chaz who pushes his wife Joey overboard during a cruise. Joey survives the ordeal, but decides to pretend to be dead so that she can seek her revenge on her evil husband.
Dangerous Crossing is a historical suspense thriller in the same tradition as Agatha Christie’s ‘Death on the Nile’ and Ruth Ware’s ‘The Woman in Cabin 10.’
Set in 1939, Europe is on the brink of war when young Lily Shepherd boards a cruise ship in England to start a new life in Australia. On-board, she meets new friends who are also running away from their pasts. But, by the time the cruise ends, two passengers are dead and war has been declared.
Mary Higgins Clark, the undisputed ‘Queen of Suspense’, wrote this classic novel in 1999 and it’s certainly one of her best.
The book is about a killer who targets lonely women on cruise ships. Dr. Susan Chandler starts an investigation into the phenomenon of women who disappear, only to discover that the killer may already be known to her.
Awards:
New York Times Bestseller
(A series of 13 books)
This exciting series of 13 murder mystery books each feature main character Rachel Prince, a newly-qualified police constable who has been ditched by her fiancé.
Each book tells the story of one of Rachel’s cruises, each of which involves a good dose of murder and mayhem. You’d think that Rachel would switch to land-based holidays, but she doesn’t!
If you’ve enjoyed reading any books by Kate Williams, Beatriz Williams or Jennifer Robson, then you’ll love this historical tale of love and resilience by Kim Izzo.
Inspired by the author’s family history, this book is set during the Great War. Two New York heiresses board a cruise ship set for England, not knowing that disaster lies ahead as their ship meets its deadly fate.
This hilarious novel was the second book by Dave Barry, after his award-winning novel Big Trouble.
The book is a lighthearted comedy about murder, drug dealing, money laundering and gambling, set on the Extravaganza of the Seas, a fictional cruise ship whose sole job is to carry gamblers three miles from the Florida coast and take their money.
Murder on the QE2 is part of the popular 1990s ‘Murder She Wrote’ series of TV shows and books.
In this book, Jessica Fletcher sets sail on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth II as a guest lecturer. A fellow speaker is found brutally murdered on the first night, and Jessica has four days at sea to find the killer before he strikes again.
Murder, Curlers and Cruises is one of the Valentine Beaumont series of mystery books by New York Times Bestselling author Liliana Hart.
In this fast-paced mystery, beautician Valentine Beaumont embarks upon a cruise where a bizarre murder takes place on board. Funny, sexy and entertaining, this book has everything you could want in a mystery novel.
This murder mystery novel is part of the Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Series by Leena Clover and can be enjoyed as a standalone book.
In this novel, Jenny and her friends embark upon a nine-day Caribbean cruise upon Glamour of the Seas. When a game of poker turns deadly, 86-year-old Betty Sue is detained as a suspect and Jenny steps up to help catch the elusive killer.
(A series of 6 books)
This series of six cruise ship mystery books all feature the main character Ellie Tappet and are inspired by the cruises that author Cheri Baker has taken.
In the first book, a cruise passenger finds a finger with a big diamond ring on it in her sangria. Ellie uses her sleuthing skills to find out what happened.
Mats Strandberg is known as the ‘Stephen King of Sweden’ and this terrifying novel is sure to be a hit with horror fans.
In this book, 1200 passengers join a booze cruise between Sweden and Finland. But, in the middle of the night, the ship is cut off from the outside world. There’s no way to contact the mainland, and nobody knows who to trust.
Dead on the Water is a thrilling sci-fi suspense novel by bestselling author R.W.K. Clark.
In this fast-paced novel, a cruise ship is found to be carrying a deadly zombie-making virus. With minimal resources and no means of escape, the cruise passengers have to make some horrifying decisions.
Funny and moving, this book by Lisa Alther is about Dr Jessie Drake who takes a job on a British cruise liner. Recovering from the loss of her lover and coping with crazy cruise ship life, she reckons with her past and feels her way into the future.
Non-fiction books about cruises
True life tales of what happens on cruise ships can be just as page-turning as fiction. In fact, most cruisers will admit to being at least a little bit intrigued about what the crew get up to once their daily shift finishes.
(A series of 4 books)
In this series of books, former Carnival cruise ship crew member, Brian David Bruns, gives a look behind the scenes of crew life on a cruise ship.
