The first time I took a cruise I had absolutely no idea what to expect. And I made a lot of mistakes. But, over the years, as I’ve cruised more and more, I’ve picked up plenty of little hacks that can improve the experience, and save money.
So, here are the best tips I’ve learned from cruising over 40 times…
1. Pack a carry-on bag with essentials for embarkation day
It can take hours for your checked luggage to arrive at your cabin. Sometimes, your cases will arrive right away, but other times you might be waiting until after dinner! As a rule, the bigger the ship, the longer you can expect to wait.
Be sure to include any essential medications. You’ll probably also want to pack your sunglasses, sunscreen, swimsuit, and a change of clothes.
If your suitcase still hasn’t arrived by sailaway, don’t worry. Just head to the guest services desk where you’ll likely find it missing its label.
2. Ensure your watch is set to the ship’s time
As your ship sails you can change time zones frequently, and it can be easy to lose track. If you rely on a phone and a smart watch, sometimes you don’t know if your phone and watch have automatically updated or not!
On a recent cruise, we were woken by a telephone call from the spa at what we thought was 8.10 am, to ask why my husband wasn’t at the 9 am massage he had booked. We were positive it wasn’t 9 am yet and I still to this day don’t know what happened there!
One trick I like to do is to turn of the automatic time updating on my phone. That way, if I have to do it myself, I can be sure that it matches the ship.
Another option would be to bring a simple watch and/or alarm clock rather than any fancy smart version that might update all by itself.
3. Review and settle your onboard bill before the last day
On some cruises, you’ll never see your bill. They’ll just debit it from your bank account a few days after you’ve left – so you’ll never know if it’s right or not!
On the last day, be sure to get a copy of your bill, whether that’s via the cruise line’s app, the TV in your cabin or a paper copy from guest services.
There may be a long line at reception on disembarkation day, so be sure to check your bill regularly during the cruise and resolve any issues before then.
4. Plan where you’ll be at sailaway
The sailaway moment can be a highlight of the cruise. Not so much if you’re departing from Southampton in winter. But if you’re sailing out of New York, past the Statue of Liberty and heading to the sunshine of the Caribbean, it can be quite the occasion!
Planning where you’ll be ensures you get the best view and experience, whether that’s from your balcony, a deck party, or a quiet spot where you can relax and enjoy the views from a chair.
5. Decide between self-disembarkation and traditional methods
When you leave the ship, you’ll have a choice of carrying your own bags off at a time that suits you, or leaving them outside your room on the last night and collecting them from the terminal building at a specified time in the morning.
Knowing your disembarkation plan helps you prepare, whether you need to carry your luggage off the ship yourself or set it out the night before.
On more than one occasion I’ve seen people leaving the ship in the morning wearing an evening dress and high heels because they’ve packed all of their clothes (possibly while a little tipsy) and not left any for the next day!
Suggested read: How Long Does It Take to Disembark a Cruise Ship?
6. Use magnets and magnetic hooks to make the most of wall space in your cabin
Cruise ship cabins are often small, so using magnetic hooks on the metal walls helps to maximise space, keeping your room organised and clutter-free.
If you’re cruising solo for a weekend, they won’t be necessary. But when there are four of you in the cabin for two weeks, you’ll want to make the most of every inch of the space. Trust me!
Most magnets aren’t strong enough to hold handbags and heavy coats. I use these super strong ones and hang them from the ceiling instead of the wall to make sure that they can handle the load.
7. Bring your own drinks
Many cruise lines allow you to bring a limited amount of alcohol onboard, which can lead to significant savings compared to purchasing drinks on the ship. The norm is one bottle of wine each, but be sure to check this guide to be sure.
You’ll also want to check whether you can bring soft drinks on board. If you can, you’ll be able to bring more on in each port too. So there’s no need to pay $4 for each can of Pepsi Max when you can get a six-pack for that price and keep it in your fridge.
8. Request extra hangers from your cabin steward
I don’t know why, but most cabins have large wardrobes with only five or six hangers inside. Yes, you can hang multiple things on each one. But more hangers means you can properly store your clothing, reducing wrinkles and keeping your cabin tidy.
9. Book a low-deck midship cabin if you’re worried about seasickness
Most people don’t get seasick on cruises. But if you’re prone to it, and you’re cruising somewhere with rough seas, then it’s worth choosing a cabin where you won’t feel the motion quite so much.
The front, back and top of the cruise ships are the areas that move the most as the ship rocks. So choose a cabin located in the middle of the ship on a low deck to make your cruise more comfortable.
10. Make your luggage stand out in the terminal
After one cruise, I arrived into Southampton to find that somebody had already taken my pink suitcase. An hour later, the terminal was empty apart from one other pink suitcase that wasn’t mine.
I called the number on the tag to find that the owner of this case was half-way home, with what he thought was his pink suitcase. He sheepishly made his way back with it.
I was lucky, I got my case back. Not everyone does!
A brightly-coloured suitcase isn’t enough. Ideally, you want some kind of unique luggage strap or label that makes it obvious who the case belongs to.
11. Look for first-day special offers onboard
Most people don’t eat in speciality dining venues or visit the spa on the first day of their cruise. But this can be the cheapest time to go!
