16 Essential Cruise Tips You Need to Know

We’re always on the lookout for ingenious ways to improve the family cruise experience. Here are some of the very best cruise tips we’ve found on Pinterest. Find more on the Cruising With Kids and Family Vacation Tips Pinboards.

Multiply Your Outlets

There are never enough outlets inside a cruise ship stateroom, particularly for gadget-loving families. This inexpensive Belkin power strip and surge protector features three electrical and two USB ports (buy it on Amazon). It’s a lifesaver when you have multiple gadgets to recharge at once.

Need another USB port? You’ll find one on the side of the flatscreen TV.

Pack Your Carry-On for Fun From Minute One

On embarkation day there’s often a lag of several hours between when you board the ship and when your bags arrive at your stateroom. Cruise Critic’s nifty infographic shows how you can start having fun from Minute One if you’ve got your swimsuits and workout gear with you. This also applies for essential medications and baby supplies.

Use a Collapsible Closet Organizer for Extra Storage

Even in the most cleverly designed cabin, there never seems to be enough hangers or storage space. An inexpensive collapsible closet organizer with shelves (buy from Amazon) doesn’t take up much room in your suitcase yet adds significantly more room for everyone’s belongings.

Outsmart Those Smart Light Switches

These days, virtually every cruise ship stateroom features an energy-saving main light switch that requires you to leave your key card in a slot in order to power the cabin. The idea is to prevent power wastage, but it’s problematic if you want to charge electronic gadgets when you’re out of the room.

No problem, advises Cruise Critic. You can outsmart the power control by using a loyalty card, library card, or business card as a placeholder. Just remember to switch the lights off when you step out.

Use Magnets to Turn Your Door Into a Command Center

Fun fact: Stateroom doors on cruise ships are made of metal. Follow the example set by experienced cruisers and turn your door into a magnetized hub for invitations, maps, schedules, lanyards, and other essential items. This photo by Flickr user aznaphrodite showcases how magnets can help organize cruise essentials.

Pack DIY Costumes for Theme Nights

Before your trip, check your cruise itinerary. If you’re sailing on one of the kid-friendly cruise lines, there may be theme nights encouraging passengers to dress in costume. For example, every Disney Cruise hosts a pirate night featuring a grand Pirates of the Caribbean deck party. You can purchase pirate gear at the onboard gift store or create amazing handmade outfits that cost much less, as demonstrated on the mom blog Foster2Forever.com.

Pack a Dry Bag for a Day at the Beach

Are you going ashore for a beach day or a snorkeling excursion? You’ll need your stateroom key card and a photo ID (to return to the ship), and you’ll likely want your phone, credit card, and some cash. Instead of taking your wallet, use a small, waterproof, floatable dry case on a lanyard. This design is made for paddlers and costs about $15 on Overtons.com.

Personalize the Outside of Your Stateroom Door

Cruise ship corridors tend to be extensive and monotonous. Each door looks identical, which can make locating your stateroom challenging for kids. A fun yet practical solution is to use magnetic decorations to customize the outside of your stateroom door.

For inspiration on decorating a Disney Cruise door, visit Family Travel Magazine, where you’ll find limitless ideas from banners and posters to dry erase boards. If time is of the essence, customized cruise door magnetic decorations are available from various artisans on platforms like Etsy.

Booking an Interior Cabin? Pack a Night Light

Many families choose budget-friendly interior cabins. At night, these rooms can become pitch black, which might be unsettling for children who awaken during the night. Bringing a night light is an excellent alternative to keeping the TV on low throughout the night.

Use Clothespins to Hang Wet Swimsuits

While there will likely be a retractable clothesline in your stateroom shower, bringing your own clothespins can help wet swimsuits dry much faster, as suggested by Inspired to Style.

Avoid Steep Onboard ATM Fees

You can charge almost anything on a cruise ship to your onboard account. However, at some point, you might need cash for excursions. Unfortunately, shipboard ATM machines typically impose hefty withdrawal fees.

To avoid this fee, visit the ship’s casino, sit at a slot machine, insert your room key card, and deposit your desired withdrawal amount, as advised by Cruise Fever. Once the funds are loaded into the machine, simply press ‘cash out’ and take the ticket to the cashier for cash. Your onboard account will be charged, and you’ll bypass ATM fees.

Note: This method won’t work on Disney Cruise Line ships, as they do not have casinos.

Find Peace and Quiet on a Mid-Level Deck

“The main lobby deck is shaded and a fantastic spot to escape the crowds around the pool,” suggests Living Locurto.

On Disney ships, for instance, a popular spot to unwind with a good book is vintage-style Deck 4, a serene haven with mahogany loungers and shuffleboard courts.

Choose a Stateroom With a View

When selecting an exterior stateroom, consider the ship’s route for optimal views, such as watching the sunrise on the first morning at sea and the sunset on the last night, suggests The Travel Bite.

Keep views in mind during port stops. For instance, when Disney ships dock at Castaway Cay, staterooms on the starboard side typically provide breathtaking views of the island, while those on the port side overlook the dock.

Change Your Phone’s Lock Screen

If you misplace your phone on board, how could a Good Samaritan return it to you swiftly? SmarterTravel suggests changing your phone’s lock screen to an image that displays your emergency contact details, including your email and an alternate phone number.

Wear a Wristwatch and Set It to Ship Time

There is ship time and local time, which can differ. Your cell phone automatically syncs to local time, potentially causing confusion with onboard activities and port departures that follow ship time.

Once aboard, set your phone to airplane mode to access the cruise line’s app without incurring data roaming charges. Ignore your phone’s clock entirely. Instead, pack a wristwatch and set it to ship time.

Choose a Stateroom That’s on an Upper Deck and Aft

Travel expert Wendy Perrin emphasizes the advantages of booking a stateroom that is higher and toward the ship’s stern: “It’s a quick walk to the places you need to frequent most often—like the pool deck, sports deck, kids’ club, and buffet—helping you avoid elevator waits and crowds.” This is sound advice for every family.