Find out what the crew call those on-board (it’s not passengers!), learn about the seemingly nonsensical rules that they have to follow and find out where on the ship are the secret spots to have sex with those that you’re not supposed to. Once you’ve read the first hilarious book, you’ll be itching to order the next three.
Award-winning author Paul C. Thornton has profiled cruisers from all over the world in this fascinating insight into what it is that makes cruising so special, and so addictive!
This compendium of cruise stories, anecdotes and profiles has all five-star reviews and is a must-read for anyone who loves to cruise.
After the success of The Joy of Cruising, Paul C. Thornton wrote a follow-up – Cruising Interrupted.
Acknowledging the influence of the global pause from 2020 onwards, this book features tales from several cruise YouTubers and bloggers, including myself, in Chapter Six.
In this graphic travelogue, twenty-something cartoonist, Lucy Knisley, is recruited to assist her elderly grandparents as they take a Caribbean cruise. The vacation turns into a voyage of discovery for Lucy as she celebrates her grandparents’ lives and grapples with her own mortality.
This book manages to achieve an impressive balance between humour and poignancy, with sunny sarcasm and heart-wrenching memoirs.
This book tells the real-life tale of a family’s experiences as they were quarantined aboard the Grand Princess in 2020.
Of course, coronavirus is no laughing matter, but this book is sure to have you giggling throughout as you hear about the family’s mishaps and how they survived, and thrived, whilst quarantined on a cruise ship.
Released in November 2020, ‘Quarantine!’ is another book about the cruise ship quarantine that occurred in February 2020.
In this book, bestselling writer, Gay Courter, and her husband find themselves trapped on board the Diamond Princess in Japan. The book documents their twelve-day ordeal as they make efforts to get the US government to repatriate them.
In another exposé on life below the waterline, this book promises to answer all the questions that passengers want to ask.
Author Joshua Kinser spent five years working on cruise ships as a musician and art auctioneer. The book includes details on what happened during the coronavirus crisis and how it affected crew members at sea.
The author of this book, Jay Herring, was a senior officer on Carnival cruise ships and one of the few who had access to the entire ship. The book is filled with shocking, entertaining and hilarious stories from his time at sea.
Find out how romance on a cruise ship is unlike anywhere else, what happens when things go wrong on a cruise and what to expect on a nude cruise.
Cruise Travel Guides
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a cruise travel guide would be something that you’d read before your cruise, but some of these can actually be great to take away with you too.
This guide used to be known as the Berlitz Guide, and it has two main parts. The first helps you to work out what you’re looking for in a cruise holiday and how to find it. It’s full of colourful photos which help to describe every aspect of the cruise experience.
The second part of the book has reviews of over 340 cruise ships, grading them on service, food, entertainment and facilities. The guide is known as the ‘cruise industry bible’ and is updated every year with all the latest information.
When planning a cruise with children you’ll have a few extra things to think about and this guide to cruising with kids can help make choosing a cruise that bit easier.
The author has spent over 170 nights at sea, including at least 100 nights with kids and this book has 4 and a half stars on Amazon.
If you use a wheelchair then this guide to wheelchair accessible cruising will be incredibly valuable. This subject isn’t covered too much online and sometimes even the most helpful travel agents don’t have all the answers to hand.
The author has been on over 20 cruises, most of them with a wheelchair so is ideally qualified to advise on everything you need to know to find the best cruise and make the most of your time at sea.
If you’re thinking of taking your first Disney cruise, then this book will be super helpful. It includes lots of cruise tips that are specific to Disney Cruise Line and is updated each year with the latest information.
You’ll also find lots of info about DCL’s ports of call, including Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Plus details on all the new ships too!
Carnival is one of the world’s largest cruise lines and a popular choice for American families. This book is packed full of cruise dos and don’ts that are specific to families cruising with Carnival.
You can get a free audiobook of Carnival Cruise Tips for Families when you sign up for a 30-day free trial of Audible.
This is a great generic cruise port guide that covers everything you need to know about heading ashore on a cruise.
Whether you like to use the ship’s excursions or explore independently, this book is really useful. It’s packed full of hints, tips and advice to help you plan all your onshore adventures to a tee.
Fodor’s Travel Guides are always packed full of bright and colourful images and this guide to cruise ports in the Caribbean is no exception.
You’ll also find lots of handy maps and recommendations for things to see and do in each port.
Rick Steves is a bestselling author of European travel guides and this guide to cruising the Mediterranean offers expert advice about 23 different ports of call.