Look out for any special offers that are advertised around the ship so that you can enjoy these experiences at a fraction of the cost.
12. Take your daily programme with you when you leave the ship
There are two reasons I always take the ship programme with me whenever I leave…
The first is that it has the onboard time printed on it. I’d hate to misremember what time I’m meant to be back at the ship. If it’s printed on a piece of paper, I can be 100% sure.
The other reason I take my programme is that it has the ship’s telephone number on it. If my bus breaks down or there’s some other reason why I’m unexpectedly late back to the ship, I’d be able to call and let them know.
Usually, cruise ships wait a maximum of 30 minutes for late guests if they don’t know where they are. But if you can call and let them know what happened and what time you’ll be there, they’re much more likely to hang on and wait for you if they can.
13. Walk away from the port for cheaper taxis
The taxis that wait at the port are usually overpriced. On my last cruise, I overheard a woman being quoted 20 Euros for what was no more than a 10-minute walk.
Even just a short walk further from the port will likely get you much better prices. If you’re unsure about finding your own, ask the crew – they might have some tips if they’ve visited the port themselves before.
Apps like Uber and Free Now are often much cheaper than local taxis, and you’re less likely to be ripped off too. They may not be allowed to drive right up to the ship, so walking a little way also makes this option available to you.
You can save money and also beat the crowds too – win-win!
14. Spend time researching your ship and itinerary before you book
I know this sounds really obvious, but you do need to do some actual research into the ship you’ll be sailing on, and the destinations, before you book anything.
The amount of times I’ve heard people onboard wishing that there were better restaurants, or that they didn’t realise that a port would be so far from the city they wanted to visit.
None of this is a secret, you can easily find out what your ship will be like or what to expect from each destination.
If you book a cruise and you’re caught off-guard by it not being right for you, that’s on you.
On my last cruise, I was so busy in the weeks leading up to it, that I didn’t have time to plan any of the days ashore. Luckily, I got chatting to a man who had spent weeks planning out his time in each port, so he was able to give me lots of tips!
Other guests can be fountains of knowledge, so take the opportunity to chat to people by sharing tables at dinner or making conversation in the hot tub, to get the most out of your cruise.
15. Book excursions as early as you can – or ask onboard about cancellations
There are lots of different parts of cruise bookings where it can make sense to wait for deals to come up. They might have a sale for a drinks package or for WiFi. But shore excursions don’t really get the same treatment. The price is what it is.
So, if you know there’s an excursion you want to try, book it sooner rather than later. They do sell out – the best ones, often far in advance.
But here’s a handy hint – people often book a wide range, and then cancel. As long as they give at least a day’s notice, there isn’t usually a financial penalty.
This means some excursions will have last-minute available, so hit the shore excursions desk onboard if there’s an experience you wanted to try but missed out on. You might get lucky.
16. You have a safe – use it (and set a reminder to check it)
I see a lot of posts from people who’ve lost their valuables on a cruise ship, and there’s an easy solution to that – use the safe in your room.
If you just make sure that you use the safe for the important bits like your passport, you’ll not worry about misplacing them.
Set a reminder on your phone for the last morning of your cruise to check the safe and empty it, too. That way you won’t accidentally leave stuff there as you disembark.
17. Hanging storage can save a lot of space
Even if you get a bigger cruise cabin, they aren’t huge. You’ll get a good amount of storage but for a lot of people, it’s not enough.
And it’s not as fun living out of a suitcase. It just makes the cruise feel so much more ‘temporary’.
So look to the walls and doors and get some hanging storage. An over-the-door hanger is great for holding shoes or other bits and bobs, so that they don’t take up desk space.
And a small hanger in the bathroom for toiletries will make it much easier to keep everything organised.
18. Pack some seasickness remedies – just in case
If you are worried about getting seasick, or if you’ve never cruised before and you have no idea whether you would suffer, pack something to help with it – just in case. You can get tablets for it, or ginger sweets are another good option.
If you forget, check to see if there are green apples available onboard. They’re supposed to be a good remedy for settling a queasy stomach.
Suggested read: Will You Get Seasick On A Cruise? How To Know
19. Always carry contact details on private shore excursions
You can save big by booking your excursions through a third party instead of with the cruise line. But if you do, you need to always have two things with you – the phone number of the tour provider, and the phone number of the ship.
The tour provider number lets you get in touch with them if something goes wrong with the tour guide, or if you get separated and need help finding your transport back to the ship.
And it’s absolutely crucial that you have the number for the ship in case you get held up on the excursion, because it will leave without you if you’re late back. Ships will wait for cruise line excursions, but not third-party ones.
20. Ask staff for their recommendations
Cruise ship staff aren’t tethered to the ship – they will be allowed ashore on some of their days off, and they’ll often revisit the same port a few times during a contract.
So, they can be a great source of information if you want tips on places to visit – whether that’s a restaurant, or some sights away from the tourist crowds.
They’re also really good at finding out where the free WiFi is available in each port, since they have to pay for their own onboard too. If you need to get online and don’t want to pay, ask the crew for their tips in each destination.
