30 Cruise Cabin Hacks Every Cruiser Needs to Know
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At the heart of most cruises are port calls that, in many cases, are very short — often just a few hours. You want to have a plan for what to do in these ports or you'll miss out on a big part of the cruising experience. I am, of course, too cool to ever put a key card lanyard around my neck, which means I lose my card once or twice on every trip. Plus, you'll want to save room in your suitcase for all the little treasures you're going to find along the way.
I Tried These Sea Sickness Hacks on My First Cruise - POPSUGAR
I Tried These Sea Sickness Hacks on My First Cruise.
Posted: Fri, 29 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Important Cruise Tips & Reminders
So, if you bring magnet hooks then you can actually add extra storage space to your cruise cabin. On a cruise, it’s perfectly fine to ask for items that aren’t on the menu. Cruise ships are happy to cater to various dietary needs and personal preferences, and the staff are generally happy to accommodate special requests whenever possible. Whether you’re craving something a little different or have specific dietary requirements, don’t hesitate to speak up. A helpful tip is to always book your shore excursions in advance. This not only ensures you get a spot on the most popular tours and activities, but it also often means better deals and less stress trying to plan activities last minute.
Recap: Cruise Cabin Hacks Every Cruiser Should Know
If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship before, then you know that the cabin hallways can seem almost like an optical illusion. They can stretch forever in a repeating pattern of cabins, walls, and identical doors. While doors are numbered, it’s easy to pass by your room as everything blends together. It’s not unheard of for cruise ships to run across these people, sailing in makeshift rafts. Rules of the sea call for the cruise ships to render aid, meaning they will stop and help, even if in the middle of a cruise. You know why you always hear about norovirus on cruise ships?
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Instead, take your time and spend a little longer enjoying a meal or relaxing on board. Are you the type or person that likes to get on and off the ship first? With thousands of people trying to do the same thing, there are massive traffic jams for people waiting to either embark or disembark. To find a quieter cabin spot, look toward the ends of the ship.
It can be common for people who forget to put their phone in airplane mode to have huge, unexpected cell phone charges. Put your phone in airplane mode before Sailaway to avoid this rookie cruiser mistake. If the activity or excursion is a full day or very far away, booking with the cruise line is a safer option. One thing many people don’t think about, is that even if they don’t get seasick on a cruise, small boats and tenders to get off the ship may be a different story. I have a friend who did a whale watching excursion and instead of enjoying it, she was so sick.
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That’s because if you were going to create a conducive place to spread a virus, you would build a cruise ship. Having thousands of people in an enclosed area and the same dining facilities is ripe for spreading illness. We all know that if you are gambling in a Las Vegas casino, you can expect the drinks to flow no matter how much you spend. If you’re a nickel and dime gambler, you’re going to have to pay for drinks in the casino.
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If you’re betting big, however, then you will likely earn enough credit to get some free drinks. One or two bottles of wine likely won’t last your entire cruise, but considering the price of drinks onboard, anything you can bring saves you a lot of cash. Yes, even if you are headed to the tropics you should always pack a few items of warm clothing. Once the sun goes down in the evening, it can get chilly on a fast-moving cruise ship with the wind whipping around. Having something with long sleeves and a hood can be a lifesaver. If you don’t want to spend money on shore excursions, that’s understandable.
The Best Stateroom Location to Avoid Motion Sickness
Your shins will appreciate the extra light when you have to stumble into an unfamiliar bathroom in the middle of the night. Once you shut the door and turn out the lights, it’s pitch black. Bring along a nightlight to plug in to provide some light for the room. In Miami you can take the Orange Line train from the airport over to the Coral Way Trolley, which drops at the port (directions here). In Seattle, the Link Light Rail lets out just blocks from Pier 66 (directions here). If you don’t want to pay for an expensive taxi or Uber, keep this in mind.
Your itinerary can change… right up until you dock in a port. The cruise lines have made adjustments to schedules based on everything from weather to health issues to protests. While it doesn’t happen often, changes are regular enough that you shouldn’t be surprised if one happens to your trip. Many people go to the effort of decorating their doors to not only be festive, but also stand out and be easier to find. If you don’t want to go to that much effort, just bring a few Post-It Notes (they are great for leaving messages in the cabin anyway). Stick one brightly colored note on your door and you have an instant way to identify your cabin.
If they aren't surge-protected, most cruise ships allow these splitters. We have meticulously detailed all of our travel gear recommendations. So for a more all-encompassing pack list, see our big Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist & Tips to ensure you don’t forget to pack anything important for your next trip. Instead, wifi can be very expensive onboard cruise ships and can sometimes be painfully slow. Carnival, Celebrity, Disney Cruises, Holland America, MSC, Princess, and Royal Caribbean all charge fees for wifi on their cruise ships. As a result, the cruise lines form a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic, often stopping at interesting far-flung islands and unusual ports along the way.
Just like a five-star hotel, the cruise ship has all the amenities that you can think of just a request away. It’s macabre, but if you’re on a larger ship, then it likely has a morgue on board. Cruise ships are carrying thousands of people 365 days a year. It’s a law of averages that someone will eventually pass away while on the ship. With a morgue on board they can keep the body in good condition until reaching a port.
Odds are that you won’t need the travel insurance you buy, but when you do, it’s a lifesaver. Travel insurance can cover a ton of different things, including if you get hurt or sick on your trip. It’s also handy if you lose your luggage or miss the boat and have to make alternate arrangements to meet your ship elsewhere (or get back home). If dining at a specialty restaurant or hitting the spa, you might need a reservation.
When you are in port, you might notice strange symbols at the ship’s waterline that look like hieroglyphics. They are actually telling important information about the ship underwater. While ships would be the perfect spot for stargazing, the lights on the deck are bright enough to create light pollution that drowns out many stars. You’ll see brighter ones, but if you were planning to spot the Milky Way out at sea, that probably won’t be the case. Hidden away primarily on the lower decks are spots like the engine room, crew quarters, service areas, and more. There are some “backstage” tours that you can take, but they are highly limited in the number of passengers that can go.
Perform some port research in advance to see what’s near the port before you arrive. Do some Googling about the ports, read travel blogs, and/or buy a travel guide about the location. Once you have a solid game plan, then you can simply hop off the ship and sightsee on your own. Keep track of your steps and the number of calories you’re burning with a smartwatch. You may be surprised at just how much walking you can inadvertently do on a big ship! If you don’t already have a smartwatch, check out Apple Watches or more affordable FitBit watches.
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