The book includes handy step-by-step instructions for how to get from the cruise terminals into town as well as some ideas for self-guided walks of each port city.
If you’re planning a cruise to Alaska, then the best cruise travel guide is this one from Fodor’s Travel.
The guide is written by Alaska locals so it has lots of insider tips about how to make the most of your visit, as well as detailed maps covering more than 20 different ports.
Those planning a cruise to Northern Europe including the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Russia will certainly benefit from this port guide by Rick Steves.
Inside, you’ll get full coverage of 18 ports of call with self-guided walks to do and full-colour detailed maps.
If you’re looking to try your first river cruise, then this Berlitz guide will be incredibly useful.
Written by cruise expert Douglas Ward, it offers unbiased advice about the different rivers and the differences between the various types of river cruise vessels. There are also detailed listings of over 300 river ships and some great full-colour maps.
River cruises often come with excursions included which makes them a really easy way to explore Europe. Still, with a choice of excursions available, you’ll likely find this book really handy if you need to decide which ones to do!
Lonely Planet is the world’s number one travel guide publisher and this book is of the high standards you’d expect, with fantastic maps, itineraries, tips and reviews of ports along the Rhine Danube and more.
Found any other good books to read on a cruise? Feel free to share your recommendations in the comments.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
If you choose a cruise ship packed full of activities like water slides, zip lines and trampolines, the chance of your kids finding time to get bored is pretty slim.
However, not all cruise ships have all these things on board, and even if your ship does, sometimes it’s just nice to spend an hour or so as a family, taking the time to play a game together.
Whether you’re planning a transatlantic cruise with lots of sea days and no guarantee of sunshine, or just want something to keep the kids entertained for fifteen minutes while you wait for dinner, taking a game on a cruise can be a great idea.
If your kids are very young, you might want to pop them to bed early and sit out on your balcony playing a game that’s just for adults.
Whatever your situation, this post list 13 of the best games to take on a cruise. Each is travel-sized, lightweight and great fun for kids and adults alike.
1. Monopoly Deal
Faster, simpler and more convenient to carry than a game of Monopoly, but just as much fun, there are several Monopoly card games to choose from.
Out of these, I think that Monopoly Deal is the best. This is a great game to take on a cruise because it’s just a set of cards so can be played anywhere. Games last around ten minutes, but you can play over and over if you like. Once you start playing, it can be pretty hard to stop.
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Players: 2 to 5
Dimensions: 1.9 x 9.2 x 14.3 cm
Weight: 150 g
2. Battleship
Battleship is a fun nautical-themed game for two players. The game was first invented during World War I and involves guessing where the other player’s ships are located on a grid and calling shots to try to destroy their fleet.
Battleship does have some small pieces which you won’t want to lose. Therefore, it’s best to buy a travel version of the game so that all the little bits can be stored safely inside. And if you want cruise games with a nautical theme, it’s a great choice – even if it’s about sinking ships.
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Players: 2
Dimensions: 4.8 x 15.9 x 23.5 cm
Weight: 159 g
3. Connect 4
Connect 4 is a game that involves two players taking turns to drop coloured discs into a grid. The aim is to connect four discs of your colour in a row either across, down or diagonally. A travel version of Connect 4 not only saves room in your luggage but also keeps all the small pieces safe so that they won’t get lost.
If you’ve not played Connect 4 since childhood, you’ll be surprised at how much fun this game can be when two adults play against each other. It can get pretty competitive and you’ll be kicking yourself each time you miss an opportunity.
Recommended age: 3-12 years
Players: 2
Dimensions: 13.3 x 9.3 x 2.2 cm
Weight: 75 g
4. The Yes! No! Game
The Yes! No! Game is a hilarious game in which you have to answer questions without saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If you say yes or no, someone will ring the bell and your turn ends. If, however, you manage to answer every question on the card without saying the banned words, then you keep the card. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
The box says that the Yes! No! game is suitable for children ages eight and up. However, I think that children as young as five could enjoy answering the questions, as long as someone older does the reading.
Recommended age: 12 years and up
Players: 2 to 6
Dimensions: 1.7 x 4.5 x 6.75 inches
Weight: 8 oz
5. Cluedo
Cluedo (also known as Clue in the USA) is a classic detective game that involves figuring out who killed the host of a party, in which room and with what weapon. Players can keep track of clues in their detective notebooks to try to solve the case first. Was it Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with the dagger or Colonel Mustard in the dining room with the candlestick?