21. Return to the ship for meals (depending on the port)
Obviously, this hack doesn’t work in every port. But, if you’re getting off the ship somewhere where you can walk to the main sights, it often makes sense to head back to the ship to eat.
Some ports might have pricey restaurants, or you just might not fancy the local cuisine. The best restaurants might be busy, too.
Heading back to the ship if it’s in walking distance can save you money and you’ll get plenty of choice from things you know you like onboard.
22. Pack sooner rather than later – and don’t overpack!
I’m such a hypocrite for this hack but oh well! The sooner you can pack for your cruise, within reason, the better.
I don’t mean you should be packing your suitcase two weeks before you set sail. I just mean that leaving it to the night before is a risk.
There’s the chance that your favourite outfit has accidentally become buried at the bottom of the laundry basket, or that you’ve forgotten to buy something essential.
Packing a couple of days before means you’ve still got time for last-minute organisation and it means you’re not rushing around the night before you sail.
23. Check out the onboard offers – they can be good
Most cruise lines will have the option to book another cruise onboard.
It’s actually worth checking it out, because sometimes the discounted rates or the extra onboard credit you can get will be worthwhile, and you often don’t need to pay much of a deposit at all.
Even if you book, and then decide to cancel later, you might only lose out on a tiny amount and you could tie up a deal that’s really good value.
But, bear in mind that the offers aren’t always the best. Sure, you might get an extra $100 on board credit. But if the cruise is likely to be reduced by $300 later, you’d be better off waiting for a deal and booking it then,
Suggested read: Cruise Price Went Down After Booking? Here’s What You Can Do!
24. Praise the crew where you can
This is less of a hack for you really, but it’s a top tip I would recommend – don’t be shy to praise crew members onboard where possible, either by filling out any comments cards or surveys, or even visiting the Guest Services desk if someone does something really special for you.
Sure, there’s the option of tipping, but if you’ve prepaid your gratuities you might not want to get into paying extra. And positive feedback can be pretty beneficial too – it could guarantee crew get future contracts and might even help them to get promoted if they want to.
25. Don’t be afraid to stay onboard
You don’t have to leave the ship when it is in port – if you want to stay onboard, you absolutely can.
In fact there are lots of benefits to staying onboard, such as quieter pool decks, no lines for any open attractions and more.
If you’ve visited a port before, or you just don’t want to get off the ship, don’t!
26. Plan speciality dining around the main dining room menus
You can often see the menus for the main dining room of your cruise in advance, usually through the app if your cruise line has one.
The menu will rotate, so if you plan on dining in the main dining room but want to try some speciality restaurants, check for the days that you don’t mind skipping the main restaurant and book speciality meals for those days.
A little bit of planning can help you enjoy the best food throughout your cruise.
Of course, if you plan on sticking to the buffet, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
27. Bring an extension cord (but check it’s allowed)
Many cruise ship cabins will only have a couple of plug outlets, and they might not be close to the bed.
If you’re someone who likes to use their phone before they sleep (no judgment), or you have lots of things to charge, an extension cord might be useful.
Just check what your cruise line allows. Strangely, it’s the surge-protected ones that tend to be banned more, even though they’re normally safer in your home.
That’s because the fuses used in them aren’t designed for a ship’s power supply and so they can actually be less safe.
28. Don’t forget the binoculars on scenic cruises
Booked your cruise to a scenic destination like Alaska?
Sure, you’ll get amazing views from the deck or your balcony, but sometimes you might see something cool in the distance that you wish you had a better view of, and that’s where binoculars come in handy.
I’d always recommend carrying a pair on any kind of scenic cruise. You might get lucky and see some cool wildlife, and getting a closer view (from a distance) can be really special.
29. Make sure you pack for excursions
When you’re packing your suitcase, don’t forget about excursion days. You want to make sure you’ve got a comfy pair of shoes for walking, and it’s a good idea to pack a refillable water bottle too.
Otherwise, you’re relying on any cafes or stores for buying a drink, and on certain sightseeing tours that might not be an option.
Also, if you’re heading to the beach, consider packing your own snorkel gear if you have it, or buy a cheap set before you travel.
30. Bring a nightlight with you
If you’re staying in an interior cabin (and I’d recommend it, if you want to save money), it’s a good idea to bring a nightlight.
Interior cabins get very, very dark. And if you wake in the middle of the night needing the bathroom, you can either stumble through the darkness or put on a very bright main light.
Taking your own third option – a nightlight – will make it easier to get around without waking yourself up too much, or disturbing your cabinmates.
31. Pack a portable charger
Even though you’re on a cruise ship where you’re within walking distance of your cabin, it still makes sense to pack a portable charger for your holiday.
If you’re relaxing by the pool, you don’t want to give up your space to go back and charge your phone.
And they’re really handy when heading ashore, especially in case you need to call the ship in an emergency and you’ve low battery.
You can get really small ones that’ll manage one charge – that’s all you need.
Final Word
None of my cruises have really gone spectacularly wrong (touch wood), but knowing these tips and hacks before I took my first cruise would’ve made some things a little bit easier.
Hopefully you find them useful – and if you have any of your own to add, please do drop a comment 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.
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