Cruise veterans know the difference between a good sailing and a great one often comes down to a few surprisingly small decisions. These clever cruise tips can save you money and help you dodge the crowds.
Cruises seem almost suspiciously easy. Board a floating resort, unpack once and wake up somewhere new every morning. What could possibly require strategy?
Plenty, it turns out.
A few rookie mistakes can leave you paying too much, waiting in unnecessary lines or discovering that your “quiet” cabin sits directly beneath a nightclub. Meanwhile, experienced cruisers are hanging swimsuits from magnetic hooks, enjoying an empty pool while everyone else stampedes toward shore and eating two appetizers simply because they asked.
“The first buffet station has the longest line because hungry humans are remarkably easy to herd.”
Here are 10 cruise secrets that can make your next voyage smoother, cheaper and considerably more enjoyable.
1. Study what’s above and below your cabin
Choosing a cabin based only on its category is a bit like booking an apartment without asking who lives upstairs.
Before selecting a stateroom, pull up the ship’s deck plans and check what’s directly above and below it. Cabins sandwiched between other passenger decks tend to be quieter than those beneath the pool, buffet, gym or dance floor. Connecting rooms can also let in more noise, even when you aren’t traveling with the people next door.
Light sleepers should also think twice about rooms near elevators, stairwells, service areas and the anchor, which can make a memorable entrance when the ship reaches port before dawn.
2. Compare the total cost, not the tempting fare
That bargain cruise may become much less bargainous once you add gratuities, Wi-Fi, drinks, specialty dining, excursions and transportation to the port.
When comparing Royal Caribbean cruise deals, for example, look beyond the headline price. A slightly higher fare that includes onboard credit, drinks or another useful perk could cost less overall.
Also check the itinerary carefully. Two cruises described as “seven-night Caribbean voyages” might offer very different amounts of time ashore. A port call from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. doesn’t give you much time to find the island’s best jerk chicken, admire the architecture and make it back before the ship leaves.
3. Keep your first day in your carry-on
Checked bags don’t always reach cabins immediately. They can arrive after the pool opens, lunch is served and the sail-away party has begun.
Pack a small carry-on with anything you’ll want during those first few hours:
Swimsuit
Sunscreen
Medication
Travel documents
Phone charger
Change of clothes
Any valuables
That way, you can start enjoying the ship while everyone else waits in yesterday’s clothes and periodically checks the hallway for a suitcase.
Keep essential medication and your passport with you throughout the journey. Those should never go off without you.
4. Put your phone in airplane mode before you sail
Your cellular provider may treat “international waters” as another term for “financial ruin.”
Turn on airplane mode before the ship leaves port, then enable Wi-Fi separately if you’ve purchased an internet package. You can still use the cruiseline’s app for schedules, reservations and deck maps.
Before leaving home, download entertainment, destination maps, boarding documents and anything else you may need offline. A little digital preparation makes it easier to ensure your trip is about living, not just looking — or spending the afternoon hunting for a decent signal.
5. Bring magnetic hooks
Here’s one of those wonderfully nerdy cruise tips that sounds unnecessary until you try it: Most cruise cabin walls are metal.
A handful of strong magnetic hooks can turn blank walls into storage for hats, lanyards, jackets, tote bags and damp swimsuits. Suddenly, that shoebox-size cabin feels a little less like it was designed by someone who resents possessions.
Check your cruise line's rules before packing organizers or decorations. Leave the tape, nails and other wall-maiming supplies at home.
6. Don’t book an excursion in every port
Ship-sponsored excursions are convenient and particularly useful when an activity takes you far from the port. They can also be crowded and more expensive than exploring independently.
Research each stop before automatically booking a tour. Some ports place you within walking distance of historic districts, markets, museums and excellent local food. In those cases, a self-guided walk may give you more freedom and a better feel for the place.
If you venture out independently, build in a generous time cushion. The ship will generally wait for a delayed excursion booked through the cruise line. It’s unlikely to extend the same courtesy because you lost track of time buying a wooden parrot.
7. Stay on the ship during a port o’ call
You don’t have to get off the ship simply because it has stopped moving.
If a port doesn’t interest you — or you’ve visited it before — stay onboard. With much of the passenger population ashore, pools, restaurants and other shared spaces can become blissfully quiet. The spa may offer port-day specials too.
You paid for the ship. There’s no rule saying you must flee from it at every opportunity.
8. Treat the main dining menu as a starting point
First-time cruisers sometimes assume they must choose exactly one item from each section of the menu. Depending on the cruise line and restaurant, you may be able to order two appetizers, skip straight to dessert or request a simple modification.
Want to try the escargot without committing your entire evening to snails? Order them alongside another starter. Prefer the vegetables from one entrée with the fish from another? Ask politely.
The answer may be no, and specialty items may cost extra. Still, cruise dining tends to be more flexible than many passengers realize. Thoughtful requests are welcome; summoning your server with the imperious snap of a finger is not.
9. Go where the buffet crowd isn’t
The first buffet station you see will often have the longest line because hungry humans are remarkably easy to herd.
Walk farther into the dining area before grabbing a plate. Ships frequently repeat popular stations, and the food at the back may come with significantly fewer elbows. Look for smaller complimentary cafés and dining rooms too. Many passengers crowd into the buffet without realizing that breakfast or lunch is available elsewhere.
You may even get a table with a view instead of one overlooking 300 people battling for hashbrowns.
10. Don’t schedule every minute
Cruise planners make it dangerously easy to fill each day with trivia, tastings, shows, treatments, meals and organized adventures. Before long, your vacation has acquired the logistical complexity of a military campaign.
Choose the experiences you truly care about and leave gaps for wandering. Explore a deck you haven’t seen. Watch the water. Have an unplanned drink. Take a nap so extravagant it briefly erases your identity.
That breathing room is often where the trip starts to feel like a vacation.
“Before long, your vacation has acquired the logistical complexity of a military campaign.”
The best cruise secrets aren’t elaborate hacks. They’re small choices that help you spend less time waiting, worrying and following crowds. Plan the details that matter, then give yourself permission to drift a little. You are on a ship, after all. –Harry Wilson