Cluedo isn’t the first game that comes to mind when you’re looking for board games to take on a cruise. However, the Grab & Go version of Cluedo is perfect for travelling thanks to its small size and the fact that all the pieces can be stored inside the game unit.
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Players: 3 to 6
Dimensions: 27.1 x 27 x 7 cm
Weight: 200 g
6. Boggle
I love the game Boggle because it’s not just fun, it’s also really educational for kids. First, you have to shake the grid to mix up the letter cubes, then you lift the lid and start the timer. Players have 90 seconds to write down as many words as they can find before the time’s up. If two or more players find the same word, that one doesn’t count. The player with the most unique words wins.
There’s no limit to how many players can play Boggle. The more you have, the more tricky it is to find unique words. It’s also possible to play as a solo game. Each round you can try to beat your own high score.
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Players: 2
Dimensions: 5.1 x 10.9 x 10.9 cm
Weight: 200 g
7. Scrabble
Scrabble is one of the world’s most famous board games and involves forming words in an interlocking crossword style on a grid.
This game is recommended for children aged ten or above, although younger children could play will a little help. Once the kids have gone to bed, adults could enjoy a glass of wine on the balcony, and make your own version of Scrabble, where only rude words are allowed.
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Players: 1-2
Dimensions: 7.62 x 1.27 x 4.45 cm
Weight: 50 g
8. Rummikub
Rummikub is a game that is played with 106 tiles which are numbered from 1 to 13 in four different colours, plus some jokers. The aim of the game is to be the first to get rid of all of your tiles from your rack on to the table. Tiles may be laid in runs of consecutive numbers of the same colour or groups of the same number in different colours.
The game might not be as well-known as Scrabble, but it’s an excellent game that can be enjoyed again and again on a cruise.
Recommended age: 6 years and up
Players: 2 to 4
Dimensions: 26.16 x 26.16 x 4.57 cm
Weight: 480 g
9. Othello
Othello has the strapline ‘a minute to learn, a lifetime to master’. This simple game is made up of an 8×8 board and 64 discs which are black on one side and white on the other. One player chooses black, the other white, and the aim of the game is to have the majority of discs on the board in your colour by the end of the game.
A move is made by placing a disc in a position that ‘outflanks’ one or more of your opponent’s discs. A disc or rows of discs is ‘outflanked’ when it’s surrounded at the ends by discs of the other colour. As you become more familiar with the game, you’ll pick up strategies, becoming more skilled in the game until, eventually, you find yourself thinking several moves ahead just as you would with Chess.
Recommended age: 6 years and up
Players: 2
Dimensions: 19.05 x 19.05 x 0.1 cm
Weight: 255 g
10. UNO
UNO is a classic card game of matching numbers and colours. The aim is to be the first to 500 points by being the first to get rid of all of your cards, scoring points for any cards which remain in opponents’ hands. A key part of the game is that you must remember to shout ‘UNO’ (which is Spanish for one) when you have only one card remaining.
UNO comes with wild cards such as draw two, skip and reverse. The latest version of the game also includes fun customisable wild cards where you can make up your own forfeits or bonuses and write them on the card.
Love UNO but played it to death already? There are some more fun card games which are similar to UNO, such as Apples to Apples, Exploding Kittens and Sushi Go!
Recommended age: 7 years and up
Players: 2 to 10
Dimensions: 28.19 x 21.41 x 1.5 cm
Weight: 41 g
11. Playing Cards
We rarely cruise without a pack of cards. The cheapest and smallest of all the games, a pack of cards can give you hours of fun as the options for games are almost endless. However, one problem with playing card games with young children is that they often struggle to hold them with their small hands.
The Little Hands Card Holder is a fantastic invention which means that kids as young as three years old can join in with card games like Go Fish by using the specially-designed holder to hold the cards.
Recommended age: 3 to 8 years
Players: Any
Weight: 40 g
12. Pass the Pigs
Pass the Pigs is a simple and fun game that involves throwing two small plastic pigs onto the table and scoring points depending on which way up they land. A pig on its side scores no points, with five points for a pig standing upright or on its back and more points for trickier positions.
Whilst this game is recommended for children aged eight and up, in reality even the youngest of kids can join in with throwing the pigs, as long as they have someone else to note down their score.
Recommended age: 7 years and up
Players: 2 or more
Dimensions: 4.45 x 10.16 x 21.59 cm
Weight: 113 g
13. Dobble
Dobble (also known as Spot It) is a compact and fun game for kids and adults alike. The concept is simple, you have to find the matching symbols between two cards and shout it out before anyone else. This fast-paced game is made even more fun with the five different variations which each have different rules.
There’s no advantage for adults over children, which makes Dobble the perfect family game. Plus, the cards and box are really small, so it’s ideal to take on a cruise.
Recommended age: 6 years and up
Players: 2 to 8
Dimensions: 12.95 x 8.76 x 2.5 cm
Weight: 130 g
14. Yahtzee
Yahtzee is a dice game that’s been around since the 1940s. The object is to roll five dice to make certain combinations such as three of a kind, a full house (three of one number and two of another) or a strait (four of five numbers in a sequence). Each combination scores different points, with the winner the player who can score the most points.
Yahtzee To Go is a handy travel version of this popular game which includes a dice cup with a lid that can be used for shaking the dice and also to store the rest of the equipment – the five dice, scorepad, pencils and instructions.
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Players: 2 or more
Dimensions: 13.72 x 13.21 x 7.87 cm
Weight: 204 g
Cruise ship games
Whilst it’s a great idea to bring one or two small games on a cruise, it’s worth remembering that many cruise ships do have board games that are available to borrow. However, the quality of these vary and it’s not unusual to have to rummage through several boxes to try to get together enough of the right pieces for a game of chess!
Some ships also have giant versions of chess or draughts on the deck, as well as deck games like quoits and shuffleboard which can be a fun way to spend some time as a family.
Printable games
If you’re really travelling light, one idea is to print off some travel games for kids and bring them with you. My daughter loves to do mazes, word searches and hangman.
Whilst you can buy puzzle books, they’re not always at the right level for your children. Printing your own games to play on a cruise enables you to hand-pick sheets that you know they’ll enjoy. Plus, they’re free!
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If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
So far this year, 24 cruise ships have earned a perfect 100 score during surprise health inspections by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
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12 different cruise lines have had a perfect health score on one of their ships so far in 2024. Norwegian Cruise Line has come out on top with six cruise ships followed by Royal Caribbean with four.
Below is a list of ships that earned a perfect health score in 2024 and the date of the surprise inspection.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Gem – January 2
Norwegian Escape – January 27
Norwegian Sky – May 23
Norwegian Bliss – June 22
Norwegian Jewel – July 24
Norwegian Breakaway – September 22
Norwegian Escape was one of six NCL ships to score a perfect 100.
Royal Caribbean
Brilliance of the Seas – May 16
Radiance of the Seas – July 21
Serenade of the Seas – September 10
Jewel of the Seas – September 28
Jewel of the Seas was one of four Royal Caribbean ships to score a 100 during its health inspection.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Spirit – September 3
Carnival Magic – October 13
Carnival Magic was one of two Carnival Cruise Line ships to ace its health inspection.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Ascent – January 7
Celebrity Equinox – February 15
Celebrity Equinox was one of two Celebrity ships to score a 100 in 2024.
Viking
Viking Polaris – April 2
Viking Orion – August 18
Viking Polaris was one of two Viking ships to ace their health inspection this year.
MSC Cruises
MSC Seashore – May 26
MSC Meraviglia – July 9
MSC Meraviglia was one of two MSC ships to score a perfect 100 during a health inspection.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Fantasy – January 24
Disney Fantasy is the only Disney ship to ace its health inspection this year.
Explora Journeys
Explora I, a luxury cruise ship from MSC Group, aced its health inspection this year.
Oceania Cruises
Oceania Regatta – July 22
Regatta was the one ship from Oceania that scored a 100 during its surprise inspection.
Seabourn
Seabourn Odyssey – August 16
Odyssey aced its health inspection this year.
Holland America Line
Zuiderdam is the lone Holland America Line ship to score a 100 so far this year.
Windstar Cruises
Star Pride – September 29
The small ship Star Pride earned a perfect health score this year.
All cruise ships that visit U.S. ports are given unannounced inspections twice a year. All areas of the ships are inspected that include potable water, pools, hot tubs, kitchens and galleys, and public spaces on board.
A score of 86 or higher is required to pass. Points are deducted when there is a pattern of similar violations or if there is a single, significant violation.
The last cruise ship to score a perfect 100 was Carnival Magic. The report has deficiencies listed like the light intensity surrounding one of the ice machines and yogurt stations measured less than 220 lux. Since this is a minor violation, no points were deducted.
